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)

worth the hours

This was a long and "dark" story with some very sinister characters. I struggled to stay interested through the early chapters, simply because I didnt care about any of the characters or what happened to them - however, the narrators were fantastic and as the pieces began to slowly come together I was very glad I decided to stick it out. The ending had an interesting twist I didnt see coming. Worth the read!

Amazing!!!

Once again Gillian Flynn has out done herself. I absolutely love her books and this one kept me wanting more. I was sad when it ended. great read keep you on your toes.

Please read this book

Dark and dreary, heavy and spooky. This is an intense ride full of twists turns and painful insights. If you are a fan of the macabre, I suggest you get this book. It will be one of the best credits you ever spend.

Surprising

Surprisingly disturbing but engaging story & excellent narration! Be ready to stop & start as the story progresses.

Takes you to another place

Where does Dark Places rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

We love books where we are transported to the place that author envisioned while writing the book. In Dark Place each scene is detailed so you are watching the story take place or feeling the character themselves in this book. The story along with the narrator's voice and expressions used while reading aloud makes this a 5 star book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Each character was different and I can see readers connecting with characters on different levels from either them personally or someone like them. She describes them in such detail you can vividly imagine each character and what they are feeling at the time.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The voices didn't detract from the story. Some other audio-books can sound cheesy or distracting, but these one were spot on. Other books can have a fantastic story but they just don't sound right with the narrators assigned, or the narrator doesn't convey the right expression or mood the book calls for. Luckily, these narrators do.

Couldn't wait to "read" on.

This is a book about a girl, Libby Day, only 7 years old, who lost 3 members of her family in a horrible crime in 1985. The book is very well written that you do not find out until the very end, how they actually died.

We hear the story from 3 points of view - Libby's, her mother's, and her big brother, Ben. The story is told in flashbacks and present day. I enjoyed this book so much I couldn't wait to get in my car so I could keep reading. Narration was quite good, also. Definitely, worth a credit.

A dark, amazing listen

This book keeps you interested the entire time. The actors do an amazing job. Probably my favorite book by Flynn- I've read 3...

Bravo!!Bravo!!

This book has definitely made me a Gillian Flynn's fan. By far a better story than Gone Girl, more unexpected twists. I like how the character is strong willed, even if she doesn't know it at times, a true survivor.

Well...it's a lot of waiting and coincidence

Quite lively. I enjoyed this thriller but sometimes it just felt a little too drawn out. Great story to the end and I was continually surprised by new revelations--time and time again!

The readers were fine--but a bit droll. I would have liked to hear a lot more inflection when they would bounce to other people in their story...some kind of defining voice---but the readers did ok.

Yes and be ware

As a new fan, after gone girl.
I say it's worth the time and money, but don't raise your expectations.
The performance could not be done better than this, and i give 5 stars.
Astonishing and will amaze you i am sure.

The story.
I love her writing, beautifully detailed, not too much and gets you the feeling straight, making you peg and peg for more of never experienced in life odd and weirdly awful feelings.
God don't make anyone feel them in real life.
This story explores many moral aspects and i respect it, if you get over the darkness that would make you shiver, discuss, agitate, angry and thinking fuck fuck fuck.

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

Do not read this if did not finish it.

The ending is unsatisfying, dull and over builded.
I think she could of easily done a much much better ending with her skills and imagination.
I am deeply not accepting it, and in one part stopped the phone and start cursing it and the writer 😓sorry. But you deserve it. You awfully finished the book.
Or maybe i got over attached 😕.