Divergent - Veronica Roth

Divergent Review

Divergent
-       Veronica Roth

Publisher: HarperCollins

Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger.

This book has had a lot of hype in the blogosphere – first when it was originally released last year and more recently with the release of the second book in the series, Insurgent. And...I think I got pulled into the hype. While I liked it, I didn’t love it.

Tris has to make the choice of which of the five factions she wants to live in. After growing up in Abnegation, the selfless one, she finally chooses Dauntless the brave and starts her initiation training. The training was interesting and liked the hints at the differences between learning to face fear and bullying – it’s a subtle but important difference. The emotional journey as Tris comes to terms with who she is and what she wants from life was intriguing and I loved the way she bonded and competed with her fellow initiates. There is a romance which I confess I didn’t really buy into as it happened a little too quickly – the initiation was only a month long!

Then about 70 pages from the end the tale of self-discovery suddenly changes entirely into a full revolution action adventure. I don’t want to give too much away but the final part of the book is a full on adrenaline rush which rushes about at break-neck speed. While I liked the pace and could tell that something big was building, it still felt like a very sudden change from the book style up to then – I nearly got whiplash!

Overall, this was a nice, diverting read but I didn’t really fall for Tris, Four and the others as much some people have. I will read Insurgent but I think I will try to borrow it off Sarah rather owning a copy! I might have liked it more if I didn’t know much about it before hand though...

Recommended for fans of Veronica Rossi and Suzanne Collins. 7 out of 10.

Review courtesy of Mel

No Easy Day - Mark Owen

Pentagon may sue author of Bin Laden book No Easy Day

A surge in orders for the book has sent it to the top of the bestseller lists

Continue reading the main story

Related Stories

• Bin Laden book 'differs on death'
• Ex-Seal pens Bin Laden raid book
• Ex-Seals attack Obama's 'leaks'

The Pentagon says it may sue a former US special forces member who has written a first-hand account of the May 2011 raid that killed Osama Bin Laden.

The Department of Defense's top lawyer has informed the former Navy Seal that he has violated agreements not to divulge military secrets.

He signed two non-disclosure forms with the Navy in 2007, the Pentagon said.

The book, No Easy Day, which was written under the pseudonym Mark Owen, is due to be released next week.

It was not reviewed ahead of publication by the Pentagon, CIA or the White House - and officials had warned that criminal charges could result from the improper disclosure of secret information.

'Material breach'

The Pentagon's general counsel, Jeh Johnson, wrote to the author on Thursday that his non-disclosure forms had obliged him to "never divulge" classified information.

The letter said: "In the judgment of the Department of Defense, you are in material breach and violation of the non-disclosure agreements you signed."

The Pentagon is considering "all remedies legally available to us", the letter added.

It was reported this week that No Easy Day contradicts the official story of the raid.

The book says Bin Laden was shot dead as soon as he looked out of his bedroom as Seals rushed up the stairs, according to the Associated Press news agency, which has seen an advance copy.

But US officials have stated he was shot only after he had ducked back into the bedroom, prompting fears he might be grabbing a weapon.

The book also reveals that the commandos were not big fans of US President Barack Obama, even though they applauded his decision to launch the operation.

Archangels and Demons Reviews

ARCHANGELS AND DEMONS REVIEWS

Andrew Collins - Wales

What can I possibly say about your book, except great work. The story is original; the time old subject of good versus evil, love it. The characters are well rounded and believable. The structure of the plot is very enticing for the reader, desperate to read more. Your cover of the book is fantastic, I have always believed that if your book was on a shelf in a bookshop, surrounded by other books within your genre; the cover needs to entice a reader as much as the teaser synopsis, and yours certainly does this. Well done and thanks for the download.

