The Girl on the Train—Guest reviewer Kristin Wroblewski-Retar

My guest reviewer, Kristin, is an avid reader and my "go-to" person for great reads. She's helped me to go beyond my usual YA reading habits and has not failed me yet. Here is her review for a book we both devoured.

The Girl on the Train 

The Girl on the Train, a taut thriller worth the time.

When you take a long trip, whether by train or

plane, the mind wanders. You might find yourself

thinking about family or work or watching other

passengers making up scenarios about their lives

based on just what you see.

This is the opening of The Girl on the Train. 

Rachel travels from her home to her job in London on the same

train, day in and day out. As the train rattles its

way down the track past well-appointed houses Rachel

creates scenarios based on what she sees out the

window.

It is while stopped at a signal thats she looks into

one house in particular every day. She names the people she sees

"Jess and Jason." 

Rachel imagines their life is perfect, even as her own life is rapidly falling apart.

One day, while at the signal, Rachel sees something

shocking. It happens fast, but Rachel is sure of

what she saw so she shares everything with police.

However, the deeper the reader goes, the more

unreliable the narrative becomes. The reader

discovers early on that the characters are not likable.

They all have very little, if any redeeming

qualities and this is what keeps the reader coming

back for more. The inquisitive reader wants to know

to what depths these characters will sink.

The unreliable narrative is an often underused or even

misused device in an author's arsenal. Paula Hawkins

has elevated this narrative from the likes of Gillian

Flynn and her novel Gone Girl. The ending will even leave

you much more satisfied. 

The Girl on the Train is a spectacular debut that will leave you thinking about

it long after it is finished.

Kristin Wroblewski-Retar is a stay at home mom to her

daughter Addison. She has a degree in English from the

Ohio State University, is married to her husband Brian,

has two step sons, and a cat named George. She lives in Ohio.