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)

Wow!

Gillian Flynn is a master at human nature, suspense, and keeping you wondering. Be prepared for marathon listening. You won't be able to stop.

Dark but Interesting

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

This is a great car trip book to listen to as it makes the miles fly by wondering the next twist and turn. It is a bit graphic and dark so be prepared for that....

Excellent book! Highly recommended

Would you listen to Dark Places again? Why?

Most definitely . It was the kind of book you just get drug into and have to know how it all comes together

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

Seriously kept me hanging on .... You'll catch yourself thinking about this book even after you have read it

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have heard some of her other works and she does a great job

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

.

Any additional comments?

The characters come across as real people - people you could know. It is a great book

don't be scared to buy this book!

After reading Gone Girl and loving it, I was so excited to see that Gillian Flynn had two other books on audible. I was discouraged because the amount of reviews/ rating didn't seem as great as those for Gone Girl. I finally bought Dark Places yesterday and holy *@#!- it was so good!!!! Exceeded my expectations completely.

Yes, it is dark- there were a few uncomfortable moments, but well worth the uncomfort to get the rest of the story. The author has a way of crafting a story that just pulls you in and you feel like you can see and indentify with the characters. I typically buy audio books to listen to while I work at my desk job all day- but, with this book, I listened during lunch and while driving, walking, etc. I just had to know what would be revealed next.

I am now moving on to by Sharp Objects. If it is anything like the other two Gillian Flynn books, I will not be disappointed!

Kept me listening but ...

it became quite anti-climatic at the end when all was revealed. Certainly entertaining enough. Not bad but Gone Girl which I had listened to first had sorta the same formula as this book.

Best Gillian Flynn book yet!

It reads like a great old horror movie. Best one of hers yet! loved it!

Gillian does it again...

Not the easiest story to stomach but this is excellent. I was completely hooked. Highly recommend.

CREEPY!

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

I was completely enthralled with this audiobook. I couldn't put it down, but almost in a creepy way. It gave me the chills, and the narrators kept my attention the whole time. Tense anticipation was probably my constant reaction.

Any additional comments?

I've read (not listened) to Gone Girl first. This is a completely different storyline but you get the same NO CLUE what is going to happen thing. I will say that in Gone Girl, what I didn't like was how terrible the characters were to each other. This wasn't like that. I left this audiobook thinking "What a good book!" but also felt creeped out. lol Enjoy!

Really good book.

What did you love best about Dark Places?

That is was so vulnerable...with good character descriptions in a way that wasn't boring.

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

When you realized what the past had done to affect our heroin...early on too.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Camille...for sure

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

At times made me sad realizing how sick some people can be

Any additional comments?

I thought this book was better than GONE GIRL....this should have gotten the hype!!!

Could not stop listening

I could not stop listening to this!!! It was so good...read well and the storyline was suspenseful and I just couldn't want to find out what happened at the end.