Review: The Woman in the Window

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW by A. J. Finn

THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW is an exquisitely designed novel, written by a male author yet extolling wonderfully a woman's viewpoint. Anna Fox is a child psychologist who suffers severe agoraphobic disorder after an accident. Living alone in a vast four-story Harlem brownstone, she is fortunate in that she can have her groceries and prescriptions delivered and that her psychiatrist comes to visit her, since she is literally unable to leave her home. She plays chess and spends time in an online forum for agoraphobics and other anxiety disorders, where she endeavours to help guide others who suffer.

She also keeps an eye on her neighborhood, and herein arises the danger. Adjacent to her house, on the West, is a small city park, and on the far side, new neighbors have just moved in, apparently a couple and their adolescent son. Nobody in this neighborhood seems to understand the concept of window coverings (the only problem I had in relating to this novel), so Anna (and her Nikon) observe their goings-on. One afternoon she tries to step outside her front door and collapses; the new neighbor helps her back indoors, and spends a few hours with her, drinking Merlot and playing chess. Anna thinks she has made a friend, but shortly thereafter she sees a shocking event in the neighbor's parlor: the woman appears, bleeding, then disappears. Anna calls 911 and tries to go to the neighbor's home through the park, but collapses again.

Anna is an aficionado of classic black-and-white films, and there is so much of the film “Gaslight” in this story. No one believes Anna, everyone thinks she is disordered, mentally and emotionally unstable, and a rampant alcoholic. All blame it on her past circumstances. Yet although all of these “facts” are true, she is in danger, far more than she realizes.

I admire the character of Anna, because no matter what, she perseveres. She doesn't stop, she tries, and tries, and tries. She doesn't give up. She isn't catatonic in a psych ward. She lives, she does so alone, and she helps others online, and tries to help her neighbors. Despite it all, her character is strong and high in integrity.

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