The Woman in the Window

The Woman in the Window

By A.J. Finn

There is a new sub-genre that seems to be gaining popularity. Domestic thrillers. Recent titles that would fit this description are The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl, and The Woman in Cabin 10.  Add to that list-

The Woman in the Window. (there seems to be a feminine theme with the titles here.)  :) The main character has severe agoraphobia. This is defined as a disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiety in situations where the person perceives the environment to be unsafe with no easy way to get away. These situations can include open spaces, public transit, shopping malls, or simply being outside the home. 

After a traumatic incident,which I won't spoil for you here, Anna spends her days inside watching her neighbors, watching her collection of Hitchcock DVDs, taking pills,  and drinking wine. A new neighbor helps her out and comes inside to spend some time. This one night only friendship ends quickly when Anna witnesses something horrible while looking in her neighbors house. Her new friend is murdered, but is it really what she thought she saw? A meeting the next day has her being called crazy, and introduced to someone who says she is "that" woman, but Anna knows the lady is obviously an imposter. She does have a fascination with film noir, so did she imagine everything? The P.O.V. character goes back and forth between present day, and describing the incident from the past which all becomes clear at the end. This book is filled with a cast of neighbors, her tenant in the basement, and all of the people who assist her in her day to day life. So, lots of suspects.  It was suspenseful and felt like the Alfred Hitchcock movies, and I could not put it down!! I loved the old thriller movie references and the quotes! I did not guess the ending (which is always an awesome surprise in books like these) This was a great read! This book is found in the Adult Fiction section at the library.