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The Complete Gillian Flynn: Gone Girl, Dark Places, Sharp Objects
"Gillian Flynn is the real deal, a sharp, acerbic, and compelling storyteller with a knack for the macabre." —Stephen King
This exclusive ebook collection brings together the three novels from bestselling author Gillian Flynn. A #1 New York Times bestseller, Gone Girl is an unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that Flynn’s work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn. Flynn’s second novel, Dark Places, is an intricately orchestrated thriller that ravages a family's past to unearth the truth behind a horrifying crime. A New York Times bestseller and Weekend Today Top Summer Read, Dark Places solidified Flynn’s status as one of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time. In Sharp Objects, Flynn’s debut novel, a young journalist returns home to cover a dark assignment—and to face her own damaged family history. With its taut, crafted writing, Sharp Objects is addictive, haunting, and unforgettable.
This exclusive ebook collection brings together the three novels from bestselling author Gillian Flynn. A #1 New York Times bestseller, Gone Girl is an unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that Flynn’s work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn. Flynn’s second novel, Dark Places, is an intricately orchestrated thriller that ravages a family's past to unearth the truth behind a horrifying crime. A New York Times bestseller and Weekend Today Top Summer Read, Dark Places solidified Flynn’s status as one of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time. In Sharp Objects, Flynn’s debut novel, a young journalist returns home to cover a dark assignment—and to face her own damaged family history. With its taut, crafted writing, Sharp Objects is addictive, haunting, and unforgettable.
1072 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2013
1122 people are currently reading
3748 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 - 30 of 130 reviews
July 9, 2017
I have to say that I enjoyed Gillian's books very much. I, personally, hated the ending to Gone Girl, but her books are very well developed and written.
October 9, 2014
Great Author
This is a new author for me. I wanted to see "Gone Girl" at the movie theatre. I read the book "Gone Girl" first. I loved it. It had a great twist.
I did not care for the book "Dark Places". The characters were not very likeable and I predicted the end.
"Sharp Objects" was a great book. Camille (The main character) was very likeable. Camille goes back home to investigate the death of two children. Set in a small town, where everyone knows your business. Great plot twist. I cannot wait for this author to write more books.
This is a new author for me. I wanted to see "Gone Girl" at the movie theatre. I read the book "Gone Girl" first. I loved it. It had a great twist.
I did not care for the book "Dark Places". The characters were not very likeable and I predicted the end.
"Sharp Objects" was a great book. Camille (The main character) was very likeable. Camille goes back home to investigate the death of two children. Set in a small town, where everyone knows your business. Great plot twist. I cannot wait for this author to write more books.
November 27, 2014
amazing!!
Masterpiece! All 3 of these books are genius! From start to finish, all 3 are non-stop! Will read & re-read again!!
Masterpiece! All 3 of these books are genius! From start to finish, all 3 are non-stop! Will read & re-read again!!
October 26, 2013
Really enjoyed the narration... held my attention! Great stories!
March 27, 2024
I'm using this book set for my re-readig of Gone Girl.
July 2, 2020
Pretty incredible. I found each inventive and full of something being communicated to the reader beyond a good story. A view of the world more horrific than events in the story sometimes, and a vulnerability that clarifies the themes.
October 19, 2024
i bought the 3 pack of thrillers because i liked the movie gone girl and the book i thrifted was making me go crosseyed- the text was so small. went on kindle & decided to spring for the giant pack of books, although i am tempted to knock off a bunch of stars because instead of 3 separate books, this was a single 1200 page beast.
Gone Girl- loved it, stressed at all mentions of animals
knew the ending, saw the movie
Dark Places- loved it, stressed because it had even more distressing animal stuff, i actually saw this movie when it came out & remembered the ending so no surprise, but still a nice read.
Sharp Objects- loved it. mommy issues bring me home, the most stressful animal stuff FUCK, didn’t see the miniseries but i did, in fact, guess the ending. still amazing.
Gone Girl- loved it, stressed at all mentions of animals
knew the ending, saw the movie
Dark Places- loved it, stressed because it had even more distressing animal stuff, i actually saw this movie when it came out & remembered the ending so no surprise, but still a nice read.
Sharp Objects- loved it. mommy issues bring me home, the most stressful animal stuff FUCK, didn’t see the miniseries but i did, in fact, guess the ending. still amazing.
