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Gone Girl

By: Gillian Flynn
Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Kirby Heyborne
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Editorial review


By Mysia Haight, Audible Editor

PSYCH OUT—THE JAW-DROPPING GENIUS OF GONE GIRL

Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl is among the all-time best crafted stories told by unreliable narrators—two of them, the perfect couple—and a gripping thriller filled with jaw-dropping twists. This dark mystery novel also shines a critical light on the media-fueled public rush to judge people suspected of crimes who, regardless of the evidence, simply look guilty—an unsettling trend that has only escalated in the decade since the book’s release. Along with its critique of media exploitation, the novel has been widely embraced—and hotly debated—as a manifesto of modern feminism.

Ten years ago, I was approaching that dreaded life stage—middle age. After years of doing my best to be a good wife, mother, aunt, sister, daughter, and friend; a good worker, mentor, and role model; and a good listener, problem solver, and crisis manager, I was feeling taken for granted and restless. What if I did something unexpected, something out of character—something bad?

Happily, I satisfied my yearnings by becoming immersed in the brilliant mind and devious machinations of Amy Elliott Dunne, the hero (or, depending on your perspective, villain) of Gone Girl. When it was published in 2012, Gillian Flynn’s ingenious novel about a missing wife and the husband increasingly implicated in her ominous disappearance stirred up a lot of buzz. As an avid fan of psychological thrillers, unreliable narrators, and contemporary fiction driven by strong, complicated women, I couldn’t wait to read it. And I was blown away! In spite of her questionable (to put it extremely mildly) actions, I found Amy, an amazing woman who was taken for granted—first by her parents and then by her husband—relatable and, yes, sympathetic. I kept rooting for her to get the life she wanted, even when I was appalled by what she did and who she hurt to make that happen.

Has Gone Girl changed my life? Well, it didn’t motivate me to change for the badder—old good habits die hard. Yet, thanks in part to Amy and other remarkable women characters like her, I’ve gradually become better at speaking up for myself and getting heard.

Years after first reading Gone Girl, I haven't forgotten Amy. I love the way Rosamund Pike brought her to life in the 2014 film adaptation, which I've watched in its entirety three times with three different women—my sister, my niece, and my daughter. So when I discovered that one of my favorite narrators, the remarkable Julia Whelan, voices Amy in the audiobook, I just had to go back and listen. Her performance is brilliant—so believable, it's chilling—and even though I know every twist in her twisted story, Amy continues to amaze me!

Continue reading Mysia's review >

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The “mercilessly entertaining” (Vanity Fair) instant classic “about the nature of identity and the terrible secrets that can survive and thrive in even the most intimate relationships” (Lev Grossman, Time)—now featuring never-before-published deleted scenes

NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY CNN AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY TIME AND ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Janet Maslin, The New York TimesPeopleEntertainment WeeklyO: The Oprah MagazineSlateKansas City StarUSA TodayChristian Science Monitor

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY San Francisco ChronicleSt. Louis Post-DispatchThe Chicago TribuneHuffPostNewsday

©2012 Gillian Flynn (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Absorbing . . . In masterly fashion, Flynn depicts the unraveling of a marriage—and of a recession-hit Midwest—by interweaving the wife’s diary entries with the husband’s first-person account.”The New Yorker

“Ms. Flynn writes dark suspense novels that anatomize violence without splashing barrels of blood around the pages . . . Ms. Flynn has much more up her sleeve than a simple missing-person case. As Nick and Amy alternately tell their stories, marriage has never looked so menacing, narrators so unreliable.”The Wall Street Journal

“The story unfolds in precise and riveting prose . . . even while you know you’re being manipulated, searching for the missing pieces is half the thrill of this wickedly absorbing tale.”O: The Oprah Magazine

Featured Article: Whodunit Whizzes—A Shortlist of the Best Mystery Authors


Who doesn't love a good mystery? Listening to mystery audiobooks is a great way to feel some semblance of order in an often chaotic world. The clues are there for you to solve along, and by the end, it will all come together in an incredibly satisfying manner. There’s a formula to the genre, sure, but the best mysteries still surprise you and often subvert expectations. These mystery writers take the genre to a new level. Here's our pick of their best listens.

