Living next to St. Dymphna's

I've been on vacation and brought with me two big books.  I'll review one of them now and the other one tomorrow.

The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn is a 427-page novel.  At first, one would think that a story about a woman who has agoraphobia would be boring.  What kind of story could they be when the main character won't leave her house?  Well, you're wrong.  There's a great story with thrilling adventure.

Anna Fox, although housebound, spies on her neighbors through her window.  She has a good view of a few neighbors' windows and has learned who's who.  One day she sees a murder.  Of course, she called the police.  The only thing is, the police can't find a murder victim.  The people who live in the house say it never happened.

Is Anna crazy?  The thing is, she does have mental issues.  But still.

Anna has a tenant who is an ex-con.  He is suspicious.  But he has an alibi.

The husband in the window seems like a tyrant.

The son in the window is a teenager with teen problems, identity problems, and emotional issues.

The wife and the mother in the window are very much alive and she shouldn't be.

Life would go on except for threatening messages.  If Anna was crazy before then she is really going off the edge.

The story climaxes with Anna almost being killed.  But she triumphs.

Not only does Anna prove that she's not crazy; she exposes the killer and his victim, she confronts her past and what caused the agoraphobia and steps outside.

I can see this story as a movie.  It'll be a real thriller.