Gone Girl

A Novel

By: Gillian Flynn

Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Kirby Heyborne

Length: 19 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The “mercilessly entertaining” (Vanity Fair) instant classic “about the nature of identity and the terrible secrets that can survive and thrive in even the most intimate relationships” (Lev Grossman, Time)—now featuring never-before-published deleted scenes

NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY CNN AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY TIME AND ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Janet Maslin, The New York Times • People • Entertainment Weekly • O: The Oprah Magazine • Slate • Kansas City Star • USA Today • Christian Science Monitor

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY San Francisco Chronicle • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • The Chicago Tribune • HuffPost • Newsday

©2012 Gillian Flynn (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Absorbing . . . In masterly fashion, Flynn depicts the unraveling of a marriage—and of a recession-hit Midwest—by interweaving the wife’s diary entries with the husband’s first-person account.”—The New Yorker

“Ms. Flynn writes dark suspense novels that anatomize violence without splashing barrels of blood around the pages . . . Ms. Flynn has much more up her sleeve than a simple missing-person case. As Nick and Amy alternately tell their stories, marriage has never looked so menacing, narrators so unreliable.”—The Wall Street Journal

“The story unfolds in precise and riveting prose . . . even while you know you’re being manipulated, searching for the missing pieces is half the thrill of this wickedly absorbing tale.”—O: The Oprah Magazine

THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM

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

OH YES! IT WAS A GREAT LISTEN. IT WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF BOOK. THERE WERE LOTS OF SURPRISES IN IT.

What did you like best about this story?

THE LITTLE "SURPRISES" THAT HAPPENED DURING THE BOOK. I WAS NOT EXPECTING SOME OF THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN.

Which scene was your favorite?

THERE WERE SO MANY SCENES I LIKED IT IS TOO HARD TO PICK ONE OF THEM.

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

I WOULD BE A SPOILER IF I SAY.

Any additional comments?

THE BOOK WAS QUITE UNIQUE. IT WAS A GREAT READ YET, I DON'T THINK IT WOUDL MAKE A GOOD MOVIE....IT WOULD SEEM TO MELODRAMATIC. THE BOOK WAS ONE A MOST ENJOYABLE READ. I WANT TO READ MORE BY THIS AUTHOR.

Twisted, Disturbing, Totally Engrossing Chick Lit

Would you consider the audio edition of Gone Girl to be better than the print version?

The narration of Nick and Amy brings them to life and deepens the reader's alternating trust and distrust of the characters.

Would you recommend Gone Girl to your friends? Why or why not?

Gone Girl is completely engrossing. I loved and hated the characters simultaneously. It drags the reader through unbelievable twists and turns so quickly that you don't have time to question them until its over. When it's over, you want to rewind and start at the beginning.

Which scene was your favorite?

The discovery of the puppets and all they represent between Amy and Nick.

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

This will never be a classic, but it is a modern soap opera that will hold your attention all the way through. This book should be followed up with personality disorder section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

A favorite!!

This story blew me away!!! I enjoyed it sooooo much!! I love the fast pace drama!!

Great listen!

What did you like best about this story?

The alternating viewpoints made it very compelling.

What does Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrators captured the characters perfectly.

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

Wanted to but too long to do so. I couldn't wait to get back to it though.

Just O.K.

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

I didn't love the book, but I didn't hate it either. For me, it was just o.k. Once I started the book, I was interested enough to finish it, so I would have to say it was time well spent. However, by the time I got to part 3, I was restless, but determined to finish it, which I did.

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

I didn't have a problem with it. It definitely didn't spoil the book for me. I actually thought it was in keeping with the content of the rest of the book.

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

I didn't have a favorite. None of the characters were truely likeable.

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

I hope it ends here and does not go to movie status. That would definitely be a waste of time.

Any additional comments?

This is truely a book about dysfunctional people. I would say that applys to everyone including the lawyer.

Amazing Story and Pleasant Narration

Where does Gone Girl rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

At the top

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this audio book. The narration was very pleasant. Some of the audio books have narrators who sound really annoying and you just end up getting used to the voices. This novel has both a male and a female narrator. They both have very pleasant voices that also fit the characters well. I have listened to other books where the voice does not seem to fit the character, but NOT with this novel. The story is amazing (pun intended) and very though-provoking - as well an engaging. It is worth the time you spend listening to it.

Mind blower--and I'm a criminologist!

Wow. I just finished reading this novel practically straight through, and was/am so impressed with it that I just had to write a review. Given my profession, people recommend crime-related fiction to me frequently . . . but I so rarely find it interesting, well-written, thoughtful, and/or realistic that I hardly ever read in this genre. It's just so ridiculous and formulaic that it makes me cringe. This book doesn't insult your intelligence.

You will be hooked from moment one--so you might want to take a nap prior to picking this one up, because you will find it difficult to put down. It's refreshingly well-written, paced brilliantly, and just a damned good story. I won't spoil anything in saying this, but this author either has a gifted sense of human nature at its rougher edges, or did some admirable research . . . and it feels so natural that I suspect it's the former. The pieces fit together in the end without you having to suspend reality or groan at the machinations undertaken to get there. And though you might guess at a few of the elements in the plot, you won't see most of it coming even if you're good at foreseeing twists, and will be left sending mental kudos to Gillian Flynn for being flat clever. I recall the word 'craft' being used in a number of reviews when I purchased this, and I now see why. This is smart, addictive, funny, tight, suspenseful stuff. As a bonus, you don't have to sacrifice a great story for great writing (or vice versa).

The narration is first rate for both characters, as well. Truly top notch. My faith in crime-related thrillers is renewed. What fun.

Believe it - it's that good!

Would you listen to Gone Girl again? Why?

I wanted to listen to it again immediately after finishing it, to retrace the way the plot unfolded. First class writing.

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

No specific title comes to mind. A very dark Agatha Christie, in terms of mystery combined with characters. The best of Ruth Rendell.

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

Amy. The character was complex and I think Julia Whelan captured her perfectly.

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

The tag line that already exists "Marriage can be a real killer."

Any additional comments?

I definitely want to read/listen to the author's other books. What a find!

Twists are Spellbinding!

Would you listen to Gone Girl again? Why?

Yes, I would like to catch what I had missed.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Amy

Which scene was your favorite?

Amy coming home.

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

Just shocked!

Any additional comments?

I have never encountered a book that had me in a trance. The first person twists are amazing. Original and clever writing. The reader goes in and out of rooting for characters.

ummmm- ok ok

that was a BIG ride- I put off listening to this one, because, due to the title I imagined a kidnapped girl- nooo, it wasn't. The strangest and most interesting tale I've heard in awhile- enjoy! Very fun listen with lots of twists and you just won't believe this one!