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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: Best Audiobooks to Listen to While Working Out


Need to motivate yourself to work out more? We've all heard that exercise is good for the body, and reading is good for the mind and soul. But knowing these facts doesn't increase the number of hours in the day. Maybe you can eke out a little time for one activity but not the other. Or maybe you are looking for something to motivate you to get those steps in. Why not download a great audiobook and get lost in a listen while breaking a sweat?

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
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice twisted headgame

This was a great listen. The only thing I would advise is to speed up the narrator on the audible app when you listen.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Conditional Love

This book is the description of what it means to have unconditional, or is it conditional love. Which would you rather have. It is a rather disappointing portrait of stereotypical norms about women and not the good kind. Seems like a whole like of psycho drama that could have been avoided with a conversation. But where's the drama in that?

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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enjoyed

I enjoyed the book, but I didn't care for the ending. I assume that end gives the writer the option of a follow up book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

So Negative

My friends and I read this book together and we all agree. It's incredibly negative and put us all in a funky unhappy mood until the book was over. It is a constant barrage of negativity and there is literally no one to feel hopeful about or to root for. I can honestly say that I was extremely relieved when the book ended and I have absolutely no desire to see the movie.

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

Wow, great twists and turns

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

Yes, I would recommend this book to almost anyone. The story manipulates the reader into different feelings along the way. Very unique way to tell a story.

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

Yes, and it kept me there.

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

They did a good job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, lots of times, but they are mostly spoilers.

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

What a rollercoaster....

What made the experience of listening to Gone Girl the most enjoyable?

The production of the story was amazing. Both narrators did amazing jobs and i really felt as though i was hearing the characters' true voices. I never wanted to stop listening....completely engaging!

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

The closest comparison i have to this story is the film War of the Roses. Both main characters are massively flawed and it's difficult to determine who the real "hero" of the story is when all is said and done.

Which scene was your favorite?

The beginning of the second part....I felt like i was slapped across the face with it in a way that was designed. It was incredibly entertaining!!!!!

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

i found myself reacting throughout the book, laughing, gasping, and getting angry with the MC's. It's worth the read!!!!

Any additional comments?

Just read it. I am sure you will NOT feel like it's a waste of time. My only criticism is that, in the end, you might argue.....did anyone grow as a result of the actions in the book??? Perhaps not, but man, it was sure a fun ride!

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

Not what I expected but I enjoyed it

What did you love best about Gone Girl?

It was not at all what I expected and I really enjoy not being able to predict what is going to happen in a book. It was eerie and creepy but a very creative novel.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Honestly I enjoyed both main characters disfunctional as they were. Gillian Flynn did a really great job of developing the characters.

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

Yes, I had a difficult time putting it down. I kept wanting to see what sick twist would take place.

Any additional comments?

After finishing this title I downloaded another of Gillian Flynn's novels, I hope it will be just as good.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Keeps you guessing

What made the experience of listening to Gone Girl the most enjoyable?

Read by two people so you knew who was talking.

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

When you found out what really was going on with the wife.

Which character – as performed by Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne – was your favorite?

The one performed by Kirby Heyborne

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending .

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

Watch out for the cliff at the end of this one

Any additional comments?

Although it takes a while to get going, Gone Girl works its way up to gripping psychodrama that twists and turns and surprises. I spent much, if not most, of this book thinking four or five stars. Great, creepy fun. What wonderful final twist will the author pull out of her hat to end this thing?And then it ended. Does it count as a spoiler to say the book has no ending? I was literally yelling at my iPhone. "That's it? Are you kidding me?" It was as if the author simple got tired of typing or ran out the battery on her laptop or hit a page limit imposed by her publisher.Wow. Was she writing this thing on Twitter? It all but stops in mid-

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this is why I'm single!

amazing suspense. what kind of mind can come up with such a stick twisted plot.... my ex girlfriend.

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