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Gone Girl  By  cover art

Gone Girl

By: Gillian Flynn
Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Kirby Heyborne
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Editorial review


By Mysia Haight, Audible Editor

PSYCH OUT—THE JAW-DROPPING GENIUS OF GONE GIRL

Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl is among the all-time best crafted stories told by unreliable narrators—two of them, the perfect couple—and a gripping thriller filled with jaw-dropping twists. This dark mystery novel also shines a critical light on the media-fueled public rush to judge people suspected of crimes who, regardless of the evidence, simply look guilty—an unsettling trend that has only escalated in the decade since the book’s release. Along with its critique of media exploitation, the novel has been widely embraced—and hotly debated—as a manifesto of modern feminism.

Ten years ago, I was approaching that dreaded life stage—middle age. After years of doing my best to be a good wife, mother, aunt, sister, daughter, and friend; a good worker, mentor, and role model; and a good listener, problem solver, and crisis manager, I was feeling taken for granted and restless. What if I did something unexpected, something out of character—something bad?

Happily, I satisfied my yearnings by becoming immersed in the brilliant mind and devious machinations of Amy Elliott Dunne, the hero (or, depending on your perspective, villain) of Gone Girl. When it was published in 2012, Gillian Flynn’s ingenious novel about a missing wife and the husband increasingly implicated in her ominous disappearance stirred up a lot of buzz. As an avid fan of psychological thrillers, unreliable narrators, and contemporary fiction driven by strong, complicated women, I couldn’t wait to read it. And I was blown away! In spite of her questionable (to put it extremely mildly) actions, I found Amy, an amazing woman who was taken for granted—first by her parents and then by her husband—relatable and, yes, sympathetic. I kept rooting for her to get the life she wanted, even when I was appalled by what she did and who she hurt to make that happen.

Has Gone Girl changed my life? Well, it didn’t motivate me to change for the badder—old good habits die hard. Yet, thanks in part to Amy and other remarkable women characters like her, I’ve gradually become better at speaking up for myself and getting heard.

Years after first reading Gone Girl, I haven't forgotten Amy. I love the way Rosamund Pike brought her to life in the 2014 film adaptation, which I've watched in its entirety three times with three different women—my sister, my niece, and my daughter. So when I discovered that one of my favorite narrators, the remarkable Julia Whelan, voices Amy in the audiobook, I just had to go back and listen. Her performance is brilliant—so believable, it's chilling—and even though I know every twist in her twisted story, Amy continues to amaze me!

Continue reading Mysia's review >

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 TimesPeopleEntertainment WeeklyO: The Oprah MagazineSlateKansas City StarUSA TodayChristian 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 ChronicleSt. Louis Post-DispatchThe Chicago TribuneHuffPostNewsday

©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

Featured Article: Hang On to Every Last Word of These Romantic Suspense Listens


Who says romance has to be all sweet and cuddly? Mystery and suspense romance books force the protagonists to wade through personal trials, physical dangers, and all manner of other terrors to earn their happily ever after. We've gathered a list of pause-resistant listens where the romance is exciting and the suspense is intimate. Each of these suspenseful romances make for the perfect escape whenever and wherever your life needs a little extra spice.

Editor's Pick: Best of the Decade

Get to the gone
"I’m a sucker for great story structure, and Gone Girl uses every inch of its narrative to subvert expectations in ways that shock and amuse. The perfectly utilized diary entries fold into a legendary mid-book reveal. The face-turn-heel of a seemingly perfect victim who revels in the way they’ve expertly managed your expectations. The unreliable narrators who reveal so much about themselves by what they don’t say—or how they shape emotional states into origami. And it all feels fair; while most twist-filled stories tend to seem rather flimsy under a microscope, the closer you look at Gillian Flynn’s masterpiece, the more you notice the sheer togetherness of it all, each part working in concert with another, coalescing to form a story that has one finger firmly on the pulse of popular culture, and one on the carotid of a serial killer."—Sean T., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Gone Girl

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Such a great book!

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

Yes the audio version is better because they have two actors to tell the story from the perspective of Nick and Amy, which makes it even more compelling.

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

The plot twists in this story kept me interested until the very end. You find yourself "rooting" for one character and then suddenly hoping that the other characters come out on top.

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

Julia Whelan did an amazing job playing both sides of Amazing Amy's personality.

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

The bad parts were so bad they were good!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hooked from page 1!

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

I have not read the print version.

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

The plot twists kept me guessing. You can't decide who the "bad guy" is until well into the story.

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

It definitely adds a whole new dimension having male and female narrators to the story. It helps one relate more to each character.

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

This was a book I couldn't wait to get back to. Usually I only listen to audiobooks when driving, but this one lured me back when I was at work and home!

Any additional comments?

I have found a new favorite author. I am now going to buy all of her available audiobooks!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very good

Lots of twists
Rare story that paints a woman as so manipulative and flawed, but still totally in control.

Awesome plot.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A real psychological thriller

What made the experience of listening to Gone Girl the most enjoyable?

The writing - going between the main characters was brilliantly done.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The sister. She was very believable.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Twists and Turns Ahead!

Amazingly well written and excellently narrated. This novel stuck with me for days after I finished it. The story did stall a little for me about a third of the way thorugh, but stick with it because soon thereafter the roller coaster really gets going. Complex characters created huge emotional swings for me. Very impressive. I've recommended it to all of my friends.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

It's no Dark Places or Sharp Objects

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

almost there; intriguing

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

def a page turner

Any additional comments?

Started reading her books based on S. King recommendation. I am completely in love with Flynn's writing style! I enjoyed her other 2 books much more than Gone Girl although I'm certainly glad I read it. I just I think the end was a cop-out and I was a little disappointed. With that being said, I am soo thirsty for MORE!! *Patiently waiting on your next book G. Flynn..*

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  • AP
  • 11-06-14

Good and twisted

What made the experience of listening to Gone Girl the most enjoyable?

The twist and suspense

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nick - he played the part well and figured out what was going on

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

Amy very smart and crazy all at the same time

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

When Amys truths began to surface about Desi and Hillary.

Any additional comments?

Good easy read the ending could have been better however I enjoyed the book.

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Crazy

This book is crazy! I couldn't stop listening. Would definitely read more from author. Crazy!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing.

This book is incredible. The way the story unfolds you will marathon until your jaw drops to the floor. The performers were great.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable even while relistening

I think why I find this book so enjoyable is due to the perfect voice casting. The narrators make the story come to life and make you want to hear their p.o.v.

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