So the first book I finished in 2015 is the gripping, twisty, clever, nail-biting mystery that is being advertised as ‘the next Gone Girl‘. Whether it will have that kind of success or not (the film rights have already been bought) I don’t know or care, I just enjoyed the experience of reading this very well-written thriller.
The novel has three narrators and we see parts of the story from each perspective. The main narrative follows Rachel, a thirty-something alcoholic who can’t get over her ex-husband. Not wanting to tell her roommate that she’s been fired from her job she still takes the 8.04 train every day into London where she drinks in the park or hangs out in the library. One of the houses the train passes on her journey into town captures her interest and she looks for the inhabitants, whom she has mythologized in her mind as the perfect couple, every time the train goes by.
As her drinking gets worse she antagonizes her ex-husband and his new wife to the point of hatred (on their part) and frustrates her roommate. Then one Saturday night she blacks out and can’t remember where she went or what she did except for vague flashes of falling and of fighting. When the wife of her perfect couple goes missing on the same day Rachel wonders if her missing memories hold the key to solving the woman’s disappearance.
Like all good thrillers, this novel has many layers so I don’t want to say too much about the plot as part of the fun of the story is peeling back the layers for yourself. It is not as dark or gleefully twisted as Gone Girl (which is just fine by me) but still holds the reader in thrall in a most delicious way. I wouldn’t suggest this for fans of Gone Girl – I’d suggest it for anyone who likes complex, highly suspenseful novels, unreliable narrators and page-turning puzzlement.
A Certain Fondness 
You’re the second blogger I’ve seen who’s enjoyed this. I do like the sound of it I think I will have to keep it in mind when I am in the mood for a thriller.
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It’s a very good thriller – one of the best of the genre.
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This one does sound compelling. Murder By the Book here in Houston, my favorite bookstore, has been recommending this one as well.
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It’s getting lots of buzz here in the library world too. Many, many holds on it so far – I’m glad I was able to read a review copy or who knows when I’d have gotten to it!
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I’m really looking forward to reading this one. I’m glad to see your comments about it in relation to the Gone Girl comparisons. I’ve only seen the movie, but overall I thought that story was just okay and will be more than happy if this one has a different tone to it.
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The tone is very different, I thought. There are sympathetic characters and it just isn’t as dark. It also has a much nicer ending.
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This one sounds so good! I am getting it based on your recommendation. I need something fun to read. Hope you’re enjoying the new year!
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I hope you like it, Sunday! It is definitely a page-turner and an absorbing read. I hope you are also enjoying 2015.
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It’s been interesting to see the different opinions on this one! I appreciate you not revealing too much, since it seems like this would be a book that might be best to know very little about before jumping in.
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Very much so! I think the NYT went too far with how much they revealed and it spoiled it a bit for me – I didn’t want to do the same.
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Unreliable narrators always appeal to me. Hopefully I can read it before the film comes out and spoils the surprise (she says, as the only person in the world who hasn’t read Gone Girl yet).
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You haven’t read Gone Girl??? Just kidding, it is not to everyone’s taste. 🙂
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Having just finished this (and needing to review it) I can also say it is a book worth reading. It’s different to Gone Girl in ,any ways, but actually I enoyed the unreliability of the characters and it is certainly a page turner. So difficult to review perhaps without giving anything away!
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Very hard to not include spoilers! I also liked the unreliable narrators and was mesmerized by the twists.
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I have this ready to read; I love the comparisons to Gone Girl and it seems to be a hit so far. Glad you enjoyed it! Knowing you did, I’m ever more inclined to to get to it soon.
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It is going to be #1 on the NYT bestseller list this week!
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