Book Review: The Girl On The Train!

“One for sorrow, two for joy, Three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, Seven for a secret never to be told, Eight for a kiss, nine for a wish, Ten for a bird, you must not miss.” The Girl On The Train begins with this traditional children’s nursery rhyme, which has its roots back to old English superstitions connected to the magpie birds. It keeps the reader reeled in to figure out the mystery right from the beginning.

I read this book when I was the girl on the train (get it? :P) This fast paced mystery starts with a wrenching narrative by the protagonist, Rachel Watson. Set in the city of London, the story revolves around the 3 principle characters Rachel, Anna and Megan. A daily commuter from and to the London city via the Victorian suburbia, Rachel observes a seemingly young and happy couple, residents of one of the houses facing the train tracks, whom she feels are perfect and have all that she wishes for.

Every day it is the same until one day, it isn’t. The picturesque life that Rachel imagines is shattered one day with a shocking revelation. It is up to Rachel now, filled with dread, bruises and self-doubt to find out all the answers amidst the sensation and pressure. The protagonist is thoroughly engrossing and extremely flawed, making her very relatable. The author built the plot and the characters in the book in a raw and real way. The Girl on the train takes the reader through a dark and emotional ride and screeches to a rough halt. The reader is put through a range of intense emotions as the plot unveils. Being a physiological thriller, this book is true to its description. The book plays a lot of tricks and games on the reader’s mind with its gritty narration and complicated characters. This edge of the seat thriller puts the reader through a roller coaster and keeps them guessing till the very end.