Dark Places

A Novel

By: Gillian Flynn

Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman, Cassandra Campbell, Mark Deakins, Robertson Dean

I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ.


Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club . . . and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer.©2009 Gillian Flynn; (P)2009 Random House

unrealistic ending

Although "Gone Girl's" ending was more preposterous, the ending of this one is pretty far-fetched. It's an ok story til the end. Narrators are fair. Overall an ok book but nothing better.

Excellent narration, Suspenseful

More suspenseful than Sharp Objects due to the subject matter. Here, you are dealing with a gripping "who done it" and you are really eager to get to the end.

At the same time, the narration is fantastic since there are multiple voices and perspectives to fill in the gaps.

And we are flipping between current time and the 1980s and we are hearing from the characters in their youth and adult views.

Well done. Well done.

First rate

While some of the scenes are challenging for vegans or PETA folks, this is a well written, well paced, well narrated piece of fiction. Difficult to put down--intelligently written.

A Mystery With a Twist

Many of the reviews about Dark Places that I have read on Goodreads questions the state of Gillian Flynn's mind. One reviewer stated about the ending, "Who would have seen that coming." I did... so what does that say about the state of my mind?

I had no idea of what to expect at the beginning of the book other than wondering whether or not Ben was guilty. However, Gillian cleverly plants the clues throughout the story.

I enjoyed this mystery and found myself eager to be in the vehicle so I could continue the suspense. I even sat in the parking lot, not wanting to go into the office, while I stole a few extra minutes to listen.

The story is about Libby, a survivor of a horrific crime when her mother and two sisters were murdered. She was an impressionable seven year old and her testimony put her 15 year old brother in jail for life. Disfigured emotionally and physically by the events of that night, she existed for years refusing to go to those 'dark places' in her mind that held the memories of the murder of her family.

About the time that her trust fund ran out, she received an invitation to be a special guest of the Kill Club, a club of people obsessed by real life crime. She discovered a way to profit from their obsession. She embarked on a journey to find out what really happened that night. Initially, she was just in it for the money, but quickly became immersed in her quest in ernest. She needed to know what happened that night.

The narration was done by four people and all four did an excellent job creating the individual characters with their voices.

A word of warning. There are some disturbing graphic descriptions in the book that may be traumatizing to some readers.
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A win

Ever since Girl Gone I want to read anything by Gillian. This book was good. It was layed out well and I liked how the story came together.