I have to start by saying that I’m sure this book will appeal to a big audience and it’s a good debut. However for me it fell over itself offering too much. Every time I started to get involved it swapped over to another comment from someone online or another issue from a different character. So I ended up not getting caught up in anything.
I am getting rather wary of books which rely on internet comments to add drama or just move 5e story along. It always seems a bit like dream sequences ( a pet hate of mine) which are so contrived.

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Daphne St. Clair may be a serial killer with a penchant of getting rid of husbands and lovers with poison (mostly) when she gets tired of them and then making off with their fortunes for a glamourous lifestyle in New York. I was enjoying the podcast, especially with Ruth hinting about her own troubles and looking for the truth about a certain death that she thinks may be the work of Daphne and the reddit posts plus the TikToks about fashion that Daphne may have worn during her various stages of killing through the decades. It was a good point to make about how we tend to glamorize serial killers, until they cross a certain line, but even then there will always be trolls on the internet wanting to use it to create chaos. I will say, sadly it kinda does peter out a bit and I was not quite sure how it was going to go but the end did redeem itself in a way with why Daphne confessed, how things worked out for Ruth and how people mostly are not interested in a woman struggling to make her way in the world, but add in that she was a serial killer, and everyone comes out of woodworks for more. A good point made but sad that that is how it is.

If you are expecting a thrilling read with glamour and murders and a serial killer not sorry for what she did, you get that for most of it but then it gets more serious and kinda darker and left me thinking about it. Not what I expected but I think it is a good book.

I know I’m in the minority but whilst I liked this book, I didn’t love it. The premise was great but it took me a while to get into it. It’s well written but I think I was waiting for a big twist or something shocking but for me that didn’t come. Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and the author for the chance to review.

Thanks to Headline & NetGalley for ARC.
This debut has it all going on to make it talked about - the protagonists are a struggling young journalist reduced to churning out click bait and searching for THE podcast story to get her career back on track, and a 90 something year old resident in a Florida care home, who has just confessed to a murder that had been dismissed as a death from natural causes. It turns out she has more - much more - to confess, and the journalist has some dark secrets of her own.
Intriguing premise, and the structure, rolling out plot points like an old-time radio serialisation or indeed a podcast, bringing in online speculation from a Greek Chorus of reply guys with various hypotheses and agendas, and mixing in modern reflections of conditions for women through the last century or so.
For me, the twists weren't quite as surprising as I'd like and the end was a touch pat, but there's a lot to enjoy and it should make a terrific adaptation,

Thanks to net galley and the publishers for an advanced ecopy in exchange for a review.
We find out from beginning that elderly Daphne murdered her husband in their old peoples home and is now confessing to police that it isn’t just her husband but many others
The book takes us through each one in form of podcast hosted by someone with an interest and passion perhaps ulterior motive.
Loved the mix media format and this was a real good read with interesting plot and I will be recommending

Although the subject of murder shouldn’t be fun, this is an enjoyable read. While slipping into social media speak from time to time, to progress the background to the murders with public opinion, the murderer is interviewed by a podcaster, who also hold a suspicious secret and the reader is left wondering when the two will collide. A 90+ year old murderer tells a good story and the podcaster doesn’t get an easy ride from the meek little old lady. The title may or may not be accurate, you’ll have to be judge and jury as the story evolves. There might be some justice to some of the murders, but who is to say what is right and what is wrong? I’m not sure I’d want the police from this town involved with any murder locally to me, as their level of failure increases as the book reveals the murders. I enjoyed the setting of the murder stories over the past 70+ years and the reasons given for each success or failure. This is well written and I hope to read more from this author in the future.

REVIEW
cw: murder, mentions of alcoholism, DV, child abuse, rape, misogyny, queerphobia
When ninety-year-old grandmother Daphne confesses to killing a number of men throughout her lifetime, she chooses struggling journalist Ruth Robinson to produce the podcast charting Daphne's humble beginnings from the Dust Bowl in Canada to her glittering life in 70s New York - and leaving a string of murders in her wake.
The public is hooked. Is she a feminist icon taking revenge on bad men? Or just a ruthless criminal? As the podcast finale approaches, it becomes clear that neither woman has been entirely honest with the other. Who has been controlling the narrative?

