One sentence summary
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is a gripping psychological thriller about a young woman who witnesses a shocking crime and becomes ensnared in the investigation.
Book genre
Psychological thriller
Main topic of the book
The Girl on the Train is a gripping psychological thriller about a woman named Rachel who witnesses a disturbing crime and is drawn into an investigation with catastrophic consequences.
Key ideas
- The only witness – Rachel, the protagonist of the book, is the only person who sees the crime and is involuntarily ensnared in the investigation. Despite her struggle to stay out of trouble, she finds herself becoming more and more deeply involved.
- A tangled web – Through flashbacks, Rachel untangles the complex relationships between the other characters, uncovering motives and exploring the dark secrets of those involved.
- The power of perception – Rachel’s experiences are shaped by her own perception of herself and her environment, and her interpretation of the events around her has drastic consequences on her own life.
- The truth is not always what it seems – Rachel is not always a reliable narrator and the events she recounts often have a different meaning than she initially believes.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
- Part One: The Accident – Rachel witnesses a shocking event from the window of her commuter train. Despite not being sure of exactly what she has seen, she makes the decision to tell the police. As she is the only witness, she is immediately thrust into the center of the investigation.
- Part Two: The Investigation – Rachel is drawn ever deeper into the investigation, slowly untangling the complex relationships between the other characters and slowly uncovering the dark secrets of those involved. With the police watching her every move, she finds her own life in danger.
- Part Three: The Truth – Rachel finally pieces together the truth behind the crime, but a shocking revelation awaits her as well. Despite being the only witness to the crime, she discovers that the truth is far from what she initially believed.
Key takeaways
- Rachel is the only witness to a shocking crime.
- The investigation forces her to untangle a web of lies and deceit.
- The truth is never clear-cut and Rachel must come to terms with her own perception of events.
- When the truth is finally revealed, Rachel learns that nothing is what it seems.
Author’s background and qualifications
Paula Hawkins is a British author, best known for her bestselling psychological thriller, The Girl on the Train. She is a graduate of Oxford University, and before turning to writing full-time, she worked as a journalist. Her other works include Into the Water and The Passenger.
Target audience
The Girl on the Train is a psychological thriller intended for readers aged 16 and above.
Publisher and first publication date
The Girl on the Train was first published in 2015 by Transworld Publishers.