Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Dark Places

by Gillian Flynn

Libby Day was just seven years old when her older brother massacred her family while she hid in a cupboard. Her evidence helped put him away. Ever since then she has been drifting, surviving for over twenty years on the proceeds of the 'Libby Day fund'. But now the money is running out and Libby is desperate. When she is offered $500 to do a guest appearance, she feels she has to accept. But this is no ordinary gathering. The Kill Club is a group of true-crime obsessives who share information on notorious murders, and they think her brother Ben is innocent. It is 2 January 1985 - the day of the murders. Ben is a social misfit, ground down by the small-town farming community in which he lives. His family is extremely poor, and his father Runner is violent, gambles and disappears for months on end. But Ben does have a girlfriend - a brooding heavy metal fan called Diondra. Through her, Ben becomes involved with drugs and the dark arts. When the town suddenly turns against him, his thoughts turn black. But is he capable of murder?In a brilliantly interwoven plot, Gillian Flynn keeps the reader balanced on a knife-edge, as Libby delves into her family's past and Ben spirals towards destruction.

Reviewed by Leigha on

4 of 5 stars

Share
A woman witnesses one of the most horrifying crimes of the century in this adult crime thriller.

If you've been following my reviews for any amount of time, you know this is not my typical read. My book club's pick this month is Dark Places. And let me tell you, I am so glad I read it!

This is a dark, terrifying book filled with suspense and mystery. Libby Day is seven years old when she overhears her family - mom and two sisters - brutally murdered. Her brother is pinned for the crime by Libby's own testimony. After twenty-five years, Libby decides to learn more about that night after being approached by members of a kill club (think true crime hobbyist). Interspersed between present day chapters narrated by Libby are chapters from the day of the crime narrated by her mom and brother.

Flynn knows how to create complicated characters. Libby is fabulous. She's not a Nora Roberts heroine - she's not well-adjusted from the events of the crime. She can't hold down a job, she scams people for money, and she steals people's stuff. Despite her many issues, I always understood her motivations. I also just genuinely liked her. Her brief moments of kindness toward others more than made up for her petty crimes. The rest of the characters are just as intricately created.

The mystery itself is interesting, propelling the reader forward. I honestly couldn't put it down, desperate to know the true events of that night. The ending is a bit of a let down, but the journey to the answers more than makes up for it.I am a little disappointed in Ben’s story line. Quite frankly, I felt he was just as responsible for Michelle’s death as Diondra. He did nothing to stop her from being strangled. I was hoping he had nothing to do with his family’s deaths.

Finally, I recommend skipping the movie all together. Despite the amazing cast, I can say wholeheartedly the book is 10 times better.

tl;dr A suspenseful mystery featuring complicated characters and a gripping story.

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 8 April, 2017: Finished reading
  • 8 April, 2017: Reviewed