Dark Places

A Novel

By: Gillian Flynn

Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman, Cassandra Campbell, Mark Deakins, Robertson Dean

Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in "The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas". As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived, and famously testified that her 15-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer.

Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who've long forgotten her.

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details, proof they hope may free Ben, Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she'll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club...and maybe she'll admit her testimony wasn't so solid after all.

As Libby's search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby's doomed family members, including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town.

Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started...on the run from a killer.

©2009 Gillian Flynn (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"Gillian Flynn is the real deal, a sharp, acerbic, and compelling storyteller with a knack for the macabre." (Stephen King)

"A gritty, riveting thriller with a one-of-a-kind, tart-tongued heroine." (Booklist)

“A riveting tale of true horror by a writer who has all the gifts to pull it off.” (Chicago Tribune)

Wow, Gillian Flynn really creates dark places.

This book starts out really bleak, but even though the main character Libby Day goes through hell and back there is a sense that she is better at the end. I guess what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. I am an avid true crime reader and this book is feels like a true crime whodunit. The whodunit is a little implausible (NO SPOILERS), but the ride is fascinating.

Excellent book, extremely well narrated.

The way this was read, it kept you wanting to keep driving to finish the next chapter.

great book

I recommend this book to anyone who likes books or reading, audible is like 3rd grade when the teacher would read to the class. it takes all that annoying reading out of books.

Good story.

this was a good story. It took awhile for the author to build the characters personalities. Once the story got started it really took off.

Gilliam Flynn is a master of the surprise ending!

I love her stories! Another amazing read! All the information needed to know whodunit lies in little peices throughout. I'm hookef!

I love a book I can't figure out- and this one kept me guessing until the end.

Loved it! I'd say it's a page turner but that's not accurate- I guess it's a player because I couldn't stop playing it!

Not easy to get through

Very complex and elaborate. Most definitely a respectable piece of literature but woooooow it took until the very end to get to the point. Highly recommend sharp objects instead - Flynn’s best book by far

Dark and Compelling

This book definitely draws you in. It's dark, deep, and satisfying. I normally don't like multiple readers, but this really worked. I liked the fact that the perspective shifts back and forth between characters-- you get to see the same events from different character's viewpoints. I was quite suprprised by the twist as well. Readers were excellent. I would recommend.

Definitely A "Dark Place"

Who was your favorite character and why?

The hard part of the story is that I didn't have a favorite character; they were all, for a lack of a better way to state it, human - full of flaws and ugly truths about the human condition. I found each character appauling in some way, shape or form, but with each character's narration, I found myself looking forward to the next's perspective of the events.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

I have read that Libby Day's narration was very blank, but I liked the sad, monotone sound. I felt like it most accurately represented the character's deep depression.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The very beginning of the book draws the reader in, making it hard not to wonder what brought Libby's tragic character where she's at today.

Any additional comments?

The ending left something to be desired. Like her book "Girl Gone," the end left me dangling out there thinking why she wouldn't give any type of closure to the character's inner struggles. Overall, the book was an interesting read. The troubling characters made it hard to turn the book off because I was looking forward to the next character's point of view. If you like her writing style, you won't be disappointed.

You need this book

This book was the most amazing experience,You will love this book it will break you but you’ll love it, and you’ll be a lot stronger for have listened to it.