Enjoyed how the podcast transcript and the narrative were interwoven, enjoyed Daphne's razor sharp personality and the way the stories slowly unfurled.

There's so much to enjoy in The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair: it takes several crime fiction tropes and gives them a few unexpected twists. There's a serial killer — only it's a woman, she's 90, and right from the start she contacts the police to confess her murders. There's an 'investigator' — only it's a podcaster and she has been hired by Daphne.

---

One of the most compelling aspects of The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair is its structure. (I’m a sucker for a well-structured narrative!)

Having admitted that she murdered a fellow-resident of the care home where she lives, Daphne is ready to tell all… but only to Ruth Robinson, a broke and depressed aspiring true crime podcaster. This sets the stage for a narrative that is a well-paced, suspenseful and dynamic combination of podcast episodes, interviews and personal reflections from the characters. It’s a multi-layered, engaging approach, that gradually reveals both the crimes themselves and the characters involved.

Thanks to this structure, The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair is not just an exciting crime read. It allows for a gradual, in-depth exploration of Daphne’s character.

Daphne St Clair is a complex and interesting character, at once a cold-blooded killer and a sympathetic figure who has endured hardships and injustices. As the narrative progresses, we learn more and more about why Daphne has killed people, challenging our perceptions of right and wrong, truth and deception. She does not present herself as a victim, but her life story is quietly heartbreaking. She has known all sorts of abuse and oppression and her murders… well let’s just say that while you might not condone them, you can see what got her there.

Her life story is a testament to her resilience, but it’s also a stark reminder of the lengths to which people will go to survive and thrive. Daphne’s confessions raise questions about morality and justice. Is she a feminist icon taking revenge on bad men, or is she simply a ruthless criminal? The novel does not serve up any easy answers, and this ambiguity is one of its greatest strengths.

Ruth Robinson, on the other hand, is relatable and easy to like. It’s easy to empathise with her struggles with depression and financial instability. A lot is hanging on her podcast, which she hopes will pull her out of financial difficulties and professional obscurity, and you’ll find yourself rooting for her success. However, she’s not without her flaws, and her own secrets and deceptions add layers of complexity to her character.

The dynamic between Daphne and Ruth is cleverly presented. Neither woman is entirely honest with the other, both are unreliable narrators, and the tension between them keeps you on your toes.

---

The novel also explores the phenomenon of true crime and its impact on society. The public’s fascination with Daphne’s story raises questions about the ethics of true crime storytelling. Is it exploitative, or does it serve a greater purpose? If you’re a fan of true crime podcasts, it might well leave you feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Finally, the novel is written in taut, elegant and accessible prose that make it a deceptively easy read, belying the dark themes. And its sharp dialogue is authentic and often funny.

In conclusion, I have to admit that in some ways I’m not really sure why I liked this so much. Was it the elegant cover? The female serial killer? The 90-year-old protagonist? The modern twist on narrative structure, largely through podcast episodes? The abuse-survival theme? None of these elements is unique or original, but they come together in a unique way in The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair. If you appreciate a well-crafted story, I highly recommend it.

Daphne St Clair is a sassy ninety year old , she lives in a care home and has a secret .
The secret is that she is a killer a serial killer .
After a male resident in the same care facility dies Daphne decides to confess to his murder and also the other murders she has committed throughout her life .
Ruth is chosen by Daphne to record a podcast , little does Daphne know that Ruth has her own reasons for doing the podcast too.
This is a fantastic read , the writing is excellent and it makes the pages turn themselves .
A memorable read !
Looking forward to reading more from the author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline .

This book kept me entertained all the way through. The plot was intriguing and original and the writing was great. I loved the character of Daphne, even if she was a serial killer, and I am happy that her life ended as it did. Some of the characters were unlikeable but all were interesting, and I enjoyed the smattering of humour throughout (from Daphne). The only thing I’m disappointed about is that I wanted Ruth to be able to prove who killed her father so that they could get their comeuppance. Oh, and I wasn’t keen on the online forum bits. This was a really good read which I can heartily recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

I didnt enjoy this book. I didnt like the characters and the plot fell a bit flat for me. I just didnt really get anything out of this book.

