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rgoth 's review for:
The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair
by MacKenzie Common
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