April 1, 2020
Sharp Objects is my favourite of the trilogy. I'm already partial because the main character is a reporter. Flynn writes in such a fluid way, that is plays just like a movie in your mind. The eerily sweet portrayal of Amma left me in the dark until the climax. Wonderful read!
June 15, 2021
Dark Places was my favorite of the three.
November 19, 2014
I think the best written of these is Dark Places, though Gone Girl is the most fun in a sort of awful way. These are good reads, but Flynn is an unflinching writer who reveals a lot of drinking, perversions, and dark strwaks in even her "good characters.
Dark Places is so well set in the 70's/early 80's it is a pleasure of small details that can take you back and the fact that the whole satanic rituals among teenagers is explored is interesting because it never made sense to me either and we had some in my area. Sharp Objects is more like a 2.5 or 3, there is some good stuff, but it is not surprising it was her first novel, I didn't find it as well written.
Note that the female characters are diverse, interesting and mostly MEAN and twisted!
Dark Places is so well set in the 70's/early 80's it is a pleasure of small details that can take you back and the fact that the whole satanic rituals among teenagers is explored is interesting because it never made sense to me either and we had some in my area. Sharp Objects is more like a 2.5 or 3, there is some good stuff, but it is not surprising it was her first novel, I didn't find it as well written.
Note that the female characters are diverse, interesting and mostly MEAN and twisted!
April 10, 2015
This is three books in one (Gone Girl, Dark Places, and Sharp Objects). Although all three books took a walk on the dark side of human nature, I thought Ms. Flynn was quite an engaging writer, and I thoroughly enjoyed each one. I was inspired to read the first book, Gone Girl, after watching the movie. As is often the case, the book was far better than the movie because of the book's ability to more-fully capture the characters' thoughts and feelings. If you have a taste for the macabre (do you enjoy reading King, Koontz, et al.?), you'll enjoy reading Flynn.
September 20, 2015
Gillian Flynn shot into our lives through Gone Girl. It took me forever but in the end, I did jump on the bandwagon. I enjoyed it… right up until the end. The ending to the book was a disappointment for me. Wanting to see if her two other books would have a more satisfying ending I picked them up when I found them on offer. Unfortunately, these books had the same effect upon me.
In short, I find Gillian Flynn wonderful right up until the end. As it stand, though, she has yet to write an ending I’m completely pleased with. It’s unfortunate, really.
In short, I find Gillian Flynn wonderful right up until the end. As it stand, though, she has yet to write an ending I’m completely pleased with. It’s unfortunate, really.
June 23, 2025
Gone girl;
This book , The novel's core mystery stems from an uncertainty about the protagonist, Nick Dunne. Whether Nick killed his wife, Amy Dunne, is the suspense the novel is built up on. Gone Girl centers its story about Nick and Amy Dunne's strained marriage relationship. Nick used to work as a journalist, but loses his job. With his broke financial status, Nick decides to relocate from New York City to his smaller home town, North Carthage.
In an attempt of recovering from his financial deprivations, Nick opens a bar using the money from his wife. Nick runs the bar along with his twin sister Margo, providing a decent living for his family. But, as they days go by, his marriage with Amy is falling apart slowly. Amy resents her new life. On a summer morning in Missouri, when Nick and Amy was about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary along with their relatives and acquaintances, Amy goes missing.
Police's eyes turn towards Nick as an act of suspicion, since Nick used Amy's money for his business and their relationship is strained. As the police delve into the investigation, different shades of stories come out from Nick's and Amy's sides. The suspense of the book is carried until the actual information is demystified.
Fake feminism is mocked and some sadistic desire of Amy is became the bone in the throat for Nick. There relationship strained from both end but only Nick got hated when Amy went missing. A 2 way street of relationship can't be ran by one person being responsible and taking it on there shouder. Nick realisation came late but the pain and harrasment is disturbing for everyone.
Dark spaces :
This is the story of the dysfunctional family and poor Libby Day who survived at age 7 the day when her mother, Patty Day, and sisters, Michelle and Debby, 11 and 9 were brutally murdered in there farm home by Ben, her strange brother, in the lonely rundown farmhouse that night which put him behind prison for 24 years.Libby is now 31, but she can't put it behind her, despite years of therapy.
