<p>Gillian Flynn, the author of the thriller <i>Gone Girl</i>, the biggest literary phenomenon of 2012, worked as a journalist and film critic for years, before turning to fiction. Her earlier books include <i>Sharp Objects</i>, which was shortlisted for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar for Best First Novel by an American Writer, and <i>Dark Places,</i> which was adapted into a 2015 feature film. Flynn wrote the screenplay for the 2014 adaptation of <i>Gone Girl</i>, which was directed by David Fincher.</p>