G. Rosalyn West - Administrator, Marie Curie Org, France

Although I don't usually read fantasy books, I couldn't put this one down. It is a very exciting read. Your pace and structure are excellent. The dialogue is so 'normal' that is gives an extra excitement to the outcome. There is a urgency in the text that keeps you reading it, only the urgency is not apparent. It underlines the text very subtly. Your descriptions of demons are really blood curdling and I could picture the monster that her boyfriend turned into. I really enjoyed reading your book and look forward to the rest of the series. Well done.

Violet Star - Publishing House Translator, Japan

This was a really exciting story, I look forward to reading more in the series.
It is original and unique in the way it looks at angels and music and their opposites, the demons. I think there is a lot of potential in the story as I haven't read anything else like this. The virtual world could easily be a reality in the future. I hope it gets made into a movie. More please!!!

Ron Pendle - Senior Lecturer, Westminster College, London

Can I first say what a stunning cover you have given your book, it fits the subject matter so perfectly. This is not the reading matter of my choice and I think it is a tribute to how well you write that I found myself reading on.
I think you establish your characters quickly and their relationship to each other is well set. Equally you were very effective, in my view, in establishing a strong sense of place and atmosphere. I shared Maia's strong sense of impending doom and the arrival of Altair -for all his smiles and good looks helped reinforce this. Very confidently written, with a strong sense of authority it reads like you really know what you’re doing with the series. Good luck with the book.
Ron

1. L. Cid - Writer and Artist, Italy

I absolutely loved this. It is so well written. The plot is amazing with so many twists and turns.
You have built up a wonderful sense of mystery and suspense that keeps the reader turning pages to find out what will happen next, this is definitely a book which will be hard to put down.
Secondly, I like your use and choice of words, I like the modern day scene setting intertwined with ancient mythology and magic. Your style is bubbly and well paced.
Your dialogues are witty and amusing and I believe this novel will be a success.

David Lubkin - UK

'Archangels and Demons' by Stephen Skelton is a well-written piece of futuristic fiction that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The plot appears to have been well thought out and thus the narrative works. The story held my interest from beginning to end, which after all is the purpose of any story, is it not? Obviously the author has a clear understanding of the narrative feeding the plot, yet does not get bogged down in the quagmire of self-indulgence. The main characters too were well thought out and well fleshed out, and therefore interesting. Reading 'Archangels and Demons' I wished to know more of the series. The dialogue was succinct, and succinct is always good, on the basis that less is more. If this is not a finished series then the author owes it to himself to finish it. Well done, and good luck! Oh, the story really was scary!

Phillip J Cook - Security Guard, Aberdare

Well, it's certainly different. I've never read anything in this style before. The characters seem real Maia, of course, is certainly a one off.
The plot, I did enjoy. The story can now go in so many different ways it's intriguing to think on to the next book in the series.
I know I want to read more, with your distinctive style.
Well done, best of luck.

Joanne Rudling - Lecturer in English, Bournemouth

Loved the premise and characters.
The opening prologue is good - full of tension and story.
The exposition is very interesting and original.
Great piece. Good luck with it.

Peaches - UK

This is a very interesting idea for a story and it's clearly a highly ambitious project. I do think this story series has a great deal of potential.

T M Thomson - English Language Teacher, London

Hi there, for me this was a generic good v evil tale, your tale reminded me of Charmed, an entertaining non literary fiction achievement that can yield episode after episode. You write very well. Good luck.

O.H. Fowler - UK

Interesting premise, well-written, generally fast-paced. A unique idea, and well executed. The story overall was very enjoyable and readable.

Jessica Jade Burton - UK

I really enjoyed your book. The introduction is beautifully written and the writing generally flows very well. Your description is lovely and I think that your work shows great potential. Overall, well written and enjoyable and I wish you every success.

Word Reiver - Northumberland

You start this story well giving us a good hook to make us want to read on to find out what happens to little Maia. Your writing style is smooth and flowing making this an easy an pleasant read and allowing the reader to lose themselves in the narrative. Mrs Gripe - what a great name!
An interesting bunch of characters from all over the world and the different than usual setting of France. I like the way they think their band "sucks." I hate characters who come over as perfect. I like the evil in Altair. Great cliff-hangers at the end of the chapters. I would definitely read on in this series.
Good luck with this.

