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)

Title Says it All

The scenes and story line of this book were too dark for my liking. I found myself wishing the story would wrap up so it would be over, rather than enjoying the narrative and plot twists of her other books. I can't recommend this to others though and I might be done with Flynn all together.... seriously dark story lines in all her stuff. it's just too much for me, but others may love it.

A Mystery With a Twist

Many of the reviews about Dark Places that I have read on Goodreads questions the state of Gillian Flynn's mind. One reviewer stated about the ending, "Who would have seen that coming." I did... so what does that say about the state of my mind?

I had no idea of what to expect at the beginning of the book other than wondering whether or not Ben was guilty. However, Gillian cleverly plants the clues throughout the story.

I enjoyed this mystery and found myself eager to be in the vehicle so I could continue the suspense. I even sat in the parking lot, not wanting to go into the office, while I stole a few extra minutes to listen.

The story is about Libby, a survivor of a horrific crime when her mother and two sisters were murdered. She was an impressionable seven year old and her testimony put her 15 year old brother in jail for life. Disfigured emotionally and physically by the events of that night, she existed for years refusing to go to those 'dark places' in her mind that held the memories of the murder of her family.

About the time that her trust fund ran out, she received an invitation to be a special guest of the Kill Club, a club of people obsessed by real life crime. She discovered a way to profit from their obsession. She embarked on a journey to find out what really happened that night. Initially, she was just in it for the money, but quickly became immersed in her quest in ernest. She needed to know what happened that night.

The narration was done by four people and all four did an excellent job creating the individual characters with their voices.

A word of warning. There are some disturbing graphic descriptions in the book that may be traumatizing to some readers.
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Too Dark for me

What did you like best about Dark Places? What did you like least?

The protagonist was interesting. The story was a bit redundant peeling back the layers by repeating incidents from all the angles.The ending was unsatisfying. The narration was good.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Change the ending. It was very sad and did not, after all the sturm und drang searching and searching, give a real ah ha moment.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Narration was fine. I liked the different voices.

Did Dark Places inspire you to do anything?

Not read any more books by this author.

Well written

Not one character in the story was likable. None were sympathetic. A mysterious who done it. The book could have been three hours shorter.

Not To Be Missed

Could not turn this off. One cold winter's night 7-year old Libby's mother and two sisters ae murdered. Her brother is convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Twemty years later Libby begins to look into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, unravelling a complex history woven by a mixed cast of dysfunctional characters. The narration is excellent. As the story is told first by Libby and then by the men and other women involved in the action, male and female narrators provide their voices. It is immensely effective.

Loved the book

There is a creepy slow atmosphere to this book, and it seems, reading the reviews for her 1st book that this is a trait of this writer.
At first I was always hoping that one of the characters would get up and actually DO something instead of being the victims all the time,but as the story evolved, I learned to just let it be and enjoy the story.
I think that the reader does a great job of being Libby with a slow and tired voice which fits in with the character.
I recommend this book very highly.

Now that was good

Any additional comments?

I've been stuck in such a rut, i needed a palate cleanser so I could get back to center and boy did this do the trick.

The mystery that Gillian Flynn wove was like any other I have read. From the first chapter to the last, you are left questioning everything and no matter how right you think you are about what happened, you're not.

Gillian had a way of dropping pertinent information and then like a magician, would bring in smoke and mirrors to distract you from what could solve the whole mystery.

Libby was such an enigma. After being traumatized as a child, she completely stopped living. I loved the honesty of this character and how unapologetic she was for her way of life. Her character was such a great representation of amazing character development.

The Kill Club, while it did introduce important characters, I feel like it was underutilized. There is sooooo much going on there but it was touched on so briefly that I didn't get a good sense of what, I feel, should have been more descriptive.

The POV's in this book are all over and I loved it. When I listen to a book, I want to know everything about everyone and Gillian really did give me that feeling. I was really excited to know what was going on in so many characters heads.

The narrators, just as vast, were all fantastic. I don't know which narrators did which characters but it doesn't matter because all 4 were amazing and were able to portray their characters perfectly. There was nothing about this narration that distracted or pulled away from the story. They each kept me involved and completely attentive.

Not as good as "Gone Girl" but enjoyable listen.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Kept me listening because I wanted to find out who the killer was.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Nothing special in narration

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

Enjoyable listen, but not as good as "Gone Girl". Nonetheless, it was still an enjoyable book that kept me wanting more and to uncover the mystery.

Suspenseful

This story is creepy, suspenseful and sad. I loved it! It was a good change from my usual mystery stories that I like.

I just love books narrated by more than one person

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I probably wouldn't refer it to a friend because it has a very heavy story line. That’s the only reason. It was very well written and read.

Would you ever listen to anything by Gillian Flynn again?

Yes. I'm addicted.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I guess I was more into the story because of the multiple narrators than I would be if I was just reading the book.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Definitely. It is a story meant for the big screen.

Any additional comments?

It is dark. Creepy even. That’s why I only gave two stars. It is a great book, but it was too twisted and it made me feel sad at the end Very, very sad.