Review: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
by Jenners • 02/20/2010 • 3 Stars, D Titles, F Authors, Fiction, Gothic/Horror, Mystery/Thriller • 8 Comments
1 Book you read: “Dark Places” by Gillian Flynn
2 Words that describe the book: “Who Is The Killer” thriller (more than 2 words, I know. So sue me!)
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:
- Setting: Kansas, present day and 1985
- Libby Day—Only 7 years old when most of her family was murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas,” Libby has grown into a troubled young woman whose lack of money causes her to turn to the Kill Club—a secret society of people obsessed with famous crimes. Libby decides to earn money from the Kill Club by “reinvestigating” the crime that left her mother and two sisters dead and her brother Ben in jail—and along the way she finds that the truth might not be quite what she believed it to be.
- Ben Day—Libby’s older brother who has been serving a prison term for the murder of his family, based in no small part on the testimony provided by young Libby.
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
- I liked how Libby’s present day experiences are intertwined with the truth about what happened in 1985 from the viewpoint of Libby’s mother and brother.
- I disliked how unlikable so many of the characters were in the book. It was even difficult to sympathize with Libby (despite what happened to her) and many of the other characters in the book. Everyone seemed to have character flaws that caused me not to like them very much.
- I liked that Flynn throws so many different things at you that you’re never really quite sure where the truth is going to lie in the end. I was kind of in the dark until the final details were revealed. Then again, I’m not always the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to books like this.
- I disliked the icky feeling I had after reading this book. I know it isn’t meant to be a “feel good” book, but there were so many horrible things that took place and yucky people that I ended up feeling kind of bad about the world when I was done reading it.
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I’m giving the book 3 stars.I really liked Gillian Flynn’s first book, Sharp Objects, which is why I picked up this one. I thought Sharp Objects was a better book. I don’t know if I’m outgrowing this type of book or if it just wasn’t as good as her previous book. Also, I read this about the same time as a similar type thriller so it might have been a bit of burnout on the genre too. That said, if you like this type of book, it is worth checking out.
The Whys and Wheres: I bought this book at a library sale.
And it seems that our Show Me 5 Saturday hostess is missing in action since November so I thought I’d include a Mr. Linky with my post in case you want to hook up your own contribution. Hopefully, she’ll be back to blogging soon.
And it seems that our Show Me 5 Saturday hostess is missing in action since November so I thought I’d include a Mr. Linky with my post in case you want to hook up your own contribution. Hopefully, she’ll be back to blogging soon.
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I really don't like being left with an icky feeling. Sort of like when I left the theater after watching Shutter Island an hour ago!
Thanks for helping to keep this going. I added my link.
That's why I hardly ever read thrillers. It's difficult to find those that are good reads (the one that don't make me feel icky when I'm done).
Don't think this is the book for me. There has to be some redeeeming qualities to the characters for me to finish a book like that.
kudos for plodding forward and finishing it.
I'm not going to sue you – I'll count "Who Is The Killer" as one word since you have it in quotes. I have this book and will have to save it for a time when I don't mind feeling icky.
In Cold Blood left me with an icky feeling, but is one of my top ten books of all time, so I guess I'd be OK with that. But I feel I've become immune to the trappings that you find in this genre. At this stage, they have to stand out somehow. I always get the feeling they are trying to outshock each other. Dismemberment, cannibalism, religious and mother issues, how many times do I have to read this stuff? Anyway, not to get on a tangent or anything!
Wow, I just don't want to read a book that leaves me with an icky feeling. And you had a hard time sympathizing with the main character. I think you get credit for finishing it.
eueueue: icky and yucky. Sounds like not for me!