The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn (Mini Review)

Anna Fox is a housebound agoraphobic woman who watches the people in her neighborhood… Constantly self-medicating, her vision for all things is very hazy, yet she believes she witnesses the makings of a crime.

Anna lives alone after becoming separated from her husband. The only people who visit her regularly are her psychotherapist, her a physical therapist, and her tenant, who helps her with some household chores.  A therapist herself before becoming reclusive, she now spends her days helping others online who are also in her condition. But most of the time, she whiles away the day obsessing over the neighbors in a drunken/ pill-induced stupor.

Finn has written an exceptional thriller. He’s provided us with a narrator who is as unreliable as they come. She’s forgetful (esp in taking her medication), neurotic, and has periods of pure mania. The writing is strongest in its descriptions of Anna’s panic and in her dreamy drunkenness. One of my pet peeves is writing that tries to depict hallucinatory or half-conscious states. It is done well so rarely, but Finn achieves perfection in the streaming of the thoughts and emotions going through Anna’s head during the course of the day.

It seems there are dozens and dozens of thrillers released every month, and it’s easy for them to fall into that “ok” category, but The Woman in the Window is one that rises above the rest. If you enjoyed The Woman on the Train, you will probably like this one.

Filming on the movie adaptation of the book began on Aug 7th. Gary Oldman, Amy Adams, Brian Tyree Henry, and Julianne Moore are starring in the film that is to be released next October. I anticipate a quality flick.