Book Review: The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins - A sensational debut novel!

  The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins is a poignant, cleverly narrated psychological thriller told through the point of view of the three female protagonists.  It's cleverly executed with many twists and turns, a heart wrenching back story and a varied and believable cast of characters.


Rachel, infertile, divorced and an alcoholic makes the same train journey daily past her old marital home, where her ex husband lives with his new wife and child to her job in London that she was sacked from months before.  Daily

the train stops at an intersection that allows her a view of her old home, but instead of looking at it Rachel views instead the house along the road and the couple who live in it.  Her drunken viewpoint makes her see them through rose coloured spectacles until one day when her illusions are dashed.
Megan lives down the road from Rachel's ex marital home with her husband who desperately wants a child.  Megan has secrets that she wants to keep from her husband until one day when she can hide her secrets no more.
Anna lives in Rachel's old home with Rachel's ex husband

and their baby.  Her life would be perfect if she could move away from the trains and if the drunken Rachel didn't keep intruding and then something tragic happens and the three women are set on a collision course that will change their lives forever.
This is Paula Hawkin's debut novel and it is fantastic - she's going to have her work cut out to top it with her second but with her storytelling talent I'm sure she will.  The Girl On The Train is compelling and exciting.  It had me on the edge of my seat as Hawkins dropped juicy little clues along the way

keeping me hooked.  Her characters felt real to me - they had faults which made them feel true to life.  She kept the story moving along and when the three women's paths converged it created a dynamite ending.  Definitely recommended to fans of the psychological thriller!