The Girl on the Train Audiobook Review: Paula Hawkins's Thriller

The London Commuter Thriller That Benefited from Gone Girl Momentum

Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train (2015) benefited enormously from the Gone Girl marketing wave — "next Gone Girl" was the dominant promotion. The audiobook uses three narrators for three first-person POVs (Rachel, Anna, Megan). At 10 hours 59 minutes, it's a more accessible thriller listen than Gone Girl.

Short answer: Good thriller, not quite Gone Girl level. Multi-narrator format works well. Rachel's alcoholic narrator is compelling. London commuter setting distinguishes it. 10h 59m runtime is manageable.

What the Book Is About

Setting: London suburbs. Rachel's daily commuter train passes a house where she watches a couple ("Jason and Jess"). She's alcoholic + obsessed.

Plot: The woman Rachel watches ("Jess" — actually Megan) goes missing. Rachel convinces herself she's a witness but blackout drinking complicates her testimony. The investigation unfolds through three perspectives: Rachel's, Megan's, Anna's (the new wife of Rachel's ex-husband Tom).

Multi-Narrator Approach

Clare Corbett (Rachel): Distinctive, slurred-but-precise voice for the alcoholic protagonist. Most screen time.

Louise Brealey (Anna): Anna is Rachel's ex's new wife. Brealey voice is colder, more controlled.

India Fisher (Megan): Megan's backstory journal entries. Younger, less stable.

Three-voice approach gives each character distinctive identity without gimmickry.

Compared to Gone Girl

Gone Girl is more sophisticated. Girl on the Train is more accessible. Both essential within post-2010 thriller era.

Who Should Listen

Strong fit:

• Thriller readers who found Gone Girl but want lighter
• Commuter listeners (aptly)
• London setting enjoyers
• Multi-POV narrative fans

Less ideal:

• Readers needing completely reliable narrators (Rachel is impaired)
• Those wanting fast pacing (this builds)
• Commuter listeners triggered by drinking/addiction content

Themes

• Alcoholism + unreliable memory
• Observation + obsession
• Marriage dynamics + infidelity
• Female friendships + betrayal
• Identity + perception

Content Warnings

• Alcoholism + addiction depicted in detail
• Domestic violence
• Missing persons + death
• Adult language + situations

Pros and Cons

Pros: Multi-narrator matches POV structure, London commuter setting fresh, alcoholic protagonist is uncommon, accessible length, 10h 59m is manageable, British thriller tradition

Cons: Not Gone Girl level, Anna character feels underdeveloped, twist less effective than peer thrillers, alcohol content triggering for some, predictability in final act

FAQ

Hawkins's other books? Into the Water, A Slow Fire Burning. Less successful than Girl on the Train.

Film? 2016 Emily Blunt adaptation (moved to NY). OK adaptation.

How similar to Gone Girl? Same genre. Different tone. Girl on the Train is warmer, less cruel.

UK vs US edition? Minor differences. UK original.

Recommended alternate for same genre? The Silent Patient (Michaelides).

Bottom Line

The Girl on the Train is a competent post-Gone-Girl thriller. Multi-narrator audiobook format works well. 10h 59m is accessible.

Our rating: 4.6/5 — Docked for not reaching Gone Girl's heights and underdeveloped Anna character. Within commuter thriller audiobook category, solid.

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