Book review: Dark Places

Remember Gone Girl? The book that everyone was reading a couple of years ago and it’s film adaptation that made us all realise Rosamund Pike is actually pretty awesome? Well, it turns out that was not Gillian Flynn’s first novel. A couple months a go I read her debut Sharp Objects and I loved it, not as much as Gone Girl  but I still loved it. Yesterday I finished her second novel Dark Places and, oh wow, it is brilliant. If you liked Gone Girl you will without a doubt enjoy this book too.
Like the book that brought Flynn into the mainstream in 2013, Dark Places is full of unexpected twists and turns, intriguing characters and it is completely impossible to put down, trust me. 

Dark Places tells us the tale of Libby Day, a woman in her early thirties who lost her mum and sisters to a brutal murder when she was only 7 years old. In the house at the time of the murders, Libby escapes and is convinced her teenage brother Ben was the man she heard slaughtering her family. After testifying against Ben in court, Libby’s brother is sent to prison.
We meet Libby several years later, she is an angry woman who is troubled by her tragic past. Never had a real job, Libby has been surviving off money from donations and trust funds. Now that money is running worryingly low, Libby finds herself in a bit of a predicament. Until, that is, she gets a phone call from a man called Lyle. Libby learns that Lyle is part of a group called The Kill Club. It is not as scary as it sounds, The Kill Club is a group of murder case fanatics. The members enjoy recreating real life murders, delving into the facts of unsolved crime and creating their own conspiracy theories. It turns out, the murder of the Day family is a very interesting case. Many people are convinced Ben is innocent and Libby is offered cash to go delving into her past, in order to find out what really happened the night her family was murdered.
Each chapter switches between the present day and the day Libby’s family were killed in 1985. We learn a lot about Ben, as well as Devil worship and farming life in Kansas. Just when you get absorbed in to the investigations of present day Libby, you are thrown back to 1985 and reading about the struggles of mother Patty Day and the life changing events that happened on her last day alive.
In true Flynn style, some of the language is very grotesque and gory. Although I felt uncomfortable reading on more than one occasion, especially in the chapter recounting the night of the murders, I still found myself completely engrossed in the story. As we learn more about what happened on that dreaded night, we are subjected to several, unpredictable twists in the plot. I won’t spoil the ending but I will say it is a very, very clever finish to an absolutely brilliant book.
If you are a fan of crime thrillers or if you loved Gone Girl, you really need to put Dark Places on your reading list. You won’t be disappointed.
Have you read Dark Places or any other Gillian Flynn novels? What did you think?  I am pretty sure Gillian Flynn has now become my favourite author.

My Random Musings
A Cornish Mum
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13 Comments

  1. December 1, 2015 / 9:46 pm

    Love love love Gillian Flynn books but I think she only has three out 🙁
    I read them all within a couple of weeks as I couldn't put them down!

    numerotwentysix.blogspot.co.uk

    KT xo

  2. December 1, 2015 / 9:47 pm

    This sounds like a book I would definitely enjoy! It's going on my reading list 🙂 #abitofeverything
    Debbie

  3. December 1, 2015 / 10:01 pm

    I'm pretty sure Gillian Flynn might be my favourite author at the minute too! I love a good mystery with a plot twist. I read Dark Places last year, but I'm tempted to re-read it again now that you've reminded me about it. Problem is, it might not be as good the second time round as I'm sure the ending will come back to me before I get to it…! #abitofeverything

  4. December 2, 2015 / 5:50 pm

    I love Gillian Flynn, that's funny you've posted this as I literally just read her short story today, 'The Grownup,' which, like always, is amazing and I highly recommend it (especially if you don't have much time on your hands and want a quick, thoughtful, very engaging read)!

  5. December 3, 2015 / 5:00 pm

    Yay! It's so good, I'm sure you'll enjoy it xx

  6. December 3, 2015 / 5:01 pm

    She's brilliant isn't she?I know, she needs to write more!xx

  7. December 3, 2015 / 5:04 pm

    Sonetimes it's good to re read books, I've got some I always go back to. The twist in this one is so good, never saw it coming xx

  8. December 3, 2015 / 5:05 pm

    Oh she has another book? I didn't know. .I'm heading over to amazon now to buy myself a copy. I love her!xx

  9. Agent Spitback
    December 4, 2015 / 12:38 pm

    Oooohhhh, sounds intriguing! I love reading and definitely will pick this book up. Thanks for the recommendation and sharing with #abitofeverything

  10. December 4, 2015 / 2:33 pm

    I am so getting this! I remember hearing about everyone reading Gone Girl, but I never got around to it, and then one night my hubby brought home the movie and I loved it! So I am definitely going to get this. I usually like books more than movies, but I still haven't actually read Gone Girl, although it's been long enough now since I've seen it that I can probably read it now without worrying about remembering too much of the plot.

  11. December 5, 2015 / 9:37 pm

    This sounds fascinating. I love a good thriller and must go and look this one up. I haven't read any of her other books or even seen 'Gone Girl' either. Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo x

  12. A Cornish Mum Blog
    December 6, 2015 / 7:59 pm

    I love the sound of this one, I love thrillers and murder mysteries equally with chick lit bizarrely 😉 Might have to download this one.
    Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix

    Stevie x

  13. December 6, 2015 / 8:59 pm

    It sounds like I would 🙂
    Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes
    Debbie x