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The Woman in the Window: The Number One Sunday Times bestselling debut psychological crime thriller now a major film on Netflix! Kindle Edition

4.1 out of 5 stars 132,263 ratings

Now a major film on Netflix starring Amy Adams, Gary Oldman and Julianne Moore

OVER 5 MILLION COPIES SOLD!

THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

‘Astounding. Thrilling. Amazing’ Gillian Flynn

‘One of those rare books that really is unputdownable’ Stephen King

'Twisted to the power of max' Val McDermid

‘A dark, twisty confection’ Ruth Ware

What did she see?

It’s been ten months since Anna Fox last left her home. Ten months during which she has haunted the rooms of her old New York house, lost in her memories, too terrified to step outside.

Anna’s lifeline to the real world is her window, where she sits, watching her neighbours. When the Russells move in, Anna is instantly drawn to them. A picture-perfect family, they are an echo of the life that was once hers.

But one evening, a scream rips across the silence, and Anna witnesses something horrifying. Now she must uncover the truth about what really happened. But if she does, will anyone believe her? And can she even trust herself?

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Review

‘Astounding. Thrilling. Lovely and amazing’ GILLIAN FLYNN

'Twisted to the power of max' VAL McDERMID

‘A dark, twisty confection’ RUTH WARE

‘One of those rare books that really is unputdownable’ STEPHEN KING

‘A tremendous new talent’ JANE HARPER

‘Amazing. Riveting. Just plain fantastic!’ TESS GERRITSEN

‘Smart, heart-wrenching―and really scary’ NICCI FRENCH

‘An elegant, beautifully written thriller’ JOANNA CANNON

‘Dense, brilliant and unforgettable’ JENNY COLGAN

‘I barely drew breath until I turned the final page’ LIZ NUGENT

‘Tense, twisty and SO beautifully written’ C.J. TUDOR

‘I was blown away’ JOE HILL

‘Dripping with suspense. Creaking with menace. Beautifully written’ SIMON TOYNE

From the Inside Flap

It isn't paranoia if it's really happening . . .

Anna Fox lives alone--a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her days 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.

--Crime By the Book

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B077PYJWZB
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 2 Jan. 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 465 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008292737
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 132,263 ratings

About the author

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A. J. Finn
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I'm A.J. Finn, author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW -- a debut novel published in more than forty languages worldwide. A film adaptation, starring Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, and Julianne Moore, was released in 2021, and topped Netflix charts around the globe in its first weekend.

I spent a decade working in publishing in both New York and London, with a particular emphasis on thrillers and mysteries. Now I write full-time, published in the English-speaking world by my former employers. THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW was inspired by a range of experiences: my love for suspense fiction, from the Sherlock Holmes stories I devoured as a kid to the crime novels I studied in graduate school; my interest in classic cinema, especially the films of Alfred Hitchcock; and my experience with bipolar depression.

While I value my privacy, I very much enjoy chatting with readers about books -- mine and others'! -- so please feel free to visit my Instagram page at @ajfinnbooks. And happy reading!

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
132,263 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this psychological thriller engaging, with plenty of twists and clever writing that makes it a holiday escapism read. The book features a strong protagonist and believable characters that readers connect with, while the research is detailed and keeps them guessing throughout. The pacing receives mixed reactions - while some praise the impeccable sense of pace, others find it slow to get going. Similarly, opinions on engagement are divided, with some saying it kept them interested all the way through while others found it boring.

755 customers mention ‘Readability’726 positive29 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an excellent debut novel that had them hooked after a few pages, making it a great holiday escapism type of read.

"Well this was an impressive read. An engaging premise, a strong protagonist with which the reader empathises with from the start and a story that is..." Read more

"...The book is a good read - fast-paced with 'clean' intertwined sub-plots that are easy to pick out until towards the end of the book, where a '..." Read more

"...By the end I was like, "well written, decent story, nice twist (even if I did predict it on this occasion)"...." Read more

"Wow, an utterly brilliant book, written with such style. Psychologist Anna Fox hasn't left her apartment for 10 months...." Read more

703 customers mention ‘Twists’592 positive111 negative

Customers enjoy the book's plot, which thickens with every chapter and features clever, unexpected twists.

