This is a sticking book and one you want to talk about because there is so much to discuss, but it comes down to this: two horrible, sick, twisted, terrible people doing horrible, sick, twisted, terrible things to one another in a massive game of one-ups-manship.

Nick and Amy have been married for five years, and on their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy disappears. Nick is the prime suspect in her disappearance and the evidence is stacked against him. (view spoiler)[ Except Amy's planted it to put him in that position. (hide spoiler)] As the story unfolds though, we're lead left and right about who is telling the truth, who is lying, who is good, and who is bad.

As much (view spoiler)[ as it'd be easy to hate Amy because she's so manipulative and mentally unstable (hide spoiler)] the truth is (view spoiler)[ Nick's just as awful to play along with the game and to allow himself to somehow LIKE that manipulation. He's as weak willed as Amy is to face the truth of anything. (hide spoiler)]

Flynn's building of the story and her careful weaving of clues is savvy, and I found the entire use of unreliable narrators refreshing. Having legitimate moments of wondering what the hell was going on made the story compelling, even through the slower parts. This is a well-crafted story.