Book Review: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

I am not a fan of suspense, thrillers. The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins (Random House India) is a suspense thriller, and I loved it! Because it’s different. Not just typical tensed, dark,  packed with unending action.

Rachel’s life is perfectly imperfect! She is alcoholic, and creates mess; her flatmate resents her habits and may evict her someday soon; she is jobless, seeking a loan from her mother; she is divorced yet hovering around her ex-husband and his new wife and baby. Obviously, it irks them to no end.

Rachel takes the same train every morning that stops at the same signal every day, overlooking a stretch of suburban residential area, allowing her to watch the life of a couple living in one of those cozy homes. Gradually, she starts to feel connected to them as if she knows them. For Rachel, they are Jess and Jason, a perfectly happy couple.

But of course they are not Jess and Jason.

One day she sees something when the train passes by the area. It is just a flash but disturbs her terribly. And then, one day, a striking piece of news exacerbates her disturbance. Her life upends and she inexplicably finds herself involved, deep.

Although, the story of The Girl on the Train is a suspense thriller, it doesn't feel so. It feels a cozy drama about family, marriage and love. The story advances interestingly. With a tormenting memory-loss and psychological tricks, it unravels strikingly chapter by chapter that keeps you going, playing the guessing game.

The writing is clean, skilful and cleaver. The book is written in diary form, from different points of view. Chapters are arranged intelligently. Characters are flawed yet nicely sketched.

Just, some really short chapters seem insignificant, making the read repetitive.

Overall, for me it was an impressive read. Interestingly gripping! Something you can call unputdownable! Highly recommended to every book-lover. And, if you like psychological suspense thrillers, it’s a must read!

Looking forward to the author's next book.

I got this review copy from the publisher for an honest review.