But the pity money, that was holding her up is depleted immensely. She either has to find a job or sell the boxed up items her sisters and mother had until their murders, to 'kill clubs' - organized by mystery fans of serial killings and famous mass murders, offer came from Kill Club President Lyle Wirth, despite the hostility of the members towards her.
Lyle and friends supporting their belief Ben is innocent through info collected by them, when Libby looks at their information, she begins to have doubts.
In alternating chapters ,shifting between Ben and Patty in 1985 and Libby in Now, the past is lived and remembered once again. Her memories stirred by the boxed memorable of her sisters, as well as discovering her sister's Michelle's diaries, leads Libby to join with Lyle and begin to half-heartedly track down people who knew her family before they were murdered. After all, Libby had been 7. But first, she must go see Ben in prison, the first time since he was convicted, she still thinks he is guilty. But he is all she has left, and so she realizes she wants to find out what really happened that night.
As she re-interviews witnesses from the trial, Libby does not really consider what it might mean if she proves Ben did not do it. Because if he didn't, someone else did it.....and whoever that was may not like anything new being dug up now - unless it's to bury Libby. The night in question in novel is dark because whole family have something to hide from one another before the tragedy strikes.
Sharp objects:
This is a truly unique book, not only because of the plot, but main character and the story link up of timelines . This book made readers uncomfortable many times. My discomfort mainly from the actions of the main character and the choices she made. Camille is the kind of person, I had the urge to shake quite often while yelling at her to act like an adult. I believe that she is a well constructed character from the point of view of character psychology.
The plot was also fascinating yet typical. Two girls are brutally murdered in a small town and everything points to a serial killer. Camille, the main character, returns after many years to the town where she grew up to describe these crimes. It sounds like a typical story But here's what the author has done with this simple idea is truly unique. A small town turns out to be saturated with dark secrets and small crimes. Bored rich ladies raise their little ideal children who continue the family tradition of maintaining a strict hierarchy.
We see all this through the eyes of the main character, Camille, who, being daughter of one of the most important women in the town, is a part of this society and, due to her profession as a reporter and an escape from the town many years ago and people labelled her a rebel. At the same time, Camille has her own problems related to both alcohol abuse and deep mental problems. Her problems sometimes prevent her from discovering the truth, but amazingly, sometimes they help her put things into perspective. When truth of the murder came to light and people were put behind bars that was a satisfactory point in the novel.
This book , The novel's core mystery stems from an uncertainty about the protagonist, Nick Dunne. Whether Nick killed his wife, Amy Dunne, is the suspense the novel is built up on. Gone Girl centers its story about Nick and Amy Dunne's strained marriage relationship. Nick used to work as a journalist, but loses his job. With his broke financial status, Nick decides to relocate from New York City to his smaller home town, North Carthage.
In an attempt of recovering from his financial deprivations, Nick opens a bar using the money from his wife. Nick runs the bar along with his twin sister Margo, providing a decent living for his family. But, as they days go by, his marriage with Amy is falling apart slowly. Amy resents her new life. On a summer morning in Missouri, when Nick and Amy was about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary along with their relatives and acquaintances, Amy goes missing.
Police's eyes turn towards Nick as an act of suspicion, since Nick used Amy's money for his business and their relationship is strained. As the police delve into the investigation, different shades of stories come out from Nick's and Amy's sides. The suspense of the book is carried until the actual information is demystified.
Fake feminism is mocked and some sadistic desire of Amy is became the bone in the throat for Nick. There relationship strained from both end but only Nick got hated when Amy went missing. A 2 way street of relationship can't be ran by one person being responsible and taking it on there shouder. Nick realisation came late but the pain and harrasment is disturbing for everyone.
Dark spaces :
This is the story of the dysfunctional family and poor Libby Day who survived at age 7 the day when her mother, Patty Day, and sisters, Michelle and Debby, 11 and 9 were brutally murdered in there farm home by Ben, her strange brother, in the lonely rundown farmhouse that night which put him behind prison for 24 years.Libby is now 31, but she can't put it behind her, despite years of therapy.
But the pity money, that was holding her up is depleted immensely. She either has to find a job or sell the boxed up items her sisters and mother had until their murders, to 'kill clubs' - organized by mystery fans of serial killings and famous mass murders, offer came from Kill Club President Lyle Wirth, despite the hostility of the members towards her.
Lyle and friends supporting their belief Ben is innocent through info collected by them, when Libby looks at their information, she begins to have doubts.
