Anna Fox lives alone—a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbors.
Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother, their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble—and its shocking secrets are laid bare.
What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems
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What can I say? I read it. I liked it, in places and in others I did not.
The book felt like something old. I have not seen Rear Window from start to finish, but I did watch Hitchcock’s movie after I have read the book. Yes, the book is an old story told in modern language.
Rear Window is all about suspense, love, devotion, betrayal and support. The main character, wounded photographer has a whole support network around him. He has people he can trust and who chan trust him unconditionally and support him all the way.
Reading The Woman in the Window I had a constant thought
If only she had someone who believed her unconditionally and supported her. A sort of ‘presumption of innocence’. In this case, ‘presumption of sanity and truth’
But the poor heroine did not have anyone. She did not have any friends. Her family was no longer with her. She pushed all the people away, even those she paid to look after herself. She was ‘ripe for the picking’. And picked on she was.
The suspence of the book is masterful. I enjoyed the turn of events and guessing game that goes with it. The inner reminiscence and ‘self-eating’ of the main heroine was a bit much in places. But I guess, I have not walked in her shoes… or drank her wine, so to speak
After finishing the book, I wanted to find a list of old movies that were mentioned in the book. Thanks to blogging world, I found just the thing. The New York Public Library Billy Parrott, Associate Director, Mid-Manhattan Library at 42nd Street offers us a list of Movies mentioned in the novel.
There are plenty more reviews of the novel. One worth mentioning is The New York Times, Jane Maslin The Woman in the Window review
In short, there is a woman in the window, there is a very bad person, a very wicked person, a lot of old movies, a lot of merlot drank and spilled, grief, loss and deception galore.
Have a read, if you dare
Svetlana Tishchenko 