Psychological thrillers have always been one of my favourite genres, and The Girl on the Train had been recommended to me countless times before I finally picked it up. Having heard so much about its twists and unreliable narrator, I went in with high expectations – and I’m pleased to say it didn’t disappoint.
The Girl on the Train had been sitting on my TBR for quite some time, and I’m so glad I finally gave it a chance. It’s one of those books that immediately pulls you in and keeps you questioning everything you think you know.
What I enjoyed most was the use of an unreliable narrator. Rachel’s struggles with alcohol mean that both the other characters, and the reader, are never quite sure whether her memories can be trusted. Every time she tried to piece together the events surrounding Megan’s disappearance, I found myself wondering whether I should believe her or dismiss her account entirely. That constant uncertainty created an underlying tension that kept me turning the pages.
Rather than becoming frustrating, Rachel’s unreliable perspective became one of the book’s greatest strengths. Watching her slowly separate fact from distorted memories made the mystery even more compelling. As more pieces of the puzzle fell into place, it became clear that the details she struggled to remember were far more significant than they first appeared. By the time everything came together, her testimony proved crucial to the investigation, making the ending feel both satisfying and cleverly earned.
Paula Hawkins also does an excellent job of creating morally complex characters. Very few people in the novel are entirely likeable, but I think that’s exactly what makes the story feel so realistic. Every character has flaws, hidden motives, and secrets they would rather keep buried. Just when I thought I’d worked someone out, another revelation completely changed my perspective.
The pacing is another highlight. The multiple perspectives kept the story movign and gradually revealed different pieced of the mystery without giving too much away. I constantly found myself reading “just one more chapter” before realising I’d read far more than I’d intended. In fact, this became one of those books that kept me awake far later than planned because I simply had to know what happened next.
If I had one criticism, it’s that the middle section occasionally slowed down as some events were revisited from different viewpoints. While I understand this was necessary to build the suspense and show how differently each character interpreted events, there were moments where I wanted the investigation to move forward a little more quickly. Thankfully, the final act more than made up for the slower pace with a series of well-executed reveals.
One thing I particularly appreciated was how the novel challenged me as a reader. Rather than passively following the story, I was constantly reassessing my assumptions and trying to work out who could actually be trusted. It’s rare to find a thriller that keeps you questioning your own judgement until the very end, and that’s something I’ll remember long after finishing the book.
It’s easy to see why The Girl on the Train became such a huge bestseller. The combination of psychological suspense, unreliable narration, and cleverly layered storytelling makes for an addictive read that keeps you guessing until the final chapters.
This has become one of my favourite psychological thrillers and has definitely encouraged me to read more of Paul Hawkins’ work. If her other novels are anything like this one, they’ll certainly be finding their way onto my reading list.
Have you read The Girl on the Train? I’d love to know whether you guessed the ending or if the twists caught you by surprise. And if you’ve read any of Paula Hawkins’ other books, let me know which one I should pick up next!
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