Nick and Amy’s marriage started out just as you would hope, two people deeply in love. Nick was handsome and care free, Amy was beautiful and the “Amy” behind her parents ‘Amazing Amy’ book series which left Amy with quite a little nest egg…
but things are not always as they seem….
As years go by, things change for the happy couple. Amy gives the majority of her money back to her parents when they hit financial difficulties, then both she and Nick lose their jobs in New York. Nick’s mom is sick and his dad has Alzheimer’s so the couple moves back to Missouri to be close to his parents and start over. Amy uses the last large chunk of her inheritance to help Nick and his twin sister Margo purchase a bar.
Now, on their five-year anniversary a very different couple has emerged from where Nick and Amy started. They can not seem to connect any more and that morning Nick leaves for his bar, only to receive a call shortly after from a neighbor saying something seems wrong at Nick’s home, the door is wide open, the cat who is never allowed outside is on the front step. Nick comes home to find the living room tore apart, the iron left on, and Amy missing.
As a closer look is taken, and with the help of the clues that Amy left for Nick as she does every year to find his anniversary present, Nick soon becomes the prime suspect. Having his own secrets, Nick works with his sister trying to get to the bottom of what happened to Amy.
but things are not always as they seem….
As the story unfolds…. there is more than meets the eye and a very twisted tale unfolds which really shows that you never know what goes on behind white picket fences and closed doors.
Why did I want to read this book? Angie from my book club and from By Book Or By Crook, was gushing about this book and wanted to discuss it with others who had read it. Angie has pretty good book choices so to hear her gush made me want to read the book too. I ordered it immediately.
How does one describe Gone Girl? At first it came off as a well written mystery… and it is, but it is also more. I think I may need to quote Alison from Alison’s Bookmarks here, where in her review of this book she said simply, “Holy S_ _ _.” Yup, that can really sum it up! 😀
So now… here is my review as best as I can put it hours after finishing but still staring at the book cover with a wild eyed look of “What the…”
Gone Girl is as I said a mystery. No scratch that… it is a thriller. But also – not your run of the mill thriller (enter scary man stage left) but add PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER to the mix. Yup… it is a little wacky but oh so good!
This is one of those books that are hard to review because it is so masterfully put together you (I) do not want to give anything away that is best for the reader (you) to discover on your own. Which.. leaves me in the awkward position of saying pretty much…
nothing.
Let me put it like this, what you think you know… you don’t. When you think you have it all figured out (like I did by page 111), you don’t. You are not even close to the crazy that is happening up in here. When I told my friend Angie how much I was loving it she asked “are you on part 2 yet?” and I responded., “There’s a part 2?????” I flipped ahead about ten pages and sure enough… the book has a part two, and as long as I am sharing… also a part three.
Gone Girl is one of those books you do not want to put down. I read that first day I picked it up as long as I could into the evening until I felt my eyes droop and I had to stop. A rarity for me, I read this while standing at the grill the next evening, instead of listening to an audio book. Folks… this just does not happen. 😯 In fact, I spent the better part of two days reading this book in every spare moment I could squeeze out and my thoughts on it went something like this:
“WHAT?”
“Noooooo….”
“That can’t be, ri… oh. It is.”
“NO WAY!”
“That’s crazy!”
“That’s brilliant!”
“Oh no he didn’t!”
“OH NO, she didnt!”
Yes, this is my review of Gone Girl. Fantastic. Perhaps, the best book I have read in 2012 so far. It is different than anything I have read before, well through out and now I am seriously curious about author Gillian Flynn’s state of mind (kidding, kidding… I think…). So well thought out… so amazingly put together… I am still sitting here in awe and on my way to see what else she has written. The more I think about the author Gillian Flynn and how she worked in this story line between other story lines and had me thinking one thing but should have been another… and well, lets just say from this post forward Gillian Flynn will be known to me as “The Great And Wonderful Gillian Flynn”.
RECOMMENDED!
*Note: Occasional crude language, nothing over the top (I hate that), but it is there and I want you to be aware.
