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l_bookss's review against another edition
3.5
I listened to the audiobook of Dark Places, so I will first comment on the narration. Each character had their own narrator, and I thought they all did fantastic job! They had good inflection in their voices, and the different voices really helped draw me into the story. On to the actual book - I liked it! it was a slow starter, but once you got about halfway through it really picked up. The main character, Libby, gave me “A Girl on the Train” vibes. She started out the book in this really dark place (hence the name). Her mother and three sisters were murdered 24 years prior, allegedly by her brother, and she was the only one to escape. In the present day she starts to question her testimony, realizing she was coached to say things that made her brother look guilty, and decides she owes it to him to find out what really happened that night. This leads us to the bulk of the story jumping back and fourth between the present and the past. We see the real story unfold in the past as we watch Libby search for the truth in the present. Overall this was a pretty intriguing story, and the mystery aspect was really good. I listened to this with a few people in the car on a road trip, and it was fun to pause and come up with different theories about what really went down. I took off a few stars because 1. It was really difficult for me to get into, and 2. the author had an extremely detailed writing style with lots of unnecessary details which, at times, I found kind of exhausting. I would probably recommend this book to the right person, but its definitely not for everyone. It has some pretty dark themes/violence, so definitely check trigger warnings!
ahappycamper2's review against another edition
3.0
What can I say. It’s probably a 3.5.I would have given it a 4but I felt the ending was just not up to the rest of the book in my humble opinion.
curiouser_and_curiouser's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I found it frustrating that we never got an explanation for why Ben just stood by and didn't do anything. Like his emotions don't show up even once in the text the entire time his family is being murdered! Why did he simply rest his hands on Diondra's shoulders as she was strangling Michelle? Why aren't his damn emotions mentioned in the text when he was hearing Patty and Debby getting axed and shot outside his damn door?! It was clearly mentioned in previous chapters that he's capable of feeling embarassment, shame, frustration, anger, pleasure, etc. And now he's suddenly an emotionless zombie? Ughhhh the inconsistencyyyyy!
rpelletier's review against another edition
3.0
I almost gave four stars because the plot was compelling and was unveiled cleverly, but I found Libby so poorly contrived and irritating that I couldn’t quite bring myself to do it. Really? She’s 31 and has never had a job or worked, has no hobbies, has never had friends, and has the mopey brain development of a sulky fourteen year old. I don’t think so. It wasn’t even a situation where you hate the character but they’re supposed to be hateable. She was just unrealistic, inconsistent, and boring.
scarheld7's review against another edition
4.0
Uhh I think definitely her scariest and tensest. Gave me bad dreams so I’m glad it’s over but regret reading so late at night.
pinkblie's review against another edition
3.0
personally: a bit underwhelming compared to her previous work.
amygebhardt's review against another edition
2.0
I did not enjoy this nearly as much as Gone Girl. It was too gruesome for my taste and somewhat of a predictable mystery. This one was just "meh" for me...
anna4ce's review against another edition
1.0
This is the first book I've read by Gillian Flynn. It was fairly difficult to get in to and I had a hard time identifying with the main character, Libby. I really didn't like her at all. Once I got halfway through, it picked up a bit and then sped through the ending/resolution. Interesting, but I don't see what all the hype is about for Ms. Flynn. I'm planning on reading "Gone Girl" but I don't have high expectations for it at this point.
kstericker's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
albaherrerias's review against another edition
4.0
A esta mujer le leo hasta las listas de la compra.