Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Dark, dark, dark. From the title to the plot, the characters to the connections to real events, this really is a dark read.

The opening is more that intriguing: it is visceral and disturbing. It sets the tone for the whole book, which is about the aftermath of a serial killer who is in prison for killing his whole family. It is from the point of view of his sister who was a child and witnessed the horrific events. Besides counselling for the survivor of the massacre, the other effects are examined, such as true crime enthusiasts who believe that the verdict was wrong and that someone else committed the crime. The book also looks at the causes of such events, such as poverty, social class, child killers, guilt, truth, violence and justice. Plus the strange cult environment that such events often spark up.

This is a well written book. Flynn is a creative and skilled writer and is comfortable with the uncomfortable. It is definitely a murder mystery but also full of psychological and social commentary. There is little sentiment or pity despite the horror and abuse in the narrative, but it's difficult not to feel something reading this powerful novel. The scary thing is, it could very well be a true story.

A brilliant book from a brilliant writer. 

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Published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 14 May 2009.