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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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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

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

Great story

Would you listen to Gone Girl again? Why?

Yes, I found the audiobook gripping and a great listen.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nick

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

Nick

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

Twisted

Any additional comments?

All the characters were rich

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

good story but HORRIBLE ending!

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

did not read the print version

What did you like best about this story?

the two character aspect of their life

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

no

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

NO extreme reaction until the end, what a terrible ending, like the author got tired of writing or it got too long

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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amazing book, always keeps you hanging on

loved this book the story, the twists on the plot...the movie has nothing on this book. the narrator was phenomenal

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

JUST IN TIME FOR THE MOVIE!

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

Yes...not boring AT ALL

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not my favorite character but the dad was funny in a woman hating twist.

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

Julia's voice was perfect...Kirby's was a bit droll but that seemed to coincide with the Nick character. Both did a great job mimicking other characters voices.

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

I would sit in my car, practically late for work trying to find a reasonable stopping point but I just wanted to keep listening!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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AMAZING

Intriguing, fascinating story! I just loved this book! I couldnt put it down!!! Amazing Amy or is it notorious Nick?

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Was very engrossing, but hated the ending

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

The narrators are awesome. Their voices fit what the character would sound like in real life.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The story kept you on the edge of your seat and all you wanted to do was listen to find out what happened next. Unfortunately, the ending was not what I expected. That was my least favorite part of the book.

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

I hope the movie has a much better ending!

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

Loved the Book and the narrators

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

Yes, I already did. The narrators were great.

What did you like best about this story?

The TWIST!

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

ABility to mimic other peoples voices and make me feel like I was watching a movie! I could visualize everything!

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

Yes, the sudden and unexpected "escape" from her old boyfriend and showing up at the front door.

Any additional comments?

So fun to listen to my book club book. I am afraid that it was so fun and so convenient, I almost feel like Nick ... CHEATER!!!

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

Holds attention to the very disppointing end

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

I haven't listen to many audiobooks but this is one the best I listened to.

What did you like best about this story?

I was never quite sure where it was going but I was always interested.

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

In the end it's difficult to like either character. At points you love them both and at others each makes your stomach turn.

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

To love someone is to know them completely.

Any additional comments?

I used this book as entertainment during marathon training. I often lost myself in it to realize I was only a mile or 2 from completing a long run. It ends with a bit of an unbelievable plot twist but it's a thriller so that's to be expected I suppose.

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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

Great book!

A very enjoyable roller coaster of events! From beginning to end I was glued to the story. I needed to know what happened next!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Narrators bring it home

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

Good actors who served the novel well. Better than the movie.

What did you like best about this story?

Tight twisty perverse.

Any additional comments?

You'll love it.

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