An elderly man dies in a Florida old people's home. He leaves a grieving girlfriend Daphne. Imagine everyone's shock when shortly afterwards Daphne phones the Police and confesses to killing not only him but several other men.
Ruth is lucky enough to get the job of recording a podcase interviewing Daphne whilst she is on home arrest awaiting trial. She is 90 years old and her story starts in the Canadian dustbowl of the 1920s following her journey of murders and name changes to get a better life for her and her children. Ruth also has an agenda she needs to keep close to her chest. She is getting pressure from other sources to confess to something she didn't do, she thinks that Daphne might have though.
An interesting and engrossing read.

It’s tagged as “your new favourite serial killer” and I have to say that’s not far off the mark.
Perfect for readers of crime fiction and true crime as well as all those crime podcast subscribers.
We meet nursing home resident nonagenarian Daphne who has recently admitted to killing many of her wealthy ex-husbands whilst assuming numerous identities, amassing a fortune and living the life of an rich New Yorker. She strikes up a peculiar symbiotic relationship with Ruth, a down-at-heel journalist turned podcaster who interviews Daphne regularly whilst she’s under investigation. Both women have secrets to hide and lies to unpick, but the question is what and why now?
A superb page turner and the perfect summer read.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

I requested an ARC of this novel as its premise is so unusual, even in the realms of crime writing: a ninety-year old care home resident who confesses to being a serial killer? How would this concept unfold in fiction? As it turned out, in the hands of Mackenzie Common, rather well. Especially after Daphne, the self-confessed nonagenarian criminal, meets Ruth Robinson, an aspiring true crime podcaster who is at a bit of a loose end. It is Ruth who painstakingly records Daphne’s fascinating life story that sees her move from the Canadian prairies to New York in the 1970s, leaving a string of murders in her wake – if Daphne’s stories are to be believed. Because who knows if Daphne or Ruth are entirely honest with themselves, with each other, and with their audience lapping up the increasingly sensationalist podcast material?

Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the free ARC gifted to me of this new, unusual crime concept of a book. I look forward to reading more from Mackenzie Common and hope her next literary offering will be as unusual and as compelling as this one!

This is a mystery thriller. It takes the form of interviews with a 90 year old resident of a care home who has suddenly confessed to several murders. Her confession obviously sparks journalistic interest and Daphne decides to tell her story to Ruth who writes a true crime podcast.
I am not sure whether a reader should like the characters in a murder mystery but I found little to like in either Daphne or Ruth.
I liked the variety of writing styles, the podcast interviews, the online chat rooms and the event lines of Daphne and Ruth.
I was a bit disappointed by the narrative, there was very little mystery, unless you counted whatever was troubling Ruth. It felt very predictable although I did like the way Daphne ended her interactions with Ruth.

I haven't read anything else by the author and I think there would need to be something special to draw me into another of her books.

This probably runs out at a 2.5 stars

When I read the synopsis for this book I just had to read it. I work in a care home setting and I am glad we don't have anyone like Daphne St Clair living there!

When I started this book I thought it was fun, especially when I read how she had poisoned her partner of a couple of years, who also happened to live in the same care home. If she had not said anything then this death would have been put down to natural causes, but Daphne decided to phone the police and admit to murdering him and that it was not the first time she had done it.

So, here was me thinking it would be a fun and lighthearted book and for a little while it was, but as I read further I realised it wasn't a fun book in fact it was more serious. While Daphne was happy to murder whoever she was with at the time and move on, what she didn't factor into the equation was how it would affect her three children.

Daphne tells her story to a podcaster, Ruth does not have a large following but with her being the only one that Daphne will speak to, she soon gathers more followers. While Ruth thinks that Daphne is not always completely honest with her as she relates her life and each murder, can the same be said for Ruth?

I really enjoyed this book and the way that the author used the character of Daphne to show how women were treated and seen in the past. the story tells of how Daphne was raised on a small farm, destitute, in the dust bowl-era, with not enough food, clothing or privacy. How she made a break for freedom and ended up in America and began her life again, but on her terms this time.

The author creates a compelling account told via Daphne, with asides from Ruth, and also because the interview is part of a podcast, there are comments from followers. Along with this there is also some reflection from the both the main characters and also a sense of danger for Ruth, but why? Well I'll you to find that out yourself. As much as this story is about murder, it is also a look back through the life of a woman who has lived through different decades, has done her thing to provide for her children. By the end of the book you will get a larger picture and as much as Daphne tries to justify what she has done, she knows what she is looking at in the future.

