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)

Great but dark!

Really liked it, but not for the light hearted! Having nightmares... Much scarier than gone girl. Involves things happening to children so be prepared before downloading.

Wow!

Wow! Great story! I loved the multiple perspectives and how they worked to make the pieces fall into place. Intriguing throughout!

Could not put it down...

Loved the use of multiple narrators. The time-shifts were perfectly executed. Held captive from start to finish.

great read

I simultaneously hated and loved the protagonist which is the first time this has ever happened. I couldn't put it down. great story telling and I could never tell what wad going to happen until the end of the book!!!

enthralling, disturbing, amazing.

I am not always a fan of audiobooks but this one was immensely interesting. highly recommended

5 stars

This one kept me plugged in. Every opportunity I had, I was listening to it.

Great Story - Well Read

I have enjoyed this book immensely.
The story is suspenseful and the mystery keeps going.
This is the first book by Gillian Flynn,
but I think my next book will be too.

I have read a lot of other really good reviews for this author's books.
I think I can't go wrong.
Can't wait for the next book.

Good book, unsatisfying ending

I did enjoy this book and I would recommend it. It was read perfectly, it was engaging, dark, mysterious, and I couldn’t stop listening to it. In short, the body of the book was all of the things a dark mystery/thriller should be, however, the ending was entirely unsatisfying. Especially considering all of the pretty good red herrings the author set up, when it finally came time to *reveal* everything, I ended up expecting more. I still enjoyed reading it and didn’t regret the purchase at all, it just felt too coincidental and rushed near the end.

excellent

I loved the main characters. reading was superb. in the end it was sad and poignant

Good Read

This story was very captivating. From the start to finish i was enthralled. Highly recommend ed.