The Woman in the Window
by A.J. Finn
by A.J. Finn
This one started off a little slow for me - I was comparing it immediately to The Girl on the Train with the voyeurism and alcohol usage. But trust me, once you get about half way in to this one, you will not be able to put it down.
Yes, there are some obvious and previous used-to-death plot points here. Hold out though because the second half is totally worth the ride. There were a few surprises I did not see coming to help balance out the obvious ones. Anna Fox is housebound and has been for 10 months following the break up of her marriage and a traumatic experience. She is also a doctor - a psychologist. Ironic.
The action happens over a three week period. I like how the author (who I will be following now, this is quite the debut!) separates the story into what happens each day between October 24 and November 15. The reader gets a feel for Anna's days, her schedule, her fear of outside and finally we learn why open spaces are debilitating for her. Meanwhile, she has it all worked out. Her therapist and her trainer come to her, as do her meals and her meds. Lots of meds.
So one day when she is spying on her neighbors, she witnesses something she shouldn't have. And she decides to tell, but no one believes the crazy lady who never leaves her house. Always in a bathrobe and hardly ever showered, Anna begins to doubt herself. How much wine did she have? Which meds did she take double of and which ones did she forget to take at all? So much becomes a blur. She finds some solace in helping other people on an online message board, which makes her feel useful. And she meets the new neighbors across the street, which only adds to her angst when she witnesses what she thinks is a murder.
Very well written, even if the subject is familiar. Anna's fascination with films, esp film noir, gives the author some fun with movie quotes and Anna's dry humor. I'd give this five stars but for the overused plot, but points for originality with the ending.
Yes, there are some obvious and previous used-to-death plot points here. Hold out though because the second half is totally worth the ride. There were a few surprises I did not see coming to help balance out the obvious ones. Anna Fox is housebound and has been for 10 months following the break up of her marriage and a traumatic experience. She is also a doctor - a psychologist. Ironic.
The action happens over a three week period. I like how the author (who I will be following now, this is quite the debut!) separates the story into what happens each day between October 24 and November 15. The reader gets a feel for Anna's days, her schedule, her fear of outside and finally we learn why open spaces are debilitating for her. Meanwhile, she has it all worked out. Her therapist and her trainer come to her, as do her meals and her meds. Lots of meds.
So one day when she is spying on her neighbors, she witnesses something she shouldn't have. And she decides to tell, but no one believes the crazy lady who never leaves her house. Always in a bathrobe and hardly ever showered, Anna begins to doubt herself. How much wine did she have? Which meds did she take double of and which ones did she forget to take at all? So much becomes a blur. She finds some solace in helping other people on an online message board, which makes her feel useful. And she meets the new neighbors across the street, which only adds to her angst when she witnesses what she thinks is a murder.
Very well written, even if the subject is familiar. Anna's fascination with films, esp film noir, gives the author some fun with movie quotes and Anna's dry humor. I'd give this five stars but for the overused plot, but points for originality with the ending.
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