Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

I was excited when I got the email from library stating that Dark Places was in for me. I loved Sharp Objects so much and had been thinking about it, so I was anxious to start reading Ms. Flynn's newest. This was another winner, and I give it another A.

Inside cover:
Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in "The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas". As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived- and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who've long forgotten her.
The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details- proof they hope may free Ben- Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she'll reconnect the players from that night and report her findings to the club... and maybe she'll admit her testimony wasn't so solid after all.
As Libby's search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through Libby's doomed family members- including Ben, a loner who's rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started from-on the run from a killer.

I love the way Ms. Flynn creates dark characters who you find yourself rooting for. She expertly drops hints and clues that helps you try to solve the mystery, but you really need to be paying close attention. I admit, though I thought I knew some of it, I was surprised. Once I was reflecting back on it, I realized that I had missed some clues, but it was a pleasant surprise. I really came to love Libby and felt her pain, though I couldn't even begin to imagine how someone would survive all that happened to her. There were some tough parts to read in the story, but I really enjoyed it, and again, they were part of the story not meant to shock or disgust, but to add value to the story. I only have two wishes; one, I wish I would know a bit more of what happens in the future, and two, that Ms. Flynn would write faster. I need to read more of her books! Ms Flynn, if you happen to come across this, please get working and work fast... I LOVE YOUR BOOKS! (OK, I am more composed now... I just had to get that off of my chest!)

I am not sure what I am going to read next. I have four more books checked out from the library, so I will get to those first. Today we finished a project on the house and now that everything is clean and organized and back to normal, I plan on spending the evening relaxing, doing laundry and reading. I hope everyone is having a safe and enjoyable Memorial Weekend and Happy Reading!