Book Review 2: Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

I was curious about this critically acclaimed crime novel, as it was written by a former writer of Entertainment Weekly magazine and was interested to know just how someone writing about Britney's latest video or Angelina's latest dress could switch to writing a novel about marriages, depression and murder.

My curiosity was well-rewarded in this riveting tale of a marriage gone horribly, horribly wrong. Amy and Nick are a successful, beautiful, wealthy couple who have been married for five years, when Amy disappears. What follows is the hunt for Amy which takes the reader on a journey from the depths of Nick's mind to the media hype surrounding the case of the supposedly innocent wife with a husband that can't stop smiling every time her disappearance is mentioned.

From the opening sentence, where Nick is discussing the shape and feel of his wife's head and how easy it would be to destroy, I was hooked. It is darker than anything I've read of late and isn't for people who are looking for a summer escape. However, if you're looking for a gripping mystery, with the world's darkest treasure hunt, multiple red herrings and an entire cast of unlikable characters, who somehow you end up rooting for, despite your base instincts and one certain twist halfway through the book that leaves you absolutely breathless and will keep you up until the sun comes up, then this is for you.

It has already been commissioned as a movie, with Reese Witherspoon on board and Gillian Flynn has several other crime novels that flew under the radar, check them out and stay tuned for big things from this former entertainment writer, she's got talent.

Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
ISBN: 9780297859383
Published: 2012
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

 - Morgan, Remuera Library