Description

The Girl on the Train is a 2015 psychological thriller novel by British author Paula Hawkins that gives narratives from three different women about relationship troubles (caused by three coercive/controlling men) and, for the main protagonist, alcoholism.[1] The novel debuted in the number one spot on The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2015 list (print and e-book) dated 1 February 2015,[2] and remained in the top position for 13 consecutive weeks, until April 2015.[3] In January 2016 it became the #1 best-seller again for two weeks. Many reviews referred to the book as “the next Gone Girl“, referring to a popular 2012 psychological mystery, by author Gillian Flynn, with similar themes that used unreliable narrators.[4][5]

By early March, less than two months after its release, the novel had sold over one million copies,[6] and an additional half million by April.[7] It occupied the #1 spot of the UK hardback book chart for 20 weeks, the longest any book has ever held the top spot.[8] By early August, the book had sold more than three million copies in the U.S. alone, and, by October 2016, an estimated 20 million copies worldwide;[9] by 2021, the book had sold an estimated 23 million copies worldwide.[10] The audiobook edition, released by Books on Tape, was narrated by Clare Corbett, Louise Brealey and India Fisher. It won the 2016 Audie Award for “Audiobook of the Year”.[11][12]

The film rights were acquired before the book was published, in 2014, by DreamWorks Pictures for Marc Platt Productions.[13] The American film adaptation, starring Emily Blunt and directed by Tate Taylor, had its world premiere on 20 September 2016 in London[14] before it had its theatrical release in the United States on 7 October.