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)

Great Mystery

I’m a sucker for mysteries. And plot twists. I kept listening to every detail, preparing to figure out the mystery before the end of the book. Only the second book I’ve listened to (my first was “Gone Girl” but this is my favorite of the two. I love the characters. The author developed their characters so well, and so perfectly human they are easy to relate to and see as human beings. Well worth the read/listen.

Freaky book

The book starts out really depressing and I was really saddened. Somewhere around chapter three it stops being super depressing and interesting. I really enjoyed the ending.

Flynn is ONE HELL OF A WRITER!

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

YES. Right away I was hooked. The storyline was taught, dark, and gripping. The characters were frightening believable, and although the book shifted from the present to the past, it was written well enough so that you always knew exactly where you were, and never lost your place in time. This is my first Gillian Flynn novel, and I loved it. There are few authors capable of this type of mastery over the telling of their tale. I kept my headphones on well into the night, unwilling to remove them even as I changed into my pajamas! I stayed awake under the covers in the dark, dying to know what's going to happen next, and didn't pause the story until the middle of the night. First thing in the morning, I threw the headphones right back on and didn't take them off until it was done.

What other book might you compare Dark Places to and why?

This is such an incredible work, it's difficult to compare it to anything else. But a few stories do come to mind, because of the' poor family living in the country who suffer some extreme and frightening tragedy' theme. Those would be:

Tomato Girl, by Jayne Pupek
Back Roads, by Tawni O'Dell
The Red Tree, by Caitlin R. Kiernan

Disappointing, and very gory

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. The author is very good writer who never fails to impress me with her deft choice of words and her characters' keen observations. Still, the ending of this one requires the reader to suspend disbelief and accept that two independent crimes occur in one place at the same time. I didn't think any of the characters was likable, making it hard to plow through to the end (but I did it).

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Add at least one sympathetic character and eliminate some of the plot points that defy credibility.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The female narrator is excellent. The male narrator tended to be wooden in his delivery.

Could you see Dark Places being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Who cares?

Any additional comments?

I had high hopes for this one after reading Gone Girl, but Ms. Flynn really didn't plumb the depths of her characters' psyches in this book as she did in Gone Girl.

Pretty good listen

I don't like being negative but this was ok. I really had to make myself finish the book as it seemed to drag on. I also have difficulty jumping from present tense to past tense constantly. I'm glad to have finished it.

Loved it

Gripping - I was unable to turn this off. Although the characters were unappealing I was drawn into their story.

Very Dark & Troubling story

Very dark, raw with unlikeable characters and a some what convoluted plot that will leave you a bit depressed but you won't be able to stop listening. Credit worthy.

Unpleasant narrative voice

What did you like best about Dark Places? What did you like least?

I wanted to like this story...could not get past the fact that the narrator was not pleasant to listen to.

Any additional comments?

I will probably not continue my Audible subscription...I don't want to risk being disappointed with the narrator and risk not enjoying the book.

Gripping horrifying story

could not stop listening. the story is so terrifying. could not believe what i was hearing. need to listen again in case I missed something.

Loved loved loved this book! A perfect book!

This book is perfect for a book club. Fantastic read. Loved it! Would highly recommend.