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)

Good

Any additional comments?

Interesting characters and story. I have since listened to all Gillian Flynn's books and appreciate her take on damaged human beings.

This book gave me anxiety

I was on the edge of my seat throughout this entire book. I found the story thick enough to draw me in and make me uncomfortable at times clinging to Ben's story.

Pretty solid read.

There were a few times when I felt like the lead-up was dragging a bit. But, overall, I enjoyed the plot and the performances. Great twists at the end.

Great narrator, not great story

I really just did not enjoy this story. The narration was great! A little too dark and a disappointment at the end!

Worth the read!

I was definitely skeptical in the beginning ofbthe book, but keep reading and your hooked. Also like the way Gillian toggles between characters viewpoints.

Better than I expected

This book started slow but built to a good finish. The back and forth between past and present helped build to the end when some minor repetitive hurt. The different narrators helped and completed a very good program.

Just ok.

narration was excellent. Story was just ok. it did keep me guessing until the end who did it, but I found myself fast forwarding through sections as it got rather long and tedious. I finished listening only because I had used a credit. If it had been free, I'd have stopped listening about 1/4 way in. so not sure that's a glowing recommendation.

Did not expect that

I loved the main character Libby Days. The story line was great and the uniqueness of what all happens and the visual setting that it give was great. The ending was also unexpected! I had predicted what was going to happen and was only half right!

Couldn't grab me

The jumping back and forth messed me up. Lackluster ending.
Overall not bad. But not my favourite

Dark

Dark story. The author does a great job in keeping things “real”. It does not have the typical overly dramatic drug out storylines that have become the norm for many authors.