My first Flynn book was the acclaimed Gone Girl. And although Sharp Objects was good, it lacked the depth of mystery and intrigue the later book has. So much about the characters of Sharp Objects seems to just be there, sitting, as if we too have plopped into the middle of this Missouri town much like the detective did, without enough background to feel as much as we needed to feel. The mystery felt a bit forced on the reader–setting her up to see the outcome. The twist being too sudden, too obvious in hindsight, too contrived seeming to sit well with me.
It was still an enjoyable read. And seeing Flynn’s growth from first book to Gone Girl makes me eager for what else is in store