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 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.

[10] The audiobook edition, released by Books on Tape, was narrated by Clare Corbett, Louise Brealey and India Fisher.

[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.

[15] Rachel Watson is a 33-year-old listless alcoholic, reeling from the end of her marriage to Tom, who left her for another woman.

Tom is now married to Anna Boyd and has a daughter with her, Evie – a situation that fuels Rachel's self-destructive tendencies, as it was her inability to conceive a child that began her spiral into alcoholism.

This routine is one of her few excuses to leave her apartment, and prevents her roommate, Cathy, who is concerned with her drinking, from discovering that she is unemployed.

The next day, after heavy drinking, Rachel awakens to find herself bloody and injured, with no memories of the night before.

While Kamal suspects nothing, Rachel begins to gain insight into her life by speaking with him, inadvertently benefiting from the therapy.

When the police arrive, former adversaries Rachel and Anna support each other by co-ordinating their stories to explain their actions as self-defense.

In 2015 it became the fastest-selling adult hardcover novel in history, and it spent over four months on the New York Times Bestseller List following its release.

[18] In a less positive review for The New York Times, Jean Hanff Korelitz questioned the novel's narrative structure and criticised the protagonist for behaving "illogically, self-destructively, and narcissistically.

[1] Paula Hawkins has waved these comparisons off, however, saying in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter: "Amy Dunne is a psychopath, an incredibly controlling and manipulative, smart, cunning woman.

[35] Tate Taylor, who directed The Help (2011), was announced as the director of this film in May 2015, with Erin Cressida Wilson as scriptwriter.

[44] A stage adaptation of the novel by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel made its world premiere in The Courtyard Theatre at the West Yorkshire Playhouse from 12 May to 9 June 2018.