Daisy Darker

Throughout the novel, storytelling and lies play important roles in advancing the narrative action through Nana and Trixie’s murderous schemes and Daisy’s own unreliable narration. By drawing attention to the complex layers of storytelling, the author explores the fine line between fiction and lies, highlighting the power of storytelling for both good and ill.

The importance of storytelling is emphasized by the intertextuality of Daisy Darker. Feeney’s narrative includes numerous references to other works of fiction that both influence and inform it. As well as being a direct homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, the text alludes to other literary influences, such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the novels of Stephen King. The author further elaborates on this theme by embedding stories within stories in the narrative. While Daisy is the protagonist of Feeney’s novel, she is also the eponymous hero of Nana’s bestselling children’s book, Daisy Darker’s Little Secret, with the title of Nana’s book once more echoing the novel’s preoccupation with secrets and deceit. Furthermore, at the end of the novel, readers discover that the story is Daisy’s memoir, recounting her life, her death, and the murders.