Book Review and Giveaway: Gone Girl

Gone Girl: Gillian Flynn

I read or, rather, devoured Gone Girl with my book club a couple of months ago and had promised to include a review here. Since it's taken me forever to post something and we're now officially into December, I thought I'd do a Christmas giveaway (directions below).

When I first finished Gone Girl all I could think was holy sh*t! Flynn has masterfully crafted a thriller with unexpected twists and turns, more so than I had expected and right up until the end. Even when I thought I knew the characters, they surprised--and disappointed--me once again.

The book opens on Amy and Nick Dunne's 5-year wedding anniversary. It's also the day that Amy goes missing, seemingly pulled from her house after an altercation. From there, the reader is thrown into two worlds: current day alongside Nick and the introduction of Nick and Amy from 5 years prior, thanks to Amy's diary. It's a neat spin on alternating perspectives.

In this section of the book we get a feel for Amy and how she and Nick came to be. We also see how Nick handles the pressures of the press and the eyes of an entire town suddenly thrust upon him.

You'll find yourself analyzing suspects and debating about why Nick may or may not have taken his wife and, if so, where she could be. It's not until the next section that the reader is introduced to two massive surprises: Nick's potential motives if the case went to trial, and Amy's not so deadly disappearance.

Hereafter the characters are wild cards, most particularly Amy. As a reader I felt betrayed at the person I believed her to be from the diary. As a writer I felt intrigued that Flynn would create such a untrustworthy, undermining, sociopath that her sheer presence leaves the reader on the edge of their seat.

And each time I rested just a little, Amy surprised me with something else--something more.

I even had to re-read the last page multiple times. I flipped it over just to be certain that it was indeed the end. That this was where the story had finished. That this was the truth of what became of Amy and Nick. And then I leaned back in my seat and said, "Wow."

Giveaway rules:
1. Contest is open now until December 20th (winner will be announced on the block December 21st)
2. You must be a follower of the blog
3. You must email me an entry, subject line "Gone Girl Giveaway"
4. Extra entry for each of the following: Tweet "Check out @SCookRay #bookgiveaway of GONE GIRL" or Facebook post the link or include a comment to this blog post.
5. Book giveaway is limited to U.S. only.

Good luck!