“Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn (Crown, $25)

In more than 20 years of reviewing books, I’ve never found one harder to write about than Gillian Flynn’s new suspense novel, “Gone Girl.” So marvelously, intricately plotted is Flynn’s novel that I can’t tell you much about it without giving something away.

The story, full of midnight-black wit and gorgeous writing, revolves around the deteriorating marriage of Nick and Amy Dunne, who’ve come back to Nick’s hometown of North Carthage, Mo., from New York City after he loses his longtime magazine job and their finances fall apart.

Nick tells the tale, and readers will get the notion early on that he’s the textbook definition of “unreliable narrator” — he’s so glib, good at half-truths and weak of character, it’s easy to understand why he’s the chief suspect when Amy goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary. But was she kidnapped or did she leave voluntarily? And does “glib” equal “murderer”?

About halfway through the book, something happens that will change everything you think you’ve decided based on what you’ve read to that point.

That’s the moment you should check the clock and firmly put the book down if you have to rise early the next day. Because trust me, if you keep reading, you will not stop till you finish it.