‘Girl on the Train’: A thrilling whodunit

'The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins is everywhere - book blogs, magazines and on bookstore shelves - right now. It's not surprising since it's debut follows other successful psychological thrillers like 'Gone Girl,” which left readers wanting more of the page-turning drama and suspense.

Rachel is recently divorced, unemployed and drunk. She rides the train every day in London so that her roommate will think she is still going to her job. On the train she watches for her old street and her old house to appear along the tracks. She hopes for glimpses of her ex-husband and the new family he has created in their old home. She also watches the neighboring house, and it's occupants - who she has named Jess and Jason - so she can live vicariously through their morning coffee chats on the patio. She imagines their life and feels like they are friends, even they have never met. Then, one morning, Rachel witnesses something on Jess and Jason's patio and Jess, whose real name is Megan, goes missing. Will what Rachel saw help find her or will she be written off as a crazy, unreliable drunk?

Hawkins writes the story from the perspective of the three women - Rachel, Anna (Rachel's ex husband's new wife) and Megan. Readers get inside their heads and understand the reasons behind the mistakes they continue to make. Hawkins does a fine job of leading you through their lives that led up to the night Megan goes missing all the way to the thrilling conclusion of finding out her killer without giving anything away. Fans of suspense and thrilling murder mysteries will find this book enjoyable, even with the deeply depressing characters.

Still, I found it hard to relate to or care about the characters. They were all so completely depressing and flawed that I became bored with them. Rachel's daily whining and drinking, Anna (her ex-husband's wife) and her irrational fears of Rachel and Jess/Megan's selfish behaviors. They really were a messed up bunch of gals and their self-pity was frustrating. This book isn't one to draw you out of a mid-winter funk. Reading about depressing people makes you want to stay in bed with a glass of wine as well.

Once Megan goes missing, the story picks up. After many leads, the reader will be guessing until the end, which is thrilling.

Don't expect a happy ending, but it will leave you breathless and bit hopeful.

l Read more at SincerelyStacie.com