Book Review- Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Blurb-

Libby Day was just seven years old when her evidence put her fifteen-year-old brother behind bars. Since then, she has been drifting. But when she is contacted by a group who are convinced of Ben's innocence, Libby starts to ask questions she never dared to before. Was the voice she heard her brother's? Ben was a misfit in their small town, but was he capable of murder? Are there secrets to uncover at the family farm or is Libby deluding herself because she wants her brother back? She begins to realize that everyone in her family had something to hide that day... especially Ben. Now, twenty-four years later, the truth is going to be even harder to find. Who did massacre the Day family?

Review- After reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, I was curious to read her previous novels, especially when many had an opinion that her other books- Sharp Objects and Dark Places were better than Gone Girl. Quite obviously my interest was piqued and I wasted no time in placing an order for Dark Places.

The novel starts with the present Libby Day, who has been living her life for the past 24 years in a comatose state supported by the charity funds that people have donated over the years. In the year 1985 her family- her mother and her two elder sisters were massacred by her own brother- Ben Day, in their farm. The circumstantial evidences and Libby’s statement puts her brother behind bars. But many years later Libby is forced to dig into her terrifying memories of the night- that she classified and buried as Dark Places- when her family was slaughtered.

The story alters between Libby’s attempts to find out the truth about the murders and narration of Libby’s mother - Patty Day and her brother- Ben Day on the events leading up to the night of the murders.

The characters that the author creates are messed up and flawed in their own way. But the plot is so riveting that it’s impossible to put down the novel until the truth finally comes out in the end and unlike Gone Girl, the author has tied up all the loose ends in a satisfactory and convincing manner.

After reading Gillian Flynn’s two novels I am convinced that she is the master storyteller of dark, sinister and gripping plots and an expert at creating twisted characters. If you loved Gone Girl, you’ll definitely love Dark Places.

I am excited about watching the movie based on the novel that is scheduled to release in August. You can watch the trailer here.

Read the novel though before watching the movie J

Rating- 5/5