Gone Girl in Crazy Challenge Connection

Aug 25, 2013 Book Concierge rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: murder, psychology, audio, book-club, mental-illness, mystery, new-york, contemporary-fiction, abuse, crime

After both Nick Dunne and his wife Amy lose their writing jobs in New York City they make the decision to move back to Nick’s home town of Carthage Missouri to help his ailing parents. There they can save some money while they ride out the recession and figure out what to do next. On their fifth anniversary, a neighbor calls Nick at work to tell him his front door is wide open and the cat is outdoors. When Nick arrives he discovers the living room in disarray, Amy’s nice dress half-pressed and t After both Nick Dunne and his wife Amy lose their writing jobs in New York City they make the decision to move back to Nick’s home town of Carthage Missouri to help his ailing parents. There they can save some money while they ride out the recession and figure out what to do next. On their fifth anniversary, a neighbor calls Nick at work to tell him his front door is wide open and the cat is outdoors. When Nick arrives he discovers the living room in disarray, Amy’s nice dress half-pressed and the iron left on, and no sign of Amy anywhere. But when the police begin to investigate Nick is evasive and oddly unemotional. Amy’s parents, the police, and the media put increasing pressure on him as his web of lies and little deceits begin to unravel. Before long even his twin sister is wondering if he is really a killer.

This is a complex psychological drama that had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Told in alternating voices – Nick and Amy’s story is full of prevarications big and small. Nick’s story is immediate, starting with Amy’s disappearance and relating the events that follow from his perspective. Amy’s story begins with her diary entries, going back seven years to the day they met and chronicling their courtship, newlywed stage and the difficulties of their marriage once they move from New York to Carthage. Neither is who s/he seems to be, both excel at playing a role, both lie easily.

The reader is constantly forced to change allegiances – alternately believing and distrusting Nick, and trying to figure it out ahead of the police. Without giving anything away, I had guessed the first big reveal (start of part 2) pretty quickly, but I still was caught up in the story and wondered how Flynn would get me there. And, of course, Flynn still had plenty of surprises in store for me as the novel progressed. At the end I am left stunned, disturbed, giddy with relief that it’s over, wishing it were NOT over, wondering what will happen next.

NOTE: I had started the audio book, performed by Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne, but abandoned it at disk 2. Not to take anything away from the performers, but I was just in a hurry to read it, and once I started reading I could not stop. I stayed up late last night and woke up early to finish. It was that gripping!
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Aug 10, 2014 Charlotte (Buried in Books) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: crime

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 26, 2014 Krissy rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, buddy-read, pgs-400-499, cover-color-black, book2film, read-before-2015

Sweet Jeebus thank God that's finally over. I didn't think I'd ever get to the end. It was so incredibly BORING. Even when I finally got to the infamous "omg" moment it still wasn't enough to save the book. Then after the initial surprise moment it went right back to the tedious never-ending story I've come to know and loathe. ...more

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Aug 03, 2014 Meredith rated it really liked it

This book was fantastic. Someone leaked the who dunnit to me before I got that far in the book but I was still on the edge of my seat. My only very slight irritation was that I didn't like the ending but it's still an absolutely fantastic book. ...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Heather rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

That was a good book. Not quite sure about that ending though.

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Jan 04, 2013 Melissa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: comes-highly-recommended, new-authors-i-like, mystery-suspense-thriller, kindle-books, read-2014, movie-tie-in

4 1/2 Stars - Really good read!

Wow! What a wild ride! I really liked this book. The alternating view points worked really well. And I really loved the way the author kept twisting and twisting the story. I would put the book down and tell my husband "OK. This just got weirder." My only real complaint (and why I didn't give it 5 stars) is I didn't care for the ending. I would have preferred everything to be neatly tied up, but it's not. I don't want to say anymore... ...more

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Jun 16, 2013 Nancy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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Oct 05, 2014 Stephanie Tuell rated it liked it

This is the best I can do without giving anything away.

The book started off good, grabbed my attention right away. But then it slowed down a bit and got boring. Honestly, I was tired of reading her diary entries and hearing about the search. But then it picked back up towards the end.

This is the book I have read by this author, I look toward to reading other by her.

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