Review: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
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Dark Places was just as dark and twisted as I had imagined it to be. It was a roller-coaster filled with unexpected twists and thrills. I highly recommend this book to anyone who will listen. It is a thought provoking book that runs with the idea of an unreliable narrative.
At the age of seven, Libby Day’s mother and two older sisters were brutally murdered. She managed to escape, and later testified that her older brother, Ben, had committed the murders. 25 years later, Libby is contacted by the Kill Club, a secret club who is fascinated with brutal crimes. The club is convinced that Ben is not the murderer, and want more details for Libby. The club’s willingness to pay Libby, sends her on a search to figure out what truly happened on that dreadful night.
For the first page, I was immediately hooked, and there were times when it was hard to put the book down. Gillian Flynn has an addictive and captivating yet simple way of writing. It is not overly stuffed with metaphors. Instead the writing is filled with just enough detail paint a brilliant story. And each of those details, are just as important as the first. Nothing felt accidentally in this book; every line felt carefully written so that this mystery could be well crafted, surprisingly, and haunting.
I felt uncomfortable while reading this. It is not a wholesome light read, and the author does not shy away from anything. It is dark. Truly dark. And the more Libby tries to piece together the truth, the darker it gets.
Characters
There were times when I did not like several characters’ motives or behaviors but that never overshadowed the book. Within this universe that Flynn has created, it made sense for those characters to act that way. It felt very human, and I couldn’t fault some of them, not all of them, for their mistakes or choices. No one in this book is truly good or innocent.
For example, Libby. She is not the type of character that I typically lean towards. She’s done some terrible things in the past, but I understood her and I could not help but want her to come on top.
Libby Day was a deeply troubled, flawed, and complex character. Which is understandable considering her life has been nothing but tragic. She’s been through a lot, and since the book is written in her POV you truly get to witness her pain and suffering.
Final Analysis
Dark Places is a haunting and unpredictable book that does not fail to leave you on the edge of your seat. It’s an unforgettable page turner that will leave you speechless.
