Review - Dark Places (Gillian Flynn)

Gillian Flynn has gained quite a following over the past few years, myself included.  I am writing this post as the world's biggest fan of Gone Girl.  The book enraptured me more than any other in recent memory.  But, this is not a review about Gone Girl - mostly because everyone else in the world has already ready it.  

Dark Places is Ms. Flynn's second novel.  The premise is around a small town Missouri family whose lives take a turn when the mother and 2 sisters are violently killed in their home.  The story is told from the view of the youngest daughter, Libby, 25 years later.  Libby had survived the massacre as a young girl  and was instrumental in developing the case against her brother as the murderer.  More than two decades later, she comes across a group of "fans" of the case who believe wholeheartedly that her brother was innocent, leading her to second guess her testimony.  The story goes on from there, unraveling the details of the murder.

The whole story is very reminiscent of In Cold Blood, with the imagery of the small town family murders and the apparent lack of motive.  However, there's a whole troubled child/satanic influence part of the book that throws it way into left field.  It's interesting, no doubt, but Dark Places is definitely an appropriate title for the novel.  The story touches on themes of poverty, abuse, and desperate measures.  What I find interesting is that there are really no likable characters in the entire book, save a nerdy side character who doesn't get enough of the storyline.  Despite that, the story holds its own and delves into some intense situations and intriguing suspense.  By the end of the novel I felt reasonably entertained but it definitely left me wanting more depth in character development and story.  

3 out of 5 stars.