Gone Girl

Gillian Flynn

May 2012 · Hachette UK

About this ebook

THE ADDICTIVE No.1 BESTSELLER AND INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON
OVER 20 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE
THE BOOK THAT DEFINES PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

Who are you?
What have we done to each other?

These are the questions Nick Dunne finds himself asking on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, when his wife Amy suddenly disappears. The police suspect Nick. Amy's friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn't true. A police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they weren't made by him. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone. So what really did happen to Nick's beautiful wife?

'Flynn is a brilliantly accomplished psychological crime writer and this latest book is so dark, so twisted and so utterly compelling that it actually messes with your mind' DAILY MAIL

'A near-masterpiece. Flynn is an extraordinary writer who, with every sentence, makes words do things that other writers merely dream of' SOPHIE HANNAH, Sunday Express

'You think you're reading a good, conventional thriller and then it grows into a fascinating portrait of one averagely mismatched relationship...Nothing's as it seems - Flynn is a fabulous plotter, and a very sharp observer of modern life in the aftermath of the credit crunch' THE TIMES

'One of the most popular thrillers of the year is also one of the smartest... Flynn's book cleverly outpaces its neo-noir trappings and consistently surprises the reader.' FINANCIAL TIMES

Ratings and reviews

First off I just have to say that I absolutely loved the character of Amy - she is bitter and exceptionally devious, yet somehow I found myself liking her. Not someone you could trust with anything but I bet she is a riot on a boozy night out. Nick I found to be far less likeable and although the author tries to manipulate us in to having sympathy for this man in the beginning he always came across to me as quite weak and personality-less. I think it helps that although I am late to reading the book I have not watched the film - in fact I actively avoided it as the book is usually better anyway. I am at a loss to see how this book could be made in to a film that captures every nuance and that can engender the same level of threat and anguish you feel from the book. Although there is the theme of an investigation in to the missing Amy, the police seem to write her off as dead very early on and I did wonder if such a knee jerk reaction was typical - but this is fiction so I didn't dwell too closely on it. I did enjoy the way the investigation slithers through the tale as though it is another character in it's own right. This allows much more flexibility within the plot structure to misdirect the reader but also to enlighten them, quite a literary juggling act. The plot and it's pacing were spot on for me, I just found that some of scenes in the Control Centre for co-ordinating the search for Amy where a little unnecessary and added a needless distraction from the central tale. It also felt strangely like an old-fashioned morality tale, the moral in this one being "everybody lies to others and, most of all, to themselves". It also felt a little unfinished, just tapering off to a nothing of an ending which, I suppose, gives scope for a follow up novel or just allows the reader to make their own mind up about what happens next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and became absorbed by what these damaged people would do next - both to others and to themselves.

After the movie I had to read the book. I just finished it and I'm happy to say the movie stayed true to the book, the character and story development was perfect. It's an exciting read even if you've seen the movie as it takes you through Amy's meticulous web of games. It got 4 stars because whilst it gave more than the movie I was quite deflated with the ending. The build up was there but then it just deflated suddenly like... Well, you know ;¬}

Finished reading Gone Girl and want to recommend it. One of the best single novels I have read. If you are married or cohabiting in a long term relationship you will enjoy this text the more. Gillian Flynn No1 bestseller book (2012) is addictive, but you can put it down. The book is not written in the traditional manner but in parts this this makes everything go together really well. Get a few chapters in and you will get used to the style. If you like thrillers you will enjoy this.

About the author

GILLIAN FLYNN is the author of the #1 SUNDAY TIMES bestseller GONE GIRL, for which she wrote the Golden Globe-nominated screenplay, and the SUNDAY TIMES bestsellers DARK PLACES and SHARP OBJECTS. A former critic for ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, she lives in Chicago with her husband and children.