I was intrigued by the premise of this book as soon as I saw it on NetGalley, and it did not disappoint. The prologue hooked me immediately, and I loved the story's format, which combined podcast transcripts, conversations, social media posts, and the introspective musings of Ruth and Daphne.
Daphne was such a complex character, and the author did an admirable job of showing her duality. At times, I could empathise with her, especially when she was showing her fragile side, but then we'd get her vain and selfish characteristics. I won’t go into detail about each murder, but I will say I could see what drove her to some of them. However, the fourth murder felt cruel, and changed my overall perception of her, and the 'freebie' was hard to read, especially as we only ever had her version of the events.
Daphne was full of biting wit and irreverent humour, but you could also feel her mean side bubbling under the surface. The story of how Daphne's son, James, became estranged was well-told, and my heart broke for him on several occasions. Her twin daughters, Diane and Rose, were awful at the beginning, but by the end, I found it difficult not to have some sympathy for how much upheaval they went through in their childhood.
Ruth was interesting in her own way, though the big secret behind her involvement meant that she felt less well-developed early on. Around a third of the way, we started to get the first hints about how Ruth and Daphne's lives were intertwined, and I thought Ruth's secrets were woven well into the storyline. I felt for her when she described the way Ruth's father's family treated her.
My heart ached for both Daphne and Ruth at different points in the book, but especially when they each recounted their difficult childhoods and the way they were perceived by their peers.
The Reddit threads felt hilariously authentic and added much-needed levity, especially after some of Daphne's early recollections. HauteHistoire's posts were also on the nose, especially when they saw the tide turning and pivoted to another egregious trend, and there was an interesting critique of the morality of consuming true crime media.
I won't spoil anything, but the various subplots and supporting characters added to the intrigue, and I think the author did a great job at developing the claustrophobic atmosphere as Ruth grew more and more paranoid about threats to her safety from various angles. While the final third worked well at tying up all of the loose ends, I had guessed a couple of the identities quite early on. Still, I loved the ending.
The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair was an engaging read, and I will definitely read more from this author.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️.5

*Thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair is published on the 19th June in the UK*

Favourite Quotes:

Jeez, you kill one old man and suddenly no one wants to sit at your lunch table.

Her husband was a senator, just another boy who was born on third base and thought he’d hit a triple.

I had a doctor in New York once tell me that he could see scars in my lungs from all the dirt I breathed in as a child. He had trained in Oklahoma and said he could spot a Duster from a mile away. I never went back to that doctor. I hated the idea that my body was giving up my secrets.

Some women were scared of riding the subways by themselves in the Sixties, but I knew that every train I was riding already had a murderer on it. And if anyone did threaten me, I already knew how effective a subway could be as a murder weapon.

Rose’s face remained neutral as her husband talked about sending her mother to the electric chair.
Guess I was off the Christmas card list.

I always found it suspicious how much conservative men liked to talk about families. It always seemed to be the ones who were later found face-down in a pile of cocaine.

"I was proud of getting away with it, but it’s no fun if no one knows that you’ve won.”

Women were so much more than how the world saw them, their secret lives so much more complicated and frustrating than the lives of men, because they had to constantly wrestle with the fact that they had more power than they thought but less power than they deserved.

Was it better to have a happy life or a moral one?

Daphne is a 90 year old lady living in a care home who just confessed to being a serial killer!

Ruth, a podcaster, wants to interview her...

I really enjoyed this. I loved the suspense in some chapters and really liked how it was written in the podcast style. The timeline chapters over the years of Daphnes life really painted a picture of her and i found it difficult to decide whether to like her or not. The chapters were short and fast paced which I always love! It made me want to keep reading late into the night. 100% recommend this one 👌🏼

When 90-year-old care home resident, Daphne St Clair, confesses to being a serial killer, everyone wants to be the one to break the story. Why would someone who has gotten away with decades of murders suddenly confess? Podcaster, Ruth King, is the person Daphne chooses to tell her story, but as they get to know each other during the interviews, it becomes clear that neither of them are telling the whole truth.....

This is a great read! Daphne is a mix of an even more ruthless Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind, & Debbie Jellinsky from Addams Family Values - scheming & marrying her way out of poverty & disposing of her rich husbands when they outstay their welcome. Daphne also has a very droll sense of humour about it all & is really quite unrepentant. It neatly skewers the double standards back then & also highlights the constant pressure on women to make being the perfect wife & mother their whole personality, without complaint.

