There's something about Gillian Flynn books that keep us coming back. Whether it's the domestic depravity of Gone Girl or the nonstop action of Dark Places, we just can't get enough of Gillian Flynn's books. When we found out that the author of Gone Girl had a new story slated for release in November, we couldn't help but do a happy dance.
The Grownup is a short story (64 pages long) originally published as part of George R.R. Martin's Rogues anthology, will soon be available as a standalone story. The Grownup is full of chilling suspense that fans of Gillian Flynn books know and love. It's a gripping tale of escaping evil.
Tell us a little bit about your new release, Beyond Clueless.
It’s a fun, funny novel that largely revolves around a theatrical production of “Into the Woods” at a Catholic girls’ school in suburban Ohio. The plot hinges on how the narrator, Marty, and her best friend, Jimmy, are trying to maintain the their friendship as they begin attending separate schools. Jimmy begins dating a boy and developing a new group of gay friends, while Marty is just getting into life at an all-girls’ school and trying to figure out how move forward with a handsome guy who’s taken an interest in her. There’s deception, romance, drama and a gay twist – what’s not to love?
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
I’m too old for it to have been given to me in the usual way, but “It Gets Better” is the best advice I know of. It’s almost exactly the same as “this, too, shall pass”, which – classic Linas – I only recently learned did not originate as a line spoken by the bellhop in My Best Friend’s Wedding. Apparently it’s Shakespeare, or some famous quote from history? (I’m the worst.)
Say you’re the host of a talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?
Oooh, hard question. Ummm… oh! I know! Oprah Winfrey. That way I’d be pretty sure she’d be able to smooth over the inevitable awkward pauses and clunker questions. I’d ask her for advice about hosting a talk show.
Who are your literary heroes?
Maurice Sendak is someone I truly admire, not just for his picture books but also for the person that he was. I really love works by Jane Austen, Philip Pullman, Gregory Maguire, Jonathan Stroud, David Sedaris… although, to be fair, I’ll basically love anything with a strong narrating voice.
Where is your favourite spot in London? Why does it bring you joy?
It’s probably a too-cheesy answer, but St. James Park. My husband and I would go there every day on a long walk after we had just arrived in the UK two years ago and didn’t yet have jobs. We’re both very fond of birds (we used to have parrots in Sweden), so feeding the ducks, geese and other birds there was ridiculously pleasant. On a related note, I am really looking forward to being elderly.
How do you like to spend a rainy day?
Binge-watching a TV show, occasionally interrupted by deeply unhealthy but impossibly satisfying meals. Ideally in a place with a metal roof, so I can actually hear the rain, and with a view outdoors so we can watch other people get wet. (Kidding!) And/or of course reading a book, but no one wants to hear that!
What’s your favourite quote or scene from Beyond Clueless?
I think my favourite scene is one in which the main character, Marty, hangs out with her best friend Jimmy and his new group of friends. One of the boys, Oliver, is a photographer for the school paper, and he’s been assigned to provide photos for an article on the school’s annual social survey. Marty and the boys spend the evening acting out different expressions for getting drunk and partying – getting sauced, making out, painting the town red, etc – but interpreting the expressions literally. I think it’s funny, and pretty representative of creative, silly, random moments that you encounter as a teen; those are often the moments we remember and treasure most.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
Sadly, no. I’m a total goldfish where nuggets of wisdom are involved, kind of like with jokes. But one quote that I do remember for being hilariously irreverent is Dorothy Parker’s amazing “This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.”
Credit: Ceen Wahren
Linas Alsenas is the author of the new book Beyond Clueless.
Agatha Christie's birthday was this week! To celebrate, we've compiled a book list of what to read if you like Agatha Christie books.
The mysteries uncovered in Agatha Christie's books are truly classic. Inspector Poirot is perhaps just as famous as Agatha Christie herself. If you can't get enough Agatha Christie books, love mystery novels, and are looking for new books to read, check out our book list below.
One of my favorite reviews (so far) described the book as "genre-crushing." I like that. It's a thriller, a mystery, and a puzzle story, with elements of horror and the paranormal; yet it's also a character-driven story a young woman's struggle to develop her journalism career while fighting the demons of mental illness.
The book drew upon my memories of growing up in the Deep South and visiting relatives who lived among the haunted, marsh-fringed islands of the Georgia coast, as well as my early career experiences as a journalist. It's a moody and atmospheric tale, in which the setting is as much a character as the protagonist.
Which books would we be surprised to find on your shelves?
The Wisdom of Psychopaths, Mighty Mini Mind Bogglers, Green Eggs and Ham, The Eye of the Cat: Hermetic Supplies and Exotic Herbs, Self-Promotion for Introverts, The Vagina Monologues.
Pretend you qualified for the Olympics this year. What sport would you compete in?
Whitewater canoe slalom, oh yeah!
If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?
William Shakespeare.
What's your favorite thing about the real Shell Heap Island, Sapelo Island in Georgia?
The same things that Martha, my protagonist, loves when she first visits the island: The warm and beautiful people. The unspoiled, wind-swept beaches. The beautiful primeval forests with their ancient oaks and draperies of Spanish moss. The secrets.
What's on your writing desk?
A CNN mug full of ink pens and markers, a scallop fossil from the local riverbed that I use as a paperweight, Rodale's Synonym Finder, The Thesaurus of Slang, picture of my wife and I at the Grand Canyon, a picture of my son at Anza-Borrego wind caves, my Dell laptop.
What's your favorite quote from The Girl in the Maze?
One of my favorite quotes is when the sheriff describes the president of the local historical society who's blocking development of Shell Heap Island: "I have to hand it to Lydia. She's got more moves than a cat inside an engine block."
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
Have fun. And, of course, live by the Golden Rule.
R.K Jackson is the author of the new book The Girl in the Maze.
Tell us a little bit about your new release, Sycamore Gap.
Sycamore Gap is the second in the series of DCI Ryan novels. The first, Holy Island, was a UK Number 1 bestseller on Amazon and was also based in beautiful Northumberland, which is my home county. This second book showcases Hadrian’s Wall country and sees the return of the main protagonist, DCI Ryan, and his team. After a traumatic time, he believes he has left the past behind him, but when the skeleton of a young woman is found inside one of the most iconic spots on Hadrian’s Wall, he is forced to step up and face some of his personal demons in order to piece together her past and find her killer. The story is another fast-paced whodunnit with plenty of humour to carry along the darker sides to the mystery.
Who are your literary heroes? Why do they inspire you?
There are so many authors I have enjoyed over the years, almost too many to count! If I were pressed, I would say that I admire different elements in each. For example, Nora Roberts, who writes bestselling romantic suspense, has a unique capability of pinpointing and writing stories which people enjoy reading - they’re like cat nip! Similarly, I very much enjoyed Val McDermid’s series of Tony Hill detective novels, for her psychological insights into the minds of her characters as well as the killer. As a girl, I loved reading sweeping adventure novels such as The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye or The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas. In their own ways, each of these literary giants have inspired me to try to inject some adventure into the mysteries I’m weaving.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
In life, the best advice I’ve ever received was to try never to harbour regrets. Life is both long and, paradoxically, short. That being the case, try to grasp it with both hands and then you’ll never find yourself in a rocking chair one day, wishing that you had done more with the time you were given. In making a career change from the legal world to writing novels, I’ve tried to apply this advice - it’s working out so far!
Say you have an afternoon to yourself, and you can pick any place to be and any activity. Where would you go and what would you do?
That’s a tough question! There are times when I love nothing more than to be in the hustle and bustle of London, maybe sitting with a strong coffee and a gigantic slab of cake. But, nothing beats sitting on Bamburgh beach in Northumberland, which has a long stretch of golden sand, overlooked by a magnificent castle with panoramic views out to the North Sea. On a balmy afternoon, there’s nothing better than wrapping up against the wind and going for a bracing walk along that beach followed by something sugary and calorific at the nearby cafe!
Which books are currently on your nightstand?
How to Train Your Toddler! I have an energetic two-year-old son and I need all the help I can get! Aside from that, I’m hoping to find time to read Go Set a Watchman.
Say you're hosting a dinner party and can invite anyone in the world, alive or dead, fictional or real. Who's coming to dinner?
My husband - he can cook, he makes me laugh and he ain’t bad to look at, either! Perhaps Arthur Conan-Doyle and Stephen Fry, too.
What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?
Aside from my son, who is a breath of fresh air, I really do love to read. Often, I’ll listen to music while reading, so I tend to associate certain songs with books I’ve read. I have always loved the feeling of being transported into your own imagination and any writer who makes it possible should be commended!
What's your favorite line from Sycamore Gap?
My favourite line is taken from a scene between DCI Ryan and his nemesis, a serial killer known as The Hacker. The killer is goading him from a position of relative power, having already been incarcerated for previous crimes:
“You wonder ‘how’ and ‘why’, brooding about it until you can’t sleep and you can’t eat, but the answers lie inside you; you have only to look into a mirror. The mind is its own place, Ryan, and it can make a Heav’n of hell, a hell of Heav’n."
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
I don’t ascribe to any particular religion, but I do agree with the general idea that you should treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself. I try to live a decent life, with integrity, even if that means confronting things while others sit on the fence. It’s a personality thing, I suppose: some people tend towards apathy, but I’m certainly not one of them.
LJ Ross is the author of the new book Sycamore Gap.
I've been on the hunt for books like Gone Girl ever since I finished Gillian Flynn's bestselling book. Luckily, 2015 has been kind to those of us who love Gillian Flynn books and are always looking for books to read with a similar appeal. Our list of books like Gone Girl contain solely new releases. All of these books came out sometime in 2015!
Books like Gone Girl: New Releases for 2015
The Girl in the Maze
R.K. Jackson
R.K. Jackson is a debut author with a similar appeal to Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins. The Girl in the Maze is a psychological suspense novel in a Southern Gothic setting. It features a female protaginist caught in a perfect storm of circumstances wherein she must fight for survival. Readers looking for books like Gone Girl will love the plot twists and psychological aspects of this thriller.
If your favorite part of Gone Girl was the twisted romance and slow uncovering of dark secrets, pick up The Betrayal by Laura Elliot. The prominent theme is the degradation of lust into a dangerous (and potentially violent) obsession. You'll love this one if you're looking for themes of twisted depravity classic to books like Gone Girl.
One of the main things I want in books like Gone Girl: plenty of twists and turns in the plot that I don't see coming. Mary Kubica's new book Pretty Baby gives fans of Gillian Flynn books the roller-coaster ride we so crave. Pretty Baby is a psychological thriller that starts with a chance encounter - not the RomCom kind where you bump into a cute guy a get married four chapters later - the kind with secrets and criminals and terrifying moments.
The relationship between Nick and Amy Dunne is a fascinating one because each partner is constantly questioning whether they truly know each other. Fans of Gone Girl will find similar themes in The Good Neighbor, a new psychological suspense book from A.J. Banner. It's a fast-paced page turner of domestic drama. If you're looking for books like Gone Girl and love Liane Moriarty's books, pick up The Good Neighbor.
If Gone Girl's smart prose and gripping plot drew you in, you'll love In a Dark, Dark Wood. It's a slow burn of a novel - think more gradual teasing out of plot points than nonstop action. This literary debut from Ruth Ware is a true psychological suspense perfect for people who love Gillian Flynn books.
David Bell's mystery novel is the closest to classic suspense on this list, but fear not - there are plenty of psychological elements and plot twists for readers who want books like Gone Girl. Somebody I Used to Know blends domestic drama with beautiful suspense, dark mystery, and gripping prose.
If you loved to despise Amy Dunne's sociopathic behavior, The Kind Worth Killing is for you. Peter Swanson's new book is a story of warring sociopaths. It's a twisted tale, full of coldblooded acts and whirlwind games of cat and mouse.
My love for Mindy Kaling's books (and... just Mindy Kaling overall) has already been discussed on this blog. The new Mindy Kaling book Why Not Me is out today, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I'm reading it throughout the day today (as an aside, best job ever, am I right?) and will be adding my commentary and favorite moments herein.
10:36 AM - morning checklist is done. IT IS TIME TO MINDY.
Item number one: flip through and read all of the chapter headings. I need to see what I'm in for, after all, and plan which chapters to live blog.
10:37 AM - these chapter headings are hilarious.
As if I expected anything else from Mindy Kaling's new book. One of my favorite parts about Mindy Kaling's writing: her smart observational wit. That humor shines in her brief (and brilliant) chapter headings, including:
Mindy Lahiri, MD, Everygirl, Mild Sociopath
Mindy Lahiri is the protagonist in The Mindy Project, in case you currently and formerly inhabit a living space that is comfortably ensconced beneath a rock. What a beautiful description of Mindy Lahiri.
4.a.m. Worries
If I'm awake at 4 a.m. I'm probably a) so sleepy that I am prone to bursting into tears with no warning whatsoever or b) on my way to the airport to catch a flight. I'm almost definitely worried about something in either situation. Apt, Mindy.
How to Look Spectacular: A Starlet's Confessions
I imagine this involves lots of Spanx and creams that I can't afford (also photoshop), but I still definitely need this information.
