Book #37: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Number of pages: 323
I had read about this book, which sounded something like "Rear Window" on a train, which was what influenced me to read it.
It starts with the central character, Rachel, taking her everyday train into work and observing people on the train and people who she sees out of the window, as well as a mysterious pile of clothes on the track. She takes an interest in one particular couple, until a few chapters in when it is revealed that the girlfriend, Megan, has gone missing.
Rachel immediately assumes the mantle of detective and starts her own investigation, getting close to Megan's boyfriend Scott by lying about who she is. It does become apparent early on that Rachel is not perfect; she is a recovering alcoholic, who had a bad breakup with her husband Tom. Tom's new wife Anna clearly hates her, and there is also the issue that she had a blackout the night that Megan disappeared, and suddenly Tom and Anna were angry at her, and she has no idea why.
I loved the narrative style of the book, written mostly in the present tense, in the form of memoirs and from the point of view, of Rachel, Megan and Anna; the point of view alternates throughout the book, and occasionally moves back and forth in the timeline (Megan's chapters are all told in flashback, not too surprisingly).
I liked seeing the world through Rachel's eyes, and then seeing her from the point of view of Anna. It was a good way of giving the characters personality and making me care for Rachel, Megan and (eventually) Anna.
I loved the way that the book kept me guessing, and I found it gripping right to the end.
Next book: Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad