Member Reviews

Thanks to publisher, author and netgalley for this ARC read.

THIS REVIEW WAS RECEIVED AS AN ARC READ. AS AN ARC READER FOR THIS BOOK, AN HONEST REVIEW WAS REQUESTED.

Oh my God. My brain feels so scrambled in the best possible way; the way it should feel after reading a really good psychological thriller.

I will keep this as concise as possible (I say this every time and I always lie) because I don’t want to be spreading spoilers about this book but this one had me constantly going back and forth, second guessing my own thought process and querying what side of sane I myself was on, depending on who I was backing throughout this book.

I thought the characters were great; they kept me on my toes. I kept pinballing between my feelings for each of them. I felt that I continuously flip flopped over what I thought of them leading to a constant inner battle about who I should be rooting for and who I should be doubting. The main character, Jenna was definitely my favourite as I feel most people who read this will probably say the same. I felt so angry for her and the absolute gaslighting nature of everyone around her. She is consistently being treated as if she is crazy and honestly, every time I read the other character’s name I wanted to rip my hair out. She was so conniving and vindictive and I hated her but for an author, that’s gonna be a piece of praise.

If someone hates the character who is constantly being shadowed with doubt, it means you’re writing them correctly, in my opinion.

For so much of the book, all I could think was ‘Red flags!’ and that was about almost every single person in Jenna’s life. I especially did not care for her husband; he gave me the biggest red flag warnings and all I could think was, “Oh my God, I would never stand for this shit.” I suppose it’s a bit more complicated if you’re married with children but jeez, he was infuriating and so condescending for the majority of the book. He was so unlikeable and I don’t know if we were meant to ever like him but I certainly did not.

Now, this book was amazing and gripping. I found that I could not stop reading it. Literally. I was reading it between mundane tasks and was hurrying back to my room to finish it when I got a moment. I more or less finished this book within 24 hours which shows that it is a thrilling read.

However, the point at which the book let me down was the ending, I have to say. There was a ‘twist’ as such at the end but it didn’t really feel like that. I don’t know, I was left more confused than shocked. It wasn’t really explained well nor was it explained clearly. I don’t know about other people but I prefer psychological thrillers to lay it all out on the table in the last 20 or so pages so that I have my questions answered and I am satisfied with the ending.

This ending did not do that for me. Maybe I am just a little dim and didn’t get something very obvious but I don’t know… it doesn’t feel that way. It felt rushed and awkwardly ended, as if the author panicked and wasn’t 100% sure on how to finish it off? The ending did leave me a tad perplexed because as mentioned, I am still left with a number of questions. Rather than it be questions regarding the ending and being in an awe struck shock, it felt like there were too many loose ends. All in all, the end just felt disjointed and messy. That was my only let down however; the rest of the book? Absolutely top notch.

Something I did find very interesting about this book was the main character, Jenna being autistic. It is mentioned early on and is referenced to frequently throughout the book. Now, I don’t have any kind of formal diagnosis of autism but I couldn’t help but compare and empathise with Jenna in a lot of scenes due to having felt the exact same throughout my own life. There is so much mention of overstimulation, routines, the loud noise in your head and honestly, she as a character I felt really resonated with me and I think it made me root for her so much more because I could understand several of the traits she struggles with in her difficult times.
Either way, ending aside, this was an amazing read and I am really glad I started reading it. When I initially started it, I only read a few pages and then just left it alone for a few days. But, once I came back to it, I binge read this in an entire night. As mentioned, I was reading this between dinner, between skincare, between washing my hair. Every spare moment I had after work, I was flipping through pages. I stayed awake until 3am to finish the book and all in all, I read this within only a few hours. To me, that is a pretty good sign of a decent thriller.

Mainly, it was blind rage on behalf of the main character that had me hooked. I just could not believe the way people who were meant to be her loved ones were treating her. Absolutely infuriating.

The ending of this book was the only thing that stopped me listing this as a 5 star read but otherwise, I loved this book and I’d definitely be interested in reading more by the author in the future.

Keep your eyes peeled for The Woman on Platform 8, releasing Monday 31 March 2025!

Was this review helpful?

A quick, easy and enjoyable read that was fast paced and had a good amount of twists. I didn't see the ending coming and I would be shocked if anyone did. I liked some of the characters and some others I really disliked but that's what made them so good. I read in it one very short sitting.

Was this review helpful?

The Woman On Platform 8 by MA Hunter, Gemma catches the same train every day and sees the same people so when she sees a lady who she thinks of is living a fabulous life, but on this day looks startled and unsettled she goes to Linda hand. her name is Allie Davis and she doesn’t say much but the one thing she does say is that she thinks she may have killed her boyfriend. Gemma is playing it by ear and really doesn’t know how to act in this situation and before the morning is over, she will have invited Allie to stay at her home with her husband, Brett, and two children. Allie refuses to let Gemma call the police and by the time Gemma will wish she had her family will love Allie and she will be feeling like the odd man out and when the police are called, it will be on Gemma, who knows the truth, but no one will believe her. there were many things I loved and many things. I absolutely disliked about this book. I liked that it was fast pace, and I love that the author took such a big risk with the ending, not saying I like it, but I didn’t absolutely hate it either. OMG was I shocked. The things I didn’t like, I didn’t like that Gemma, despite knowing her mom has mental health issues totally abandon her and almost worshiped her dad who also abandoned the mom who at the time had two small children. I also found she kept a lot of things and situations from her children and her husband and I get it. Her mom had problems but growing up I was told family was family and you stick by them warts and all..#NetGalley, #BoldWoodBooks, #TheBlindReviewer, #MAHunter, #TheWomanOnPlatform8,

Was this review helpful?

The main character, Jenna, takes the train to work one morning and sees a woman who looks disheveled/frightened. That woman is Allie. Jenna ends up taking Allie home with her in an effort to help protect her from her "abuser." Jenna is a person with Autisim, and the author makes certain to point that out frequently. I am a special education teacher, so reading a book whose main character is autistic was intriguing to me. It didn't take long for Jenna to annoy me. I found her infuriating! For someone with Autism, she seemed very social and trusting of others, too trusting.

As I progressed through the book, I kept waiting for the ball to drop. Allie was a master manipulator who preyed on someone who was just trying to be kind to her. I honestly got tired of reading about all of the ridiculous things she did to Jenna.

The ending of the book was HORRIBLE and extremely far-fetched!! I actually had to read the last chapter twice to fully understand what had occurred.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review

Was this review helpful?

Jenna helps the terrified Allie on the train, lets her stay at her house because she's in danger - was this a mistake?

It started as a great read - I liked Jenna, her character, her internal dialogue and her complex backstory. I thought she was such a well developed character and it was obvious a lot of thought had gone into her. I also thought making her autistic was a nice addition without it being her entire personality. The story started off so well, Jenna is feeling like she is losing her mind, heading down the same path as her mum who has long been plagued with mental illness. Allie is not all that she seems, and things are not adding up. The makings of a great thriller. It carried on with the exciting unravelling of the plot and the little snippets of things not adding up - is Jenna being drugged? Is Allie telling the truth? what is her husband hiding from her?. I was hooked. The last few chapters undid all the hard work for me, I felt the ending was messy, rushed and didn't wrap things up well enough for me. I have so many questions and I understand that people like this style of ending, it just wasn't for me and did not suit the tone of the book. I really loved Jenna, and I was disappointed for her ending. It actually made me feel terribly unsettled and I actually wonder if a mental health warning is needed at the start.

I cannot fault the writing, the characters, the inclusion of autism and it was extremely well paced. M A Hunter is clearly a talented writer and this had the potential to be fantastic, only let down in the final few chapters.

Was this review helpful?

