“She wasn’t a loving wife. She wasn’t even a good person. She was a liar, a cheat. She was a killer.” Page 208
Title: The Girl on the Train
Author: Paula Hawkins
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Transworld Publishers
Published: January 2015
Pages: 316
The Girl on the Train follows Rachel – an alcoholic since her split from her cheating husband – as she tries to cope with her ruined life that seems to become more and more pathetic. Her only solace is bought from watching a couple in their garden as she travels via train to London every morning, imagining them to be the perfect couple, until she sees something that completely morphs her perception of her happy couple. Then the female counterpart, Megan, goes missing.
Thanks to her alcoholism causing her to suffer blackouts, and the paranoia of her ex-husband’s new wife, Rachel becomes a suspect. And as much as you do not want Rachel to be the villain of this tale, it is extremely difficult not to believe it.
This novel is unpredictable and that is what makes it so good
This book is intense, compelling and a real page-turner, as a good thriller should be. Paula Hawkins’ writing is clever and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The interchanging perspectives of Rachel and Megan, and the addition of another’s closer to the conclusion, causes answers you thought you had to be warped into incomprehensible theories. This novel is unpredictable and that is what makes it so good.
Although there are characters you hate, they do not diminish the quality of the book – all the characters are necessary, even if you want to jump into their reality and pummel them for their thoughts and reactions. That being said, there are definitely characters that you want to know more about, Rachel being one of them. Each character has their own flaw, whilst Rachel’s is obvious given it is the motivation behind the progression of the story, others are less predictable, but the fact that they all have one may seem impractical and a little too dramatic, even though it doesn’t hinder the book’s quality.
Her interactions with her killer do not give the impression that they know each other; not even in a subtle way
Sometimes thrillers can seem repetitive, but the simplicity of character traits and relationships makes the story flow smoothly and realistically whilst the plot twists keep you captivated and encourages you to read on. Honestly, I have never read a novel that has stirred up so many different emotions.
Despite the spectacle surrounding this book, there is a missing aspect. Typically in a mysterious thriller when the answer is revealed, if you re-read the book the answer appears obvious or clues events all point towards the killer, however this book is missing that, especially considering half the novel is told from Megan’s perspective. Her interactions with her killer do not give the impression that they know each other; not even in a subtle way. That is what stops this book from being a 10 out of 10.
The Girl on the Train is an exciting thriller that you will want to read over and over again and is simply one of the best of the modern generation
Furthermore, an annoying yet clever missing detail is the killer’s back-story. Their motive is revealed and is crystal clear, however, there is more to the killer that we find out, but in order to understand why they are the way they are, a back-story is needed but is not given. One word: frustrating!
The Girl on the Train is an exciting thriller that you will want to read over and over again and is simply one of the best of the modern generation. A train journey will never be the same again. Happy reading!
9/10
Jessica Millott