Editor's Pick: Best of the Decade

Get to the gone
"I’m a sucker for great story structure, and Gone Girl uses every inch of its narrative to subvert expectations in ways that shock and amuse. The perfectly utilized diary entries fold into a legendary mid-book reveal. The face-turn-heel of a seemingly perfect victim who revels in the way they’ve expertly managed your expectations. The unreliable narrators who reveal so much about themselves by what they don’t say—or how they shape emotional states into origami. And it all feels fair; while most twist-filled stories tend to seem rather flimsy under a microscope, the closer you look at Gillian Flynn’s masterpiece, the more you notice the sheer togetherness of it all, each part working in concert with another, coalescing to form a story that has one finger firmly on the pulse of popular culture, and one on the carotid of a serial killer."—Sean T., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Gone Girl

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awesome

great author i'm glad i found went and listened to another of her's after finishing this one. narrator was great!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Couldn't put this addicting book down!

such a fantastic, exciting, and frustrating read! Right when you think you understand the characters you are forced to change your mind, again and again, all the way to the end of the book.

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Love/hate the characters

I guessed a few of the plot points and knew where the ending was headed. But, I loved the entire story. The characters are fascinating and twisted. The female narrator really captured Amy.

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Masterful protagonist

Unlike many other readers, I declare that Amy is the protagonist of the novel and not Nick. She also is not the crazy woman that people make her out to be. I had seen the movie, but I am so glad I read the book because it gave me a very different perspective.

Amy is clever. She is insightful. She is real. If Nick had treated her right, things would have gone completely differently.

The plot is masterfully-crafted, and it kept me reading! The twists and turns drew me in. I read it because I had read Girl on the Train and I thought it would be similar. It was. Both books are so much better than their movies.

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You have to read this twisted brilliant novel!

Would you listen to Gone Girl again? Why?

Yes! My mind was officialy blown. I love a good book that keeps you guessing and this was one for the records. This book was well written and brilliant.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, the very very edge of my seat. It gave nothing away until it was due time, I like that. I was guessing until the plot was revealed. It sends you in 10 very practical directions trying to wrap your head around it.

Which scene was your favorite?

I like the chapter where the wife explains what it is to be the "cool girl" and what that actually means. Had me laughing my butt off!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The book is truly twisted on so many levels it is hard to pin point just 1 moment. I did like the last chapter, when Nick decides that he is now where he was always meant to be. Sick and twisted, but in general, a great ending.

Any additional comments?

This book is dark and twisted and very well written. I have already recommended it to all of my friends. It is well worth reading. The narration is good, I really enjoyed it, I know you will too.

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LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!

Any additional comments?

I hated every time I had to hit the pause button and go to work or in the store or cook dinner or go to sleep. I was addicted!!!!! I recommend this as a MUST read/purchase!!!! You won’t be sorry you used your credit on it.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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The first six hours are a struggle.

Would you try another book from Gillian Flynn and/or Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne ?

yes

Would you be willing to try another book from Gillian Flynn? Why or why not?

I would but would thoroughly check out reviews.

What three words best describe Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne ’s voice?

Okay but nothing special

Did Gone Girl inspire you to do anything?

no

Any additional comments?

Who wants to listen to hours of insipid whining by 2 immature babies.

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Loved this book!

If you could sum up Gone Girl in three words, what would they be?

Fun and twisted!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gone Girl?

The ending!

Which character – as performed by Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne – was your favorite?

I really liked all of them!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Fun and twisted!

Any additional comments?

I was surprised! Doesn't happen a lot but this book got me!

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Awesome Coolii

so original and funny. I absolutely loved listening to it over and over. it was serious and friggin crazytown real life Cool

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Crazy good

Crazy good as well as plain crazy at the same time. Worth while novel /thriller /detective mix.

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