John Gamlin - UK

I thought that it was rather clever of you to call the band Archangels; I like the double meaning. The pace flows well, and I would like to read more of the book series, it wasn't boring or stilted. Good luck with your writing.

Triona Waters - London

Hi Stephen, nice play on words with the name. I did like the ideas in your story. The idea of a future world where music is used as energy is interesting. Maia is a well crafted character. You've created a nice air of mystery about her origins and her secrets. Altair is a contradictory character. I can't quite make up my mind is he good or bad. In saying that, I would keep reading the series to find out. The scroll is an interesting object of power and, again, I'd read on to learn more about it. There were some nice questions raised for the reader that have had me turning the next page to get the answers. You have something great here, it could go far. Best of luck with it.
Triona

J.R. Minett - UK

You have a lot of material in this which will keep the attention of the teenager. The relationship between Maia and Altair is all very pure, which is refreshing, and I think the contrast between his real self and the demon within makes for a good fantasy for teens and I'm sure the series will end well.

Jan Satterlee - Psychologist, UK

Hi Stephen, I think you've got a very good and interesting novel here. Your writing has good flow. The parts that involve Maia and her family and the creatures are very good. All in all, you have a very good, interesting book. Keep at it! Best of luck
Jan

Simon Gamblin - Buckinghamshire

Hi Stephen, I liked what I read. In the most it was concise and clear and well written. You have a strong piece of writing, you obviously have a passion for writing. All the best and good luck.
Simon 

Margaret Joyce - UK

Hi and thanks for the interesting read. This story is quite intricate and thought provoking. I think this shows good promise and would be happy to read more of the series. Best of luck with this.

Susan Helen - UK

This is very well written. Not the usual genre that I read so you have done exceptionally well in maintaining my interest through the story. I found this to be very well written and highly enjoyable.

Simon O’Callaghan - UK

I found ‘Archangels and Demons’ to contain quite a number of interesting ideas, all of which I would be prepared to read about in a longer story series. I especially find the concept of using sound as a form of power to be the most interesting. There are so many directions to go with this idea, and I would especially like to see where the author takes it in the next books.
I also found the idea of integrating the mythological characters into the reality of the story to also be well worth following. This has happened in so many other places, but there’s seemingly no end to the ways in which they can be integrated. As a protagonist, I found Maia to be very well realized. It’s quite easy for me to empathize with her, which is an incredible boon to the story. Her reactions to the unfolding events around her, are the exact same reactions that the reader would have. Because of this, it’s quite easy to get into the story. In summary, this is a good story, and if the series evolves, then we will indeed have an incredible story in our hands.

Derek Barton, Peoria, Arizona, USA

This story series has a lot of potential. The "HALO idea" was very original and I liked that a lot! I think for the most part you did a good job describing the scenes and characters. Great effort and good idea.

D.M. Eldret - UK

The Title Archangels and Demons is what drew me in, as I also write fantasy and paranormal fiction. This is definitely something that would have caught my eye in a book store. Well done for the cover also!
It has an intriguing plot and interesting characters, and with this certain type of story I guess a lot of the answers come later on in the series. Your use of description is well put. I will say that the plot keeps you wanting to read on with extra little bits like the scroll and the signs, you actually want to know what this means which is great for any story. Well done and keep up the good work.

Emily Crystl - UK

An easy to read piece, with original ideas. I like the relationship between the main character and her boyfriend. I wished there were more scenes of them together and fighting the evil forces.
The reader never finds out why the main character has this 'power', if you call it that, in the first place, but I presume this will prevail further down into the story series. I thought it was nicely written with good, strong characters and original scenarios, it flowed smoothly. Good luck with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Archangels-and-Demons-ebook/dp/B006WM8CEG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346283540&sr=8-1&keywords=archangels+and+demons

My Book and My Coffee : Book Review : Archangels and Demons by Stephen Skelton

Friday, August 24, 2012

Book Review: Archangels and Demons by Stephen Skelton

Posted by My Book and My Coffee at 3:15 AM

Book Review + Giveaway! 

