4⭐️ / 5⭐️
Dark Places
Gillian Flynn
Fiction, Mystery Thriller
“I’ve labeled the memories as if they were a particularly dangerous region: Darkplace.” – Page 10
WOW.
What. A. Journey.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn is a 345 page (excluding acknowledgements) “true crime” nightmare that thrives on a multitude of crude, vivid events and points of views linked together by protagonist and amateur detective, Libby Day. Unveil Libby’s morbid past, explore her dreary present, and anticipate her uncertain future with her as she tears herself from her habitually passive lifestyle and becomes an active part in the hunt for who truly killed her mother and two sisters all those years ago.
Overall, I was absolutely enthralled by Flynn’s balanced writing style – her ability to add vivid detail without overcrowding the scenes whilst maintaining a steady yet gripping pace kept me reading well past my bedtime (I tend to be a night reader). I particularly admired Flynn’s use of simile and metaphor; I often found myself pausing on a page to admire the way she had worded something in a relatable yet unique way. Of course…rookie mistake…I didn’t highlight or take note of any of these said “unique way”s so here, instead, are some examples I have found whilst flipping through the pages post-read:
“She needed the good mood, the way you need sleep after an all-nighter, the way you day-dream of throwing yourself into bed.” – Page 21
“His teeth sang like a bell.” – Page 45
“His brain was bundling itself up, getting woolly” – Page 207
That being said, I would have given Dark Places five out of five stars if it were not for the last forty pages…
*SEMI-SPOILER ALERT*
—->
So..The Ending.
The ending is the reason why I have given Dark Places four out of five stars. As I reached around page 300, I started to anticipate the promised satisfaction of a thrilling conclusion and, as Libby literally drove towards her next clue to discovering who-really-dunnit, I thought I was well on my way towards just that. But then… something almost too unexpected happened and I didn’t feel excitedly shocked so much as surprisingly unimpressed with the concluding twist. Suddenly, I felt the delicious urge to never stop reading – the one that had held me strong for a majority of the book – dissipate and this was, I admit, a bit of a let down. That being said, the ending isn’t bad. The ending is just different than what I had expected.
SO, Dear Reader, if you are looking for your next thrilling read, I do recommend picking up a copy of Dark Places as long as you’re not one to hold a grudge against a potentially disappointing twist.
Hey, Reader, wait!!
…📖 Have you read this book? If so, let me know what your thoughts are in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you 🥰.