The Woman on Platform 8 is billed as a dark and twisted psychological thriller and it certainly lives up to that. The characters are complex but believable and you soon find yourself drawn in as the plot progresses. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and it’s hard to put this novel down. thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this ebook! The writing was so easy to follow, with fantastic character development and a great twisty storyline. I would recommend! Thank you for access to this!

Was this review helpful?

This one hooked me from the first page and wouldn't let go. A super fast moving pace with an unreliable narrator. Really loved it until I got to the end. I felt like the ending was rushed and there were several things that were left hanging at the end. Would have given it 5 stars, if that ending was more well paced and made a bit more sense.

Was this review helpful?

Jenna is riding to work one morning when Allie comes rushing into the train and clearly upset. Jenna takes Allie into her house and job and starts to lose her mind. Her brother returns and wants Jenna to reconnect with her mother who is in a mental health facility. Jenna feels as though her mental health is spiraling because everyone else is lying to her. Started ok then just for dumb. Very very rushed ending. Very very unbelievable. I really liked it until the last few chapters. That drops my ratings a lot.

Was this review helpful?

The Woman on Platform 8 by M A Hunter is a tense psychological thriller that is driven by an unreliable narrator and, as such, ticks all of my boxes for a truly compulsive read.

Jenna sees Allie on a train and approaches her, recognizing that she is quite visibly distraught. Allie tells Jenna that she is fleeing an abusive relationship and has nowhere to go. Jenna immediately offers to take the stranger home in a gesture of goodwill. Is it a colossal error of judgement? After all, we know that no good deed goes unpunished.

This one hooked me from the very start and held my attention for the duration of a diabolically twisty narrative. M A Hunter has become an automatic read for me, and is certainly one to watch.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

The Woman on Platform 8.
A twisty and unsettling ride of secrets and suspense with a shocking conclusion!
A very gripping read! Fast paced and amazing

Was this review helpful?

I liked Jenna, a neurodivergent main character who gets involved with Allie when she believes she has been hurt.
What follow in this book is the destruction of Jenna by Allie, Jenna’s husband and pretty much everyone else in the book.
I would like to tell you about the mystery or the thrills but there are none, for some reason this book starts with a hook and a mystery and somewhere around 30% the author decides just to destroy their main character.

The ending of this book is the reason I couldn’t possibly recommend it, no matter how much I liked Jenna, the ending feels like the author had no idea how to end it so cut the book off and hoped people would find it shocking or haunting, when actually it just felt like laziness. The only likable character in this book deserved better.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC which was given in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

M.A. Hunter's "The Woman on Platform 8" is a riveting and psychologically intense thriller that takes readers on a wild ride through secrets, suspense, and unexpected revelations.

With a plot that twists and turns, this novel is bound to keep you guessing and thoroughly engaged from start to finish.

The novel centers around Jenna, a neuro-divergent commuter who encounters a mysterious woman on the platform of a train station. What begins as a seemingly innocuous meeting quickly spirals into a labyrinth of dark secrets and hidden motives. As Jenna becomes increasingly entangled in the woman's enigmatic life, he finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew. Hunter's narrative is expertly crafted, with every chapter uncovering new layers of suspense and intrigue.

Hunter excels in creating complex and believable characters. Jenna is a relatable protagonist, grappling with his own doubts and insecurities while trying to make sense of the puzzling events around him. The enigmatic woman on the platform, with her hidden past and unpredictable behavior, adds a sense of mystique and tension to the story. Supporting characters, from concerned friends to shadowy figures lurking in the background, add depth and dimension to the plot.

"The Woman on Platform 8" explores themes of trust, deception, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion. Hunter delves into the psychological impact of secrets and the lengths people will go to in order to protect or uncover the truth. The novel also raises thought-provoking questions about identity and the masks we wear in our everyday lives.

