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)

Escapism literature that o my works half the time

I have now listened to all of Gillian Flynn's books, and I just think they are not for me. Maybe just for a good, quick escape listen.

Anyways, they all start off exciting and draw me in, but the story just goes too haywire at one point. The writing also declines to weird or awkward sexual innuendos at one point (early in Sharp Objects later in Gone Girl and Dark Places.) For example saying a character's "lips [were] full like labias..." I'm not a prude, but what does that add? It just pulls me out of the story.... More of a distraction.

This book was Great

If you could sum up Dark Places in three words, what would they be?

There is some love, hate, bad relationships, death and a lot of mystery

Which scene was your favorite?

The description of how the murders took pace

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

When Libby talks to her brother. I just want to shake him

Excellent story and narration

I stumbled on this one after finishing Gone Girl - HOPING it would be at least 75% as good.

For me, this was better.

Excellent character development - and a lot of them. Same story telling style of reworking the same scene from different perspectives.

Each time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong. If you're debating whether or not to get this one - just do it. You'll thank me when you're finished

very good

Great story and narration. I was kind of put off by Ben's narrator. He sounded more like someone who should voice-over a 48 Hours episode or be on an automated recording. Also, the mispronounced words and names got to me, the town is S-uh-line-uh not how it was used in the story. And I've never heard anyone say baa-retts, always buh-rettes. They are small things but being from Nebraska, they bugged me enough to stick out. All other aspects of the story were great, even got the hubby hooked. I would recommend.

More Rebecca Lowman!

Rebecca Lowman is a fantastic narrrator. The book is well-paced and vivid. Recommended for crime drama fans.

Pretty darn good, but....

Didn't much care for the narrator who read Patty's chapters. Didn't like how she made their voices sound when quoting.

Story was good, actually really good, and some parts brilliant. Author has great human tidbit insights, and not so shabby on the big picture either. My problem, and it's big (ending spoiler! stop reading now and come back after if you don't already know!!) is:

After looking for Ben up and down all day, and being his heartstricked mother who is accused of this terrible crime that she doesn't believe for a minute, and goes on and on and on how she just needs to find him and talk to him, that after one quick meeting with a strainger she just says oh, ok, kill me right now today before I even get to see him. Bam, done. Forclosuers take a long time. So it's just not believable to the charicture, after that whole journey, that she just drops everything to die right then that day.

But still, otherwise, a good riviting story to be sure!

Perfectly Dark & Demented

What did you love best about Dark Places?

I have recently devoured all of Gillian Flynn's novels and, while I liked them all, I think this one is my favorite. Maybe because Flynn is a master craftsman of flawed characters (I prefer the real & raw). . .maybe because I grew up in the 80s, so all the references to this time (from Deondra's rolled up jeans to Iron Maiden) are a flashback to my teenage years. . .maybe because the murder mystery aspect of this book kept me continuously guessing and second guessing myself. . .I loved so many things about this book and found myself listening at every possible moment.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dark Places?

I'm not sure I can pick just one moment. . .and I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read this one yet. . .

Any additional comments?

This is a thrillride of a novel. . .yes, it is dark. . .so if you don't like that, go elsewhere. It is the story of two survivors of a family murdered and is told alternately in the past and present from multiple viewpoints. . .pretty much all of the characters are quirky and wierd, but at the same time, believable. . .you really get a good look inside the minds and lives of all of them. . . the buildup to the crime that is the focus of the story is incredibly multi-layered. . .parts of this book were difficult to listen to, but it was totally worth it! Very satisfying read/listen.

Perfect

I didn't want the book to end! An amazing story and narrated perfectly. Two thumbs up!!

Dark Places ...Indeed

What did you love best about Dark Places?

I kept seeing all the press about Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl", so I thought I would start with one of earlier works. Wow. I was totally engrossd from the very beginning. What I like most is the way that Flynn weaves the past and present with each character keeping you guessing throughout the entire book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dark Places?

Although I was engaged by all the characters, I think Ben's story was most memorable. I kept trying to figure out his actions and the motives behind them.

Which scene was your favorite?

Without giving away too much, it was the revelation of the "who, why and how" of the murders. Caught me by surprise and that doesnt happen often.

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

The ending was climactic and satisfying.

Any additional comments?

I cant wait to move on to "Sharp Objects" and then "Gone Girl". Gillian Flynn totally grabbed my interest in her work with "Dark Places".

great

What made the experience of listening to Dark Places the most enjoyable?

It was great very edge of your seat listening. I would recommend this book

What did you like best about this story?

It hasent, was just good reading

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

yes

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

nothing