The Woman in the Window: The breakout first novel by A. J. Finn

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Tagline: "It isn't paranoia if it's really happening."

 

A Must Read Thriller

Even before The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn was published, the movie rights as well as foreign rights in multiple countries were sold. The success is completely deserved. It’s a brilliantly written novel, a spell-binding tale of love, loss and madness.

Thirty-eight-year-old Anna Fox lives alone in an expensive uptown Manhattan home. Fox is agoraphobic and has not left home in nearly a year. She habitually spends her time peering out her window, spying on her neighbors while drinking a great deal of wine, mostly Merlot. Anna also watches endless black-and-white movie classics. “Gaslight” and “Strangers on a Train” are among her favorites.

Anna is separated from her husband, and the husband has custody of their 8-year-old daughter. She talks to them by phone and begs her husband to return. Anna Fox is a child psychologist, but only advises a few patients by email. Mostly she lives a solitary existence with her wine, her movies, and time spent peering out her window spying on her neighbors.

Enter Ethan Russell, a 16-year-old neighbor. He arrives with a gift from his mother. Anna subsequently meets Ethan's mother Jane, and his father Paul. That's when the plot really kicks in.

The Russells are a troubled family. Ethan infers his father is violent toward him and his mother. Anna decides to spy on the family using her binoculars to learn more. One day she witnesses what she believes is an act of violence, and reports it to the police.

The police investigate, but are unable to substantiate Anna's claims. The police assume Anna’s excessive wine consumption, along with the many prescription drugs she takes have impaired her judgment. Not to be deterred, Fox continues to spy on her neighbors the Russells, and dark deeds soon unfold.

The Woman in the Window is a gripping psychological suspense thriller, still on The New York Times Bestseller list after 26 weeks, at number four.