Review: Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Author: Alice Feeney

Publisher: Flatiron Books
Publication Date: August 2022

After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.

The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows…

Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed.

In Daisy Darker, Daisy and her family have returned to their grandmother's home to celebrate her 80th birthday.  When her grandmother's prediction of her own imminent death actually happens, the family find themselves trapped in a home with a killer.

I thought his was an interesting take on And Then There Were None.  It went in a completely different direction than I was expecting with a few surprising twists.  I loved the dark gothic atmosphere of the book.   The house was creepy.  I loved that no one was safe and I wasn't quite sure who to trust.  That included Daisy who I found to be an unreliable character.  I can't exactly say why because of potential spoilers.  This is a book that you are better off going in with little information.  I had a great time with it and I highly recommend it!

Review: His & Hers by Alice Feeney

Author: Alice Feeney
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Publication Date: July 2020

Anna Andrews finally has what she wants. Almost. She’s worked hard to become the main TV presenter of the BBC’s lunchtime news, putting work before friends, family, and her now ex-husband. So, when someone threatens to take her dream job away, she’ll do almost anything to keep it.

When asked to cover a murder in Blackdown―the sleepy countryside village where she grew up―Anna is reluctant to go. But when the victim turns out to be one of her childhood friends, she can’t leave. It soon becomes clear that Anna isn’t just covering the story, she’s at the heart of it.

DCI Jack Harper left London for a reason, but never thought he’d end up working in a place like Blackdown. When the body of a young woman is discovered, Jack decides not to tell anyone that he knew the victim, until he begins to realise he is a suspect in his own murder investigation.

One of them knows more than they are letting on. Someone isn’t telling the truth. Alternating between Anna's and Jack's points of view, His & Hers is a fast-paced, complex, and dark puzzle that will keep readers guessing until the very end 

His & Hers is easily going to make my top 10 list for 2020..  It's one of the best thrillers that I have read in a long time.  I will admit to it being a tad bit slow n the beginning, but that didn't last too long.  The story is told trough three perspectives, Anna, Jack and the killer.  When Anna loses her anchor position at her news station, she is assigned to investigate a murder in her hometown.  Jack is the detective assigned to the case.  It quickly becomes clear that both might know more than they are letting on.

There are so many twists in this book and it kept me on my toes throughout.  I was so far off base with my assumptions at the end.  I don't think most people will see the ending coming.  I liked the use of unreliable narrators and the three perspectives.  The plot was well paced with just the right amount of information being released at the right time.   I think it's best to go into this book not knowing a whole lot about the plot.  It will make the reveals that much more surprising.  If you have been hunting for an engaging and well thought out thriller, then this one is for you.