The author doesn't shy away from making Daphne completely unlikeable in a lot of ways, yet the reader can't help but tag along to see what she does next. Unfortunately Ruth suffers from being in the bright light of Daphne's all-encompassing personality & seems rather drab & dull in comparison. It was a fascinating look at a female serial killer, albeit a fictional one, which isn't afraid to look at the darker aspects of ordinary life.

TWs; sexual assault, murder, misogyny.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Headline/Mountain Leopard Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Overall I enjoyed this one! It was slightly different to the thrillers that I normally read. However, I loved the dark humour and the mixed media format. The majority of the book is essentially a podcast going through each of the murders, and there were Reddit post discussions throughout the chapters. I loved watching the mystery unravel!

Straight away from the start I could tell it was going to be a character study type of book. It felt slightly reminiscent of Strange Sally Diamond, so if you enjoyed that book you’re sure to love this one!

Whilst the ending didn’t shock me, I still didn’t see it coming so it was a nice surprise! There was an epilogue too, although I personally thought this wasn’t really needed. It didn’t add anything more and felt like it ended quite abruptly.

I do still recommend this one, as it was an enjoyable read and something a bit different. Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for the ARC copy. All opinions are my own.

Out 19th June

I adored this story! The characters are layered and interesting, and I loved that they truly feel like unreliable narrators — I had no idea how i felt, or how I SHOULD feel, throughout reading. I love Daphne’s wit and sarcasm, despite her sociopathic tendencies, and the subtle nods to what it means to be a woman and how that has changed over time. This story was engaging, well-written and twisty, and the use of the podcast transcript and social media throughout was a lovely touch. This would be a fantastic listen via audiobook!

Just finished this book and I can’t stop thinking about it.

Meet Daphne: 90 years old, living in a care home… and apparently a serial killer.
Meet Ruth: true crime podcaster, desperate for her big break.
When Daphne confesses to a lifetime of murders, she chooses Ruth to tell her story. Each episode of the podcast dives into Daphne’s life — from surviving the Dust Bowl to living it up in 70s New York — all while leaving a trail of bodies behind.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. The characters took a few chapters to grow on me, but once they did, I was hooked. Completely obsessed. I couldn’t put it down.

Daphne is unforgettable — sarcastic, sharp, and darkly hilarious. Her commentary is brutal in the best way, and I was smiling through the most unsettling parts.

It’s not just a murder story. It’s layered, complex, and deeply thought-provoking. The structure is brilliant — part transcript, part narrative, with social media snippets showing the public’s reaction as the podcast blows up.

This book had me questioning my own judgment more than once. The way it touches on power, womanhood, and survival across generations is seriously impressive.

If you love morally grey characters, true crime vibes, and a plot that keeps you thinking, you need to read this.

MacKenzie Common — I need more from you, ASAP.

I love how this book shows the story that readers or listeners receive. We get the viewpoint of the host and sometimes only get the bits of the story we are allowed to hear. Overall a compelling, though provoking and dark read.

The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair was a fantastic take on the true crime industry with a uniquely unnerving serial killer at its heart.

Ruth and Daphne are both fascinating players in this book. Daphne is like a spider at the centre of the web, pulling you into her narrative and revealing just as much as she wishes to each time. However, as a reader, you feel beguiled but uneasy as you never truly feel safe in her presence. This is reflected in Ruth who starts as a similarly mysterious figure in many ways, but as the pages turn, you learn more and the stakes increase tenfold. It is a simmering cat and mouse game undercutting the podcast on the surface and you will not be able to tear yourself away.

I really liked the discussion around the true crime industry and the way it can exploit these crimes for entertainment, particuarly disregarding the victim’s stories to spotlight the killer. That comes into play here with Ruth’s podcast - asking if it’s a heartfelt desire to tell the truth or a vehicle for her own motivations?

Ultimately everyone involved is hiding something and using this for their own goals, meaning that the actual victims of the crimes might be sidelined. You can see this in the excerpts of discussions around the podcast, showcasing the darker side of fandom that can evolve in these spaces. With the lines between fiction and reality becoming blurred, real people can be seen as caricatures or characters. All of this is very meta in the book as Common plays with the expectations of story and generic plot beats. The mystery is well-paced and interestingly structured over the podcast episodes. You start to learn more about the bigger picture and get drawn into Daphne’s web. There is a constant tension of what the truth really is and you cannot help but want to keep reading and find out for certain.

The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair is unforgettable. Common interrogates the sensationalism of crime here with a layered and complex narrative that I devoured.

