Daisy Chain: A Novel

Written by Mary E DeMuth

Narrated by Renee Raudman

The abrupt disappearance of young Daisy Chance from a small Texas town in 1973 spins three lives out of control—Jed, whose guilt over not protecting his friend Daisy strangles him; Emory Chance, who blames her own choices for her daughter’s demise; and Ouisie Pepper, who is haunted by dreams of Daisy while pierced by the shattered pieces of a family in crisis.In this first book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper has a sickening secret: He’s convinced it’s his fault his best friend Daisy went missing. Jed’s pain sends him on a quest for answers to mysteries woven through the fabric of his own life and the lives of the families of Defiance, Texas. When he finally confronts the terrible truths he’s been denying all his life, Jed must choose between rebellion and love, anger and freedom. Daisy Chain is an achingly beautiful southern coming-of-age story crafted by a bright new literary talent. It offers a haunting yet hopeful backdrop for human depravity and beauty, for terrible secrets and God’s surprising redemption.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Mar 10, 2009
• ISBN: 9780310302339

Mary E DeMuth

Mary DeMuth is the author of several southern novels, including A Slow Burn, Life in Defiance, and the Christy award finalists, Watching the Tree Limbs and Daisy Chain.  She’s also written four parenting books and a memoir, Thin Places. She’s passionate about the written word, teaching, and mentoring writers. Mary lives in Texas with her husband, Patrick, and their three children.

Reviews for Daisy Chain

[delialatham · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First in the Defiance Texas rilogy, Daisy Chain is an undeniable masterpiece. Full of grit and grace, hurting and happiness, love and longing. Packed with all-too-human faults and failures that bring to shining light those breathtaking touches of glory the author tucks away here and there for the reader to find, treasure, and never, ever forget.Beautifully done!

[ldrumm16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I couldn't put this book down. Mary DeMuth built up the suspense in this story without making it seem drawn out. Her character development is exceptional - I feel like I personally know every character in this story. I could smell the Texas rain, feel the hot sun, taste the red dirt. An amazing story. I've already started book two in this series, I just can't get enough.

[lillieammann · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I don't like books that don't have a satisfying ending. To read the entire book and end up having to wait for the next book in the series to know what happened disappoints me.

[sheiladeeth_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had to read this. It’s the first book in Mary E. DeMuth’s Defiance Texas trilogy, and I’ve already read and reviewed books two and three. It’s a tribute to the author’s excellent writing and characterization that I was so eager to read the beginning even though I already knew the conclusion of the story’s mystery.Daisy Chain introduces Daisy Marie Chance, whose disappearance haunts the trilogy. She’s seen through the eyes of fourteen-year-old Jed, almost the boy-next-door—her best friend and the person she dreams of marrying one day. The novel tells the tale of Jed’s coming-of-age as he deals with his guilt when Daisy’s absence and his father’s fierce presence are all that fill his life.Having failed to protect his friend, Jed turns his efforts to protecting sister and mother and everyone he meets. He wants to please God and his Dad. He wants to make up for whatever he’s done wrong. And he wants to solve the mystery all on his own.The author has a very natural way with matters of faith and character. Her “bad guys” insist on being good sometimes, and her “good guys” on being bad. Her preachers preach truth and mistruth, faith and folly equally. And Jed tries to find his way through words while their weight and that of his sorrow bear him down. The most surprising people are gently wise, and when the final revelations are made, Jed proves himself ready to stand, still wobbly, still unsure, but definitely growing up and stepping forth. Goodbyes are hard to say. At the end of the book, for all that I knew the rest of the tale, it was hard to say goodbye as a reader too.I know how Jed will continue. I know how his mother and his friend’s mother will be tied to each other in pain and love and hope. I know what happened, and knowing makes me delight in the sudden sight of clues that the author has scattered in my path. Knowing the facts is nothing like the same as knowing the people, and the author makes me know them as neighbors and friends.I love this series. If you haven’t read it yet, start here or end here. Either will delight. And I love this book.

[wearylibrarian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book in the Defiance Texas Trilogy. It captured me immediately and I was whisked away to the small town of Defiance, Texas.Daisy knows that someday she will marry Jed, even if Jed doesn't know it. The two meet at an old church (the Crooked Creek Church) in the old town (before it was moved). When Jed realizes he is going to be late getting home he leaves Daisy behind at the church and rushes toward home. He felt a little guilty but, Daisy would be alright and he sure didn't want to get another beating from his father.But Daisy isn't alright. Daisy never makes it home. She has disappeared and Jed has to find her in order to stop the guilt he is feeling. Where did Daisy go? Did her father take her away with him? Did she decide to leave her mother, who seemed to love the strangers she brought home more than she loved Daisy? Or was it something more sinister?I love a book that takes me to the town it is set in and this book took me to Defiance, Texas. I felt as if I knew the characters personally and lived in the town. I walked to the church with Jed and I helped him paint the wall with his friends. It was a great book and one I am saving to read again someday.

[eclaj05 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book's plot and character development. Since this is book one of a trilogy the ending wasn't wrapped up nicely. I do look forward to reading the next 2 books.