Sharp Objects

Author: Gillian Flynn
Genre: Suspense
Type: Trade Paperback
Pages: 393
Source: Publisher

Publisher: Broadway Books

First Published: 2006

First Line: "My sweater was new, stinging red and ugly."

Book Description 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.

With its taut, crafted writing, Sharp Objects is addictive, haunting, and unforgettable.

Disclaimer: This Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. 

My Rating: 4 stars

My Review: Dark. Eerie. Traumatic. That about sums up Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn which is a disturbing, yet fascinating read about a dysfunctional family and the murder of two young girls in a small town.

In the past, the only book I'd read by Gillian Flynn was her mega-hit Gone, Girl and I'll be honest … I wasn't a big fan. But I'm so glad I don't hold bookish grudges because this was a great read!

In Sharp Objects, Flynn doesn't shy away from some meaty issues: psychological trauma, family dysfunction, abuse and a boat load of other sensitive issues. And it works. Readers are pulled into Camille's family and witness how their destructive dynamic continues to tie them together and understand why Camille's upbringing took such a toll on her mental health. Readers will feel hard pressed to look away from the destruction within this unique family and fans of Amy Engle's The Roanoke Girls will notice a similar feel since both books deal with a family scared by a dark history.

The only issue that brought my rating down was the ending. It felt too quick and glossed over issues I wanted more closure on. Otherwise, this is an engrossing read about dysfunction, with a murder mystery thrown in for good measure. While this book isn't for the faint of heart, it is a captivating read and has put Flynn back on my bookish radar. I cannot wait to see the miniseries staring Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson.