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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: Listening Well Is the Best Revenge—The Best Revenge Thriller Audiobooks


No one among us hasn't imagined what it would be like to right a wrong. And even though it's better to turn the other cheek, forgive, and forget, it's still fun to listen to fictional characters enact their revenge. If you need a balm for a slight you’re still seething over, we’ve created this handy list of the best revenge thriller audiobooks to add to your library. Whether you're rooting for the story’s hero or antagonist, these tales of revenge will have you glued to your seat.

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
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Great story line and performance

This book was much more than I expected. A very well written story line that wove a web of tangled transgressions. I both loved and hated most of the characters as the story unfolded. The narrators did the book justice with their performance.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great listen

This book keeps you guessing until the end. Fun listen with make and female voices for each of the two perspectives. Well worth the time.

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Amazing!

The story was sensational. Had me right from the beginning . I didn't like that she wasn't held accountable in the end, but I suppose the ending left room for a sequel. Maybe then Amy will get what is coming to her.

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

story with some great twists

Would you listen to Gone Girl again? Why?

Probably not. I liked the story, but don't really enjoy stories where the characters are arguing alot. I enjoy reading books like this, but somehow listening stresses me out. But the story really kept me interested.

Would you be willing to try another book from Gillian Flynn? Why or why not?

Depends - I would have to see what others say about it first.

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

Nick was my favorite.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Twisted Goodness

A delightful story about all the things you have read before. I love the twisted ending and the musings on gender roles peppered throughout, and the takeaway on love is especially moving, in a troubling way.

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Would not recommend.

What did you like best about Gone Girl? What did you like least?

I considered not finishing the book several times but was curious as to how it ended since I had heard that the ending was disappointing. The narration was excellent. The story however was not.
Most stories are about a character that has some flaw and throughout the story learns and grows and overcomes. This story is about two characters who start out ok and progressively get worse with an endless stream of poor choices. Our last glimpse of the two main characters is of them settling down into a miserable life they have created and are now trapped in.
Another reason I would not recommend this book is the language, graphic violence and sex.
This story will leave you feeling stressed, fearful, and not caring at all about the two main characters who have brought about their own tragic end.
I read to escape stress and relax. If this is your goal for pastime reading then this book is not for you.

Has Gone Girl turned you off from other books in this genre?

I still enjoy mysteries and thrillers.

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

Excellent narration!

Did Gone Girl inspire you to do anything?

To stop a book if it is not enjoyable after the first few chapters.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Unexpectedly Amazing

What did you like best about this story?

This novel is refreshingly unpredictable. This book is truly compelling, it has so many twists and turns yet the characters are well developed and the story is the perfect balance of believable and unbelievable. It was addicting.

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

I gasped multiple times.

Any additional comments?

A must read.

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not what I expected

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

The twists.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hard to say. Probably Amy because I can relate.

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

No I haven't.

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

Not really but it was hard to put away.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Great until the End

What did you like best about Gone Girl? What did you like least?

The characters were well developed and made you want to know them.

I did not like the end of the book-very unsatisfying close.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I was very upset that nothing was accomplished or closed.

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

no

Do you think Gone Girl needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

yes but i would hesitate to read it unless I was promised it would not end that way.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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loved it!

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

Yes- This book is a twisted psychological thriller. Very clever author

What did you like best about this story?

THe twisted characters

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

Perfect fit

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

Wish I could

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