Gone Girl

A Novel

By: Gillian Flynn

Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Kirby Heyborne

Length: 19 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The “mercilessly entertaining” (Vanity Fair) instant classic “about the nature of identity and the terrible secrets that can survive and thrive in even the most intimate relationships” (Lev Grossman, Time)—now featuring never-before-published deleted scenes

NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY CNN AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY TIME AND ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Janet Maslin, The New York Times • People • Entertainment Weekly • O: The Oprah Magazine • Slate • Kansas City Star • USA Today • Christian Science Monitor

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY San Francisco Chronicle • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • The Chicago Tribune • HuffPost • Newsday

©2012 Gillian Flynn (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Absorbing . . . In masterly fashion, Flynn depicts the unraveling of a marriage—and of a recession-hit Midwest—by interweaving the wife’s diary entries with the husband’s first-person account.”—The New Yorker

“Ms. Flynn writes dark suspense novels that anatomize violence without splashing barrels of blood around the pages . . . Ms. Flynn has much more up her sleeve than a simple missing-person case. As Nick and Amy alternately tell their stories, marriage has never looked so menacing, narrators so unreliable.”—The Wall Street Journal

“The story unfolds in precise and riveting prose . . . even while you know you’re being manipulated, searching for the missing pieces is half the thrill of this wickedly absorbing tale.”—O: The Oprah Magazine

Marriage manual for the damned. Lovely.

Ha. There are parts that were a little redundant but overall the performance and the storyline kept pace at a level beyond what i expected. Are we all just terrible when it comes to compromising in a marriage or is the secret in here... makes you wonder. Dark, fun and more than I expected it's a solid storyline with a nice little kick in the pants ending. In the end, you have to think about who it is that really was in the wrong despite murder, infidelity and blackmail... maybe it's just the recipe for making better people after all... i didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did, the performance really brings the frustration and anger to life. Well played.

What a ride!

I am giving nothing away. This book was everything I love: good writing, 3 dimensional, compelling characters (I didn't say likable), a complex and twisted plot, and an outcome I couldn't second guess. The first part of the book was the set-up where, piecemeal, the details of the relationship and related events were disclosed. Second part, the ride. Unaware until it was too late to turn back, I was drawn out to sea, pulled by a growing riptide of Flynn's deft, dark imagination, to where I never expected to go. I both loved and was disturbed by this clever work; I will be reading it again, and most definitely checking out the rest of of Flynn's work. The excellent narrative duo suited the protagonists very well, and helped sell an unusual tale.

Surprisingly Fun and Crazy Story

I completely trusted the reviews of a few people I follow and it paid off. I would have never looked for this book as it would never make my radar list.

This book is pretty course (meaning vulgar language and content), which I always enjoy if it represents reality and written into the story as a natural aspect of the story. In this case the author accomplished just that.

The story bounces back and forth from the perspectives of the husband and wife, respectively and follow different timelines, interestingly enough. The author pulls it off brilliantly as sometimes this can lead to confusion or a hard-to-follow story line.

In the end there are certainly a few hard-to-believe aspects of the story that could be interpreted as holes, but I simply decided to ignore and enjoy the story, and it worked.

The narrators did a great job and the production was good (as you probably know many multiple narrator efforts are butchered - but not this one).

Overall Recommended!

what a well written story

What did you love best about Gone Girl?

A first time author for me, it was an incredibly well written, witty story.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not really, it wasn't like a deep mystery, a page turner. Being married myself, the interactions of a couple that were married and all the give and take was incredible. This marrieage went way worse than most marriages but it was entertaining.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Amy had her money stolen.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reaction and it made me laugh. If I had an extreme reaction it was due to the excellent craft of the author's work.

Any additional comments?

it's an easy book to recommend!

If you like mind games, get this book.

A twisted tale of love found, lost, found and f----d with. Thought the book shoud have ended about a chapter or two before it did. I would have appreciated wanting to read a sequel instead of the set up that is the last chapters. Do yourself a favor and wait to finish the last three or four chapters until the next book comes out. The core story and writing is top rate. I was invested in each of the characters and enjoyed the dual perspective of the storytelling. However, the extended ending really soured me and cost a star or two on my rating. (I'd wager the blame belongs with the editor or someone in the publishing house.) Once again, the voice actors are fantastic, an Audible strength. Girl Gone is a worthy read/listen, but you have been warned about the last chapters only serving to set up the next book. Cheers!

Great Summer Read/Thriller

Any additional comments?

Kudos to the author and narrators! I loved the book and think the narration was perfect. This was well worth a July credit.

Icky people, fun to watch!

If you could sum up Gone Girl in three words, what would they be?

When psychopaths marry

Who was your favorite character and why?

Both main characters. They are equally messed up. I couldn't possibly pick one I was more creeped out by than the other.

Which character – as performed by Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne – was your favorite?

Again, both. That's what makes it so great!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I actually felt sorry for Amy at one point. (don't want to spoil)

Any additional comments?

It's been a long time since I have enjoyed a book - or an audio book - this much. This was my first time reading this author. I just liked the title and decided to take a chance. It paid off!

Really really sick

Would you consider the audio edition of Gone Girl to be better than the print version?

I did not read the print version.

If you’ve listened to books by Gillian Flynn before, how does this one compare?

This is my first book by this author

Which scene was your favorite?

I did not Have a favorite scene

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was not moved by this book other than to be disgusted and creeped out by it.

Any additional comments?

I must say, it kept me listening due to suspense but I thought both main characters were awful and the ending was very disappointing and disturbing. However, despite the content, the narration was well done

Ultra-Thrilling Suspenseful Shocker!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend 'Gone Girl' to a friend, and I have done so. The narration of both main characters really sets a feel for the book. The characters are so comprehensive, and the plot is stunning. I listened to this for a day straight until I was complete. I don't normally like the mystery genre, but 'Gone Girl' was fantastic. I definitely see what the hoopla was all about!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gone Girl?

The most memorable part of 'Gone Girl' is definitely the beginning of 'Part Two.'

Which scene was your favorite?

I could vividly picture each scene with the author's description and the fantastic narration, but I have to say my favourite scene (SPOILER ALERT) was when Amy gets take by the two derelicts at the cabin. I thought 'Ha! Too bad for her!'

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Most of the book was 'shocking,' so I guess I can say it moved me because I was surprised that some of the things actually happened. As far as 'touching scenes,' I would have to say there are more parts where I felt hateful and vindictive, along with Nick.

Any additional comments?

I certainly hope that 'Gone Girl' is made into a movie. I am sure it would be a very good film, especially if it is cast correctly! Flynn's writing gets better with each book.

What a ride

It's impossible to review this book in any depth without spoiling one of the numerous plot twists. It's a thriller, it's riveting, it's readable and totally engaging.

As a water-cooler or book club discussion focus, this book is a gold mine. Insights into marriage? Check. Point of view switching? Check. Unreliable narrator(s)? Check. Also do-I-like-them-or-not characters, will s/he won't s/he, oh-no-you-DIDN'T, and much more, handled with adroit skill by former Entertainment Weekly reviewer Gillian Flynn.

The woman is a helluva novelist.