Title: Gone Girl

By: Gillian Flynn

About the Author (From the Book) – Gillian Flynn’s first novel, Sharp Objects, was the winner of the two CWA Dagger Awards and was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award, and for Edgar. Her second, Dark Places, was published to great critical acclaim. A former writer and critic for Entertainment Weekly, her novels have been published in twenty-eight countries. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.

ISBN:     9781780221359

Cover Price:       Rs. 350.00

Rating:  5/5

Who are you?

What have we done to each other?

These are the questions Nick Dunne finds himself asking on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary when his wife Amy suddenly disappears. The police suspect Nick. Amy’s friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn’t true. A police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they weren’t made by him. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone.

So what did happen to Nick’s beautiful wife?

Well what can I say about this amazing psychological thriller that hasn’t already been said? Or, better yet what can I say that will justify the immense pleasure of devouring this mystery, one page after the other? Excellent, brilliant and stimulating are perhaps some of the best adjectives for Gillian Flynn’s masterpiece. At the very onset I shall urge you to pick up this book, without any delay, for it is indeed a fascinating read.

I was scouting through the best seller list for the past year (and this year too) when I came across Gone Girl in the list and I had to pick it up. And I am glad that I did! Gone Girl is a thriller about two out of work writers. The power play in long term relationships is taken to a different level altogether in this book. It is the story of Nick and Amy Dunne whose marriage is in turmoil. The plot takes off from their fifth anniversary when Amy disappears and everything seems to point towards Nick as the culprit. What happens next? Well you won’t even be able to guess unless you go through each line in this incredible book! I will obviously refrain from saying anything about what happens next as it is a thriller and it will only spoil your experience of reading and finding it out for yourself.

Gone Girl has several aspects that will win you over as a reader. There are some books or thrillers rather, which take considerable time to set the scene; to engulf the reader into its world and to attain a certain pace. But Gone Girl did all of that in the first few pages without deviating even for a moment ensuring that I stay hooked to it till the very end. The book maintains its momentum in terms of progress of the plot throughout as well. Not for a moment will you feel that the chapter or dialogues or descriptions are being dragged unnecessarily. As a thriller thus it ensures the reader is not bored; ensures that every chapter leaves the reader asking about what happens next.

Gillian Flynn has written Gone Girl with alternating first person POVs of both the characters pivotal to the plot. It is tricky and complex to narrate both sides of the story while remaining true to each of the characters as well. But Flynn seems to have mastered this art as not for a moment in the narration will you find the hold on her characters going faint. The narrations are delightfully deceitful; revealing aspects at the very last moments, enough to ensure the continuity of the mystery elements.

Often while reading mysteries and thrillers we feel that some questions remain unanswered. Or we find loopholes in how the end could have been different if those looses end were brought to light. Gillian Flynn in Gone Girl has ensured there are no such questions in the reader’s mind after he or she is done with the novel. She has written it by thinking from every aspect and always being ahead in terms of the readers’ ‘what ifs’! The plot thus has been carefully and brilliantly knitted together.

To fairly conclude, I can only say that I am totally satisfied after reading this book and it surely has become one among the most prized possessions on my book shelf till date! So read it and let me know if you like it as well!