In alternating chapters ,shifting between Ben and Patty in 1985 and Libby in Now, the past is lived and remembered once again. Her memories stirred by the boxed memorable of her sisters, as well as discovering her sister's Michelle's diaries, leads Libby to join with Lyle and begin to half-heartedly track down people who knew her family before they were murdered. After all, Libby had been 7. But first, she must go see Ben in prison, the first time since he was convicted, she still thinks he is guilty. But he is all she has left, and so she realizes she wants to find out what really happened that night.
As she re-interviews witnesses from the trial, Libby does not really consider what it might mean if she proves Ben did not do it. Because if he didn't, someone else did it.....and whoever that was may not like anything new being dug up now - unless it's to bury Libby. The night in question in novel is dark because whole family have something to hide from one another before the tragedy strikes.
Sharp objects:
This is a truly unique book, not only because of the plot, but main character and the story link up of timelines . This book made readers uncomfortable many times. My discomfort mainly from the actions of the main character and the choices she made. Camille is the kind of person, I had the urge to shake quite often while yelling at her to act like an adult. I believe that she is a well constructed character from the point of view of character psychology.
The plot was also fascinating yet typical. Two girls are brutally murdered in a small town and everything points to a serial killer. Camille, the main character, returns after many years to the town where she grew up to describe these crimes. It sounds like a typical story But here's what the author has done with this simple idea is truly unique. A small town turns out to be saturated with dark secrets and small crimes. Bored rich ladies raise their little ideal children who continue the family tradition of maintaining a strict hierarchy.
We see all this through the eyes of the main character, Camille, who, being daughter of one of the most important women in the town, is a part of this society and, due to her profession as a reporter and an escape from the town many years ago and people labelled her a rebel. At the same time, Camille has her own problems related to both alcohol abuse and deep mental problems. Her problems sometimes prevent her from discovering the truth, but amazingly, sometimes they help her put things into perspective. When truth of the murder came to light and people were put behind bars that was a satisfactory point in the novel.
November 7, 2014
I bought this because Gone Girl was included and had been recommended to me many times. After reading Gone Girl, Dark Places and Sharp Objects, I actually liked the last two better than the more popular Gone Girl.
November 7, 2014
Great books
I chose 4 stars because I loved the twists and turns each book had to offer, they kept me on the edge of my seat loved them all ...
I chose 4 stars because I loved the twists and turns each book had to offer, they kept me on the edge of my seat loved them all ...
February 7, 2015
Complete Gone Dark
All 3 stories held me captive. Gillians' stories are complete, gone, dark. Twists and unforseen endings lead to frantic page turning. Great author.
All 3 stories held me captive. Gillians' stories are complete, gone, dark. Twists and unforseen endings lead to frantic page turning. Great author.
January 30, 2015
I read Sharp Objects for my book club, and read the other two because I became hooked on the way Gillian Flynn writes about dark, crazed situations, sociopaths, and the people interacting with them.
August 15, 2015
In order of favorite:
1. Dark Places
2. Gone Girl
3. Sharp Objects
1. Dark Places
2. Gone Girl
3. Sharp Objects
September 10, 2016
Great author And I WANT MORE BOOKS FROM HER ! Totally worth reading all!
November 15, 2018
Dark, disturbing and amazing! Well-written and suspenseful.
January 10, 2018
4.5 stars.
Okay, I know this book gets a lot of hype, but it is so good! I actually did something I try very hard not to do - I watched the movie first (gasp!) to see if I cared to read the book. That's how concerned I was about all this hype. And despite the fact that the movie starred Ben Affleck, who I personally do not enjoy watching (although he fit this role perfectly), I really enjoyed the film. And the book is (of course) even better. The plot is just so insane, and I'm fairly certain I drove my husband up the wall with how much I talked to him about it. I will say that you will despise almost all of the characters in this book, and if that is something that drives you crazy, you will not enjoy the experience of reading this. Personally, I can't wait to read more from Gillian Flynn!
Okay, I know this book gets a lot of hype, but it is so good! I actually did something I try very hard not to do - I watched the movie first (gasp!) to see if I cared to read the book. That's how concerned I was about all this hype. And despite the fact that the movie starred Ben Affleck, who I personally do not enjoy watching (although he fit this role perfectly), I really enjoyed the film. And the book is (of course) even better. The plot is just so insane, and I'm fairly certain I drove my husband up the wall with how much I talked to him about it. I will say that you will despise almost all of the characters in this book, and if that is something that drives you crazy, you will not enjoy the experience of reading this. Personally, I can't wait to read more from Gillian Flynn!