"...The book has a midway twist that rivals "I Let You Go", scenes that could be straight out of a Hitchcock film and echoes of "The Girl on..." Read more

"...The book is a good read - fast-paced with 'clean' intertwined sub-plots that are easy to pick out until towards the end of the book, where a '..." Read more

"...By the end I was like, "well written, decent story, nice twist (even if I did predict it on this occasion)"...." Read more

"...There were quite a few surprises throughout, one in which really shocked me, however I don't want to give any spoilers away...." Read more

306 customers mention ‘Writing quality’258 positive48 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its clever and brilliant use of language that makes it more readable.

"...He balances flashbacks, scenes from the present day, dialogue and moments of intense drama perfectly. The writing is fluent, flawless and effortless...." Read more

"...The Russells - husband, wife and teenager - a picture perfect family. One evening, a scream pierces through the silent night...." Read more

"...A.J. Finn writes in a beautiful literary style that draws us into Anna's limited world until we don't know what to believe...." Read more

"...I was constantly wondering what was about to happen. The book was very easy to read and the short length of some of the chapters added to the..." Read more

144 customers mention ‘Character development’106 positive38 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them believable and relatable, with one customer noting they could visualize every character.

"Well this was an impressive read. An engaging premise, a strong protagonist with which the reader empathises with from the start and a story that is..." Read more

"...This was a really interesting angle and I liked Anna as a character and connected with her...." Read more

"...Delays in dramatic climaxes, 'unreliable narrators', characters not being what they seem, clues to the mystery dropped here and there, switches in..." Read more

"...There were enough characters to keep things interesting but not too many to get confused or messy, and I was reluctantly drawn in quite quickly into..." Read more

51 customers mention ‘Page turner’48 positive3 negative

Customers describe this book as a definite page turner that keeps readers hooked.

"...Difficult to put down at times, it’s a good, old fashioned page-turner that pays homage to the noir films of old made popular by the likes of..." Read more

"...A contemporary pulp classic. Hitchcockian crime for modern times. Original, creepy, addictive...." Read more

"...It’s the perfect holiday read. A fast paced, page turner which can be easily devoured in just a few sittings. A guilty pleasure." Read more

"I read this one in under a day and I enjoyed it. It’s a page turner for sure...." Read more

49 customers mention ‘Insight’37 positive12 negative

Customers find the book insightful and intriguing, with detailed research that keeps readers guessing throughout. One customer notes that the story becomes more engaging about halfway through.

"...scene depicting what Anna sees from her window is delivered with such acute attention to detail and with such an impeccable sense of pace, its..." Read more

"...The chapters were short, eerie and detailed. Unfortunately, a big OMG moment about 3/4 of the way through was a little disappointing for me...." Read more

"...lots of issues, so I feel the time devoted to her is merited and fascinating...." Read more

"...The book is choc-full of mystery-novel techniques...." Read more

143 customers mention ‘Boredom’45 positive98 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's pacing, with some saying it kept them interested all the way through and remained engaging until the end, while others found it boring and lost interest after the first few pages.

"...My next issue is around some clumsy writing and the repetition of a... let's call it a phrase...." Read more

"...This part is too drawn out. There is nothing exciting in watching people have dinner, go to work and watch television with the added weather report...." Read more

"...It's well-written, fast-paced, and it interested me enough to stop me skipping bits to get to the end. It's definitely a 5 star read!..." Read more

"trite. superficial. born for netflix." Read more

Full of twists! Absolutely gripping and suspenseful!
5 out of 5 stars
Full of twists! Absolutely gripping and suspenseful!
Right so I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did, from reading the blurb I thought it was gunna be sort of supernatural but it wasn't that, it was gripping, creepy, heart wrenching & beauttttttifully written!! There were so many twists that I just did not expect!! And the ending just WOW 🤯🤯🤯 I also really felt sorry for Anna throughout the whole book, she struggles with a few different things that I think most people have struggled with to and it plays on your heart! I'm simple rating this a 4* because for the first 60 pages or so I just wasn't feeling it and I thought I would hate the book but my god I'm so glad I kept reading, it was so worth it!!
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 January 2018
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Well this was an impressive read. An engaging premise, a strong protagonist with which the reader empathises with from the start and a story that is intense, full of suspense, confusion, terror and fear. The book has a midway twist that rivals "I Let You Go", scenes that could be straight out of a Hitchcock film and echoes of "The Girl on the Train". It takes unreliable narrator to a completely new level and the main character's emotional journey is one of such psychological depth it's impossible not become immersed in her plight.