Also, those of you who have read this and are DYING to gush,vent, rage, chat, ask questions about the book, I have fueled up and dusted off the SPOILER PAGE – let’s talk details!!!! Click below! 😀
Amazon Rating
Goodreads Review
Audible.com sample listen
Looking for some other thoughts on this one? Here are some great book reviewers:
Book Journey 
I have seen a few crime and thriller authors recommending this book in the last few days and this review just whets my appetite for this book even more. I need to get a copy. NOW!
You do…. thats what happened to me – my friend GUSHED and I ORDERED. Thats the way it works around here…LOL
Sophie Hannah’s books sound a bit like this, too; twisted, thrilling, and tons of unexpected events. I know I’m going to want to read Gillian Flynn’s other books after I finish this one. Which is definitely going to be soon. (Sharp Objects, Dark Places).
I found Sharp Objects to be too dark. It is really pretty gruesome in its resolution. Haven’t read Dark Places, but here it’s more of a devilish mystery.
I have to read more of her too Laurel – BRILLIANT writer.
I couldn’t wait for the mail…so I downloaded this one on Sparky…reading it now!
Arrggghhh. You make this sound so good I want to read it NOW. So decision time, do I go audio or print.
I listened to a sample on audio and I wasnt overly impressed (granted, it was just a sample…)
You’ve sold me. I want to find this book!
YES!!!!! I hope you LOVE it! 😀
It seems like my copy is never going to get here!
I hope it does soon Kathy!
I need to read this one soon. I rushed out to buy it after reading another review but still haven’t read it. I’m hoping to pick it up in the next week or two!
Read it…. oh read it soon 🙂
sounds like the summer “it” book …. rock on!
It felt like it too 🙂
Oh my goodness! I already knew I wanted this one and now you have me absolutely convinced that I need to go out and get it now. Darn! It’s 1:30 in the morning. 😉 I will definitely be getting my hands on this one soon. This may just be the jolt I need in my reading repertoire. And I loved your review, Sheila. Very entertaining!
Yes! Go, run fast… wait for your book store to open and leave an appoligy note and a twenty….LOL
Gone Girl really does sound incredible!! I have to read it! Thanks for the superb review!
I hope you enjoy it too Shirley 🙂
Great review! I think I’m using an audible credit for it.
I would love to hear how it is in audio Dalene!
This one has been on my to-read list, but I was holding out until it’s in paperback… might have to get it sooner though! Thanks for the great review.
It is only $13.00 on Amazon, almost what you pay for a paperback these days… my suggestion is to go for it now 😀
Wow! That’s a great deal. I think I might have to go for it! Thanks. 🙂
Awesome review, I’ve got this one, think I might bump it up my reading list, maybe for next week 🙂
Bump it up Sheree 😀
Now I’m really sad that I’m still 185 in the library queue! I can’t wait to get my hands on this book, especially if it’s the best book you’ve read this year so far.
Holy cow…. 185! Would you even get it within a year? Your library needs to order another copy…. or two 🙂
151 holds on the print copy at my library. Wonder if it’d be good as an audio? There’s only 8 holds for that.
Yipes! 151, I am so surprised they even go that high on the holds! I heard the audio is good too.
How can I NOT want to read this after reading this review?
Exactly – get in there 😀
I’m almost finished with Gone Girl … the writing style is very different and it is holding my interest but I’m not crazy about it. I think the author just tried too hard. That’s the feeling I have as I continue to read it. The two main characters are totally insane and I don’t like either one of them. I recommended it to my book club group and I am curious to hear their opinions on October 21st. I’ll be glad when I am finished with it.
Oh yeah I agree – the characters are nutso 😀 I would be interested in knowing what your book club thinks too! Every one I have talked to has really enjoyed it.
Did Amy kill her husband in the end
That’s for your imagination or intuition to decide. Remember the ending to the movie with Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas, Basic Instinct? Those 2 were having sex and she reached down under the bed with one free hand and touched the ice pick … would she or wouldn’t she kill him … not that time but eventually. It’s inevitable in my opinion.
A spoiler page is such a brilliant idea! You always come up with the best ideas! I fully intend to steal this idea and attribute it to you. Something like: The Bookjourney Spoiler Page Meme or something! (I don’t have time to participate in the discussion now but intend to be back!!!)
oops, how did I enter this comment on the wrong page? LOLOL