Gone Girl

By: Gillian Flynn

Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Kirby Heyborne

Length: 19 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

What are you thinking, Amy? The question I've asked most often during our marriage, if not out loud, if not to the person who could answer. I suppose these questions storm cloud over every marriage: What are you thinking? How are you feeling? Who are you? What have we done to each other? What will we do? Just how well can you ever know the person you love?

These are the questions that Nick Dunne must ask himself on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, when his wife Amy suddenly disappears. The police immediately suspect Nick. Amy's friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn't true. A police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they aren't his. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone.

So what really did happen to Nick's beautiful wife? And what was in that half-wrapped box left so casually on their marital bed? In this novel, marriage truly is the art of war.

©2012 Gillian Flynn (P)2012 Random House

Better than the movie

I watched the movie before! But the book is just so much better, really enjoyed in particular the last part

Too long by half

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Only to a friend who a) really liked drawn out mystery/thrillers; b) needed an audio book that lasted a long time - ie someone who was travelling a long distance/time; c) had a lot of patience and d) is very open-minded about sexual dysphemisms.This is because this story, although filled with murderous and ghoulish twists and turns, moves remarkably slowly - and this is different from your average thriller book. There is a lot of backstory in it, which is interesting and to some extent useful, but it seriously interrupts the flow of the front story.Amy, the female protagonist is a particularly nasty woman with a sweet affect and a pitch black soul. Her various sexual images is disturbing and, was for me, unpleasant.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Amy's plot(s) were ingenious. Amy's back story was almost irrelevant.

Which scene was your favorite?

The interview that Nick does with Rebecca in the pub.

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

Not without a lot of editing and shortening of the story. I don't think it has enough to carry a TV series, other than a 2 or 3 parter that tells the story in some detail.I am not very au fait with current stars, so am not able to comment on who would be good currently. From yesteryear - I think Amy was almost written for Joan Crawford and the hapless Nick could be played by James Stewart or Kevin Spacey.

Any additional comments?

The essence of this story is excellent. The twists and turns were not easily predicted, usually, and there were a lot of them. My difficulty was that it went on and on, and much of what was told did not take the actual tale any further forward. It was a lot of reflecting by one unreliable character about the other, equally, unreliable character. The opinion of one of them about the other was not often helpful.
The format, of Nick and Amy speaking in the first person was very good. Neither of them are reliable narrators, both of them lying frequently but undetectably.The readers were very good. They brought the characters to life vividly.If you have a long time to fill in, or simply enjoy an almost neverending story - then this would be an excellent choice.

Great read.

Great read with lots of twists and turns. Unpredictable and original plot. Strong characters, good narration.

Is she gone?

Would you listen to Gone Girl again? Why?

If I have time

What about Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne ’s performance did you like?

Natural way of telling the story

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

Gone girl

Any additional comments?

I loved the psychology in the book.

Absolutely a must hear!!

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

Intellectually stimulating entertainment. Excellent plot/story. Many twists and turns keeping you at the edge of your seat and wishing for more at the end! Highly recommended!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gone Girl?

The suspense...ie I cannot reveal.

Have you listened to any of Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

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

It made me think.... and it will make all people think that went through some relationship crisis (as you should).

Any additional comments?

Brilliant understanding of relationships and the human phyche. Not for the emotional/intelectual virgin, but rather for people ready to challenge conventional norms!

Sub-par narration; good but not unpredictable stor

Very disappointed with the narration; almost bad enough to toss the audiobook. But I wanted to hear the book more than the performances irritated me.
The story itself was good. Not unpredictable, but still twisty enough to be intriguing in the details. The details are where this book is most enjoyable. I recommend it to anyone wanting to listen to a intriguing mystery that is told from several perspectives. You'll know "whodunnit" by the halfway point (is it halfway? Hard to recall with an audiobook), but it's still a fun mystery seeing how things pan out.

continuing twists and turns

If you could sum up Gone Girl in three words, what would they be?

Engaging, enjoyable and well read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Absolutely Nick Dunne

Which character – as performed by Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne – was your favorite?

Amy Elliot Dunne

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I could I would have finished it in one day.

OUTSTANDING

great story,the author has a creative mind.recommended to listeners who are bored by the average run-of- the-mill mystery plot.

Masterful

As a general rule, I avoid anything that implies “dark” or “sinister” in the synopsis – it’s just not my preferred style. I only purchased this novel to see what all the fuss was about.

19h and 17min later – I understand the fuss – this is the best book I have ever read. I literally had to drag myself away from the headphones each afternoon.

To ensure I reveal not even a clue of the clever and flawless narrative, I’m going to avoid any discussion of plot.

The pacing and quality of the writing is spot-on. The performances of the two narrators are excellent, and brought the perfectly formed characters to life – I really feel like I know Nick and Amy, which is simultaneously thrilling and distributing.

Enough said. Read this book before the David Fincher film adaptation is released in 2015, and it becomes an even bigger deal than it already is.

shockingly brilliant!

Would you listen to Gone Girl again? Why?

LOVED Gone Girl and recommended it to six others to read.

What other book might you compare Gone Girl to and why?

I haven't experienced a book like this before with so many plots and twists.

Any additional comments?

Brilliant book. Well thought of, well written and well read.