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Mary KubicaA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Gone Girl. Gillian Flynn. Ballantine Books 2014.
By the end of its first year of publication, this novel sold over two million copies in print and digital editions. It cemented the trend of 21st-century domestic noir as a popular subgenre. Like The Other Mrs., Flynn’s psychological thriller uses an unreliable narrator to take the reader through a maze of cliffhangers, red herrings, foreshadowing, and plot twists. Also recommended in the film version released in 2014 and directed by David Fincher.
Gilbert, Sophie. “Why Men Pretend to Be Women to Sell Thrillers” The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2017.
This non-academic magazine article explores the role of gender in producing and selling domestic noir novels. It approaches the concept of gender from a different angle, complementing discussions of female protagonists.
Philips, Deborah. “Gaslighting: Domestic Noir and the Narratives of Coercive Control,” Women: A Cultural Review. 32:2, pp. 140-160.
This academic, peer-reviewed article is accessible to the general public and situates the emerging domestic noir subgenre within its historical context while considering the specific focus and purpose of this female-driven literature.
By Mary Kubica