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Dark Places

by Gillian Flynn

Dark Places Cover

ISBN13: 9780307341563
ISBN10: 0307341569
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
All Product Details

Review-a-Day   (What is Review-a-Day?)

"[Dark Places] offers an authentic portrayal of the itchy angst and burning blunder of adolescence and, in its devotion to a world populated by mostly failed people who somehow managed to do one thing right — or one right thing — it remains committed to a complexly human, yet hopeful, vision. Readers will surely hope for more work from Flynn[.]" Spencer Drew, Rain Taxi (read the entire Rain Taxi review)

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

When Libby Day was seven years old, her mother and two sisters were murdered in The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas. Thinking about that night sends Libby straight into what she calls her Darkplace.

Michelle was strangled. Debby was chopped up with an axe. And Patty Day's head was blown off with a shotgun.

Darkplace.

As the prosecution's star witness, Libby testified that she saw her brother Ben — then 15 — commit the crime. Little Libby escaped into the freezing January snow, losing a few fingers and toes but saving her life. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and Libby is living off the dregs of a trust fund that was set up for her after the murders.

When the Kill Club, a macabre social group obsessed with infamous crimes — and believers in Ben's innocence — reaches out to her, Libby hatches a plan to profit from her tragic history: Contact everyone tied to the events of that January night and report back her findings for a fee. And maybe she'll admit her testimony wasn't so solid after all.

Interspersed with Libby's investigation are the events of that day, told through the eyes of her doomed family members — including Ben. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself back in her Darkplace — and fighting for her life.

Review:

"Edgar-finalist Flynn's second crime thriller tops her impressive debut, Sharp Objects. When Libby Day's mother and two older sisters were slaughtered in the family's Kansas farmhouse, it was seven-year-old Libby's testimony that sent her 15-year-old brother, Ben, to prison for life. Desperate for cash 24 years later, Libby reluctantly agrees to meet members of the Kill Club, true crime enthusiasts who bicker over famous cases. She's shocked to learn most of them believe Ben is innocent and the real killer is still on the loose. Though initially interested only in making a quick buck hocking family memorabilia, Libby is soon drawn into the club's pseudo-investigation, and begins to question what exactly she saw — or didn't see — the night of the tragedy. Flynn fluidly moves between cynical present-day Libby and the hours leading up to the murders through the eyes of her family members. When the truth emerges, it's so twisted that even the most astute readers won't have predicted it." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"Another Winner!" Harlan Coben

Review:

"Flynn is the real deal, a sharp, acerbic, and compelling storyteller with a knack for the macabre." Stephen King

Review:

"A gritty, riveting thriller with a one-of-a-kind, tart-tongued heroine." Booklist

Review:

"Love her or loathe her, Libby Day won't be forgotten without a fight." New York Times

Review:

"Gillian Flynn’s second novel, Dark Places, proves that her first — Sharp Objects — was no fluke....tough, surprising crime fiction that dips its toes in the deeper waters of literary fiction." Chicago Sun-Times

About the Author

Gillian Flynn’s debut novel, Sharp Objects, was an Edgar Award finalist and the winner of two of Britain’s Dagger Awards. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Brett Nolan, and a rather giant cat named Roy.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 4 comments:
pdx lydia, December 30, 2009 (view all comments by pdx lydia)
Wow, one of the best books I've read. I loved Gillian Flynn's first novel "Sharp Objects" and was surprised to find this even better! I was hooked from page one and couldn't put it down. The writing is amazing, the characters are great ( I especially loved and identified with the narrator) and the plot is gripping. Horrifying and intense all the way through. I have been recommending this book to everyone.
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redeyereader, June 19, 2009 (view all comments by redeyereader)
Dark Places was a great sophomore effort for Flynn. I started it a few days ago and read straight through, only stopping to sleep and eat. After finishing this and having read her first book, Sharp Objects, a few weeks ago, I'd say she has the formula for page turners down.

The main character, Libby Day, is well developed, if not necessarily likable, which makes her all the more readable. You'll want to keep reading if only to see if she ever does anything to redeem herself. You'll lose yourself in the atmosphere of this book, especially if you grew up in a small town. Flynn's illustration of how a small town can be homey and suffocating at the same time is spot-on.

Flynn strings you along, in the good, suspenseful way, to an unexpected, twist ending. The reveal is surprising, but may leave you less than satisfied if you prefer books to end tied up tight with a red ribbon. I won't give it away, but let's just say, that you may not love the ending, if you're unable to suspend disbelief and believe in coincidences.

Overall, an extremely satisfying read.

Enjoy.

redeyereader.com
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Clark, June 15, 2009 (view all comments by Clark)
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn was amazing. The writing style, the plot, the characters, the suspense are all beyond par in this book. Dark Places proves that her first book Sharp Objects was not a fluke. I won't bore you by repeating unnecessary plot details to you, I will just tell you that you would be hard-pressed to find a better plot elsewhere. Sharp Objects was great, Dark Places was even better . . . I can't wait to see how great her third book will be.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780307341563
Author:
Flynn, Gillian
Publisher:
Shaye Areheart Books
Author:
Gillian Flynn
Subject:
Family
Subject:
Brothers and sisters
Subject:
Literary
Subject:
Thrillers
Subject:
Suspense fiction
Publication Date:
May 2009
Binding:
Hardcover
Language:
English
Pages:
349
Dimensions:
9.40x6.32x1.32 in. 1.37 lbs.

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