Introduce yourself to the mystery/thriller genre with a riveting novel about a woman, a train, and a host of psychological issues.

“The Girl on The Train”—an entertaining, quick read—follows Rachel Watson, a woman who has struggled with severe alcoholism ever since she discovered her husband of five years was involved with another woman. The story begins two years later and revolves around Rachel’s obsession with a couple she sees from her train window each day during her commute.

The couple (Megan and Scott) represents everything Rachel dreamed she and her husband would be, but it is later revealed that the couple has issues of their own.

When Megan goes missing, Rachel pulls herself into the investigation, believing she has information the police do not. Through this “ordinary sort of threat” (as author Paula Hawkins describes) characters heal and new information is constantly revealed.

Rachel learns more about herself, constantly asking questions of herself and others. Her interrogations might at first seem aggravating, but it also gives a fresh perspective with which the story would otherwise be incomplete.

Rachel’s constant questioning melds well with the action and suspense that are maintained throughout the 323 pages. Suspense is preserved through author Paula Hawkins’ ability to only give readers enough information to keep them wanting more.

I appreciated the smooth transitions between the narrations of Rachel, Megan and Anna (the woman to whom Rachel’s ex-husband is now married) and the flashbacks each of the narrators told.

Hawkins’ portrayal of real characters in an unnervingly real world is what kept my attention the most. The simple fact that I was unable to fully trust any of the narrator’s stories kept me attentive.

And I wasn’t the first person to view the book in such a positive light.

According to The Guardian newspaper, “The Girl on The Train” “[sat] in the top spot in Nielsen BookScan’s hardback fiction charts 20 [consecutive] weeks, the longest stretch since the book sales monitor’s records began.”

“The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown is the only adult book that has spent more time in a number one spot in the UK, sitting atop paperback charts for 65 weeks.

“To see ‘The Girl on the Train’ breaking records and achieving quite this level of success is a true testament to the exceptional talent of Paula Hawkins and the intoxicating novel she has written,” Sarah Adams, Paula Hawkins’ editor, said.

Perhaps some of Hawkins’ success deals with her willingness to explore darker topics: “I find writing the darker side, writing tragedy, a lot easier than writing happiness. Happiness is just less psychologically compelling.”

While happiness might be less psychologically compelling, I didn’t enjoy the excessive adultery discussed. For the host of issues each character faced, none of the characters voiced their concerns about the negative morals surrounding their infidelity.

However, if you can move past the constant infidelity in the novel and don’t mind being caught inside a fictional world for six hours, pick up this book immediately. Don’t let yourself miss this book.

As Rachel Watson said, “it’s possible to miss what you never had, to mourn for it.”