Genre: Fiction / Suspense
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 345
Challenges: Support Your Local Library Challenge #29
In 1985 when Libby Day was seven years old, her mother and two sisters were horrifically murdered in their Kansas farmhouse. Libby got out of the house and ran in hid in the January night. Her testimony that her fifteen year old brother Ben murdered the rest of the family sent him to prison for life.
Libby spent the rest of her childhood with a series of family members and as an adult lived off the trust fund of donations made by people touched by the little girl’s tragic story. Twenty-five years later, the trust fund is running out and Libby is in no way prepared to truly take care of herself financially.
When a group of true-crime junkies who call themselves the “Kill Club” contact her, Libby agrees to appear (for a fee) at their meeting. She finds out that they’re sure Ben didn’t kill his family. When Libby agrees to talk to people connected with her family (again for a fee) she soon finds herself questioning things she’s been sure were true.
The book plays out alternating Libby’s present day search for people and answers with flashbacks of what really happened that fateful day. I went back and forth with myself several times about what I thought was going to be the real story and the final chapters had to be read in one sitting.
Gillian Flynn’s first novel, Sharp Objects was an incredibly well written, but also incredibly disturbing book. This one is much the same way. I liked it, but probably not as much as Sharp Objects. It’s a good suspense/mystery story, populated with even more seriously disturbed people than her first book. None of the characters were likeable, but I couldn’t put it down. This one maybe went a bit heavy on the gruesome as opposed to psychological scary end of the realm for me, but I still thought it was good.
If you’re prone to nightmares (Bookfool) or don’t like the gruesome stuff, avoid this one. If you read Sharp Objects I’ll be curious to think how you feel this one compares.
Rating 4/5 stars
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 345
Challenges: Support Your Local Library Challenge #29
In 1985 when Libby Day was seven years old, her mother and two sisters were horrifically murdered in their Kansas farmhouse. Libby got out of the house and ran in hid in the January night. Her testimony that her fifteen year old brother Ben murdered the rest of the family sent him to prison for life.
Libby spent the rest of her childhood with a series of family members and as an adult lived off the trust fund of donations made by people touched by the little girl’s tragic story. Twenty-five years later, the trust fund is running out and Libby is in no way prepared to truly take care of herself financially.
When a group of true-crime junkies who call themselves the “Kill Club” contact her, Libby agrees to appear (for a fee) at their meeting. She finds out that they’re sure Ben didn’t kill his family. When Libby agrees to talk to people connected with her family (again for a fee) she soon finds herself questioning things she’s been sure were true.
The book plays out alternating Libby’s present day search for people and answers with flashbacks of what really happened that fateful day. I went back and forth with myself several times about what I thought was going to be the real story and the final chapters had to be read in one sitting.
Gillian Flynn’s first novel, Sharp Objects was an incredibly well written, but also incredibly disturbing book. This one is much the same way. I liked it, but probably not as much as Sharp Objects. It’s a good suspense/mystery story, populated with even more seriously disturbed people than her first book. None of the characters were likeable, but I couldn’t put it down. This one maybe went a bit heavy on the gruesome as opposed to psychological scary end of the realm for me, but I still thought it was good.
If you’re prone to nightmares (Bookfool) or don’t like the gruesome stuff, avoid this one. If you read Sharp Objects I’ll be curious to think how you feel this one compares.
Rating 4/5 stars
8 Comments:
I haven't read either of them and they both sound great, so again I will be adding to the pile. When I was reading the description I was thinking the the brother probably didn't do it.
I am in total agreement, Q. When I picked this one up I was in the middle of a reading slump (that continues, boo hiss), and I thought maybe it was just me.
I found the unraveled mystery to be one of those things that made me wonder if Flynn didn't begin to think to herself, "How am I gonna get out of THIS?"
Well rats! You had me all excited and raring to go until you got to "prone to nightmares". Guess I'll have to pass - it really sounded interesting though.
Nicole: I thought so when I read the book flap and then changed my mind at least 6 times while reading. That's all I'm saying about that ;-)
El: OK good. I feel better. It was good, but just a tinge the wrong direction from Sharp Objects for me.
Melissa: I feel it's only fair to warn when books have a gruesomeness factor to be considered.
I really enjoyed Dark Places, but have to say that I think Sharp Objects was much better. That was probably my favorite book of the year so far, and even though it was so disturbing, it was just the way the book had to be. Great review!
Your review got me even more excited to read this book :)
I have both of this author's books on my TBR list. I think that they both sound interesting so I'll have to request them from the library at some point :)
Kristie: that's pretty much how I felt. This one was good, but Sharp Objects was better.
DeSeRt RoSe: I'll be curious to hear what you think.
Samantha: she's definitely a talented writer.
Post a Comment