January 7, 2022
Gyllian Flynn is a masterful storyteller. The ladies in her novels express themselves with such raw honesty and power and she weaves their thoughts in such a way that the reader feels like they've got a front row seat inside their heads. The emotional rollercoasters you ride with these stories are very addictive and the books are such page turners. The Gone Girl novel is so much better than the movie, rightly so, and I have watched the movie first, years before I started reading the novel, which was exquisite in every way.
January 11, 2018
I tore through these books like they were on fire. I think Gillian Flynn is one of the most disturbed authors I have read in a long time (meant with utmost respect for her). I absolutely loved reading these books, and definitely felt disturbed by the characters at times. As an author, I would read more of her books in a heartbeat. I really like her style, and enjoyed the discomfort and torment I felt as I continued to turn the pages.
September 27, 2018
I like Sharp Objects more than Dark Places but overall all I can gather is Gillian Flynn hates women. I love reading about nuanced grey and even villainous women- but all her female characters have such an intense hated for other women. It's exhausting. I wish someone else had written sharp objects because the relationship between Amma and Camille was fascinating - a bit like we need to talk about Kevin.
March 13, 2019
Actually...
I first came across the TV series where I learned that it had been made out of this book. I watched the whole series in one sitting, and I read the book in the same way. It is a real page turner with unexpected twists and turns. But above all I admire the author’s deep understanding of the darkest corners of human soul and mind. As an avid reader for over sixty years, I can say that, unfortunatelly, there are only few authors that dare dig that deep.
I first came across the TV series where I learned that it had been made out of this book. I watched the whole series in one sitting, and I read the book in the same way. It is a real page turner with unexpected twists and turns. But above all I admire the author’s deep understanding of the darkest corners of human soul and mind. As an avid reader for over sixty years, I can say that, unfortunatelly, there are only few authors that dare dig that deep.
November 25, 2020
🍁SHARP OBJECTS🍁
Good God. Having watched Gone Girl, I definitely had an inkling of what I was getting into. But it managed to surprise at the extent to which it disturbed me. The twists were somewhat expected, but it didn't take away from the reading experience for me at all.
And you should already know this given that it's Gillian Flynn, but, for the love of all that's good, do not go into this book if you are feeling poor in regards to your mental health.
Good God. Having watched Gone Girl, I definitely had an inkling of what I was getting into. But it managed to surprise at the extent to which it disturbed me. The twists were somewhat expected, but it didn't take away from the reading experience for me at all.
And you should already know this given that it's Gillian Flynn, but, for the love of all that's good, do not go into this book if you are feeling poor in regards to your mental health.
Read
February 23, 2022Gillian Flynn really paved the road for the Genre of Thriller, Mystery, Suspense. I fell in love with the way she draws on the surroundings and the world through her characters. The twists and turns in these books kept me up late at night and stepping over dog toys on my way to the kitchen with a book pressed up to my noise to get a glass of water and a snack! A great binge worthy set of books!
June 16, 2017
I read all three!
I liked Dark Places the best. With Gone Girl and Sharp Objects not so much. Although, Sharp Objects did have nice twist at the end, it is better than Gone Girl. Gillian Flynn has a very creative mind. I love to read. I especially love happy endings.
I liked Dark Places the best. With Gone Girl and Sharp Objects not so much. Although, Sharp Objects did have nice twist at the end, it is better than Gone Girl. Gillian Flynn has a very creative mind. I love to read. I especially love happy endings.
June 18, 2018
Another gripping Gillian Flynn novel
Creepy, disturbing and suspenseful!! Couldn't put it down! Gillian Flynn masters the storytelling of another dark tale. Looking forward to the movie adaptation.
Creepy, disturbing and suspenseful!! Couldn't put it down! Gillian Flynn masters the storytelling of another dark tale. Looking forward to the movie adaptation.
September 2, 2018
Good read
Good read. At times very raw that made my clench. Made me very sad at times too. So detailed that you can actually get invested in the story. I would recommend it but to an adult audience
Good read. At times very raw that made my clench. Made me very sad at times too. So detailed that you can actually get invested in the story. I would recommend it but to an adult audience
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews