The Grownup

This was a stand-alone story that I happened upon while browsing at the library -- it originally came out of an anthology called Rogues, but has since been published solo. It is classic Flynn. She sets the scene so well, introducing us to a nameless bu savvy narrator who is a con artist. She grew up begging with her Mom so learned all the angles to hit a mark. Now she does sexual favors and reads auras. When rich suburban mom Susan Burke comes to her for psychic advice the narrator obliges, seeing her future take off with more "respectable" work -- cleansing houses of bad mojo. Susan lives in an old restored Victorian with her darling biological son, Jack and her broody creepy stepson, Miles. Her husband is absent -- presumably show more traveling for work to fund the lavish lifestyle. The narrator believes she is conning Susan, wiping down various rooms in the house with rosemary and sage, but the house starts to weigh on her. Moreover Miles shows up intermittently though he should be in school and speaks in cryptic threatening messages. Things reach a boiling point and in typical Flynn fashion all at once we are questioning who is conning whom. The ending is completely unexpected if a little sardonic and tongue-in-cheek, but a great quick ghost story you won't regret. show less

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn is a twisted tale featuring a haunted house, a beleaguered family and a grifter who dabbles as both a psychic and a sex worker. The grifter, seeing easy pickings, agrees to help “clean’” the house spiritually but soon realizes that this job requires much more than she can provide. The terrified mother believes a malevolent presence has taken control of her stepson and that they are all in danger.

The author builds the suspense to a nice level and then totally turns the story around leaving us not knowing who or what to fear. Is the stepson with his disturbing manner possessed? Or could this be a hoax set up by the stepmom? In guessing where the evil truly comes from, has the grifter met her match and show more will she escape?

Infused with the author’s witty black humor, The Grownup is a fun and dark short story that is intense and squirm inducing. show less

“Money is wasted on the rich.”

This is a short story by Gillian Flynn, the mastermind behind Gone Girl (one of my all-time favorite books!). This main character of this 64-page quick read is a young woman who fakes reading auras and fortunes. Things get creepy when a wealthy client, Susan Burke, asks for help with her supposedly haunted house. As the narrator dives deeper, she gets caught in a whirlwind of spooky events and psychological twists that make you question what's real.

I'm not usually into short stories, but because I loved Gone Girl so much, I gave this one a go. Honestly, it just confirmed that short stories aren’t my thing. Flynn’s sharp writing and twisted plots are there, but the story felt too off and brief to be show more satisfying.

It started off pretty good, drawing me in with its intriguing setup and dark humor. But, it got weird—fast. The mix of supernatural and psychological stuff got confusing, and the story ended so abruptly I was left thinking, "WTH???".

Gone Girl is on my all-time favorites list. Sharp Objects was solid too, getting 3.75 stars from me. This was a big step down for me. I hope the next book I read by her reverses the downward trend so I don't have to reconsider my fandom!

Even if you like short stories, this one has had mixed reviews. Some people appreciate the clever twistiness, while others (like me) found it lacking. If you’re a big Flynn fan, it’s worth a quick read for her signature style, but if you’re iffy on short stories or looking for something meatier, this one might not do it for you. show less

Bueno, esto fue divertido y Gillian Flynn es una maldita genio.

Un cuento corto en el que tomas los tropos del terror y los tuercen para lograr un final perfecto. Cada persona, cada decisión, cada elemento está ahí para volar tu cabeza, y me encanta. Si bien, no es perfecto, se gana una estrella adicional porque maneja el suspenso con un grado de humor que se me hizo muy entretenido e inusual, y con eso ya me tenía en la bolsa.

Flynn es una autora a la que debes seguir y este pequeño cuento lo demuestra.

Wow, what a creepy story. In Flynn fashion, this short story is snarky, psychological, and throws you for a loop more than once. I wish this was a full novel - I was so into the story and then it was over! My biggest complaint is the main character is just so overdone. I couldn't find anything remotely accessible or relatable about her, which really bothered me. Maybe in a longer story she'd have time to grow on me, but who knows. Overall, I enjoyed the story and it is a great reminder of the dark and disturbing Flynn does so well.

Super quick, super weird, and super fun. I read this lil' baby book over my lunch break and i thoroughly enjoyed it. Upgraded from giving hand jobs in the back of the psychic/tarot reading/palmistry shop our protagonist becomes an aura interpreter making up stuff about people's "auras." It may not be glamorous but it pays the bills and it's saving her from the carpel tunnel setting in from years of handies. One day a smart, wealthy woman comes in with a real dilemma. The house is haunted, her stepson is acting weird and please oh please would she come look at it and see if she can fix the houses' aura? The story takes some unexpected turns and leaves the reader wondering, where does the evil really lie? A fun read.

In just a few pages, Flynn takes all the tropes of the classic ghost story and subverts them. She gives us a terrific narrator who could certainly carry a full-length novel; a weird and creepy house; a weird and creepy kid; a heavy dose of unreliability; a nifty twist; and an ambiguous ending. I enjoyed it! This story could easily have been expanded--I would have eaten it right up.

Originally published as "What Do You Do" in the anthology Rogues.