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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: Hang On to Every Last Word of These Romantic Suspense Listens


Who says romance has to be all sweet and cuddly? Mystery and suspense romance books force the protagonists to wade through personal trials, physical dangers, and all manner of other terrors to earn their happily ever after. We've gathered a list of pause-resistant listens where the romance is exciting and the suspense is intimate. Each of these suspenseful romances make for the perfect escape whenever and wherever your life needs a little extra spice.

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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wickedly believable!!

I could not wait to hear the next twist and turn for the 2 main characters, Nick and Amy. I felt every emotion, I loved and hated and believed both of them, and what is so scary is that I think someone could actually do something like this. The narration was perfect for these characters, and now I see why both Kirby Heyborne and Julia Whelan are among the few "Narrator's Greatest Hits". The subtle nuances of their voices and the other characters they brought to life were perfect. I am especially in awe of Gillian Flynn. This was an exceptional story. What an imagination!! Loved everything about this book, so I am not sure I would be as happy with the movie. I will be looking for more from this author and the narrators! Thank you, because I listen to books as I drive 50-60 minutes each way to work...my fellow drivers thank you as well, since I am a much calmer driver as I listen!! Christie

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely twisted, and I couldn't get enough!!!

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

I've already recommended this book to so many of my friends! The way the book is split up from one narrator to the other is in and of itself amazing but the story just keeps you engaged the entire time, draws you in!!! My ears were glued I couldn't pause or stop for anything!!!

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

Nora Roberts The Witness (also a Julia Whelan narration!!!!

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

I love Julia Whelan and have even on occasion searched for books based off her a a narrator rather than the story! She portrays the characters she reads so incredible well! And Kirby Heyborne was new to me but I enjoyed him a lot too!!!

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

By definition: Riveting!!!!!

Any additional comments?

Seriously if you are thinking about getting this book hesitate no longer! You won't be disappointed!!!

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

wow

Loved every word, left me wanting more I could have listened to more .

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    4 out of 5 stars
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good book

The book starts off strong and gets you wanting to know more about the characters but
Almost lost me in the middle where it gets kind of slow although if you stick with it, it will pick back up. I liked the ending but it could have been better. I would have to say overall I liked gone girl .

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Whaaaat!?

The narrators were great, really pulled you into the story and its characters. Loved it!!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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So many twists!!!

I'm not an avid reader but I couldn't wait to pick this back up- almost kicking kids out of the car for me to be able to listen

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Excellent!

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

This is very near the top for the fiction that I've listened to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Amy. She was the most dynamic in the story as well as the most surprising.

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

Audiobooks are made great by the narrator. Julia and Kirby were awesome and on point everywhere in the story.

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

No laughing or crying. More jaw dropping than anything. The book was not predictable at all. Several times while listening, I was sure about what was going to happen next. Wrong every time.

Any additional comments?

Loved it. I usually don't listen to fiction, but thought I would give this a try. Worth it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What an amazing book!

What did you love best about Gone Girl?

Everything... I love the entire story... really messes with your head. I couldn't stop listening. I would listen to it again for sure. It's so twisted I might have missed something.

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

I love the voices... absolutely perfect for the story.

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

Absolutely... hard to stop driving (I listen in my car)

Any additional comments?

This is the type of book you want to share with others... so you can talk about it!!!!

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

ok book

this is just your average best selling novel, trying to be intellectual while never hitting the mark. the story is entertaining but is nothing that I would put the time into actually reading.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good though lots of language

Story was good - language and content very adult. Not the typical murder mystery, but a fun read.

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