The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn Book Review.

Hi Readers! I didn’t think I would be back with a review so soon, but thanks to A.J. Finn’s ‘The Woman in the Window, here I am! I came to this party really late as this book was published in 2018 & created quite the hype since then. I finally got the book & it took me just 2 days to complete it! Usually my reviews are well-thought & detailed, but just this once I am going to keep it short, because in no way am I going to give out any spoilers!

~~GOODREADS DESCRIPTION~~

Anna Fox lives alone, a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbors.

Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother and their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble and its shocking secrets are laid bare.

What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems.

~~OVERALL THOUGHTS~~

~~Perfectly Flawed Main Character~~

The main character, Dr. Anna Fox is a child psychologist who herself suffers from agoraphobia. She has been living in the borders of her huge house, drinking a lot of wine, popping random pills & just being the perfectly flawed main character that is required for such a story. She is so convincing that when she believes something, she makes the reader believe it too. I fell for that many times, but then I started to understand her well to know better. Against all logic & hope, the reader wants her story to be true. It is a bit of a trend in thrillers to show a depressed woman with a drinking & drugs problem as a victim, but hey, as long as the rest is good, I am not going to mind.

~~Fast-Paced Story~~

The first 30% of the story is pretty slow. It goes on in setting the foundation for the characters & placing hints for the rest of the plot. But, the remaining of the book is fast-paced & it becomes almost impossible to keep it down. Initially, I thought there was not a lot of merit to the story. Anna sees a woman getting stabbed in her neighbourhood, but then no one believes her because she is a drunk who takes pills that can cause hallucinations. So, I thought, it can’t only be about whether that woman is stabbed or not. And to my luck, it isn’t. There are a lot of ups & downs after that. A lot of unpredictable things happen & I was on the edge of my seat when those things are revealed. As promised, no spoilers!

~~Modern Writing Style~~

When I started this book, before even getting introduced to all the thrill, I noticed something. A.J. Finn is a talented writer. I have always loved how men can get into the mindset of women & write novels from women’s standpoint. He has done it really well. Also, the writing is extremely funny at times. Early on, I understood how grounded & self-aware the author is. All the mentions about him or her & overlooked patriarchal terms are simply witty. This amazing combination was really refreshing while reading a thriller.

Like most mystery thriller novels, this one had some common things or similarities, but I chose to overlook them because I was completely caught up in the story. If you are planning to read this novel, do it now. You really are missing out!

~~CONCLUSION~~

The Woman in the Window is one of the best thrillers I have read in a while. It was definitely a step up after reading predictable thrillers like The Silent Patient or The Guest List. This novel might not be as adventurous as a few others, but there are a lot of elements of surprise. The portrayal of Anna Fox throughout the novel is brilliant. I liked the built-up mystery surrounding her neighbours ‘ The Russels. The aspect of a psychologist facing mental challenges was compelling & written with precision & empathy. The story could be told in about 10 sentences, but all the mystery created with a bunch of ups & downs till the end was such a pleasurable experience to read! I have rated it at 4/5!

Until next time,