    The protagonist, Anna Fox, hasn't left her home in ten months. Suffering from acute agoraphobia, she has become trapped inside her New York house, wandering amongst the dark rooms like some kind of ghost or unfocused blur in a camera frame. She watches the world from her window - or more importantly, she watches her neighbours. She has a camera and she takes pictures to help her remember what she's seeing. When a new family, the Russells, move in opposite Anna becomes fascinated by them. She watches the mother, the father and the son. A perfect family. It's a painful reminder of how broken her own family has become and the husband and daughter from whom she is separated while she 'fixes' herself.

    But while she watches the Russells, Anna begins to see that things aren't as perfect as they seem. One night there is a scream. And then she witnesses something terrifying.

    What follows is a gripping tale of fear, intimidation, suspense and tension.

    The writing in The Woman in the Window is very captivating. The atmosphere is oppressive and the sense of confinement and Anna's powerlessness to leave the house are vividly conveyed. This cleverly mirrors the prison Anna has built for herself emotionally and as the story continues, this more psychological entrapment is explored more fully and with accomplished prose. A J Finn has such a sound understanding of pace, maintaining tension throughout the novel. He balances flashbacks, scenes from the present day, dialogue and moments of intense drama perfectly. The writing is fluent, flawless and effortless. The key scene depicting what Anna sees from her window is delivered with such acute attention to detail and with such an impeccable sense of pace, its effect is breathtaking.

    Anna Fox is a very engaging and well constructed character. Her voice is strong and the reader becomes very attached to her from the outset. We see that she's flawed and complicated but this makes her more fascinating and more appealing. We see that she is broken but her fear of leaving the house is so palpable and so vividly captured it is impossible not to become caught up in her plight. We also see her interaction with her husband and daughter on the phone, revealing her vulnerable side which helps create understanding and empathy. The reader wants Anna to find her own family again and to overcome her debilitating illness. The reader wants to see her overcome her fears, confront her issues and most importantly, solve the mystery she saw through the window. The reader wants people to believe Anna and to help her see justice served to the anonymous perpetrator.

    Anna drinks too much. She takes too many prescription pills. But we still stay with her and even though we might begin to question her reliability, ultimately we still want to believe her. It's an interesting position to put the reader in and one that is very well executed.

    The most powerful moment in this novel is when suddenly, with one short revelation, everything changes. Nothing is what it seems anymore. When a writer creates this huge 'twist' successfully, there is no beating the excitement that generates for the reader. With this new information, the novel shifts from being a thriller - or a murder mystery - into something much more psychological. We know Anna drinks too much. We know she messes around with her medication. But had we considered just how unreliable or deluded she was as a narrator? I loved how the novel then plunged into something more intense, internal and dark.

    As Anna has to reassess everything she thought to be the truth, the reader also proceeds with more caution. There is a definite change in gear and the author seeps the story in confusion and complication. The writing captures the atmosphere of muddled thoughts, drunken daydreams, the blur between reality and the imagined, what Anna knows she has seen and done and what she's told herself she has seen and done. But never is the reader lost, nor are the main issues and threads of the storyline. The blend of thriller, domestic noir and psychological madness are blended with perfection and the result is gripping.

    I've probably said too much already and I am verging on revealing something that will spoil the book for others, but I have to say that this book is unforgettable and a real roller coaster of a read. It's sophisticated and yet very readable. It's so absorbing that it's as impossible to put the book down as it is for Anna to leave the house. The author takes a simple 'what if' moment and then tackles a range of challenging and emotive issues such as mental health, families, love and grief; all the while maintaining a high level of thrills and chills at every possible moment.

    There are influences of the gothic and the ghostly in this novel. There are influences from the classics and the contemporary. If you like Holly Seddon, Sarah Waters and Clare MacIntosh you will love this book. I am not surprised film rights have been sold as it is so visual and so vivid, so ominous, so chilling and so captivating. I will be first in the queue to watch it at the cinema and first in the queue for this author's next book!

    Fantastic premise, captivating characters and a plot line that will twirl you up in knots and wring you out. I loved it.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 June 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Anna is an agarophobic, confined to her house for ten months, pumping herself full of prescription drugs and endless bottles of wine. She has new neighbours ... first the young son, 16 years old, pays a courtesy visit, then the mother, Jane Russell. Anna gets on well with Jane but Jane isn't going to be around for long.

    A couple of days later, Anna sees Jane being stabbed to death through her bedroom window. Anna has to help but the stress of being outside leads to her collapse. When she awakes in hospital it seems that Jane Russell is alive and well. Has Anna hallucinated the whole episode?

