Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn)

Title: Gone Girl

Author: Gillian Flynn

Released: 2012

Rating: 6/6

Basic Plot: Marriage can be a real killer. One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn. 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 from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. 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? As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet? With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.
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Keeping This Spoiler Free
There are a lot of twists and turns in this novel, so it's very hard to review it without giving away huge plot points. One of the huge problems is that in Part 2 of the book everything you thought you knew is wrong. I was able to guess a twist revealed in the second part of the book, but boy was I not ready for the full implications of it.

Amy and Nick
The two main subjects of this novel are not purely good characters. I did side with Nick by the end of the book, but even he does have things he does wrong. Amy is not perfect, but you don't find her major faults until the second part of this book. However, both characters are a joy to read about even while you're screaming at them.

The Ending
Without spoiling anything, the ending stops but it's like something is about to happen. So it's really infuriating in that aspect. I need to know what happens next, but I feel that what happens next would deserve a novel of its own. What will Nick do now if shit hits the fan again? I may have to write a sequel fic of my own if there is not going to be a canon sequel. That's how badly I want to see this story continued.

Final Thoughts
This is one of the best books I have read in awhile. I only write first person POV and hate those who loathe the viewpoint 'just because'. This novel uses the point of view like Edgar Allen Poe did aka you can't trust the narrators. Amy and Nick are both hiding things. I first heard about this book and then put it to the side because it's not in my usual genre. But with the movie coming out, people were talking about this novel and so I decided to finally pick it up. I knew it was going to be a ride but I wasn't expecting this level of awesome.