A review by valj
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the pace of it and how there were two stories occurring at the same time. I appreciated getting perspectives from different characters, as I think that added layers and perspective to each character. Maybe it was obvious but I didn't see the ending coming and was trying to guess the whole time. I also like a book whose characters have shit luck, and I don't need a happy ending.

The characters were complex, which I appreciate. They were not likeable, but they were complex, and I feel like the author did a good job peeling back the layers of the characters as the book went on. 

The author does a good job trying to get you to like Ben, but I knew he wasn't misunderstood; just genuinely a bad person. Even at the end, she tries to absolve Ben because he did his time, but why cover for Diondra? I know he was trying to save his unborn child, but his daughter also ended up a bad person because Diondra was such a horrible mother, which he should have known would happen. I feel more sympathy for Libby even though she is also a bad person. At least she tried, even if it was delayed.

Patty was my favourite character and her chapters were my favourite. She was dealt a lot of bad cards and did the best she could with them. I don't think her ending was cowardly, I think what she did was admirable. 

My only complaint is all the devil stuff. I feel like I could have done without that and it got to be a little much at times. Maybe I had to live in the 80s to understand the devil hysteria but to me it seems very silly.

Overall: kept me guessing, hate Diondra, good twist with her mother at the end