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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
A cleverly written book and Daphne was, dare I say it, an engaging character in spite of her crimes. I wasn't overly keen on the forum posts but it clicked why they were there towards the end of the story.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for this ARC.
Daphne St Clair, 90, lives in Coconut Grove senior home, Florida. When an elderly resident dies she suddenly confesses to having poisoned him and others. In a series of podcast interviews with Ruth Robinson, 32, she talks about her life, from a sketchy start in Dust Bowl Saskatchewan as Loretta Cowell to years in glamorous New York, from her husbands and children to a series of murders that span four states, two countries, and seven decades of her life.
Ruth tries to find out why Daphne would all of a sudden confess to all those murders that she got away with for so long. But is that her only motivation? She almost seems to be beaten by life, as if a great injustice had been done to her. What is it and what has it to do with Daphne and the rich Montgomery family?
I liked how the story developed but wasn't overly taken with the online forums and the fashion TikTok, which I found completely superfluous and skipped entirely. I also don't think we got any reason for the last two murders or maybe there wasn't one?
90 year olds generally have some tales to tell but Daphne's are more shocking than most, although she is an unreliable narrator. Daphne starts out likeable and then becomes horrendously selfish over time, just taking and never giving. Yes, it was difficult to be an independent woman, and sexism was rife, so some actions and frustrations were understandable - others really weren't. I didn't like the open ending as I really wanted to know what Ruth decided to do, but I liked how Daphne's actions had an influence on Ruth's life, maybe as a small act of redemption.
Ultimately, it is a unique and well-written premise tackling how women were treated over the decades and how one woman decided to deal with it. I would say it is more literary than thriller and has a passing resemblance to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, while not quite achieving that book's greatness.
Daphne St Clair, 90, lives in Coconut Grove senior home, Florida. When an elderly resident dies she suddenly confesses to having poisoned him and others. In a series of podcast interviews with Ruth Robinson, 32, she talks about her life, from a sketchy start in Dust Bowl Saskatchewan as Loretta Cowell to years in glamorous New York, from her husbands and children to a series of murders that span four states, two countries, and seven decades of her life.
Ruth tries to find out why Daphne would all of a sudden confess to all those murders that she got away with for so long. But is that her only motivation? She almost seems to be beaten by life, as if a great injustice had been done to her. What is it and what has it to do with Daphne and the rich Montgomery family?
I liked how the story developed but wasn't overly taken with the online forums and the fashion TikTok, which I found completely superfluous and skipped entirely. I also don't think we got any reason for the last two murders or maybe there wasn't one?
90 year olds generally have some tales to tell but Daphne's are more shocking than most, although she is an unreliable narrator. Daphne starts out likeable and then becomes horrendously selfish over time, just taking and never giving. Yes, it was difficult to be an independent woman, and sexism was rife, so some actions and frustrations were understandable - others really weren't. I didn't like the open ending as I really wanted to know what Ruth decided to do, but I liked how Daphne's actions had an influence on Ruth's life, maybe as a small act of redemption.
Ultimately, it is a unique and well-written premise tackling how women were treated over the decades and how one woman decided to deal with it. I would say it is more literary than thriller and has a passing resemblance to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, while not quite achieving that book's greatness.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book is marked as a thriller but it's more of a slow burn mystery.
An old man dies in a nursing home. After he's wheeled away, everyone mourning his loss, his girlfriend Daphne, admits she killed him. And she's killed before.
Enter Ruth, a podcaster determined to find out the truth. But she has an ulterior motive.
Slow paced with very unlikeable characters this brings you all the way from Canada in the 1920s to present day with feminist undertones.
I enjoyed it even if I was expecting it to be something different & more fast paced.
Thanks to Netgalley & Headline for this eARC.
An old man dies in a nursing home. After he's wheeled away, everyone mourning his loss, his girlfriend Daphne, admits she killed him. And she's killed before.
Enter Ruth, a podcaster determined to find out the truth. But she has an ulterior motive.
Slow paced with very unlikeable characters this brings you all the way from Canada in the 1920s to present day with feminist undertones.
I enjoyed it even if I was expecting it to be something different & more fast paced.
Thanks to Netgalley & Headline for this eARC.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I truly enjoyed this book, particularly how swiftly we are plunged into Daphne's confession, setting an intense tone right from the start.
I must admit, I didn't really connect with either of the main characters. Daphne, in particular, struck me as a sociopath. As the narrative unfolds and we peel back the layers of her motivations for murdering several men, I find myself oddly slipping into her mindset. I understood her motivation and could almost empathise with her. I also loved Daphne for her quick wit, sharp sarcasm, and her unapologetic “screw you” attitude towards everyone around her. However, as her story progressed, her motivations shifted, which ultimately made her character feel more authentic and unlikable at the same time. She doesn’t shy away from admitting that she began to relish the thrill of the kills or that her boredom often drove her actions. This brings to the forefront the age-old debate of nature versus nurture, making her a complex figure rather than just a one-dimensional villain. Paradoxically, my inability to like her only heightened my appreciation for the overall story. The complexity added to her character is what made her feel genuinely human.
On the other hand, Ruth felt disappointingly bland. Despite the substantial mystery surrounding her character and her unwavering drive to extract a confession from Daphne regarding a murder she believes she committed, I found it hard to warm up to her. From the moment we learn about Ruth's background, the identity of the murderer appears fairly obvious, diminishing any suspense and making her quest seem somewhat futile.
I particularly enjoyed delving into Daphne's character more deeply, and I appreciated the inclusion of online forums that added a modern twist and cleverly complemented the podcast element woven throughout the story. However, I feel the segments focused on fashion TikTok could have been omitted without detracting from the overall narrative. Those parts felt out of place, and I could have easily bypassed them without losing any enjoyment of the story.
Overall, the book presents a clever premise and exudes a vibe reminiscent of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo," with its intricate character explorations and compelling storytelling.
I want to thank the Author, publishers and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This review is my own.
I must admit, I didn't really connect with either of the main characters. Daphne, in particular, struck me as a sociopath. As the narrative unfolds and we peel back the layers of her motivations for murdering several men, I find myself oddly slipping into her mindset. I understood her motivation and could almost empathise with her. I also loved Daphne for her quick wit, sharp sarcasm, and her unapologetic “screw you” attitude towards everyone around her. However, as her story progressed, her motivations shifted, which ultimately made her character feel more authentic and unlikable at the same time. She doesn’t shy away from admitting that she began to relish the thrill of the kills or that her boredom often drove her actions. This brings to the forefront the age-old debate of nature versus nurture, making her a complex figure rather than just a one-dimensional villain. Paradoxically, my inability to like her only heightened my appreciation for the overall story. The complexity added to her character is what made her feel genuinely human.
On the other hand, Ruth felt disappointingly bland. Despite the substantial mystery surrounding her character and her unwavering drive to extract a confession from Daphne regarding a murder she believes she committed, I found it hard to warm up to her. From the moment we learn about Ruth's background, the identity of the murderer appears fairly obvious, diminishing any suspense and making her quest seem somewhat futile.
I particularly enjoyed delving into Daphne's character more deeply, and I appreciated the inclusion of online forums that added a modern twist and cleverly complemented the podcast element woven throughout the story. However, I feel the segments focused on fashion TikTok could have been omitted without detracting from the overall narrative. Those parts felt out of place, and I could have easily bypassed them without losing any enjoyment of the story.
Overall, the book presents a clever premise and exudes a vibe reminiscent of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo," with its intricate character explorations and compelling storytelling.
I want to thank the Author, publishers and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This review is my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Vomit
dark
funny
mysterious
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
A little dark, a little twisted, but really witty and well-written.