The Women In The Window by AJ Finn tells a captivating tale of a unique female protagonist whose inquisitive/nosey tendencies have her witness an event that leads to a cruel obsession. The main character, Anna, suffers from agoraphobia due to the aftermath of an unspeakable trauma. Because of this, our protagonists life takes a turn for the worst; an estranged relationship with her husband and young daughter, forced to put her career on what may seem to be an indefinite hold as a child psychologist and the simple fact that she cannot fathom to leave her house due to the crippling agony of a newly unfamiliar outside world.
The novel is quite compelling beyond words; a real page turner that you surely will finish in a few days. AJ Finn’s writing style is irresistible due to the suspenseful narrative. This is the type of book you will be raving about to every and anyone. The reader is taken on a whirl wind of emotions, but most importantly given hope via sympathy for our female lead and an infatuation with the astounding twists that lead to the downfall of a character that you are undoubtedly rooting for.
The most universal trope I discovered whilst on this journey was how we all find a way to mask our troubles. Whether it be an excessive amount of wine like Anna who has given up on the “my life is so perfect front”, or similar destructive tendencies, our darkest secrets and insecurities inevitably are eating us up on the inside.
It is evident that the author has a deep love for film noir and he flawlessly incorporates quotes from notable old time movies that are explicitly relevant to Anna’s situation. The uncanny similarity genuinely shows the depth of knowledge the author has for the psychological thriller genre. He has successfully segued his love for noir flawlessly as the author sports a similar style to the revival of the thriller genreThe author also sports a similar style to the revival of the thriller genre, such as the movie Gone Girl and the novel The Girl On the Train.
Interestingly enough, I was shocked to realize that the author was a male instead of a female. He not only digs deep into the mind of a woman, but his point of view is almost unmistakable as a woman’s thought process. Just like the many misconceptions that become notable throughout the novel, the authors real name is in fact Dan Mallory and not AJ Finn. It is evident that the author uses AJ as a pseudo name to trick us into believing from the get go that the novel is written by a female.
Although our protagonist Anna’s life may seem dismal and seemingly boring as an alcoholic recluse who spies on her neighbors, her character is validated via the emotional journey we are subjected to. The book may drag at times, but take solace in knowing that it surely picks up and you will not regret spending your free time reading this brilliant novel.
-Maiya Papaya
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