Book Review - Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

It has been a while since I reviewed a book. I miss doing this. I got on a bit of a thriller kick after reading one of Gillian Flynn’s first novels (I’m writing this quite out of order so there is no review for you), and I wanted to keep reading more. So here we go!

Dark Places starts off instantly with extreme mystery. The introduction of the novel is clothed in secrets. When Libby comes back to her hometown years after the horrific murder of her mother and sister, she wants answers. Her brother, Ben, was initially blamed for the murders, but Libby is now sucked into a group determined to prove his innocence. The novel places the family at the forefront of the reader’s mind. We connect with Libby more as we realise she is so much like her own mother. As the events unravel, we are like everyone else – we do not know the details of the case. The fantastic use of dramatic irony directly draws in the reader and makes them question the events as they happen. It is interesting to see the disconnect in the character of Ben now and the character of Ben in the past. It is fascinating to see how much Libby starts connecting with her family years later. Although this is a thriller, it is also the story of a victim and how they take control of their own narrative.

Flynn has a talent for creating characters. Ben has a damaged psyche and makes questionable decision as a result. The perspective shifts are used effectively (they can be a downfall in a lot of novels, in my opinion) to create an idea of what happened the night of the murder and get a glimpse of what each character is feeling. I love the way each character was written differently. That structure also proves that everyone is lying, so the lines between truth and lies are completely blurred. We come to discover that the idea of “dark places” are where comfort is for Libby. She takes comfort in those places for that is where she sat with her truth – even if that wasn’t the truth at all.

This novel is an important look at circumstances and how easy victimization is. The theme of memory comes up when it is clear that everyone is keeping secrets and that may affect the way people see the past. Gillian Flynn is the queen of twists. At the end, we’re left with the question: is everything really how it should be? I could not find a real flaw with this novel, but I did not love it as much as I wanted to. Writing this months after I finished the book, it was a struggle because I forgot what this book was really about. I rate it 3/5 stars. Ultimately, it was forgettable, but I remember enjoying it while I was reading it.