Title: Archangels and Demons
Author: Stephen Skelton
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Form: Kindle edition
Publisher: E-Books Publisher

Book Description ~ Archangels and Demons

Life in France isn’t easy for the orphaned Maia Fielding. She’s struggling at her new music school, she has nightmares about her murdered grandfather… and when she thinks her romance with her boyfriend Altair is about to get serious he turns into a demon! Maia and her friends find themselves face to face with the horrors of the Underworld, where everyone she loves may be lost to her, forever.

Amazon: Kindle edition

Archangels and Demons Book Review

Brilliant plot. The ending was different than expected but all in all, a superb read. – Ara of My Book andMy Coffee

Archangels and Demons is a story of true love, an unconditional love, that will really teach you something about accepting (and fighting for) the person you love even though he or she is really different. For Maia, the protagonist in this book, it was learning that her one true love, Altair, is a demon and not minding at all. Not just any demon though. Altair’s father is the evil of them all. That being said, you may form a conclusion already on how the story will go and end. But I suggest you hold your horses there. This book offers a lot more than what you can ever imagine. At least for me, I was astounded with the author’s creativity and really vivid imagination. Be ready for surprises and twists and turns that will get your mind looking for answers and wondering what Maia, Altair and their friends would do next. Or how they will surpass the tricky situations that will come their way.

Let’s talk about the story. The story is really wonderful. It’s brilliant, as I’ve mentioned above. The story is set in the future world where Microsoft and Apple are things of the past. I mean, until now, I can’t believe what I’ve read. I can’t divulge a lot here but I have to tell you to be ready for the unexpected. This is what I like about reading. It brings me to worlds that are unknown and unbelievable but are really interesting. The ones that you will want to know more about.  This book brought me to an innovative world where people like Maia and her friends still care about each other, where true love still exists, and where the impossible became possible.

The characters. I have to be honest. I really liked the characters but I wasn’t able to connect that much with Maia and Altair. I mean, I understand the love that they have, the true love that they are imposing but I just didn’t feel it. I am not sure why I wasn’t able to connect, but I tried though. Do you know what I mean? I think this is because I felt that I needed to know more about the characters and I felt that this book didn’t really give that much introduction or description for the characters. Some books don’t need that as they may have been written a certain way where knowing more about the characters are not necessary. But this one, it needed more. As a reader, I needed more. Anyway, that’s just me. That’s how I felt.

I think my favorite character is Alice, Maia's best friend. She's not the main character, I know. But her character is really likable. She's feisty and very supportive of Maia. 

All in all, I would still recommend this impressive creation. I still loved it and would recommend to all romantic thriller readers out there. To all my friends, viewers and readers, if you want to read a book that will bring you to a place where ‘heaven meets earth’, and a book that will, once again, let us know the true meaning of unconditional love, then go ahead, read this book. You'll enjoy it.   

This Kindle eBook was gifted to me by the author himself, Stephen Skelton. And you know, he’s really generous as he is willing to give away 5 free eBook copies of Archangels and Demons (Kindle edition only). The first five readers who will email him will get a copy of this eBook. It's important that you let him know that you’ve read my review and are interested in reading the book yourself. So email him now at skeltand@gmail.com. Remember, first five only ;) Go, go, go! 

Rating:


About the Author:

Photo Credit: Archangelsanddemons.blogspot.jp

Stephen Skelton is best selling author of Your New Future and has lived and travelled all over the world. Currently based in Japan he teaches at an International School. Stephen likes star watching, trekking, playing music, yoga and eating any kind of berry ever grown.

http://www.mybookandmycoffee.com/2012/08/book-review-archangels-and-demons-by.html

Japan : The 47 Ronin (Bella and Burton's Misadventures)

JAPAN: THE 47 RONIN (Bella and Burton’s MisAdventures Series) by Stephen Skelton

27AUG

JAPAN: THE 47 RONIN (Bella and Burton’s MisAdventures Series)

By Stephen Skelton

Edited by Jane Tara

Illustrated by Phillip Einfeld

105 pages – ages 6+ (Kindle edition reviewed)

Published by Itchee Feet on July 1, 2012

Bella and Burton Feet are on another adventure! The Feet family travels to Japan and the kids hear a story being told about the Ronin Samurai of Japan. Bella gets so involved in listening to the story that she literally gets brought into the story. Burton, who wasn’t listening as closely gets kidnapped into the story by an evil ninja that works for an evil samurai named Kira. While in the story Bella gets trained in the ways of the samurai, learns about ancient Japan, and gets determined to save Burton from the evil Kira. Can Bella save Burton and manage to get them back home?

This book is one book in a series of books that follow the Feet family and their travels around the world. I thought this was a great adventure book. I liked the samurai and ninjas in it and learning about them. The story is based on the real-life Ronin samurai (and there were 47 of them) that lived in the 1700s in Japan and I thought that was cool. Bella and Burton were like an ordinary brother and sister, they bickered teased but also cared a lot about each other. They were very believable. The simple illustrations in the book were a nice addition. The book was written for younger kids, but I think older kids will also like it. It was a quick read for me and I would have liked a little more details in the story, but overall it was very enjoyable. I like the travel part of the series. I like it when book teach about different lands and cultures.

I give this book four out of five bookworms.

To learn more about the Bella and Burton’s MisAdventures Series please visit the Itchee Feet website HERE.

KISS - Slam Modern Rock Bands

Tommy Thayer, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Gene Simmons from Kiss attend the Kiss Monster Book launch at the Viper Room in West Hollywood. Photo / AP

Musicians in today's rock bands look like "garbage collectors" and the only true new star is Lady Gaga, members of the legendary heavy metal group KISS say.

"There are a lot of bands that have something. What's missing is stardom. The ability to get up on stage and rule, bigger than life," said KISS bassist and singer-songwriter Gene Simmons.

In a conversation during a promotional appearance Tuesday for the KISS Monster Book, the band explained their decision to record their next disc, Monster, with analog equipment.

They also defended the Russian punk band Pussy Riot, whose members were sentenced to prison last week in Moscow.

"There are no stars. There's no Elvis, there's no ... even Prince,'' said Simmons. "Stage presence - none of the bands have it, they look like garbage collectors. They look worse than the audience that comes to see them.''

"There's no pride,'' said the 62-year-old, who is known for his own on-stage persona as "The Demon" in a band that flaunts over-the-top costumes and black-and-white makeup.

KISS's four band members spoke to reporters in The Viper Room, a renowned Hollywood bar where the actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose in 1993.

Dressed in black, without makeup, in silver neck chains and long hair, the creators of rock hymns like I Wanna Rock N Roll All Night and I Was Made for Lovin' You agreed the extravagant Lady Gaga stands alone among new performers.

"The only new rock star is Lady Gaga. That's it. She's a star," said Simmons, in white crocodile skin cowboy boots and a silk scarf. "There are some very, very good bands, I'm a big fan of Foo Fighters, but give me the stars."

It's not just about the show, he said. "Elvis could walk up on stage with nothing. But charisma. Image. Mystique."

Paul Stanley, the group's star and lead vocalist, went further.

"Musicians who look like the delivery boy ... don't realize that there's more. When big bands go on stage, they deliver their goods," he said.

"That's why we've been around 40 years, because people know when they come to see us, they're going to get their money's worth and they're going to be entertained. We are proud to be entertainers and a hell of a rock band."

