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 story. Amazing narrators.

Gillian Flynn is always good for a great, well-paced thriller with interesting characters that feel authentic no matter how crazy the story gets. But I have to give special recognition to the narrators. These might be four of the best audiobook performances of any book I’ve listened to. I can’t even pick a favorite. They work really well together to create a complete story and perfectly keep the tone and pace of Flynn’s novel. I might even start seeking out other performances of these voice actors on audible!

Didn't see that coming til the end!

I love when you can't predict the outcome of a story. This one kept me guessing right up until the end! Great story. My only issue was that the narrators had different volumes. I put this book on at night while falling asleep, and the female narration was significantly louder than the male's, so I found I had to keep adjusting the volume. That said, both narrators did a fantastic job narrating. Another great work by Gillian! I highly recommend it!

good story, great narration.

good story, but I guessed who done it a little early on, or rather had a good idea. narration was excellent.

A definite thriller

Would you listen to Dark Places again? Why?

Probably, The book had so many twists and turns, dead ends and possible suspects... I probably missed something.

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

I guess, I compared it to Gone Girl, I don';t often read mysteries or murder thrillers. I don't often dwell in the minds and hearts of the vicious.

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

I had no favorite. None of the characters had enough redeeming qualities to really favorite. Every single character, bar none, had a serious character flaw... an evil that was distasteful.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I didn't laugh or cry, but I paid close attention.

Wow I was hooked!

Terrific story with plenty of unique characters that kept my interest and curiosity. One chapter was especially gruesome; rest was ok for murder descriptions.

Great narration!

This was a good story made better by the great narration. While some pf the details were disturbing, and some of descriptions too laborious, overall the story had a good narrative arc and kept me guessing. The way the chapters went back and forth in time, from different characters' perspectives, kept this long story interesting. Kept me awake through several long commutes!

Wow!

Gillian Flynn is a master at human nature, suspense, and keeping you wondering. Be prepared for marathon listening. You won't be able to stop.

Dark but Interesting

Would you consider the audio edition of Dark Places to be better than the print version?

This is a great car trip book to listen to as it makes the miles fly by wondering the next twist and turn. It is a bit graphic and dark so be prepared for that....

Excellent book! Highly recommended

Would you listen to Dark Places again? Why?

Most definitely . It was the kind of book you just get drug into and have to know how it all comes together

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Seriously kept me hanging on .... You'll catch yourself thinking about this book even after you have read it

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

I have heard some of her other works and she does a great job

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

.

Any additional comments?

The characters come across as real people - people you could know. It is a great book

don't be scared to buy this book!

After reading Gone Girl and loving it, I was so excited to see that Gillian Flynn had two other books on audible. I was discouraged because the amount of reviews/ rating didn't seem as great as those for Gone Girl. I finally bought Dark Places yesterday and holy *@#!- it was so good!!!! Exceeded my expectations completely.

Yes, it is dark- there were a few uncomfortable moments, but well worth the uncomfort to get the rest of the story. The author has a way of crafting a story that just pulls you in and you feel like you can see and indentify with the characters. I typically buy audio books to listen to while I work at my desk job all day- but, with this book, I listened during lunch and while driving, walking, etc. I just had to know what would be revealed next.

I am now moving on to by Sharp Objects. If it is anything like the other two Gillian Flynn books, I will not be disappointed!