logo

51 pages 1 hour read

Paula Hawkins

The Girl On The Train

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2015

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins follows Rachel Watson, an alcohol-dependent woman, who becomes embroiled in a missing persons investigation after observing suspicious activities during her daily train commute. The story is narrated from the perspectives of three women: Rachel, Megan Hipwell, and Anna Watson, each revealing their intertwined lives and secrets against a backdrop of suburban drama and mystery.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Reviews for Paula Hawkins' The Girl on the Train highlight its gripping plot and complex characters, with many praising its page-turning suspense. However, some critics find the narrative structure, with shifting perspectives, occasionally disorienting. Despite mixed feelings about character likability, the novel’s psychological depth and unexpected twists are widely appreciated.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Girl On The Train?

Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators and intricate plots will relish The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. Ideal for fans of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl or A.J. Finn’s The Woman in the Window, it’s perfect for those who appreciate suspenseful mysteries and complex character studies.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years