Gillian ___, author of "Sharp Objects"

FLYNN

This writer also penned the bestselling thriller Gone Girl, which was adapted into a hit film by David Fincher. Her dark, psychological storytelling often explores complex female characters.

This clue asks for the last name of Gillian Flynn, the author best known for the psychological thriller Sharp Objects. It’s a straightforward definition clue with no wordplay—just fill in the blank with the writer’s surname. If you’ve read the book or seen the HBO adaptation, her name should come to mind easily. The answer is simply "FLYNN."