Gillian Flynn writes dirty books, dark, mysterious tales that talk about things we know happen but only whisper about, or keep deep within ourselves. To admit they exist would be to admit the world is a crazy place, and could go spinning out of control at any moment.
I loved Flynn's Sharp Objects, a creepy, witty page-turner of a mystery that featured a decidedly-different protagonist in reporter Camille Preaker (read my original review here). Now Flynn--a former TV reviewer for Entertainment Weekly, who hopefully has quit her day job--is back (sadly minus Camille) with a new book, Dark Places, and it's almost just as fascinating as her first novel.
That "almost" lies in the lead character, sad little Libby Day, the surviving sister of the legendary Day Family massacre back in 1985 in Kansas. Libby's brother Ben is doing hard time for the murders of her mom, Patty, and her sisters Michelle and Debby, and Libby herself helped put him in prison. Now, 24 years later, Libby--having run out of the money she "earned" from telling her story of the murders and the kindness of sympathetic strangers who wanted to help the then 7-year-old girl--comes face to face with the "Kill Club," a strange underground group of people who believe Ben is innocent and that Libby should recant the testimony that put him behind bars. Libby goes along for the ride to get money from the obsessed people who think her brother should be freed, but slowly she becomes detective and unravels the truth about the case.
So the "almost" part? Well, unfortunately, Flynn has created an almost unlikable character in Libby Day, who starts off the novel with a great line: "I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ." That's a memorable start to ANY book, but Libby--with her klepto ways and her total lack of people skills--is a hard heroine to root for. Flynn's Preaker--with her tortured family life and her own nasty habit of cutting herself in times of stress--had some redeeming values that made you want her to succeed. Libby...not so much. But Flynn has once again crafted an absolutely fascinating story, in a dual-chapter format that goes from Libby's reality now to the Day household on that fateful day in early January 1985, chapter after chapter, back and forth, like some kind of demented seesaw. In the end, Libby does redeem herself somewhat, softens up into a slightly more likable character. And her ride to redemption--however slight it may be--is a great one.
My other problem with the book is the ending nobody will see coming, normally a good thing in any book. Here it's so far out of left field it's jarring and disconcerting. But that doesn't stop me from recommending this book. I gave out Sharp Objects to friends a few years back; I don't know that I'd do the same with Dark Places, but it's still a great book, and I can't wait another 2 years or so to see what Flynn does next.
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