Review: The Woman in the Window

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Note: This book will often read like a memoir of sorts, a tribute to almost all hitchcockian films and not. So fair warning, if you've never read them or only got a glimpse.

Another Note: The movie's date has been switched to May 2020. Damn it. But still excited anyway.

This novel is definitely more surprising and terrific than my lovely wife. But nothing more could be more disturbing than that novel, hands down..

But let's go.

The cover -Love the mysterious, entrenched in the shadows cover. Gives off such a nerve-wracking vibe, makes me shiver everywhere, as if someone's watching..

*looks behind* Hello?..

Anyway..

The cover definitely deserves a star.

The storyline itself - The woman in question is a recluse - an agoraphobic who spends her days drinking a lot of wine, watching 1930s-1960s movies, thinking about happier days, and spying on other neighbours.

Already you got a Rear Window vibe. (Please let me know if you actually know about the film.) The only difference was the poor guy had an injury, she's generally an agoraphobic. But otherwise same idea. The other characters are the Russells, who've recently moved in and have a teenage son, who's almost an introvert and a bit of recluse like her, around my age (and blond too, hehe). Then one fine, completely normal evening, she witnesses a murder of the woman next door. And she sets out to find the killer herself when the police refuse to believe her -1. An agoraphobic. 2. She drinks too much.

You've already got me colored curious, because of the agoraphobic fact, also the old movies tributes, and the teenage son, who's a recluse in a way (strange, considering boys my age usually are anything but introverts or stay at home younguns.) Plus the family doesn't seem to be as perfect or loving or complete as they may show.

Definitely some intrigue and Sherlock Holmes vibes flash in my mind, just reading the summary in general. And what better way to spook yourself at night, then read this amazing as fuck thriller? So definitely deserves a star.

The characters - There are so many people to mistrust, judge in general. Everyone's got a secret. Everyone's got a past they don't want to visit. And there is a lot of evidence circling around, but who ever believed a drunk woman? The family may seem perfect, but surely if they were, her curiosity wouldn't have looked over a lot, a passing glance would have been just fine. So the shady natures and secretive personalities would definitely add more intrigue and curiosity over how the mystery would be solved and who's telling the truth and not. Definitely something to think about. A star is in order as well.

The start of the story- Way too slow I felt, and sometimes even lagging, when we're getting flashbacks of the woman's life. I felt the author could have removed at least 100 pages or maybe more just to be more brief and still curious about her life, and even more sympathising. So yeah hence why I had to remove the one star.

The mystery, the ending -The mystery as I already told you before, is more than just who-dun-it and rather who's willing to come clean with their tainted past and admit the truth, and at the same time clear all the prejudgements and mistrust lingering around with all of the characters and the mystery in general.

The ending was definitely a plot-twist in itself. Unexpected but definitely not left disappointed. The last person you would ever suspect. And what a way to find the killer, and quick thinking on the woman's part was definitely appreciated and cheered for, by the stands here heh. So yeah definitely you will not be left disappointed by the ending or the mystery in general.

So a really great novel despite the slow start.

PS: The songs I would recommend are: Cheap Wine by The Vamps (for her drinking). Boy by Charlie Puth. (You'll know who it's about if you've read it, no spoilers, thanks!).

PPS: The hitchcockian film tributes are also something of a motivator if you enjoy references to classic movies, the old hollywood gold mine of movies.

Until the next read,

-J.B

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