Lies, Evil, and Thrill: The Woman in the Window- A.J. Finn

Source: Harper Collins Publishers

Have you ever felt you knew the true side to a person? To the point you fully believe who they are being to you is who they really are, somewhat good and pure maybe just a little lost. Especially, when life seems to be crumbling around you and that confidant is a positive element then suddenly that person blindsides you with their actual self, evil and a liar.

That it’s what happens to Anna Fox, the main character of A.J. Finns newest bestseller, The Woman in the Window. She is a red wine loving recluse with a hobby of spying on her very interesting neighbors. With her fur sidekick, and a degree in child psychology her interest in the child psyche is a powerful weapon when it comes to her clients, but it also caused her to attract the unwanted attention of one of the most manipulative and cruel people she will ever come across. For those of who have read the book know the tragic event that caused her to fear the outdoors and tries to find solace in a variety of deep red wines, and for those of you who want to read it and haven’t yet its the biggest twist of them all.

Anna is a troubled middle-aged woman who is trying to survive in a world she fears will be the death of her. Amongst her attempts to move on with her life she finds comfort in watching the lives of those around her through her Nikon D5500. Never really interacting with the subjects, she studies their movements and way of life. Besides watching her neighbors Anna regularly speaks to her husband and daughter, her husband always hesitant in the conversations try to amuse her with small talk but there is pain underlying the awkward conversations. She has a tenant she rents her basement too, a younger attractive promiscuous man named David who does manual labor and fixes things for a quick buck. He travels often but is never late on rent, he keeps to himself and has minimal belongings. However, David is not the man who turns her life upside down time and time again it’s the neighbor boy, Ethan, a young troubled boy with, what seemed, like distant parents. Anna, or should I say Dr. Fox finds herself to be protective and responsible for him. That is until he shows his true colors.

I won’t give every detail away, in respect for those of you who want to read it. However, over the course of the book, I found it difficult to set down, like the king of thrill and horror states, Stephen King, “it’s unputdownable”. I believe the underlying theme of the book lies in the relationship between Anna and with her husband, Ed, and daughter, Livvy. She claims they are separated and he refuses to let her see her daughter, but as the reader, I wondered why would a man who’s positives qualities she raved about then revokes her visitation rights. Plus they talk quite often and always seem civil, even in the awkward silence. The idea of a women begging to see her daughter and knowing she couldn’t, even if it wasn’t for her newborn phobias, but having to fight through her once most trusted ally in the war that is life. Sadness is a disease and it is killing her from the inside out.

10/10 would totally recommend to anyone looking for a thrill and a real mind twisting good read!