Stanley, who was wearing a black jacket and checker-board shoes with silver studs, and Simmons are the last members of the original KISS, which they formed in the early 1970s.

Lead guitarist Tommy Taylor and drummer Eric Singer were brought in later as replacements after a break up in the original line-up.

Asked about the Pussy Riot furor in Russia, Simmons said they're "not a good band, but they have the right to do whatever they want to do. And it's too bad that politics gets in the way of rock bands."

Stanley said: "A strong country should never be afraid of freedom. And with freedom comes independence, a sense of independence, and many countries still want to squash that."

The band is promoting its megabook as a collector's item. A limited edition of 1000 copies, it is individually signed by the band's members and spans KISS's 40 year history. It includes 127 photographs, some never published before.

The affable rockers, who showed little trace of the fearsome personas they project on stage, told AFP they are recording their next album using analog equipment, seeking beauty in imperfection.

Monster, their 20th studio album, is scheduled to be released in October.

"All the greatest music that was ever made, was made on tape, was analog. The problem with computers and technology is, when it's not used for enhancement, it becomes a noose around your neck," Stanley said.

"You wind up looking for perfection instead of passion. And all the music that we grew up loving - Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Stones, James Brown, Motown, you name it - none of them were perfect, and that's 

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2012

Marriage can be a real killer.
   One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.
   On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?
   As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
   With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

On their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick’s wife Amy disappears. There are signs of struggle in the house, and Nick quickly becomes the prime suspect. It doesn’t help that Nick hasn’t been completely honest with the police, and, as Amy’s case drags out for weeks, more and more vilifying evidence appears against him--but Nick maintains his innocence. Alternating points of view between Nick and Amy, Gillian Flynn creates an untrustworthy world that changes from chapter to chapter. Calling Gone Girl a psychological thriller is an understatement. As revelation after revelation unfolds, it becomes clear that the truth does not exist in the middle of Nick and Amy’s points of view; it is far darker, more twisted, and creepier than you can imagine. Gone Girl is masterfully plotted, and the suspense doesn’t waver for a single page. It’s one of those books you will feel the need to discuss as soon as you finish it, because the ending doesn’t just come--it punches you in the gut. --Caley Anderson

Review

"A perfect wife's disappearance plunges her husband into a nightmare as it rips open ugly secrets about his marriage and, just maybe, his culpability in her death... One of those rare thrillers whose revelations actually intensify its suspense instead of dissipating it. The final pages are chilling." --"Kirkus "(starred review)
"[W]hat looks like a straightforward case of a husband killing his wife to free himself from a bad marriage morphs into something entirely different in Flynn's hands. As evidenced by her previous work (Sharp Objects, 2006, and Dark Places, 2009), she possesses a disturbing worldview, one considerably amped up by her twisted sense of humor. Both a compelling thriller and a searing portrait of marriage, this could well be Flynn's breakout novel. It contains so many twists and turns that the outcome is impossible to predict." --"Booklist "(starred review)
"Flynn cements her place among that elite group of mystery/thriller writers who unfailingly deliver the goods...Once again Flynn has written an intelligent, gripping tour de force, mixing a riveting plot and psychological intrigue with a compelling prose style that unobtrusively yet forcefully carries the reader from page to page." --"Library Journal "(starred review)
"Flynn masterfully lets this tale of a marriage gone toxically wrong gradually emerge through alternating accounts by Nick and Amy, both unreliable narrators in their own ways. The reader comes to discover their layers of deceit through a process similar to that at work in the imploding relationship. Compulsively readable, creepily unforgettable, this is a must read for any fan of bad girls and good writing." --"Publishers Weekly" (starred review)
""Gone Girl" is one of the best -and most frightening -portraits of psychopathy I've ever read. Nick and Amy manipulate each other -with savage, merciless and often darkly witty dexterity. This is a wonderful and terrifying book about how the happy surface nor

