The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

source: personal copy
title: The Girl on the Train
author: Paula Hawkins (twitter)
pages: 323
genre: mystery/psychological thriller
published: 2015
first line: There is a pile of clothing on the side of the train tracks.
rated: 
4 out of 5 stars

blurb:
EVERY DAY THE SAME
Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

UNTIL TODAY
And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

my thoughts:
Today is the perfect day to sit at my computer and write up a post about my latest read. The snow is falling outside as Blizzard 2017 is in effect. I hope those in its path are staying safe and warm. Having a snow day, I’m home with my family, the crock-pot is on and there’s something to be said about staying cozy inside in your pajamas during the snow fall.

Onto my review….
Alternately narrated by three characters, Rachel, Megan and Anna, The Girl on the Train had me wondering from page one. Rachel is a thirty something alcoholic divorcee who is “the girl on the train”. Having lost her job a few months ago because of her drinking problem, she continues to take the train daily pretending she is going to work so that her roommate does not find out. She is somewhat obsessed with her ex-husband Tom who left her for another woman, Anna.

I close my eyes and let the darkness grow and spread until it morphs from a feeling of sadness into something worse: a memory, a flashback. I didn’t just ask him to call me back. I remember now, I was crying. I told him that I still loved him, that I always would.
p. 13, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Megan is an unhappily married housewife who suffered a traumatic event during her youth when her brother died and now as an adult has several affairs. These two women are their own worst enemies.
Anna is now married to Tom and they have a baby together. She detests Rachel who will only not stop calling and bothering Tom, but is also unstable and has been known to show up at the couple’s house.

I did not like any of the characters in this novel. That being said, I was hooked from page one as the story-line pulled me right in. Rachel is a great unreliable narrator, sometimes I felt bad for her, but other times she was just irritating. She is still in love with her ex-husband Tom and her drinking is out of control. I liked that as the story flowed, other characters tell you some truths about Rachel.

Megan is another one that had me shaking my head, one scene in particular concerning her past is very disturbing. The story pretty much centers around Rachel having seen Megan and her husband Scott while passing by their house on the train. Rachel makes up names for what she thinks is the perfect couple, until one day a murder occurs and she starts to somewhat obsess over it. In the midst of Rachel wanting to find out who dunnit, she is also really obsessed with Tom.
Anna and Tom are just awful. Anna who was “the other woman” is smug about stealing Rachel’s husband.

Being the other woman is a huge turn-on, there’s no point denying it; you’re the one he can’t help but betray his wife for, even though he loves her. That’s just how irresistible you are.
p.233, The Girl on the Train

Overall, a great read. It was hard to put down this book as I stood into the late hours reading trying to figure out who did what. I recommend it if you enjoy psychological thrillers and mysteries. I will be watching the film version next.

About the author:
Paula Hawkins worked as a journalist for fifteen years before turning her hand to fiction.

Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, Paula moved to London in 1989 and has lived there ever since. Her first thriller, The Girl on the Train, has been published in over forty languages, has been a No.1 bestseller around the world and is now a major motion picture starring Emily Blunt. Into the Water is her second thriller.

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Disclaimer: I did not receive any kind of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. I am under no obligation to write a positive review. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins was gifted to me. The photo in this post is my own and not to be removed from here.