Hunter's writing is sharp, evocative, and perfectly suited to a psychological thriller. The prose flows seamlessly, with vivid descriptions that bring the settings and characters to life. The pacing is impeccable, with each chapter building anticipation and leaving readers eager to turn the page. Hunter's ability to create a sense of unease and tension is particularly noteworthy, making for a truly gripping read.

"The Woman on Platform 8" is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that excels in misdirection. M.A. Hunter has crafted a story that is a disturbing must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. This book is a testament to the power of suspense and the enduring allure of a well-told mystery.

Was this review helpful?

A psychological drama where the protagonist is autistic. I liked the setting but felt wanting with the narrative pace and needed a better story and characters to keep me interested.

Was this review helpful?

Jenna meets Allie on a train. Allie's distressed and tries to help her, soon learning the meaning of the saying "no good deed comes unpunished"...

I'm giving this a 5 star only to avoid affecting my feedback ratio, and also because I feel bad being overly critical about a book.

This book isn't for me. I'm always happy to exercise suspension of disbelief but to me personally the whole story felt too far-fetched. Jenna keeps ignoring red flags and repeating the same mistake over and over. The author describes Jenna as an openly autistic woman to justify her naivety, but this didn't work for me as I found it too repetitive.

Without spoiling the story, to me personally the motive behind the villian's actions is underwhelming. Even the overly-used "the villian is the husband's secret child" or "the villian was SA'd by the husband in the past" tropes that seem to be so trendy these days would've been better than this borefest,

Finally, the ending left a bad taste in your mouth. Wow, really? Again without spoiling the story, the person didn't deserve any of that. That kind of ending works where the character is a nasty little piece, like a cheating husband etc or when the villian's backstory is strong enough (to repat myself, the villian's motive is a nothingburger). It feels like the author wanted to shock the audience after the underwhelming twist. The more I think about the ending, the angrier I get about it. It feels like I wasted my time reading this book.

Was this review helpful?

When Jenna helps Allie, a distressed passenger on a train, it's the start of a nightmare. It soon becomes clear the Allie has ulterior motives while Jenna comes across as too trusting and naive. Before long, Jenna fears for her sanity with her marriage, family and job at risk. This is a fast-paced, twisty thriller that had me hooked from the first page. I was not prepared for the sad and shocking ending which seemed a bit rushed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Oh boy. This is one of those books where a woman inserts herself into another’s life and tries to take over. The main character doesn’t have a clue or constantly doubts herself until it’s too late and by that point, not a single person in her life believes her. There have been so many stories like this and I wish I’d known that because I wouldn’t have read it.

This one’s even worse because the main character, Jenna, is autistic and gets overwhelmed by more than most people to begin with, so in a situation like this it’s a complete cluster. Add to that her mother with mental health issues and for the entire story, Jenna is in a terribly panicked stressful state and that’s not exactly a fun story to immerse yourself in.

So I was so happy when I got to the end and thought it was finally going to resolve with the typical apologetic family and friends gathered around when they discovered the truth, but…no, that’s not what happens. And honestly, it seems like the author couldn’t figure out a good ending so went with something that’s supposed to blow your mind. I can’t say more without spoilers, but my mind was not blown, it was angry. It just left so many unanswered questions and made me feel like I wasted my time. Feel free to decide for yourself but read at your own risk!

Was this review helpful?

This author has once again delivered a complex, nail biter of a plot fully supported by intriguing characters and amazing writing. This book will keep you guessing throughout - who is the reliable narrator? What is the truth and will it ever be revealed? I have liked everything this author has written but this is perhaps the most tense and gripping reading experience they have offered to date.

Was this review helpful?

Oooh such a great read!!! So much going on and the twist was brilliant. I couldn't put this book diwn that's how engrossed I was into the storyline. Each character had a perfect place in the storyline. I loved this

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

Was this review helpful?

Are you ready for a nail biting read? Watch out for The Woman on Platform 8 by MA Hunter. It was a five star read.

Was this review helpful?