Review

“Ice-pick-sharp… Spectacularly sneaky… Impressively cagey… Gone Girl is Ms. Flynn’s dazzling breakthrough. It is wily, mercurial, subtly layered and populated by characters so well imagined that they’re hard to part with — even if, as in Amy’s case, they are already departed. And if you have any doubts about whether Ms. Flynn measures up to Patricia Highsmith’s level of discreet malice, go back and look at the small details. Whatever you raced past on a first reading will look completely different the second time around.” —Janet Maslin, New York Times
“An ingenious and viperish thriller… It’s going to make Gillian Flynn a star… The first half of Gone Girl is a nimble, caustic riff on our Nancy Grace culture and the way in which ''The butler did it'' has morphed into ''The husband did it.'' The second half is the real stunner, though. Now I really am going to shut up before I spoil what instantly shifts into a great, breathless read. Even as Gone Girl grows truly twisted and wild, it says smart things about how tenuous power relations are between men and women, and how often couples are at the mercy of forces beyond their control. As if that weren’t enough, Flynn has created a genuinely creepy villain you don't see coming. People love to talk about the banality of evil. You’re about to meet a maniac you could fall in love with. A” —Jeff Giles, Entertainment Weekly
“An irresistible summer thriller with a twisting plot worthy of Alfred Hitchcock. Burrowing deep into the murkiest corners of the human psyche, this delectable summer read will give you the creeps and keep you on edge until the last page.” —People (four stars)

“[A] thoroughbred thriller about the nature of identity and the terrible secrets that can survive and thrive in even the most intimate relationships. Gone Girl begins as a whodunit, but by the end it will have you wondering whether there’s any such thing as a who at all.” —Lev Grossman, Time

“How did things get so bad? That’s the reason to read this book. Gillian Flynn — whose award-winning Dark Places and Sharp Objects also shone a dark light on weird and creepy, not to mention uber dysfunctional characters — delves this time into what happens when two people marry and one spouse has no idea who their beloved really is.” —USA Today,Carol Memmott

“It’s simply fantastic: terrifying, darkly funny and at times moving. The minute I finished it I wanted to start it all over again. Admirers of Gillian Flynn’s previous books, Sharp Objects and Dark Places, will be ecstatic over Gone Girl, her most intricately twisted and deliciously sinister story, dangerous for any reader who prefers to savor a novel as opposed to consuming it whole in one sitting….” —Associated Press, Michelle Weiner

“Gillian Flynn’s third novel is both breakneck-paced thriller and masterful dissection of marital breakdown… Wickedly plotted and surprisingly thoughtful, this is a terrifically good read.” —Boston Globe
“That adage of no one knows what goes on behind closed doors moves the plot of Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn's suspenseful psychological thriller… Flynn's unpredictable plot of Gone Girlcareens down an emotional highway where this couple dissects their marriage with sharp acumen… Flynn has shown her skills at gripping tales and enhanced character studies since her debut Sharp Objects, which garnered an Edgar nod, among other nominations. Her second novel Dark Places made numerous best of lists. Gone Girl reaffirms her talent.”  —South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Oline Cogdill

“A great crime novel, however, is an unstable thing, entertainment and literature suspended in some undetermined solution. Take Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, the third novel by one of a trio of contemporary women writers (the others are Kate Atkinson and Tana French) who are kicking the genre into a higher gear… You couldn’t say that this is a crime novel that’s ultimately about a marriage, which would make it a literary novel in disguise. The crime and the marriage are inseparable. As Gone Girl works itself up into an aria of ingenious, pitch-black comedy (or comedic horror — it’s a bit of both), its very outlandishness teases out a truth about all magnificent partnerships: Sometimes it’s your enemy who brings out the best in you, and in such cases, you want to keep him close.” —Salon

“Ms. Flynn writes dark suspense novels that anatomize violence without splashing barrels of blood around the pages… But as in her other books, Ms. Flynn has much more up her sleeve than a simple missing-person case. As Nick and Amy's alternately tell their stories, marriage has never looked so menacing, narrators so unreliable.”  —Wall Street Journal