Daphne St Clair is a glamorous, wealthy, elderly widow, who is a resident of a pleasant nursing complex. When Walter, her companion, whom is also a resident is found dead by poisoning and Daphne admits the responsibility for his death and also an additional five, Ruth, a young journalist, takes an interest in the case and decides to create a podcast detailing Daphne's life story.
We are the taken right back to the start of Daphne's life, when she was known as Loretta Cowell who came from a dirt poor farming community. As Daphne's story gradually unfolds who get a real feel for the complexities of her nature. She is a particularly single minded lady who is used to getting what she wants in life. We get no idea of her victims feelings at all as the novel is purely seen through Daphne's eyes.
I found this book to be an accomplished first novel by MacKenzie. I enjoyed the style of the story which included Ruth and Daphne's interviews and also the various podcasters input. There is no gore involved either.

I read this over a 24 hour period the majority of it in one long session. A modern novel featuring a true crime podcast and internet comments but with an age old story to tell. Daphne lives in a luxury retirement home and shocks everyone when she confesses to not only the murder of another resident but to several historical murders. Kept, due to her age, confined in her rooms she decides to relate her life story to podcaster Ruth not knowing that Ruth has an agenda of her own. The writing and plotting are excellent, laced with dark humour ,and encouraged me to keep reading till the end. Throughout the book there are questions of morality , is Daphne motivated by self preservation, by the need to provide for her children or just by pure greed..
If this is a debut novel then the author has a very successful writing career ahead of her.

Well this novel does exactly what it says on the tin. It's about a nonegenarian who, after the death of her aged boyfriend (Warren) at the care home they resided at, decides to confess to his murder - and she doesn't stop there.

But once she's confessed to Police she finds herself the target of true crime podcasters who all want her story. She picks Ruth Robinson amd begins to tell her story but Ruth isn't all she appears to be. She has her own agenda but will Daphne provide the answers she craves?

This book was heading for five stars - it was witty and fun to begin with and Daphne (despite her serial killer tendencies) is an engaging character. The thing that palled for me was the endless saga of Ruth not getting to what she wanted to know and the narrative felt a little circuitous in places.

Otherwise, it's a good story with some nice little twists at the end. A serial killer with a difference. Daphne is a great character with an interesting history. Ruth did get on my nerves a bit, but thankfully Daphne's story is the star of the show.

The main body of the narrative is the podcast and Daphne's sole recollections, which are not aired, but there are some bits where the fans have their say and the odd part regarding fashion which seemed to have no bearing on the plot at all. Good apart from the odd minor niggle and I'd definitely recommend it.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Headline for the advance review copy.

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.

I don’t know why but I really thought this would have humour running through it and Daphne St Clair would be a loveable grandma…. How wrong was I! She is an awful human!!!

Someone dies at the retirement home where Daphne resides, later that day she confesses to the murder and says she’s murdered before, we meet Ruth a journalist who has recently been unlucky in love and work… what comes next is Daphne’s backstory, what leads a woman (mother of 3) to become a serial killer!?

Great book which unfolds at a good pace,

The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair is the debut by Mackenzie Common. Daphne isn’t your average 90 year old living in a nursing home. She is razor sharp, glamorous, has a boyfriend and plenty of money. The most extraordinary trait, is that she is a serial killer, a fact that she decides to inexplicably confess one day, by calling the local police.
Ruth Robinson is trying to make a name for herself as a journalist, unsuccessfully. Her small hometown is proving to be very inhospitable to her privately, as well as in her work life. Can she get the scoop of the decade? Interviewing Daphne, to find the answer to the question on everyone’s lips. Why did Daphne confess?

Bizarrely, despite Daphne’s actions, you can’t help but like her, though I’m obviously not condoning her behaviour and actions. She has an acidic wit, dripping with sarcasm, a sharp but selective memory of her long, and eyebrow raising life. Her relationship with her youngest granddaughter is lovely. She is a complex character, who undoubtedly was shaped by her formative years.

All the way through the book, while following Daphne’s story, there is an undertone bubbling away. We know there is something that Ruth has hidden away, but it is frustratingly out of reach to the reader.

Daphne St Clair is a great debut. It is darkly entertaining, but conversely light at the same time. I read the book, but I can see that it would work really well on audio, the podcast element lends itself really well to that format. I think fans of Sweetpea, and None of This Is True will thoroughly enjoy the book. 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.