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kathrynlbest's review against another edition
5.0
I can understand why some people weren’t into this book, but it was just what I wanted. I loved how whimsical this book felt! The little bits of wisdom throughout and how it felt very clue/haunted mansion/hocus pocus-y. Like it was trying to be creepy, but you felt totally safe reading it and it honestly seemed a little silly from the outside. And I loved hating this family. Normally I want to feel the connection with the characters, but they were all so awful and for some reason it worked for me this time.
ashleyyychambers's review against another edition
4.0
Now this is a true murder mystery that involves a family with dark secrets.
I started this one towards the end of November and ended up shelving it as DNF about 55% through. I decided to pick it back up and I’m glad I did but it got better. Still 3.5/4 stars, but if I didn’t finish I would have given it a 2 based on the first half.
I started this one towards the end of November and ended up shelving it as DNF about 55% through. I decided to pick it back up and I’m glad I did but it got better. Still 3.5/4 stars, but if I didn’t finish I would have given it a 2 based on the first half.
saltygalreads's review against another edition
3.0
"I was born with a broken heart." What an opening line!
Daisy Darker is only a child and yet she has died several times in her young life. She suffers from a congenital heart valve disorder and has been brought back from the brink of death on more than one occasion. The youngest of three girls, Daisy struggles to find her place in the world and even in her own family. Treated badly by her two self-absorbed and selfish older sisters and dealing with the fallout of her parents' divorce and difficult relationship, Daisy finds comfort and beauty at Seaglass, her Nana's cottage by the sea. For Nana's 80th birthday, there is a very special celebration at Seaglass and they all gather; but then someone leaves a sinister rhyme about the family members dying. One by one they begin to die as the rhyme comes true - can Daisy figure out what is happening before it is too late?
This novel has a haunting, plaintive atmosphere, set at Seaglass with its rolling waves and creaking timbers. Daisy is a very memorable and likeable character, not because she is perfect but rather because she is not. She is as engaging as the other characters are mostly repulsive. The novel has many twists and turns, while the action is practically nonstop, keeping the reader speculating throughout. There were some unsatisfactory gaps which left me with questions, but I will not elaborate at the risk of spoilers. And the ending leaves you sitting like an idiot, with your mouth gaping.
All in all - a very entertaining story which most mystery/thriller readers will love.
Daisy Darker is only a child and yet she has died several times in her young life. She suffers from a congenital heart valve disorder and has been brought back from the brink of death on more than one occasion. The youngest of three girls, Daisy struggles to find her place in the world and even in her own family. Treated badly by her two self-absorbed and selfish older sisters and dealing with the fallout of her parents' divorce and difficult relationship, Daisy finds comfort and beauty at Seaglass, her Nana's cottage by the sea. For Nana's 80th birthday, there is a very special celebration at Seaglass and they all gather; but then someone leaves a sinister rhyme about the family members dying. One by one they begin to die as the rhyme comes true - can Daisy figure out what is happening before it is too late?
This novel has a haunting, plaintive atmosphere, set at Seaglass with its rolling waves and creaking timbers. Daisy is a very memorable and likeable character, not because she is perfect but rather because she is not. She is as engaging as the other characters are mostly repulsive. The novel has many twists and turns, while the action is practically nonstop, keeping the reader speculating throughout. There were some unsatisfactory gaps which left me with questions, but I will not elaborate at the risk of spoilers. And the ending leaves you sitting like an idiot, with your mouth gaping.
All in all - a very entertaining story which most mystery/thriller readers will love.
cassoberreuter's review against another edition
3.0
the twist at the end was so good, but the middle dragged for me. I also wasn’t super interested in the flashback scenes.
kerry_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
hwestfall's review against another edition
4.0
Alice Feeney does it again. She’s really good at throwing in the twists you can see coming and some you can’t. Definitely kept my interest the whole way through and I enjoyed the dysfunctional Darker family.