By Mrs. McHugh

HHS Librarian

Daisy Darker’s family​ is the epitome of dysfunctional – secrets, lies and grudges galore. So when they come together at Nana’s remote island home for a rare gathering to celebrate her 80th birthday, tension is to be expected. What isn’t expected, however, is murder. But at midnight, Nana is found dead, and father Frank follows an hour later. Unable to leave the island until the tide goes out in the  morning, the remaining family members are left in terror, wondering who is to blame for the killings and who will be next. A series of clues left by the murderer also forces them to rehash family drama and trauma, including the often isolating treatment of narrator Daisy due to a rare illness. This homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, written by an author well-known for her psychological thrillers,  is hard to put down. The family dynamics are gripping and relatable; as secrets are revealed, you alternate between sympathy and contempt for each of the characters. And then as morning approaches, and the number of remaining family members dwindles, the killer comes to light. The stunning disclosure, coupled with a twist that made me re-read earlier parts of the book, left me reeling. The ending was unpredictable and upended my feelings about certain characters to the point where I wondered “did the villain have good reason for the terrible deeds?” I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery or is drawn to stories of difficult families and relationships.