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)

A heavy ending

The book was good, def liked it. There was a bit in the middle where i just got bored and kind of disgusted (I felt like a creep listening to some of Ben's perspectives) but picked back up quickly after. The ending however had a LOT going on, felt like a couple different books smashed into one at the end, gave me a little headache.
Narration was also good but a lot of Diane's and Lyle's voices blurred together, had to go back a couple times to relisten.

WOW

Would you listen to Dark Places again? Why?

YES, A BOOK YOU WISH YOU NEVER FINISHED READING SOO INCREDIBLE AND SUSPENSEFUL

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dark Places?

FINDING OUT WHO THE REAL KILLER IS

Which scene was your favorite?

EVERYTHING!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A FILM ON THIS BOOK!

Any additional comments?

MUST READ ALL I CAN SAY

Dark and Riveting

Aptly named dark place, this novel is indeed one of the darkest I have read. Despite its grotesque nature, it is extremely well written. So well written, I had to pause at moments to recollect before continuing. I definitely recommend this novel to anyone that likes dark story lines and characters that have dark personalities.

Great

Great audible performances, engaging mystery. I would listen in my driveway for the end of each chapter!

Loved! Loved! Loved!

Would you consider the audio edition of Dark Places to be better than the print version?

I loved the audio version because the emotion and characters came through better for me.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved Libby. I also liked Diane. Libby wass the one that shocked me the most though. Having gone what she went through and then having to overcome so much more to have peace.

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

The way Patty loved her children even though she neglected them.

A real 'page turner' !

Like everyone else in the world, I heard the hype about Flynn's "Gone Girl" and had to listen. It did not disappoint. After listening to her smart and witty writing, I knew I had to listen to her other books. "Dark Places" was a great read. It's a dark story and it's a sad story, but Flynn's storytelling will keep you listening. I would come home from a run and keep in my ear buds, needing to know what happened next. It's a modern whodunnit that takes the reader back and forth from the night of the murders to the present day. Three storytellers alternate, and little by little, the story comes together. Great writing, great story, complex characters. Flynn is amazing !

Great. As expected.

The pace is what Gillian Flynn has become famous for mastering. Sets up a dark story before slowly stirring in the characters. They are each flawed in their own way and it's hard to find a bar guy. In true Flynn fashion, the story twists and you never know quite what to expect next.

This one is not, in my humble opinion, as twisted as Sharp Objects or Gone Girl, but still a great investment.

Satisfied with this work of literature.

Hooked from the beginning, great storytelling!

This book really shows what talented writing is! The story was so complex, yet clear, and left me on the edge of my seat. I found myself wanting to go buy the book to read so I could "turn the pages" faster. Only downside was the female narrators having to do "male" voices and vice versa... it was a little cheesy and distracting at times, but I was able to get used to it. Top 5 books ever!

surprisingly good!

I really didn't think I would end up liking this book because I couldn't find a single character in it to like or care about. And then somehow I was sucked in and loved it!

Unbelievably great.

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

One of my top 3 favorites.

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

Yes. The author takes you down a path that seems to be heading towards a likely conclusion, but then it takes a twist and then a turn and you are no longer sure any more, but the conclusion is always amazing. I didn't think she could top gone girl but she did!

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Very pleasant and fit the character. Great persona of the person speaking.