A Perfect Courtship in My Alternate Life
What an icebreaker question for anyone brave enough to enter the world of online dating.
11:01 AM - I'm starting with the 'How to Look Spectacular' chapter. Because I can. Also it's the first one in my list.
This is off to a good start.
I am telling you, the key to looking gorgeous is to never sit up straight. It implied you have not eaten enough to have the strength to sit like a regular person, which historically is sexy to everyone.
Accurate. Funny. Oh, how fancy (and also slightly ridiculous, but SO FANCY) do celebrity editorial photos look when starlets are artfully slumped on vintage chaise lounges? And the subtle dig at society's obsession with thinness and adoration of a waifish figure. Love.
Okay. Moving on, because I'm getting too into this chapter and I have to go to a meeting, but I'm so excited that this is social commentary and not a laundry list of things to buy for red carpet premiers.
12:23 PM - meeting is over, which means MORE OF MINDY'S BOOK.
I need to know what I should bring to Mindy's dinner party in the event that all of my dreams come true and I am invited to such a spectacular event. Apparently stories and hot sauce. I can handle that.
1:03 PM - moving on to the section on Mindy Lahiri, MD.
All of that talk about dinner parties in this gem of a Mindy Kaling book made me hungry. But now it's back to work, which means time to read a chapter from the 'work' section of Mindy Kaling's new book. Namely, Mindy Lahiri, MD, Everygirl, Mild Sociopath.
Mindy not-so-gently reminds us that she is not the same person as her character. Mindy Lahiri is fiction. Mindy Lahiri would, as Kaling states, "flirt with a fireman while he was fighting a fire and be miffed she doesn't have his undivided attention." Mindy Kaling would not.
Man, that'd be a funny scene.
1:35 PM - now for the fun part - the dating section.
The first chapter is called Soup Snakes. Obviously that's about her relationship with BJ Novak. I'm going to read that one last. I do what I want. But in preparation for you reading the book yourself, look at the amazing book trailer Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak made together for BJ Novak's book One More Thing:
Soup Snakes will have to wait. The chapter called A Perfectly Reasonable Request, wherein Mindy describes the kind of guy she wants to date (a good guy who is a feminist who will go glamping with you in Montana and supports your dreams) is making me swoony. It's totally a reasonable request.
But I'm skipping to the chapter called A Perfect Courtship in my Alternate Life.
You'll have to read Mindy Kaling's book to find out what her 'perfect courtship' is (I'll give you a teaser - it involves a NYC fictional version of Mindy as a Latin teacher at the Dalton school). Here's mine: I'm an American expat on an alpaca farm in the Andes mountains. On one of my daily alpaca hikes (I'm assuming that's a thing alpaca farmers do, having done no research whatsoever), a somewhat rugged quinoa farmer crosses my path. I soon discover he's from San Francisco - he escaped the Silicon Valley hustle to live a peaceful mountain life. We bond over how much we love ceviche, the little things we miss about America, and how cute it is that Gus (my favorite alpaca) loves to steal his quinoa. Bam. Perfect courtship in my alternate life.
1:51 PM - I should get back to work.
Technically this IS work, but my to-do list is staring at me. Menacingly. Stop it, to-do list, you're the worst. I'm sorry for saying that. You aren't the worst. Please forgive me.
Karen Robards is the queen of sensational thrilling romances, she's been captivating audiences for over 30 years. Her new suspense novel, The Last Time I Saw Her, is the last book in the Dr. Charlotte Jones series, which chronicles the life of a criminal pathologist who can't seem to get away from supernatural spirits.
Fans of Kathy Reichs & Jonathan Kellerman will love Karen Robards newest book, The Last Time I Saw Her. Enter to win a copy below!
In this world, Dr. Charlotte “Charlie” Stone skillfully probes the twisted minds of incarcerated serial killers to better understand what makes them tick, and to help nab those who remain at large. But in the next world, Charlotte’s ghostly lover—convicted killer Michael Garland—is facing death yet again. It seem the only way Charlie can snatch Michael from the jaws of oblivion is by proving his innocence. And this dead man’s dead ringer may just be the key.
You can't miss this captivating final installment in the Dr. Charlotte Jones series.
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff is one of the buzziest and best new fiction books out this week. You'll get caught up in this tempestuous tale of emotion and partnerships.
It's no secret, we love Janet Evanovich. Check out her latest book, co-authored with Lee Goldberg, The Scam. It's certainly on the top of our books to read pile!