This is an interesting story that is a mix of crime and mystery, of family and society and also historical fiction and one I would be happy to recommend.

The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair is an entertaining tale about a 90 year old woman who confesses to murders that she would have got away with as she wasn't under suspicion at all.

Told via podcast transcripts, recollections from Daphne and online forums, it is an enjoyable read that kept me engrossed through out. With well drawn characters you will either love or hate and a well paced plot, it will appeal to readers who enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

It is dark and witty and for a debut novel I highly recommend it.

The Six Murders of Daphne St. Clair by Mackenzie Common is a gripping and darkly witty thriller that keeps you guessing until the final page. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel’s sharp, sardonic tone and the way it leaned into its twisted sense of humour. Both main characters are deeply flawed, yet compelling; their stories unfold like puzzles you can’t help but want to solve. One of the most engaging aspects of the book is how unreliable the characters are—you’re never quite sure who to believe, and that ambiguity keeps the tension high throughout. The blend of traditional narrative with text messages and social media posts adds a fresh, modern layer to the storytelling, making it feel immediate and immersive. Common masterfully balances psychological depth with plot twists, creating a mystery that’s as much about the characters’ inner lives as it is about the crimes. A haunting, clever read with bite.

"I killed six men in my life" says 90‑year‑old Daphne St Clair, a glamorous, sharp‑witted woman in a care home. And with that confession, I was hooked.
Daphne recruits Ruth Robinson, a struggling true‑crime podcaster, to record the narrative of her crimes as podcast episodes.
As Daphne recounts her journey, from her dusty Canadian childhood to dazzling decades in 1970s New York, the reader is drawn into a complex tapestry of seduction, power, revenge and media spectacle.
Dark, witty and original. The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair blends murder mystery with sharp satire of the true crime genre. The story cleverly critiques our obsession with crime and female villains.
Daphne is a fantastic character, cunning and totally unapologetic. She makes a morally gray narrator and her voice is so compelling that I could have listened to her recount her entire life even without the murders. Ruth is a quieter but equally interesting counterpoint. She's vulnerable, morally conflicted and a reminder of how easy it is to get swept up in someone else's narrative.
Some minor quibbles: it is a bit slow in parts and there is no grand twist. The fashion commentary didn't advance the narrative and sometimes detracted from the pacing.
If you're drawn to dark domestic thrillers with biting satire, flawed protagonists and a subversive take on public fascination with crime, you’ll find The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair compelling. Daphne is unforgettable, the format is inventive and the book makes you think about how stories, especially about women and violence, are constructed and consumed.
I’m giving it 4.5 stars: addictive, smart and subversive.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair is a dark, witty thriller about 90-year-old Daphne, who confesses to six murders. She asks Ruth, a young true-crime podcaster, to help tell her story.
The story is told through interviews, podcast clips, and flashbacks. It a great read especially, if you are a fan of true-crime podcasts!

The moment I read the blurb for this book, I had to get my hands on it. An elderly woman in a care home suddenly confesses to being—wait for it—not just a murderer, but a full-blown serial killer. Daphne St. Clair (honestly, could you ask for a more glamorous murderess name?) decides it’s time to unburden her soul, and what better way than a podcast? She picks Ruth Robinson as the journalist to spill her sordid secrets to—but, naturally, Ruth has her own skeletons rattling in the closet and an agenda that’s anything but pure.

Neither Daphne nor Ruth are what you’d call warm and fuzzy, but their prickliness only made the book more deliciously entertaining. The author has masterfully crafted St. Clair into a villain you absolutely love to hate—and, disturbingly, sometimes you might even find yourself nodding along with her reasons for murder.

As for the comparisons to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo? Other than a vaguely similar title rhythm, I’m not seeing it. Unless Evelyn also had a secret hobby involving body counts…

I was intrigued by the premise of The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair—a glamorous, 90-year-old woman confessing to multiple murders on a podcast? That’s a great hook. And to be fair, the book delivers on that in a lot of ways. Daphne is a compelling character: sharp-tongued, stylish, and completely unapologetic. I didn’t always like her, but I couldn’t stop listening to what she had to say. There’s a magnetic quality to her, even when she’s being downright awful.

The podcast format is clever and mostly works—it gives the story a true-crime feel that’s very current. I liked the transcripts and off-air banter, but at times it felt like the format was doing a bit too much. There were sections that felt like filler or attempts to be overly trendy. I found myself skimming those after a while.

Ruth, the host, adds some emotional depth, and her storyline became more interesting the deeper the book went. But I wish her motivations had been a bit clearer earlier on—it took me a while to really care about her.

That said, there’s a lot to enjoy here if you like morally grey characters and slightly absurd dark humor. It didn’t blow me away, but I appreciated the originality and the stylish voice. It’s not a book I’ll forget quickly, even if I didn’t love every part of it.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

The blurb and title of this book had me intrigued from the start, and I was not disappointed. This novel tells an engrossing tale that hooks the reader in until the very end.

I highly recommend this book.

I chose to read a free eARC of The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair but that has in no way influenced my review.

Daphne St Clair has a new boyfriend. Or she did have, until she killed him. Ninety-year-old Daphne is a resident of the Coconut Grove Care Home in Florida. Her days are full of the same mundane things, so she decides to liven things up by confessing to Warren Ackerman's murder. What's even more surprising is that Warren wasn't the first man Daphne claims to have killed. Or the second. Or the third.... Thrust into the spotlight thanks to her wild claims, Daphne becomes a news sensation. Which brings out the podcasters in droves! Making a bid to broadcast Daphne's story is Ruth Robinson. She's the least experienced, the least polished and that, more than anything else, appeals to Daphne. The listening public is immediately hooked. But as the finale approaches, it becomes clear to both women that neither of them has been one hundred per cent honest with the other...

Why, oh why, oh why would you confess to multiple murder as you approach the end of your life, having gotten away with it for many, many years? That's the question everyone is asking as they listen to Daphne's story unfold. What does she have to gain from her sudden confession? The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair (what a title!) is a highly compulsive, intriguing book. As Daphne starts to relay her story, from her desperate, humble beginnings to her multiple marriages, moving up in society and becoming steadily wealthier, we start to see exactly who Daphne St Clair is. Or do we? Is Daphne trustworthy in what she says?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair was an entertaining read from start to finish. I found Daphne a very interesting character. At first, I felt she was killing the men in her life to save her own skin. It was either her or her victim. But over time, that changes and things become a little fuzzy around the edges. Ruth is quite a different person from Daphne, and I liked the dynamic between the two. There is an edge of unease there throughout their discussions. Doubt is sprinkled by both characters, and it was interesting to watch their chats play out. With that in mind, if you're a fan of the unreliable narrator, please give this book a go. I enjoyed the format of the book with the podcast element. Despite this being a fairly common approach in literature these days, it still makes me smile. I enjoyed the humour, the characters (despite many of them being highly unlikeable), the relationship between Daphne and her granddaughter and the overall presentation of the novel. But, of course, it's not all light and little old ladies! There is darkness here, with a particularly unsettling scene near the start of Daphne's story where she suffers abuse at the hands of a man in a position of power. I found this scene, in particular, really affected me. All in all, The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair was an enjoyable, fun read with touches of darkness throughout. Fascinating characters, an intriguing storyline and quite possibly my favourite cover of the year! Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

When Daphne an elderly care home resident confesses to killing a number of men in her lifetime, she chooses Ruth an aspiring true crime podcaster to cover her story.
This was an engrossing dark tale. Told as though you are primarily listening to the confession, it frequently is a reflection of Daphne's past. It ws surprisingly gripping and kept me engaged throughout and I particularly liked the twist at the end.

This gripping mystery follows Daphne St. Clair, a glamorous socialite who confesses to a murder—but is she telling the truth? The story unravels through twists and turns as detectives peel back layers of her enigmatic life, revealing five other suspicious deaths tied to her past. With a lush 1950s Hollywood vibe and a cast of intriguing characters, this book kept me guessing until the very end. The vivid descriptions had me hooked, especially the quirky scent details—like the detective noting Daphne’s perfume as a mix of roses and secrets—that had me laughing out loud! Perfect for a cozy night in with a blanket and a cup of tea.