    The book is choc-full of mystery-novel techniques. Delays in dramatic climaxes, 'unreliable narrators', characters not being what they seem, clues to the mystery dropped here and there, switches in time-frame - these techniques are recycled over and over. That will be immersive reading for the less-experienced reader but cliché and transparent for the astute reader.

    The main character is pretty well-developed. All of the narrative is from her point of view. None of the other characters are developed at all, except for the 'unexpected' villain, at the end of the book.

    Finn is obsessed with metaphor and 'unusual' use of vocabulary. A cat 'rapelling' down somebody's leg; a dressing gown 'puddling' on the floor. A little of this 'style' is okay, but it seems to be used at every available opportunity and a lot of it doesn't work for me. Most annoying is the frequent use of little rhyming couplets ... 'we drove into the night. Into the white' (it was snowing). Maybe this is how Anna thinks but it seems more like an affected style of the author.

    The book is a good read - fast-paced with 'clean' intertwined sub-plots that are easy to pick out until towards the end of the book, where a 'reinterpreted' earlier plotline tends to make things a bit mushy. Definitely a worthwhile read from a talented writer.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Janet B
    5.0 out of 5 stars A GRIPPING, MESMERIZING AND ORIGINAL STORY THAT TAKES YOU ON A ROLLER COASTER RIDE!
    Reviewed in Canada on 5 August 2018
    Anna Fox lives alone with her cat named Punch in a large house in New York City. She has not been outside for the last ten months. You see, she suffers with Agoraphobia, since a traumatic incident occurred. She spends her time watching black and white Alfred Hitchcock movies, counselling clients online with the same problem and looking out the window and spying on her neighbours with her telescopic camera lens.

    She is advised to get a tenant to live in the basement to help her if she needs something done. His name is David. Anna has a Ph.D. in psychology. She sees a psychiatrist, Dr. Julian Fielding, regularly and he has added psychotropics, eg. Xanax, Ativan, Prozac, Zoloft, to name a few, to her medications and warns her not to take them with alcohol. She also sees a therapist, who makes home visits once a week. Anna is a boozer. Her preference is Merlot, which she drinks heavily and mixes with her medications. She was warned not to do that and pays no attention.

    Anna knows everything going on with her neighbours. One day, new neighbours move in across the road. They are the Russells. There is Alistair, his wife Jane and his son named Ethan. Ethan comes over to Anna and gives her a candle as a neighbourly gesture from his family. He and Anna soon become friends.

    One night, Anna is looking out the window and sees something she shouldn't. She calls the police and then, decides she'll go out to help. She has not been outside for ten months, but she opens the door and does her paced breathing 1-2-3-4 and goes outside with difficulty. She has been drinking and passes out. She is helped up by a Police Officer and brought to her home. She tries to tell the Officer what she thinks she saw, but she is so full of booze mixed with medications that who could believe her? Is she imagining things?

    What masterful writing! A. J. Finn has written a gasp-for-breath psychological thriller, which is filled with mezmerizing characters, stunning twists and is totally original.

    This has got to be my favourite book of the year. It is that good. The Woman in the Window is a must read and not to be missed.
    I highly recommend it and give it 5+ stars.
  • Henrique P. Pacca
    5.0 out of 5 stars História incrível
    Reviewed in Brazil on 3 May 2018
    O livro prende você do início ao fim. No início você até pensa que se enganou e que em vez de um thriller trata-se de um drama com nuance psicológicas. Mas ao longo da leitura tudo evolui para um mistério muito bem montado e que leva a um final surpreendente.
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  • chiara romanello
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping
    Reviewed in Italy on 26 July 2018
    A breathless thriller with an unexpected ending. I liked it very much and I would recommend it to all lovers of this literary genre.
  • Rubi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gasp worthy
    Reviewed in Mexico on 29 May 2020
    Came in great condition and I finished it in two days! Such a great book, deserves all the hype it's getting. It does have a slow start but it's never boring. The author did a fantastic job unravelling secrets, plot twists, detailing the main characters past and health, thinking process, everything is beautifully well written out. Once you think the ending is coming then boom! You really WILL gasp while reading The Woman in The Window, maybe even hold your breath.
  • Vineet Gaikwad
    5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect blend of mystery and shocking revelations
    Reviewed in India on 22 April 2025
    The plot twists were jaw dropping.... a must read for mystery thriller enthusiasts

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