Dark Places

A Novel

By: Gillian Flynn

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

Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

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 15-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

Critic reviews

"Gillian Flynn is the real deal, a sharp, acerbic, and compelling storyteller with a knack for the macabre." (Stephen King)

"A gritty, riveting thriller with a one-of-a-kind, tart-tongued heroine." (Booklist)

“A riveting tale of true horror by a writer who has all the gifts to pull it off.” (Chicago Tribune)

A Very Dark Story

The story kept me interested start to finish... Very dark and disturbing. Difficult to listen to but too compelling not to.

Tense

Absorbing and well narrated to deliver a great..engaging novel. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the story.

Enjoyable listen

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

Yes, the narrators are terrific. There are some flaws to the story, but overall another great book from Gillian Flynn

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

Mixed, some things tied up a little too well, while others left having.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Patty

Salina or Salina

Certain names of towns were mispronounced. Surprising since the author claims to be from KC. Story was good enough to keep me interested.

Another great one!

I'm in love with this author, a King fan who has decided to venture out and try another writer is not at all disappointed. Kept me guessing and always anxious to know what's going to happen next. I really enjoyed this one can't wait to listen to another by Gillian.

Good novel about a family's end

It is rare to read a novel in which the characters suffer so tragically yet they are not very sympathetic - I think it takes a skilled writer like Gillian Flynn to go there in various ways and create an interesting plit arc.

Very Dark

I wanted to like this book, I really did. The overall mystery was good and I kept listening because I wanted to know the resolution. But in places it was so dark, so depressing, that I would have to stop listening for a while.
I did enjoy getting the story from the different perspectives of different characters.

Ending???

I enjoyed this book. However, I wasn't pleased with the ending. The story was wrapped up nicely but it just sort of ends. Enjoyed Gone Girl much better.

STELLAR!!!!

excellent mystery, juicy story, totally compelling through and through. Way better than Gone Girl in every way.

Enjoyable listen with a genuine surprise ending

Kept my interest throughout...I liked the story and the narrator. My only criticism is that I'd like to know more about several of the characters (Runner, Diane, Crystal) including what happened to them.