Dark Books

I'm sure most of you, if not all of you, have seen or at least heard of the movie Gone Girl that came out in 2014. Now for those of you who haven't seen it, it was fantastic. It was twisted and crazy and totally insane, but somehow that just made it even better. I left the theater thoroughly mind blown but determined to read the book myself. However, once I started it, I realized that since I knew the ending twist, I couldn't really get into the book. So, I figured I'd try to read a different book of Mrs. Flynn's, hoping that it would be just as incredible as the first. Luckily, I was not disappointed.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Genre: Mystery

Via theimn.cm

Setting: Rural America

Published: 2005

Pages: 348

Now before I begin, I would just like to warn you - this was a very dark book. It was sad and confusing and made me not want to move for days because it took an emotional toll on me (although I admit that I can occasionally get a bit too emotionally invested in the books I read, but still. This one was rough). But hopefully that does not deter you, as this is definitely a book you should try! 

It takes place in a fictional town in Kansas called Kinnakee (I couldn't help thinking of the iconic Grease character). You follow Libby Day, the sole survivor of a believed Satanic massacre in which her whole family, except her and her brother, were brutally murdered. The police pin the tragedy on her brother Ben, who was only a teenager (Libby was only 7). Twenty-five years later, Libby is still without a path in life. She is a loner, who doesn't seem to care about anything or anyone. 

Although she had been living off a fund that had been started when she was younger by generous people who felt for her situation, the money is drying up now that she is 32 years old. Hoping to make extra cash, she agrees to go to the 'Kill Club', a place for murder enthusiasts (studying them, not committing them). Invited by eccentric Lyle, Libby finds herself in a place where people know her history as much as she does, however, they believe her brother was wrongfully convicted.

After that, the book rapidly unfolds. It goes from present day in Libby's point of view to the days leading up the murder, coming from the point of view of Libby, her mother, and Ben.

These viewpoints do not paint a pretty picture of their home life. Patty, Libby's late mother, takes about the trouble she has after her husband leaves her and her kids. The family farm is falling apart, and with no money to upkeep it, they are in a very precarious situation. Ben's story takes us on a journey of a scared boy who will do anything to fit in, even if it means getting involved in a dangerous crowd.

Those stories as the backdrop, paired with Libby's newfound desire to find out what really happened the night of the murders, make it hard to put this book down.

And let me tell you - that ending makes the ending of Gone Girl look as tame as a Disney movie.