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Sharp Objects
Paperback
14 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Flynn
29 books95.1k followersGillian Flynn is an American author and television critic for Entertainment Weekly. She has so far written three novels, Sharp Objects, for which she won the 2007 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for the best thriller; Dark Places; and her best-selling third novel Gone Girl.
Her book has received wide praise, including from authors such as Stephen King. The dark plot revolves around a serial killer in a Missouri town, and the reporter who has returned from Chicago to cover the event. Themes include dysfunctional families,violence and self-harm.
In 2007 the novel was shortlisted for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar for Best First Novel by an American Writer, Crime Writers' Association Duncan Lawrie, CWA New Blood and Ian Fleming Steel Daggers, winning in the last two categories.
Flynn, who lives in Chicago, grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated at the University of Kansas, and qualified for a Master's degree from Northwestern University.
Review Quotes:
"Gillian Flynn is the real deal, a sharp, acerbic, and compelling storyteller with a knack for the macabre."
–Stephen King
Her book has received wide praise, including from authors such as Stephen King. The dark plot revolves around a serial killer in a Missouri town, and the reporter who has returned from Chicago to cover the event. Themes include dysfunctional families,violence and self-harm.
In 2007 the novel was shortlisted for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar for Best First Novel by an American Writer, Crime Writers' Association Duncan Lawrie, CWA New Blood and Ian Fleming Steel Daggers, winning in the last two categories.
Flynn, who lives in Chicago, grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated at the University of Kansas, and qualified for a Master's degree from Northwestern University.
Review Quotes:
"Gillian Flynn is the real deal, a sharp, acerbic, and compelling storyteller with a knack for the macabre."
–Stephen King
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 29, 2025
A twisted, Southern-Gothic thriller following journalist Camille Preaker as she returns to her hometown to investigate grisly murders — and ends up confronting her own brutal past.
What Hits Hard
• The atmosphere: The small town of Wind Gap feels alive in its decay — oppressive, eerie, soaked in secrets and unease. The setting itself becomes a character.
• The psychological depth: Flynn doesn’t shy away from trauma, abuse, self-harm, and the ugly underside of familial love. It’s raw and unsettling in a way that lingers long after the last page.
• The complexity of characters: Camille is far from a “pure” heroine — she’s fragile, scarred, broken — yet utterly human and real. The twisted family dynamics and toxic relationships are unsettling yet compelling.
• The tension & dread: Writing laced with quiet horror, creeping dread, sharp prose — even everyday moments carry weight. Suspense is slow-burn but relentless.
Why It’s Not for Everyone
This book demands emotional endurance. Its themes — self-harm, abuse, violence, manipulation, grief — are heavy. It doesn’t offer much respite or redemption; light and hope are scarce. If you prefer uplifting stories or happy endings, this one might feel bleak. I also feel the ending was rushed.
Final Verdict
“Sharp Objects” isn’t just a thriller — it’s a gut-punch of a psychological portrait. If you’re ready for dark, disturbing, and unflinching storytelling that leaves its mark, pick it up. But come prepared: this one will stay with you long after you close the book.
⭐ Rating (for me): 4/ 5 — Difficult, dark, but unforgettable.
What Hits Hard
• The atmosphere: The small town of Wind Gap feels alive in its decay — oppressive, eerie, soaked in secrets and unease. The setting itself becomes a character.
• The psychological depth: Flynn doesn’t shy away from trauma, abuse, self-harm, and the ugly underside of familial love. It’s raw and unsettling in a way that lingers long after the last page.
• The complexity of characters: Camille is far from a “pure” heroine — she’s fragile, scarred, broken — yet utterly human and real. The twisted family dynamics and toxic relationships are unsettling yet compelling.
• The tension & dread: Writing laced with quiet horror, creeping dread, sharp prose — even everyday moments carry weight. Suspense is slow-burn but relentless.
Why It’s Not for Everyone
This book demands emotional endurance. Its themes — self-harm, abuse, violence, manipulation, grief — are heavy. It doesn’t offer much respite or redemption; light and hope are scarce. If you prefer uplifting stories or happy endings, this one might feel bleak. I also feel the ending was rushed.
Final Verdict
“Sharp Objects” isn’t just a thriller — it’s a gut-punch of a psychological portrait. If you’re ready for dark, disturbing, and unflinching storytelling that leaves its mark, pick it up. But come prepared: this one will stay with you long after you close the book.
⭐ Rating (for me): 4/ 5 — Difficult, dark, but unforgettable.
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August 3, 2025Very interesting and surprising!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews