Paula Hawkins

Paula Hawkins is a critically acclaimed British author best known for her psychological thriller, The Girl on the Train. Hawkins’ debut novel, released in 2015, quickly became a bestseller not only in her native United Kingdom, but went on to become a worldwide phenomenon, selling over 20 million copies and spawning an Academy Award-nominated film.

Hawkins was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1972. Growing up, she harbored a great love of literature, writing her first book at the age of seven. After completing her A-levels at school, she moved to London with plans to become a writer. After some small-scale success, she moved back to Zimbabwe with her family in 1995, and eventually returned to London with her husband in 2005. In London, she worked as a journalist for various publications, including Financial Times, Psychologies, and The Telegraph. She also wrote and edited numerous fiction books, such as Lostick Mistr, on a freelance basis.

Hawkins’ books revolve around complex female protagonists dealing with complicated and often destructive relationships, while trying to make sense of their lives. In her debut novel, The Girl on the Train, we follow the story of Rachel Watson, a woman who is trying to cope with the dissolution of her marriage while taking the train daily to London. When she witnesses a scene which portrays the seemingly perfect life of the woman she calls Jess, Rachel gets involved, and a web of deceit, lies and betrayal follows. The Girl on the Train received critical acclaim for its complex and engaging characters and intriguing plot twists.

Hawkins’ follow-up novel, into the Water, was released in 2017 and went on to win the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year as well as the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller. The novel follows the mysterious deaths of two women near a village called Beckford in North England. It was praised for its dark yet captivating story, exploring the consequences of secrets, lies, and guilt.

Hawkins’ third book, A Slow Fire Burning, was released in 2020 and is set in Zimbabwe. This time, the focus is on a mother-daughter relationship, full of secrets and conflict, taking place in a society struggling with economic collapse and political corruption. Hawkins’ latest novel is a powerful and moving story about the dangers of holding onto secrets, the courage of resilience and strength, and the power of redemption.

Hawkins’ writing has been described as gripping, complex and emotionally honest. Her psychological thrillers explore the power dynamics between characters, and push boundaries when it comes to exploring the complexity of their relationships. She is a skilful and multifaceted author, described as "brilliantly dark" by the Guardian, and is quickly becoming an influential voice in the literary landscape.