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Book Review of The Girl on the Train: A Novel

The Girl on the Train: A Novel
reviewed on + 1438 more book reviews


Terrific thriller! I had read no reviews of this one before I opened it to read and I didn't realize that it was a thriller. However, I found the key character, Rachel, a quite ordinary individual who has reached a dismal place in her life. Divorced, she turns to alcohol and loses her job because of her drinking. In short, she is an alcoholic.

To avoid her flatmate's discovery of the jobless state, Rachel takes the train every day into London as if she were going to work. She sits in a window seat and becomes fascinated by a couple she sees on their patio so often she feels she begins to know them and gives them names. One day she sees a strange man embracing the woman. When the woman disappears without a trace Rachel wonders what could have happened and becomes involved in the search for her. However, no matter what she finds who would believe an alcoholic who has blackouts. There is a twist to this story. Yes, I did determine what happened to the missing woman, and, in turn, why and who was involved. It's exciting and keeps the reader turning page after page. Rarely do I give a mystery/thriller five stars but since I couldn't put this one down I chose to do so. See if you like it as much as I did.