The Grownup: A Story by the Author of Gone Girl
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Gillian Flynn’s Edgar Award-winning homage to the classic ghost story, published for the first time as a standalone.
A canny young woman is struggling to survive by perpetrating various levels of mostly harmless fraud. On a rainy April morning, she is reading auras at Spiritual Palms when Susan Burke walks in. A keen observer of human behavior, our unnamed narrator immediately diagnoses beautiful, rich Susan as an unhappy woman eager to give her lovely life a drama injection. However, when the "psychic" visits the eerie Victorian home that has been the source of Susan’s terror and grief, she realizes she may not have to pretend to believe in ghosts anymore. Miles, Susan’s teenage stepson, doesn’t help matters with his disturbing manner and grisly imagination. The three are soon locked in a chilling battle to discover where the evil truly lurks and what, if anything, can be done to escape it.
“The Grownup,” which originally appeared as “What Do You Do?” in George R. R. Martin’s Rogues anthology, proves once again that Gillian Flynn is one of the world’s most original and skilled voices in fiction.
A canny young woman is struggling to survive by perpetrating various levels of mostly harmless fraud. On a rainy April morning, she is reading auras at Spiritual Palms when Susan Burke walks in. A keen observer of human behavior, our unnamed narrator immediately diagnoses beautiful, rich Susan as an unhappy woman eager to give her lovely life a drama injection. However, when the "psychic" visits the eerie Victorian home that has been the source of Susan’s terror and grief, she realizes she may not have to pretend to believe in ghosts anymore. Miles, Susan’s teenage stepson, doesn’t help matters with his disturbing manner and grisly imagination. The three are soon locked in a chilling battle to discover where the evil truly lurks and what, if anything, can be done to escape it.
“The Grownup,” which originally appeared as “What Do You Do?” in George R. R. Martin’s Rogues anthology, proves once again that Gillian Flynn is one of the world’s most original and skilled voices in fiction.
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Readers say this quick, roughly one-hour read showcases Gillian Flynn’s trademark dark humor, suspense, and morally complex female narrator. Many appr...
This was a bonus from Book of the Month and what a story! There are so many twists and turns in this tiny book, that the ending left me asking what the heck just happened here? It's not confusing, it's just laser fast. Loved it! Now I need to read more Gillian Flynn.
4.5/5 stars
I think this was a really well thought out and smart story. It left me feeling curious and a little unsettled.
It was just a complete whirlwind of emotions. The story started off slower and more character driven. The unnamed narrator was an interesting POV. She was raised with very questionable morals, but it was interesting to follow her train of thought, especially when studying human behavior.
BUT THEN the story takes a huge turn and turns into a complete ghost story with mysterious elements.
I understand why it has a lower rating, because the pacing was kind of weird... but I found it to be a great quick little book full of creeps and mystery.
I think this was a really well thought out and smart story. It left me feeling curious and a little unsettled.
It was just a complete whirlwind of emotions. The story started off slower and more character driven. The unnamed narrator was an interesting POV. She was raised with very questionable morals, but it was interesting to follow her train of thought, especially when studying human behavior.
BUT THEN the story takes a huge turn and turns into a complete ghost story with mysterious elements.
I understand why it has a lower rating, because the pacing was kind of weird... but I found it to be a great quick little book full of creeps and mystery.
This was a fun short story! I loved the random ghost story thriller part. The ending was a bit lame but I mean it’s a super short story can’t really get into a lot here. Also the beginning was so random but yeah. Pretty good.
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