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Gone Girl  By  cover art

Gone Girl

By: Gillian Flynn
Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Kirby Heyborne
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Editorial review


By Mysia Haight, Audible Editor

PSYCH OUT—THE JAW-DROPPING GENIUS OF GONE GIRL

Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl is among the all-time best crafted stories told by unreliable narrators—two of them, the perfect couple—and a gripping thriller filled with jaw-dropping twists. This dark mystery novel also shines a critical light on the media-fueled public rush to judge people suspected of crimes who, regardless of the evidence, simply look guilty—an unsettling trend that has only escalated in the decade since the book’s release. Along with its critique of media exploitation, the novel has been widely embraced—and hotly debated—as a manifesto of modern feminism.

Ten years ago, I was approaching that dreaded life stage—middle age. After years of doing my best to be a good wife, mother, aunt, sister, daughter, and friend; a good worker, mentor, and role model; and a good listener, problem solver, and crisis manager, I was feeling taken for granted and restless. What if I did something unexpected, something out of character—something bad?

Happily, I satisfied my yearnings by becoming immersed in the brilliant mind and devious machinations of Amy Elliott Dunne, the hero (or, depending on your perspective, villain) of Gone Girl. When it was published in 2012, Gillian Flynn’s ingenious novel about a missing wife and the husband increasingly implicated in her ominous disappearance stirred up a lot of buzz. As an avid fan of psychological thrillers, unreliable narrators, and contemporary fiction driven by strong, complicated women, I couldn’t wait to read it. And I was blown away! In spite of her questionable (to put it extremely mildly) actions, I found Amy, an amazing woman who was taken for granted—first by her parents and then by her husband—relatable and, yes, sympathetic. I kept rooting for her to get the life she wanted, even when I was appalled by what she did and who she hurt to make that happen.

Has Gone Girl changed my life? Well, it didn’t motivate me to change for the badder—old good habits die hard. Yet, thanks in part to Amy and other remarkable women characters like her, I’ve gradually become better at speaking up for myself and getting heard.

Years after first reading Gone Girl, I haven't forgotten Amy. I love the way Rosamund Pike brought her to life in the 2014 film adaptation, which I've watched in its entirety three times with three different women—my sister, my niece, and my daughter. So when I discovered that one of my favorite narrators, the remarkable Julia Whelan, voices Amy in the audiobook, I just had to go back and listen. Her performance is brilliant—so believable, it's chilling—and even though I know every twist in her twisted story, Amy continues to amaze me!

Continue reading Mysia's review >

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The “mercilessly entertaining” (Vanity Fair) instant classic “about the nature of identity and the terrible secrets that can survive and thrive in even the most intimate relationships” (Lev Grossman, Time)—now featuring never-before-published deleted scenes

NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY CNN AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY TIME AND ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Janet Maslin, The New York TimesPeopleEntertainment WeeklyO: The Oprah MagazineSlateKansas City StarUSA TodayChristian Science Monitor

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY San Francisco ChronicleSt. Louis Post-DispatchThe Chicago TribuneHuffPostNewsday

©2012 Gillian Flynn (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Absorbing . . . In masterly fashion, Flynn depicts the unraveling of a marriage—and of a recession-hit Midwest—by interweaving the wife’s diary entries with the husband’s first-person account.”The New Yorker

“Ms. Flynn writes dark suspense novels that anatomize violence without splashing barrels of blood around the pages . . . Ms. Flynn has much more up her sleeve than a simple missing-person case. As Nick and Amy alternately tell their stories, marriage has never looked so menacing, narrators so unreliable.”The Wall Street Journal

“The story unfolds in precise and riveting prose . . . even while you know you’re being manipulated, searching for the missing pieces is half the thrill of this wickedly absorbing tale.”O: The Oprah Magazine

Featured Article: Listening Well Is the Best Revenge—The Best Revenge Thriller Audiobooks


No one among us hasn't imagined what it would be like to right a wrong. And even though it's better to turn the other cheek, forgive, and forget, it's still fun to listen to fictional characters enact their revenge. If you need a balm for a slight you’re still seething over, we’ve created this handy list of the best revenge thriller audiobooks to add to your library. Whether you're rooting for the story’s hero or antagonist, these tales of revenge will have you glued to your seat.

Editor's Pick: Best of the Decade

Get to the gone
"I’m a sucker for great story structure, and Gone Girl uses every inch of its narrative to subvert expectations in ways that shock and amuse. The perfectly utilized diary entries fold into a legendary mid-book reveal. The face-turn-heel of a seemingly perfect victim who revels in the way they’ve expertly managed your expectations. The unreliable narrators who reveal so much about themselves by what they don’t say—or how they shape emotional states into origami. And it all feels fair; while most twist-filled stories tend to seem rather flimsy under a microscope, the closer you look at Gillian Flynn’s masterpiece, the more you notice the sheer togetherness of it all, each part working in concert with another, coalescing to form a story that has one finger firmly on the pulse of popular culture, and one on the carotid of a serial killer."—Sean T., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Gone Girl

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • 3 Stars
    4,957
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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Surprisingly Stunning

Very impressed with the story. the character and story build up was amazing. Like no other book out there which is refreshing.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Much better than the movie.

I found this to be an enjoyable and entertaining diversion. Loved the twists and turns.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Julian Whelan's voicing of Amy is spot-on!

I did not see that ending coming, and I am a little disappointed, but on the whole, it made sense. I'll say no more about the ending. The characters of Amy, spoiled but misused only-child New Yorker of parents who used her as a muse for their bestselling children's books, and Nick, good-looking, charming Missouri-bred boy made good in New York, are deftly and cynically drawn by the author. The story of Amy's disappearance is full of twists and turns. I don't think it could have been much better, but it is hard to give 5 stars. The audiobook, however, would have benefited from a different voice actor for Nick. Kirby Heyborne is very skilled at his craft; his voice is just too boyish for the character he plays. Amy's voice actor, Julia Whelan, is spot-on, however. It was a delight to hear her narration.

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Calculated head game

What did you love best about Gone Girl?

Kept me thinking about the twisted characters

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gone Girl?

The depths to which the crazy woman went to manipulate her family with the credit card purchases in the shed

What does Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

N/a

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

The writer shows a deep perception into the minds of her couple, allowing the reader to identify and relate to each character

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Great story!

Loved all the twists! Well written and extremely engaging. I wanted to listen to it constantly!

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Such a good listen!

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

I would totally recommend this to a friend, and I think I have recommended it to all of mine so far! Each chapter left me wanting more and more, I couldn't put my phone down!

What about Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne ’s performance did you like?

The two narrators read the stories perfectly, I felt like nick and Amy were telling me their story themselves!

Any additional comments?

I feel spoiled to have this as my first experience with audible. The acting was fantastic, the story was phenomenal, and it was nice and long. I love everything about Gone Girl

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Loved the book & Love the author

I saw the movie before reading the book but the book was , as always MUCH BETTER THAN THE MOVIE.

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Marriage can make you crazy!

Would you consider the audio edition of Gone Girl to be better than the print version?

This has been one of the best books I've listened to in a long time. I found myself staying in my garage to listen to the next chapter! The narration was perfect for the dual characters and kept you on the edge waiting to see what would happen next. A DEFINITE for your long drives!

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Seriously Screwed Up!

The book was very gripping and very well preformed. The story is seriously screwed up, but you can't stop listening.

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Holy Crap

Wow just wow no other words. This book has left me speechless. I am going to go hug my husband.

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