3.5 stars rounded up

I first saw her on the platform on my way home from work a few weeks ago. She had an aura about her that made people stop and stare. Then I saw her again. And again. Our twice weekly commute into London Waterloo insync. She was always so poised, so pretty, so perfect. Everything i'm not. In my head her name is Lucia, and she a glamorous catwalk model from Milan who commutes from Winchester to attend casting calls in the city. But this morning she's late, barely making the train doors as they close. She doesn't take her usual seat, instead staying close to the doors.... Then it hits me - she looks terrified.

As the story unfolds, the tension rises. We don't know who is telling the truth. It's a character driven story that had me second guessing everything. The characters are well-developed even though at times, they felt unhinged. Jenna was my favourite character, I hated how people seemed to gaslight her. I did not like how the story ended, so I took off half a star for that reason.

Published 31st March 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #MAHunter for my ARC of #TheWomanOnPlatform8 in exchange for an honest review/

I first saw her on the platform on my way home from work a few weeks ago. She had an aura about her that made people stop and stare. Then I saw her again. And again. Our twice weekly commute into London Waterloo insync. She was always so poised, so pretty, so perfect.

Everything I’m not.

In my head, her name's Lucia, and she’s a glamorous catwalk model from Milan who commutes from Winchester to attend casting calls in the city. But this morning she’s late, barely making the train as the doors close. She doesn’t take her usual seat, instead staying close to the doors...

Then it hits me – she looks terrified.

I feel compelled to help her, and against my better judgement I stand up and move towards her. It's then the illusion crumbles. Her name's not Lucia, but Allie. Not a model, but a woman in dire need of help. She tells me she's in danger, that she's done something dreadful and I don't know why I do it, but I promise to keep her safe.

But I shouldn't make promises I know I can't keep.

Because my life isn't as picture perfect as I like to pretend, and I can't stop wondering if maybe I'm not the only one pretending...

MA Hunter, The Woman on Platform 8, Boldwood Books, expected publication date, March 31, 2025

M. A. Hunter’s The Woman on Platform 8 opens with an electrifying premise that hooks readers immediately. Jenna, a mother, wife, and successful businesswoman, finds herself drawn into a dark, twisting tale when she encounters Allie—a battered and bruised stranger who confesses to a horrifying crime: She may have killed her abusive boyfriend in self-defense. This chance meeting on Platform 8 acts as the catalyst for a chilling exploration of trust, reality, and the fragility of the mind.

From the outset, Hunter crafts an atmosphere thick with tension and uncertainty. Jenna, with good intentions, invites Allie into her home, eager to offer solace to a woman in distress. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Allie is wrapped in a complex web of her own making. As Jenna immerses herself in Allie's plight, she unwittingly steps into a labyrinth of hallucinations and erratic behaviors that challenge her perception of reality. Hunter skillfully intertwines Jenna’s struggle to discern truth from illusion, forcing both the protagonist and the reader to ponder the nature of trust and the hidden battles individuals fight within their minds.

The story unfolds as Jenna grapples with the effects of Allie's presence on her family and her own sanity. Hunter excels in creating a sense of urgency, building suspense as Jenna's world begins to fracture under the weight of her childhood with a psychotic mother. The psychological tension escalates, keeping readers guessing about the nature of Allie's intentions and the potential danger she poses. Is Allie a victim, or is she something far more sinister?

The setting of Platform 8 serves as a metaphorical crossroads, symbolizing the choices and paths that lead Jenna down an increasingly dark and chaotic route. The train station, a place of transition and movement, parallels Jenna's internal struggles as she confronts her own illusions and the haunting whispers of doubt clouding her judgment.

Ultimately, The Woman on Platform 8 is not just a tale of suspense; it’s a profound exploration of the human condition, the complexities of mental health, and the haunting nature of past traumas. Hunter deftly navigates these themes without falling into cliché, leaving readers with a chilling sense of realism that resonates long after the final page has turned.

In conclusion, M. A. Hunter’s gripping narrative will keep you turning pages late into the night, eager to uncover the truth lurking behind Allie’s confessions and the dark corners of Jenna’s mind. This psychological thriller is a testament to the power of perception and an unforgettable journey into the depths of fear, trust, and the ties that bind us to one another—no matter how twisted they may become.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eCopy to review

Reading The Woman on Platform 8 was a thought-provoking experience. The story follows Jenna, an autistic woman who thrives on routine and order in her life. One day, during her usual commute, she encounters Allie, a distressed and mysterious woman who seems to be in desperate need of help. Against her instincts, Jenna steps out of her comfort zone to assist Allie, setting off a chain of events that will challenge her perceptions of trust, danger, and human connection.

As Jenna becomes more involved in Allie’s life, she uncovers a web of secrets and lies that threaten to unravel everything she holds dear. The narrative beautifully captures Jenna’s unique perspective, portraying her struggles and strengths with sensitivity and depth. Her relationship with Allie is complex.

Hunter’s writing is gripping, drawing readers into Jenna’s world with vivid detail

A compelling psychological thriller.

I have really mixed feelings about this book. It seemed to drag on and on about Jenna’s paranoia, and I really got very annoyed with her character. The autism did not really come through as I had expected, Jenna was more concerned with inheriting her mother’s mental health. I thought it was very predictable, but the ending caught me unawares. Not sure how I feel about it.

M.A. Hunter is a phenomenal author whose books I’ve been reading for years—and you should too! His writing is on another level, with words that seem to float effortlessly on the page. I deeply appreciated the subject matter and the author's decision to explore autism in fiction, a topic that, despite its vast spectrum, is rarely written about in this genre.

At times, this book was difficult to read—not because of the writing, but because of the raw emotions it evoked. The main character’s thoughts and actions made me feel deeply for her and her family. While I can't claim to fully understand her perspective, I could relate to the overwhelming challenge of trying to do the right thing when the world itself feels incomprehensible.

The story and characters felt incredibly real, making the impact of the ending even more devastating. It completely shattered me, and I’m still grappling with my feelings about it. This is a heartbreaking, thought-provoking must-read that I highly recommend.

Whew! What at twisted tale! Man, I thought I knew where this book was going and what a shocker that ending was! I did not see that coming at all. I thought I had things figured out but nope M.A. Hunter threw in a real zinger that left me bamboozled. I wish the entire book had me feeling this way but there were times I did some eye rolling.

Jenna sees a woman at the train station who appears to need help. Jenna doesn't normally get involved but decided this time to help. She had seen Allie prior to this day but the day she stepped in Allie looked frazzled. Allie tells Jenna that she is in danger and Jenna promises to help>

Things get very interesting after Jenna welcomes Allie into her life. Things become tangled, messed up, and tense very fast. This book has plenty of tension, dread, and unease. There were plenty of moments where I wondered what was going to happen next and other times where I was rolling my eyes at the characters and the decisions that were being made.

The ending was a shocker for me! I did not see the book ending in that fashion and kudos for the author for pulling that off. My one issue with the book was the number of things that were thrown into the mix. There was a lot going on and lot for Jenna to deal with.

M.A. Hunter's books are either a big hit or settle in the good not great category for me. This is where this book landed. I enjoyed it, was shocked by the ending, but along the way, there were too many instances where I was waiting for the kitchen sink to be thrown into the mix as well.

Really thought this would be a great story but it left me very confused and frustrated. A lot of life changing decisions were made within the space of a week with little clear thought by anyone, never mind the neurodivergent lead character. The ending was deeply unsatisfying. I really thought I had missed out reading a few chapters it was so abrupt. I have read other books by this author which it was why I was looking forward to it. Only 3* from me, this time.

This just goes to show that you can’t befriend everybody that looks friendly and welcoming!

This novel was a twisted but in the best ways. Jenna was way too nice for her own good. She genuinely thought this woman was in need of help and went out of her way to help the woman. I felt so bad for her throughout this story. Everybody failed her in this story. I would have loved for just at least 1 person to believe her so that she didn’t feel like she was crazy and was imagining everything but overall this was a good read.

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Although I was intrigued by the premise of this book it fell flat for me. I am a big fan of domestic thrillers but this one seemed to have been done before. I was disappointed in the ending and if it had been executed better than my rating would have been higher. I did enjoy the big twists but again something was missing. However I did appreciate the author having the main character neurodivergent, a category that is often not represented in this genre. In summary, I found the book to be just an average read for fans of domestic thrillers particularly with a gaslighting trope as an underlying theme.

My rating 2.9 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC which will be published March 31 2025.

I had mixed feelings with this one. Whereas I appreciate the author saying at the beginning ofbthe book that Jenna's character is autistic so we can understand her choices and behaviour,I found that character very difficult to like. Who would let a random stranger to stay in their house with their children and everything?! The twist at the end I didn't expect but I felt the ending was too rushed, like there was a need to wrap up the story quickly because it felt very abrupt. Overall, it was entertaining enough for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Woman on Platform 8 by M.A. Hunter due to be published March 31, 2025.

Also recommended by M.A. Hunter: The Reunion, Sleepwalker, Every Step You Take.
Jenna first sees the woman on the platform on her way home from work. She looks terrified, and Jenna immediately rushes to see what is wrong. She says her name is Allie, and her boyfriend is out to kill her. So Jenna decides to take Allie home and under her wing until she can get her life straightened out. Is it a mistake?
What a twisty thriller this was! Just when you think you have it figured out who is the bad one – Jenna, Allie, Jenna’s mentally ill mother – it gives you another twist. It had me hooked and kept my interest until the shocking ending – couldn’t wait to finish it, and I was not disappointed!

