A psychological thriller that transcends the depths of addiction, domestic violence and obsession to recall a tale of deadly passion and murder, “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins will hook and entice readers with its journey into the minds of three struggling, entwined women.

Out of desire for routine and longing for the peaceful life that had been ripped away from her by her ex-husband’s affair, 32-year-old alcoholic Rachel Watson travels back and forth by train every day to escape the grieving prison inside her gin-riddled mind. During each journey,  she spots a particular couple–whom she names Jason and Jess–on the terrace of their home spending time together, and she enjoys watching them as she passes. The ritual becomes so familiar and comforting that she feels as if she truly knows the family.

One day while peering out the window, she spies what she believes to be Jess having an affair with another man. When Jess goes missing not long after, Rachel sets out on a quest for information to help solve the case and is forced to confront her past and the memories of the night Jess disappeared.

Hawkins was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and her extraordinary diction reflects it. Before transitioning into fiction, she worked as a journalist for “The Times” and reported on business. Therefore, while some of the jargon and slang used in the story will need some getting used to, most confusion can be clarified by following context clues.

The structure of the novel is quite unique and provides for a heightened sleuthing element the reader can have fun following along with. Chapters vary by narrator, beginning with Rachel on the train and transitioning to Megan Hipwell, the woman whom Rachel names Jess who is unhappily married to Scott Hipwell and becomes attracted to the therapist who helps her in moving past her depression and anxiety. Between the couple pops Anna Watson, the mistress of Rachel’s ex-husband Tom whom he has a child with. She harbors a hatred for Rachel for her obsessive tendencies with Tom, as well as an alleged kidnapping fiasco. This organization is engaging and smartly placed, allowing for easy access to the various twists and turns that provide friction for Rachel as she searches her mind for Megan Hipwell. As the story grows more complicated and the lives of the three women intermix, similarities in their personalities surface more clearly and subtle patterns are detectable in their thoughts.

However, this distinguishable feature can also lead to confusion if the reader is not careful. Though the point of view per chapter is labeled, as the characters meet and their lives run together, some scenes can be difficult to keep up with, before and after Jess is given her proper name.

What truly stands out about “The Girl on the Train” is its exploration of alcohol and substance abuse as well as marital violence and the desolation the death of a loved one can leave behind. Each woman experiences their own tragedy that ties their life to that of the others, and the journey readers are taken on through their thoughts and how they separately perceive the world while sober or intoxicated, isolated or free, angry or afraid, is an eye-opening shift. It provides for character development not only among the women of the novel but of readers as well.

This novel is essential for thrill seekers and mystery-solvers alike. DreamWorks Pictures recently began production on a film adaptation of the book. Both reading this story and seeing the movie are highly encouraged. “The Girl on the Train” will not only change your perception of the controversial topics covered, but your world view on the dark beauties and tragedies of life itself.