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! Can't wait to listen to more stories!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys gothic thrillers or mysteries. I listened in the car on the way to and from work every day. It was like enjoying a special treat after a hard day. I kept changing my mind as to who was innocent and who was not.

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

I was torn between empathizing with the main character, and wanting to tell her to at least try to have a "normal" life. Just give her a little kick in the butt; yet stay by her when she was needing stability. She was stuck in a time zone from when she was little, and couldn't function because of things that had happened from her childhood.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I liked that there were different narrators for the different characters. It made me think, "Ok, now I will hear about Ben's side of the story..."

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I liked that I listened to this over a period of time. It kept me thinking about the book when I wasn't actually listening to the story.

Any additional comments?

The author's use of illustrated comparisons made the picture of the story come to life. It wasn't just "there was a black mailbox at the end of the road"; it was "there was a shadow of a mailbox sticking out of the road like a grotesque blackened wart of the end of a stubby arthritic thumb". (This is not a quote from the book). The point being that I was able to paint a picture in my mind with ease.

Prepare to be shocked!

Loved it! Even better than GONE GIRL. And yes...dark. This book kept me going. I love Gillian's way of introducing so many perspectives as the mystery is pieced together. When you think you know, you don't.

Very unique story

If you could sum up Dark Places in three words, what would they be?

Sad, Unrealistic and Unique

What other book might you compare Dark Places to and why?

Maybe To Kill a Mockingbird - just because of the tone of the book, and not so much the story.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked it when she met with all the murder geeks. It was humorous.

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

I wouldn't make this a film.

Any additional comments?

SPOILER ALERT: When she confronts the woman who killed her sister and her the woman's daughter, I found that scene a bit contrived and very unbelievable. It really took away from the rest of the book.

Sad, depressing read! Not like Gone Girl.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The book was okay, but it was very "dark" - no pun intended. I didn't find any characters to be very likeable, and the entire story was gloomy and sad. I found it quite depressing and toward the end couldn't wait for it to be over.

Would you be willing to try another book from Gillian Flynn? Why or why not?

I have read Gone Girl, and I did not enjoy this book nearly as much. That book at least had likable characters and fun/happy parts of the storyline.

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

This is the first performance I have listened to by this narrator. She did a decent job.

Do you think Dark Places needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, I couldn't read any more of this story.

Entertaining

If you could sum up Dark Places in three words, what would they be?

Detailed
Long
OK

If you’ve listened to books by Gillian Flynn before, how does this one compare?

My first one was Gone Girl. Do not expect the same impact.

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

Ben Day

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

I don't know.

Somewhat Entertaining

It took me a while to get into this. Parts of it are very slow but it picks up towards the middle and there's a great twist at the end. I really did enjoy the performance of the main character.

Couldn't stop listening!

I just had to get to the end to figure the mystery out. Gillian is a damn good author!

great read! good character development.

this was a good read. mid way in, it's hard to put down, but kinda slow in the beginning.

Slow start, soft ending

It took awhile to capture my attention, but it soon become interesting. It climaxed before the end.

Absolutely amazing

I wasn't listening to a story, I was living the story. Absolutely amazing as usual!