Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney Summary

Daisy Darker is a psychological thriller following the dysfunctional Darker family during a reunion on Seaglass, a remote Cornish island. After the matriarch Nana is found dead, a deadly game unfolds as family members are killed one by one, echoing a sinister poem. The story unravels decades of betrayal, hidden secrets, and a shocking twist involving Daisy, who discovers she’s a ghost trapped by her family’s lies.

Fans of Agatha Christie-inspired mysteries and twist-driven psychological thrillers will enjoy this book. It appeals to readers who appreciate unreliable narrators, claustrophobic settings, and complex family dynamics. Alice Feeney’s devotees and those who enjoyed Rock Paper Scissors or His & Hers will find its layered storytelling compelling.

Yes, for its gripping atmosphere and jaw-dropping twist. While some plot elements require suspension of disbelief, Feeney’s pacing and morally gray characters keep readers engaged. The novel’s exploration of betrayal and redemption, paired with its locked-island mystery, makes it a standout in the genre.

Seaglass Island’s isolation during high tide heightens tension, forcing the family to confront their past. The crumbling mansion mirrors the Darkers’ fractured relationships, while the eight-hour tidal cutoff creates a race-against-time narrative. This setting amplifies the story’s Gothic undertones and inevitability of violence.

The novel reveals how each family member contributed to Daisy’s death and subsequent cover-up. Through flashbacks and VHS tapes, Feeney exposes their greed, jealousy, and manipulation. The murders orchestrated by Trixie and Nana serve as twisted retribution for years of emotional abuse.

Daisy realizes she died years earlier, and her ghostly presence observes the killings. Trixie—Nana’s secretly adopted daughter—colludes with Nana to punish the family. The final revelation recontextualizes earlier events, showing the murders as a macabre bid for justice and Daisy’s spiritual release.

Some readers find the plot contrived, particularly the reliance on coincidences and supernatural elements. The extreme dysfunction of the Darker family may feel exaggerated, and the final twist’s execution divides audiences. However, most agree the suspense outweighs these issues.

It shares Feeney’s trademarks: unreliable narrators and jaw-dropping reveals. While Sometimes I Lie focuses on psychological manipulation, Daisy Darker leans into Gothic atmosphere and familial horror. Its closed-circle mystery is more akin to Rock Paper Scissors but with darker emotional stakes.

The chalk-written poem foreshadows each character’s death method and flaws. Its nursery-rhyme structure contrasts with the gruesome events, creating eerie juxtaposition. The poem also serves as Nana’s confession, revealing her orchestration of the murders as poetic justice.

The rising tide traps characters, symbolizing inescapable consequences of their past actions. Its cyclical nature reflects the recurring patterns of betrayal in the Darker family. The receding tide at dawn mirrors Daisy’s journey toward resolution and freedom.

While not yet confirmed, Feeney’s previous works (His & Hers, Rock Paper Scissors) have been optioned for TV/film. Given Daisy Darker’s visual island setting and twist-driven plot, it’s strong candidate for adaptation. Updates may surface via Feeney’s social media or publisher announcements.

Key lines include:

• “Families are like fingerprints—no two are the same, but they all leave marks.”
• “The truth isn’t always a solid thing; sometimes it’s made of shadows.”

These emphasize the novel’s focus on fractured identities and subjective reality.