Category: Mystery

There’s been a great deal of buzz regarding this novel, so I approached  it with a little chip on my shoulder.  I read Gone Girl with every intention of not falling for the “best seller” hype. But, all I can say is WOW.   Ms. Flynn is indeed masterful.  I finished the book saying “how did she do that?”.

Within a few pages, I was engrossed in the twists and turns of the plot – even gasping aloud at some points and eagerly turning the pages to find out what is happening here?  Nick and Amy are totally unlikeable – their marriage is disturbing and dysfunctional.  The author surrounds them with money issues, in-law problems and mutual nastiness —   and yet I found myself holding my breath in terror for them – thinking, “how did things get this bad?”

The second half of the book turned me on my ear –  no spoilers here, just be warned huge surprises await.  And, if you’re like me, you’ll binge-read this novel to its sick and evil conclusion.

Warning, the novel contains foul language and some sordid sex  – accenting the twisted and  creepy atmosphere.  Now I want to read her other books;  Sharp Objects and Dark Places.  And I want to re-read Gone Girl – just to relish in Ms. Flynn’s  crafting and structure of this novel.

Review copy provided by Crown Publishing.

Grab this book, cozy up under an afghan and brew a pot of tea.   Just what I wanted,  in front of the fire with holiday music on the radio.   This is the first in a series and although predictable,  it is, nonetheless, well written and simply delightful.

Penny Nichols (great name ha!) comes into an inheritance from a distant aunt – an antique car and a huge flat in London  — but that’s just the beginning.   There’s a fun romp across England, France, and Italy (all my favorite places). It has an amusing cast of family members, co-workers, and friends.  There’s a little mystery, a little romance, a little danger and some mad capers on the coast of France.  There are two more installments that I plan to read.

Probably falls into the genre of  “chick-lit” but with a redeeming Anglophile/European slant.