Daisy Darker is a compelling and layered mystery novel that’s surprisingly difficult to discuss without giving too much away.
But, as always, I’m going to try!
Despite a few flaws, I found it to be an incredibly engaging and highly readable novel. It’s a classic Agatha Christie-style whodunit—with obvious nods to And Then There Were None—that practically dares you to keep turning the pages. If you enjoy authors like Sarah Pinborough, Simone St. James, or Jeneva Rose, there’s a good chance you’ll find plenty to love here.
I genuinely believe Alice Feeney (already known for bestselling novels such as Sometimes I Lie and His & Hers) remains surprisingly underrated. Her shocking twists and wonderfully strange, morally ambiguous characters have absolutely nothing to envy in the work of authors like Frieda McFadden.
Plot Summary
The Darker family gathers on their private island in Cornwall for the first time in over a decade. Once the tide comes in, they’ll be completely cut off from the mainland for eight hours. And when it finally goes back out, nothing will ever be the same again. Because one of them is a killer.
As autumn leaves fall, Daisy Darker arrives at Seaglass, the family’s crumbling ancestral home perched on a tiny private island, to celebrate her grandmother’s eightieth birthday.
Every member of the family is hiding secrets. Nana, isolated for years. Frank, Daisy’s absent father. Nancy, her cold-hearted mother. Her complicated sisters, Rose and Lily. And Trixie, the young niece who is endlessly curious and desperately searching for affection.
Daisy has never had an easy relationship with her family, but some secrets are far darker than others.
By the end of Nana’s birthday celebration, the Darker family will be changed forever.
Daisy Darker Review: A Murder Mystery Wrapped in Family Dysfunction
Like many readers, I picked up Daisy Darker because I was intrigued by its locked-room mystery premise. What ultimately captivated me, however, was the intricate web of toxic relationships and simmering tensions connecting the various family members.
Trust me: Daisy’s family is one of the most dysfunctional families I’ve ever encountered in fiction. You’re unlikely to become deeply attached to any of them… but let’s be honest, there’s something irresistibly entertaining about stories centered on terrible relatives. Fans of Knives Out will know exactly what I mean.
Daisy herself occupies a role similar to Anna’s in Jennifer Thorne’s Diavola. She’s the family’s black sheep, the designated scapegoat onto whom everyone seems eager to project their frustrations, disappointments, and unresolved grievances.
And while family gatherings can be exhausting for anyone, they’re especially painful when everyone around the table seems determined to ignore you, judge you, or drag up old mistakes.
Now add a mysterious killer stalking the island, picking off family members one by one and leaving behind sinister nursery-rhyme messages scrawled on the walls…
When the Truth Becomes Its Own Punishment
The claustrophobic atmosphere and distinctly Halloween-inspired mood make Daisy Darker even more immersive.
Feeney’s cinematic writing style also makes the novel feel tailor-made for a screen adaptation. Given the success of Netflix’s His & Hers, based on another of her novels, I’d love to see someone bring Daisy Darker to television or film as well. The setting, atmosphere, and twists would translate beautifully to the screen.
In my opinion, the somewhat mixed reception this novel received can largely be traced back to its ending and the expectations readers brought into it.
The final twist isn’t poorly executed at all. In fact, Feeney plays remarkably fair with her audience. I was able to pick up on the clues and solve the central mystery without having to work particularly hard.
But I suspect that some readers felt disappointed (or even misled) by the specific narrative technique employed in the novel. In fact, I’m not entirely convinced the book reached the audience most likely to appreciate that particular type of resolution.
Likewise, readers expecting a faster-paced thriller focused primarily on present-day action rather than flashbacks and complex family dynamics may have struggled to connect with the story.
Perfect for Fans of M. Night Shyamalan
It’s worth remembering that the traditional British mystery operates according to very different rules from the typical American thriller. Atmosphere often takes precedence over action, and psychological depth matters far more than strict realism.
Daisy Darker is a gothic mystery steeped in Halloween atmosphere, one that’s more than willing to subvert many of the genre conventions readers expect.
Unique, clever, and packed with genuinely surprising twists, it’s a novel that delivers hours of entertaining and intelligent escapism.
Recommended If You Enjoyed
- Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
- Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose
- The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
- The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
- Dear Debbie by Frieda McFadden
