A review by lamplight
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don't know why I always end a Gillian Flynn story surprised that I love it because she's one of my favorite writers but. I loved this skdkgkg

She's just SO GOOD at writing stories about women for women. I always love to think about her article, "I was not a nice little girl", and the quote at the end that women's dark sides should be "nurtured like nasty black orchids." Like pop off queen!!!
I also don't know why I was surprised at the end that Deandra was involved, because it's always the women isn't it!!! There is no woman in this book that takes a background role and even though the murder is obviously grisly and horrible idk I just like that she does it. Women's evil is something that can be so personal


Also I love the hyperrealism of men being absolutely USELESS! In solving crimes, in contributing to the family, in pretty much every aspect of this story skfkfmt too many mystery / detective stories feature super smart men aware of their surroundings and... it's just not realistic. A man contributing? Doesn't sit right with me.

Anyway, loved this, thoroughly enjoyed her writing, and I'll probably keep thinking about it all next week because just... wow. Gillian Flynn knows how to write thrillers and mysteries and that's that on that. Would recommend if you're feeling miserable and feel like a grim Kansas farmtown would be a cathartic release for the misery
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