The setting is a Victorian mansion in Cornwall named Seaglass, the home of Beatrice (Nana) Darker, a successful author. She invites her family to her crumbling home built on the edge of a cliff on a tidal island, to celebrate her 80th birthday. Once everyone arrives, the tide rises, which means that they are all trapped for eight hours. This is a highly dysfunctional family filled with mostly self-centered, selfish people each with something to hide. And since Nana believes that she is soon to die, the family members are more interested in learning who will inherit Seaglass than anything else. Nana's beloved granddaughter Daisy, the narrator of the story, appears more sensitive and caring. She was born with a congenital heart defect. Daisy describes how clues found within the house reveal that someone is planning to kill every member of the family which also includes her parents, her two sisters and her niece. The group finds a series of VHS tapes with recordings of family gatherings and the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. With no phone service and no way to leave the island, will everyone meet their demise? And who is the killer?
I'm a big fan of author Alice Feeney and I became totally engrossed while reading Daisy Darker. In the spirit of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, this is a tense, entertaining locked room thriller. I felt the writing was excellent. Feeney has a great way with words. And I did not figure this dark mystery out - not even close. I love getting totally surprised by a book.
Rated 4 out of 5 stars.
Mystery / Thriller.
Publication Date: August 30, 2022.
Please "like" this post if Daisy Darker sounds like a book you might like to read. I'd love to know. Scroll below the photo and click on the red outlined heart on the lower right-hand side of the page. Comments can also be left below.
