Mini Suspense Review "Sharp Objects" by Gillian Flynn

Title:  Sharp Objects
Author: Gillian Flynn
Genre:  Suspense / Thriller
Format:  Paperback 252 pages

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...

Ok, I know I said, after I read and reviewed Gone Girl, that I was never going to read another Gillian Flynn book!  I borrowed this one from a friend after we discussed Gone Girl and she assured me that this one was better.  She was right.  I enjoyed this one so much more.  I am still going to keep this as a mini review though.

This book has a kind of dirty feel to it because of the subject matter.  I guess maybe gritty would be a better word.  I was intrigued from the very beginning and I have to say that while I thought I had it all figured out, I SO didn't.  I was totally surprised by how it ended.  It's a very dark and disturbing read that is filled with dysfunctional people.  It's not a feel good story in any way, not that anything I have read by Ms. Flynn is, but  this one is particularly creepy.  It's one of those books that you feel weird reading, but you just can't stop because you need to know what happens!

I hesitate to recommend it just because it's not something that will appeal to everyone.  It's full of profanity, self mutilation, sexual abuse, minors abusing alcohol and drugs, etc...  Definitely not for the faint of heart, but it's very well written.  Ms. Flynn does have a way with words that I don't come across often.