What are you thinking? How are you feeling? Who are you? What have we done to each other? What will we do?
On the surface, Nick and Amy appear to have the perfect marriage.
In the small town of North Carthage, Missouri during the summer of 2012, Amy Dunne disappears. Specifically, on the day of Nick and Amy’s fifth wedding anniversary. When Amy vanishes into what seems to be thin air, Nick is left as suspect number one.
Nick, a small town boy from Missouri making it as a writer in New York, meets Amy and the rest is history. They sweep each other into a dreamy whirlwind until reality strikes and they both lose their jobs, leading them to Nick’s hometown.
The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Nick and Amy, and this dual narrative gives readers an inside look at the seemingly enchanted relationship. Nick’s entries begin on the day of Amy’s disappearance, launching him into a world of criminal investigation. He’s outwardly handsome and charming, but there’s more than meets the eye with Nick. His character is mysterious and evasive, and despite every other chapter being from his perspective, it’s difficult to tell what he’s thinking. Amy’s diary entries start in the past and work up to the present day, giving us an inside look at the beginnings of her and Nick’s relationship. Amy is revealed to be an ultra-perfectionist who’s used to being the center of attention. So, who are we supposed to rely on?
Flynn plunged me into a world full of secrets and mystery centered around the relationship of Nick and Amy. Nick looks suspicious due to his strange behavior, past history, and constant lies to the police. Amy’s diaries reveal a girl who grew up surrounded by the pressure of living up to her parent’s expectations. My sympathy constantly shifted from Nick to Amy and back again until every manipulation and deception was finally unmasked.
The investigative aspect of the novel appealed to me because of how authentic and real it felt. There aren’t any holes in the plot despite being so intricately detailed, and the police are actually competent, which is a refreshing change. Flynn also does an impressive job of touching on the influence of the media in cases as well, which is something I don’t really see much of in crime novels.
The story takes a while to really pick up, but once the momentum gets going there’s no stopping it. Right when you think you’ve got things all figured out, Flynn pulls the rug out from under you. Pieces and parts of the truth start to come out, but the puzzle doesn’t truly fit together until the end. Although the dialogue and inner thoughts of Nick and Amy were a little implausible and awkward at times, Flynn’s writing is masterful when it comes to the plot.
One thing’s for sure, this isn’t your typical crime novel. It’s flat out insane with an unpredictable plot that’s full of mind-bending twists, but it’s captivating. Flynn crafts her characters as psychologically compelling, with dark pasts and questionable motives, allowing readers to see the realness of Nick and Amy’s relationship – no matter how unsettling. Yes, it’s frightening, but more than that, it’s thought-provoking. As the secrets of their relationship surfaced, Gone Girl forced me to face an uncomfortable truth about the masks we all wear. The novel serves as a chilling reminder that things aren’t always as they seem.
Throughout the entire story, Gillian Flynn kept me guessing and had me devouring the book to finally figure out what the real truth was. The depth of the story and the labyrinth of Nick and Amy’s relationship left me baffled every step of the way. If you’re looking for something to completely flip your world upside down, then Gone Girl is calling your name. Gillian Flynn does a wonderful job creating the thrilling world of Nick and Amy, wrapping you up with them along the way. This intricate tale of deceit and manipulation will have you rethinking everything you thought you knew – especially about marriage.
Rating: 4 of 5 stars