“A portrait of a marriage so hilariously terrifying, it will make you have a good hard think about who the person on the other side of the bed really is. This novel is so bogglingly twisty, we can only give you the initial premise: on their fifth anniversary, Nick Dunne’s beloved wife Amy disappears, and all signs point to very foul play indeed. Nick has to clear his name before the police finger him for Amy’s murder.” —Time
“Readers who prefer more virulent strains of unreality will appreciate the sneaky mind games of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, a thriller rooted in the portrait of a tricky and troubled marriage.” —New York Times
“[Flynn has] quite outdone herself with a tale of marital strife so deliciously devious that it moves the finish line on The War of the Roses… A novel studded with disclosures and guided by purposeful misdirection… Flynn delivers a wickedly clever cultural commentary as well as a complex and driven mystery… What fun this novel is.” —New York Daily News

“Flynn’s brilliantly constructed and consistently absorbing third novel begins on the Dunnes’ fifth wedding anniversary… The novel, which twists itself into new shapes, works as a page-turning thriller, but it’s also a study of marriage at its most destructive.” —Columbus Dispatch

“Gillian Flynn's barbed and brilliant Gone Girl has two deceitful, disturbing, irresistible narrators and a plot that twists so many times you'll be dizzy. This "catastrophically romantic" story about Nick and Amy is a "fairy tale reverse transformation" that reminded me of Patricia Highsmith in its psychological suspense and Kate Atkinson in its insanely clever plotting.” —Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“For a creepy, suspenseful mystery, Ms. Pearl suggested Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, a novel due out this week. "You will not be able to figure out the end at all. I could not sleep the night after I read it. It's really good," Ms. [Nancy] Pearl said. "It's about the way we deceive ourselves and deceive others."” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Gillian Flynn's new novel, Gone Girl, is that rare thing: a book that thrills and delights while holding up a mirror to how we live… Through her two ultimately unreliable narrators, Flynn masterfully weaves the slow trickle of critical details with 90-degree plot turns… Timely, poignant and emotionally rich, Gone Girl will peel away your comfort levels even as you root for its protagonists—despite your best intuition.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“Flynn’s third noir thriller recently launched to even more acclaim than the first two novels, polishing her reputation for pushing crime fiction to a new literary level and as a craftsman of deliciously twisting and twisted plots.” —Kansas City Star

“I picked up Gone Girl because the novel is set along the Mississippi River in Missouri and the plot sounded intriguing. I put it down two days later, bleary-eyed and oh-so-satisfied after reading a story that left me surprised, disgusted, and riveted by its twists and turns… A good story presents a reader with a problem that has to be resolved and a few surprises along the way. A great story gives a reader a problem and leads you along a path, then dumps you off a cliff and into a jungle of plot twists, character revelations and back stories that you could not have imagined. Gone Girl does just that.” —St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“To call Gillian Flynn's new novel almost review-proof isn't a put-down, it's a fact. That's because to give away the turn-of-the-screw in this chilling portrait of a marriage gone wrong would be a crime. I can say that Gone Girl is an ingenious whodunit for both the Facebook generation and old-school mystery buffs. Whoever you are, it will linger, like fingerprints on a gun… Flynn's characters bloom and grow, like beautiful, poisonous plants. She is a Gothic storyteller for the Internet age.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer

“The setup of Gone Girl lulls readers with what appears to be a done-too-often plot, but, oh, how misleading that is. This thriller is told in alternating voices, a risky form of narrative that works masterfully here because the characters are so distinct and convincing…. The first half of the story leads readers on a merry chase and gives the term "red herring" new meaning. The second half takes readers on a calculated descent into madness. The ending…is one of...

About the Author

Gillian Flynn's first novel SHARP OBJECTS was the winner of two CWA DAGGERS, and was shortlisted for the GOLD DAGGER, and also for an EDGAR. She lives in Chicago with her husband.