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)

Loved It!

I loved this book. Like the title implies, this is a dark story. But it is also a well written and very engrossing story. I really got drawn in by the mystery of who killed Libby Day's family. I liked Libby, she made an interesting heroine, even though her past had left her bitter and depressed. The book slowly unravels the mystery of what really happened by alternating Libby's story, her mother Patty's story, and her older brother, Ben's story. This is a great book with great character development. The narrators also did a good job, adding to my enjoyment of this book. Give this book a try if you enjoy dark mysteries that delve deeply into the tragedy of a family, and the ramifications to those who survived.

Libby

I really enjoyed this book and the twists that came after the very subtle set ups excellent book looking forward to reading the next one.

Woah, what a great thriller and a great production

I haven't come across many books that actually surprise me like this one, just wow.

Dark places doesn't disappoint

Loved this book so much. Dark, uncomfortable, yet beautifully written. Flynn Isa very talented woman.

wow, couldn't stop listening!! awesome!!!

Amazing story! great build! I truly enjoyed the mystery, it kept me guessing the whole way through!

Riveting

Gillian builds great characters. read some negative reviews, but this story had me. wish the town was real.

Great Performance and story.

Maybe the best audio book performance I have listened to. Great story and listening experience.

REALLY loved the book!

it was easy to get lost in this story with all the twists and turns. loved the narration!

Pretty damn good

Pretty good story very good narrators
Keeps you interested the whole time. Dark but good.

Good mystery, enough to keep you guessing who committed the crime

I enjoyed this book, as well as the performances of the narrators. It’s a good enough mystery that it took me a while to figure out who committed the crimes. Probably wouldn’t read it again but I would recommend it to a friend looking for a good book that’s mysterious but not too suspenseful.