Review: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Sharp Objects
Author: Gillian Flynn
Published: September 26, 2006
Genre: thriller
eBook: approx. 272 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart 
Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg 
Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle 
As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming.

My Thoughts: Wow. That's all I can really think to say about this book. I've heard of Gillian Flynn after last year's novel, Gone Girl, shot to the top of every best seller list and it's the only book that everyone seemed to be talking about. I haven't gotten around to it yet (shame on me), but I decided to give her first novel a go to see if it's something I would enjoy. And my goodness, I think I may have found a new author to love! Flynn is a superb writer, using short, quick sentences to guide you through the messed up world that Camille (the main character) comes from. Wind Gap, Missouri is in the midst of a double-murder mystery, with two young girls being killed. It's such a small town that people immediately start blaming the outsider who recently moved to the area. Camille knows that his story doesn't match up and takes it upon herself to solve this case.

I don't want to give anything away because this is a novel that you have to experience for yourself. But the cast of characters in this novel are superb. They are one messed up group of people, but you have your favorites who you are cheering for, even though they are truly messed up in the head. Camille's mother, Adora, is an interesting character and someone who I would love to dissect. She's screwed up, that much is obvious, but there is so much more to her than that. And then Camille's sister, Amma, is another character who just grabs you for some inexplicable reason. You hate her, yet you are fascinated by her at the same time.

This is such a great book that I devoured it in less than two days. I found it difficult to walk away from, not only because I wanted to know who killed these little girls, but because the characters are so well done that you don't want to leave their world. This is a book that I could see a book club having a great time with because there is so much to discuss. The symbolism in this book is great and is something that I could do an entire post on. I don't typically read thrillers but this one is so good! Even if you don't do scary, you should read this book. Flynn will have you thinking and wondering about people within the first few pages of reading. It just makes me all the more anxious to read more of her work!