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

Exceptional Noir Thriller!

The story starts out as any typical thriller.... dead and/or missing person; suspect is person closest to them, etc, however it wasn't written as formulaic, as say a Micheal Connelly or James Patterson, et al. Others reviewers have given you a good idea of the plot, so I'll just add Flynn has an almost vortex style of writing, which starts in a slow character development spiral and just spins and builds momentum until it reaches full speed.... sucking you in and leaving you to hang on tight!

I thought Flynn was spot on with the characters. One of the negative reviewers mentioned they thought the characters were far fetched and they knew no one like them. Thank God they don't, because I have known two sociopaths first hand and you do not want to be anywhere near them, if you don't have to. Flynn nailed that personality type, as well as those who have been unfortunate enough to come across their path.

This is definitely thriller noir and not your typical police thriller, so be prepared for a more psychological, head trip read... broken characters and all...

Worth the credit!

Saw the Movie Instead....

A little over the half way point of listening to this book, I decided to see the movie which was interesting and really held my interest whereas the book was getting on my nerves with the back and forth reading of Nick and Amy's journals. I still have not finished listening because the movie quenched my interest. The movie was more succinct and got to the point without too much filler. While listening to the novel, I just couldn't get past how boring, drawn-out, and saggy the story had become. At this point, I assume the movie's ending is the same as the book. If so, I can say that the ending was a huge disappointment and I just didn't care what happened to either character. They were two sick puppies... they are both selfish and it is too bad they are married to each other.

With all that said, I did find that this mystery/thriller/suspense is not your cookie cutter type in anyway. First, the writing is superb and the narration is good in terms of performance. Second, the use of twists and turns in the way Flynn depicts and unveils the dark side of this couple are unique. The premise of the storyline is good, but just too much filler in the book.

If you can take 19 hours of listening to one novel, then this might be the listen for you. I just can't bring myself to recommend... see the movie instead.

Crazy is as Crazy does.

This was not classic literature, however, a fantastic, mind twisting story that evoked some extreme emotions including fear, loathing, anger, sympathy and just plain ole afraid of scary-crazy. The beginning was hard for me to get through because it was so juvenile but I think that the author may have been setting it up that way for effect. Once I got 1/3 way into it, it took off and the rest is history.

A phycological thriller that is a complicated, slow torture for the victims. It had a few holes but for me not enough that it took away from the main base line of the creepiness. Without giving anything away, just suffice it to say, I am certainly glad I am not any of the characters in this book.

I actually wanted to throw the book at the end and I hope Gillian Flynn can continue on with this craziness. I think these characters could tell more stories. The narration was good but a lot of the voices sounded the same. The writing held its own.

Listening is better than reading this one

I had started this story in book format but just couldn't find time and my friend kept insisting so I started the audio and for the first time I enjoyed the audio better than a book. Literally could not turn it off!

Now the writing is great, the characters so rich and different, and you never know where the story is going even though it is content to let you think you do...
but the voice acting in this is p h e n o m e n a l!

The first person narrative is shared between Nick and his wife Amy, and to me its seems these actors really knew the story inside and out and truly though about what their characters personality and emotional state before they recorded this. I have downloaded alot of audio books in the last year and many books have been pleasantly read to me but this was like an audio play and it made the whole book flow like a movie in my mind.

Now let me just say this. Keep going with the story until you get to the second part. You will know you are at the second part because they will literally say Part 2. There were a few times I got frustrated with the story because I though I knew were it was going. I Didn't...
If its not your cup of tea even after you get to part 2, then feel free to stop listening but I would give it at least that long.

Very interesting and unexpected.

What did you love best about Gone Girl?

I guess what I love most is that both characters are flawed and you can relate to both sides.

What a book!

What did you love best about Gone Girl?

I loved the way it kept me in suspense. And the narration was excellent.

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

Definitely. I couldn't stop listening. I even went to bed with the book. This is what you call a page turner even though its in audio form.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked the whole book. It's so well crafted. However, the ending was such a surprise.

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

Gone Girl keeps you going!

Any additional comments?

Get this book.

Cerebral Twister

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

I haven't seen the print version, but after listening to this book with these narrators, I know I picked the best venue.

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

Absolutely!I have listened to this book in a little over a day. (began yesterday) I put off everything I could to continue listening.
How? I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. The plot is so intricate & well thought out it was truly like playing Cerebral Twister.

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

Everything. I have my few favorite narrators & honestly hadn't heard of them, but I can tell you Julia & Kirby's voices painted a picture of the facial expressions, the body language, the emotion each character was exhibiting/feeling. Not one word sounded as if it were being read. They are now on my lists of favorites. It is narrators like these that keep me buying audio books.

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

There were many moments that moved me to the edge of my seat! There were many moments that had me shaking my head in awe of how well thought out the 'plan' was. I hesitate to say much as I don't want to give anything away & if I tell you what moved me I will. It is very exciting to hear the story unfold, twist, turn, etc.

Any additional comments?

I have read some reviews & honestly put off listening to this book because some ppl didn't like the ending. They felt it wasn't a finished book. I started reading it yesterday due to a complete stranger saying how much they enjoyed it. And I am so glad I did. The ending wasn't what I expected, which is the whole point of a good book. But it was finished. No Alfred Hitchcock ending leaving it up to your imagination. This is a very good book and I will read more by this author and will look forward to more by the narrators. They were seamless.

Brilliant Tour de Force

One of the best audiobooks I've listened to. Witty, surprising and excellent performances with an original story and sharp observations about society.

It's really more a 4 1/2 star book.

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

I have given very few books a five star rating. The HELP and Pillars of the Earth are two that come to mind, but most books that I really like I give 4 stars. Only books that I LOVE get 5. This is a 4 1/2 star book for me.

This story is completely intriguing, but difficult to review because I don't want to give anything away. I read it knowing absolutely nothing about it, having not read any reviews or even a synopsis of the story. Therefore, it blew me away.

If you enjoy twists and turns, and completely developed characters that you love, hate, sympathize with, blame, and laugh at all at the same time, this is the book for you. The characters are very human and real. So real that the story often reminded me of some of the more publicized criminal cases of recent years. But then it pops up and surprises you again.

I completely expect this book to be made into a movie. I can't imagine how they will capture all the inner thoughts of the characters though...

This is an excellent piece of fiction that you will NOT regret reading.

What did you like best about this story?

Character development and surprises

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

They were funny and human.

Disappointing end

The story kind of goes all over the place, then 2/3 of the way thru you're beginning to get it. The narrators at times were great, but overall okay-ish. I may have had a different opinion had I read the book vs listened.