#NetGalley #MAHunter #BoldwoodBooks #TheWomanOnPlatform8

The description of this book really drew me in. It sounded like it was going to be a really twisty psychological thriller and it started really strongly. However I’m afraid Jenna’s character really annoyed and frustrated me. The decisions she made were totally unrealistic and seemed against character and made the plot development too far fetched for me Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to this book but I’m afraid it was a dnf for me.

Mind. Blown. I read this book a couple of weeks ago and haven't even able to find the words to write my review, so I'll try my best here!

Jenna is an autistic woman who catches the train every day and sees a fellow passenger, a beautiful woman, who she imagines is a model with a perfect life. Until the day the woman gets on the train sobbing. Jenna can't help herself but to check on the woman, who she discovers is called Ally and who tells Jenna that she thinks she may have killed her partner.

Whether near diverse or not, I think everyone could relate to Jenna's behaviour and anxieties in some way, but she is pushed to the limit when Ally seems to want to take over Jenna's life, work and family and nobody believes anything Jenna is saying. There is definitely something sinister going on and I wanted to scream at Jenna and tell her to get Ally out of her life. I wanted to scream at Jenna's family for being so naive and I wanted to personally escort Ally from the building.

And then we reached the ending. I was perplexed. I still am perplexed. I loved it and I hated it - is that possible? It shocked me to the core, so in that sense, it was superb, but I need a bit more explanation. A fascinating read.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, M. A. Hunter and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Honestly this book frustrated me more than anything. Jenna was making on stupid decision after another and I just want to yell at her to stop and use her brain. Allie’s presence brought about a side of Jenna’s personality that was hard to digest. The ending was somewhat predictable but there was part that I didn’t guess. I felt like the book dragged with the dread of what was happening with Allie and Jenna but then the end just ended abruptly without much clarity.

I’d like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I went into this expecting it to be super thrilling; it started off strongly, and I was immediately sucked in. I spent the first quarter of the book not really able to predict what was going to happen, and I was excited to get to the crux of the novel.

However, there never actually ended up being any real thrill to it. The trope - strange woman comes into a family’s life, acts friendly to begin with and then gaslights everybody - is a tired one, and it’s difficult to create original content from it. I appreciated the author’s attempt at something a bit different, but the tone remained dismal throughout the whole story and there weren’t any proper twists.

Dishonourable mention goes to the ending because it genuinely SUCKED. It wasn’t satisfying in the slightest, and after such a depressing story, I was desperately yearning for a happy(ish) ending that never came.

Each day on the train Jenna sees the same woman, she’s even invented a name and back story for her, but when one morning she sees her enter the train in a distressed manner she knows she must help.

Jenna is portrayed as an autistic character (the author even discusses this briefly at the start of the book) and I think everyone, whether you are autistic yourself, feel you may be, or not, you will relate to this character. The author shows throughout the book her struggles and difficulties, while also dealing with a belief that other mental health problems may run within her family.

There’s lots of twists and turns in this one and I must say I felt a little frustrated when no one was listening to Jenna or even giving her a chance to speak (but I feel this is what the author wanted to portray).

The character development was really good and I feel you really get to know all the different personalities throughout the book, even if some of it seems pretty implausible.

For me, I just couldn’t get on board with how the story ended. As the suspense built in the last few chapters I read as fast as I could to see which possible conclusion it would draw. The one that happened I had not predicted. I’m sure the ending is meant to surprise and shock the audience, but for me it just felt very abrupt, I was hoping, eventually our main character would get the support she deserved, what actually happened I could not have predicted.

All is all a twisty read that will keep you guessing, keep you questioning and then surprise you at the end.
3.5⭐️

The Woman on Platform 8
by M.A. Hunter
Release date: March 31st
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Some books hook you with a quiet intrigue before unraveling into an all-consuming mystery, and The Woman on Platform 8 is exactly that kind of thriller. From the moment our protagonist fixates on the enigmatic woman at the train station, I was drawn into a world of perception versus reality, where every encounter feels both fated and unsettling.

The story builds tension masterfully, starting with harmless curiosity and spiraling into a dangerous entanglement. Allie’s desperation collides with the narrator’s own fragile façade, creating a dynamic fraught with uncertainty. Who is really telling the truth? Who is really in control? M.A. Hunter keeps the reader guessing with psychological twists, unreliable emotions, and a creeping sense of paranoia that lingers long after the last page.

This novel is an addictive ride, perfect for fans of suspenseful, character-driven mysteries. If you love a thriller that challenges what you think you know, The Woman on Platform 8 is a must-read.

Thank to Boldwood Books for this copy for an honest, voluntary review.

#TheWomanOnPlatform8 #MAHunter #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book!

Absolutely was enthralled with this book. I could not put it down.

So exciting and thought provoking.

I highlybrecommend!

Five stars!

This was a very twisty book. I really enjoyed this amazing book. The ending really surprised me as it was so brilliant. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.