Gone Girl

A Novel

By: Gillian Flynn

Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Kirby Heyborne

Length: 19 hrs and 57 mins

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 Times • People • Entertainment Weekly • O: The Oprah Magazine • Slate • Kansas City Star • USA Today • Christian 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 Chronicle • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • The Chicago Tribune • HuffPost • Newsday

©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

Excellent--up to a point----

There are days when I'm convinced I could write the next big novel--or at least the perfect ending for some of the big novels that make all the "must read" lists. This is one of those days--

Gone Girl was excellent--it hooked me from the beginning. I couldn't wait to rejoin the story on my daily commute. And I was recommending it to anyone who would listen. Then the ending just didn't live up to the quality of the rest of the novel. Unfortunately, that is becoming a trend in today's books--I'm seeing it more often than I'd like.

I have still rated this book quite high because I truly did enjoy everything else about it--I won't trash the rating just because a book did not end the way I think it should have. When I write my novel . . .

Very intriguing Story

Where does Gone Girl rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I thought it was a very good story to listen to. Kept me interested the entire book!!

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

Their acting ability to bring the characters to life, very good.

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

No not really, I use my audio books to walk and bike with and I like it when one story is something to look forward to while working out.

This will keep you guessing.

Would you listen to Gone Girl again? Why?

I like listening to books with male and female readers. Makes things more believable. These two main characters were very well thought out and the story perfectly planned. I was always trying to guess what will happen next. That keeps me interested.

Fun! Perfect audio book.

Would you listen to Gone Girl again? Why?

Absolutely. The narrators played the characters perfectly. They portrayed all the subtle character changes well. Fun listening! My favorite audio book!

What other book might you compare Gone Girl to and why?

The narrative style is unique to the author. Similar to Dark Places.

Have you listened to any of Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I listened to Whelan in Witness. Pleasant, talented.

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

Nothing is what you expect.

Could Not Put it Down!

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

This had such a unique plot- I don't want to say much, because I don't want to give it away, but this one kept me guessing. I downloaded her first two books based on the fact that I enjoyed this one so much. The narration was perfect. If you are in the mood for suspense and an audiobook that you cannot put down - do not hesitate to listen to this book.

Creepy.....in a good way

Wow, this book had all the twists and turns you could ask for. The people in the story, mainly Nick and Amy, were two messed up people. Having said that, they would be the last people you would want as friends, but great characters for a book. I enjoyed the narrators most of all.....Julia Whelan was perfect. The only reason I didn't give a 5 star rating all the way across is because, even though I finished the book almost two days ago, I am still unsure how I feel about the ending. A story worth the time never the less.

GONE is right!

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

Yes, this is a certain pick-me-up for any of my married friends. I have really never hated characters the way I hated these people. At first you think you're on one's side and against the other. Then you change your mind. You don't respect either of them, and they just keep getting more dispicable. I almost didn't finish... its hard to care about a book if you' re not sure you're really rooting for anyone. But you should finish just for shock value.

What did you like best about this story?

Even though I LOATHED both Nick and Amy, the character development was surprising and crafty. Just when you think you're getting to know them, you realize you don't.

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

Certain to make you feel great about your own marriage!

GREAT BLOCKBUSTER MATERIAL!

I absolutely love the Unpredictability of the characters and the story.My perceptions and feelings about each of the characters changed every few moments. Refreshing !

Feel miserable after reading the book

In no doubt, the story is intriguing, and the narrators' performance is impeachable.

However, the story is so twisted and sick. Can not tell you how much I hate Amy, Nick and especially the ending. This is a book that will make you feel very miserable and depressed. If you are looking for the book that make you laugh and happy, stay away from it!

Could not stop listening!

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

A coworker recommended this book and from the second I started reading it, I could not turn it off. I loved the changing perspectives from the female and male lead and the twists and turns along the way. Consistently kept me guessing. Exciting, entertaining read.