Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Now I realise that the clue to its genre is in the title, so I wasn’t expecting a romantic comedy, but, holy moly!, Flynn sure does take the reader down some very dark alleyways. The writing certainly has a ring of King about it (that’s Stephen King to non-horror fans). The atmosphere oozes the macabre. The main characters are dysfunctional outsiders; they don’t fit the mould. We view much of the narrative, but not all, from the protagonist’s viewpoint which allows us, rather reluctantly, into her warped, chilling, unpredictable mind. It’s an uncomfortable, disturbing process. But then the whole narrative experience is unsettling, like finding someone’s diary and, against one’s better judgement, reading the contents and finding out more than you bargained for.


This is Flynn’s second novel, the one before ‘Gone Girl’ that hurtled her into the stratosphere of best-selling authors with over 10 million sales. ‘Dark Places’ has a very different feel to it than ‘Gone Girl’, much more creepy and gruesome. ‘Gone Girl’ is a psychological thriller with suspense mystery adding to the heady mix, whereas ‘Dark Places’ has charged across the Thriller boundary into Horror territory; and successfully at that. The language wraps the reader in a sinister cloud then soaks you in a drip, drip, drip of menace and gore so that you are left drenched in dread and despair. The imagery Flynn uses to convey her protagonist’s plight to discover the truth about her family’s horrific massacre is uniquely evocative and draws you inexorably into her dark world. Was it her brother who now lies incarcerated in prison for the murders? Or is he hiding something or protecting someone from the world outside his bars? Despite her almost pitiless portrayal of her characters, Flynn leaves enough room there, if only a tiny space, for sympathy and empathy, to give the reader a spark of humanity to latch onto. And the conclusion has a twist that ties up the gory ends with a satisfying sigh. I didn’t see it coming.




This won’t appeal to as wide an audience, as ‘Gone Girl’ clearly did, it’s too unforgiving in its themes, content and language. But it will appeal to those like myself who like to be shocked and shivered, to cringe and grimace, who like to peer above the cushion. It will appeal to the many Stephen King fans like myself. Flynn is a talented writer who has the enviable knack of being able to cross genres effortlessly. I look forward to reading more.
My review, a shaken 8.5/10.


Thank you for reading my book review. Your book buddy, Charles Whitmore.