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The Man on the Train
ONE MAN IS ABOUT TO HAVE A MIDLIFE CRISIS
LIKE NO MAN HAS EVER HAD BEFORE.
BUT FOR HIS WIFE,
THE NIGHTMARE IS JUST BEGINNING…
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Haley is awakened early one morning by two police officers at the door. She has no idea that her husband has been living a secret life during his daily commute into the city. Now Guy is the prime suspect in a brutal murder that could derail Linda’s high-powered career and may be connected to a cold case.
And Guy has disappeared.
With a warrant out for his arrest, Linda travels to the scene of a forty-year-old unsolved murder and a night of violence that shattered the serenity of a fishing hamlet on the eastern end of Long Island. Aided and abetted by an ex-cop who’s in love with her, she searches for evidence that could clear Guy’s name. But as the manhunt intensifies and she begins to uncover the shocking truth--and the past Guy has buried deep--Linda must decide if the stranger she married is innocent or guilty. And if he truly deserves to be saved.
Hurtling down the tracks like a runaway train, this Hitchcockian thriller careens from a bedroom community to the Hamptons to a suburban train station, where a killer hiding in plain sight waits to exact a final revenge.
LIKE NO MAN HAS EVER HAD BEFORE.
BUT FOR HIS WIFE,
THE NIGHTMARE IS JUST BEGINNING…
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Haley is awakened early one morning by two police officers at the door. She has no idea that her husband has been living a secret life during his daily commute into the city. Now Guy is the prime suspect in a brutal murder that could derail Linda’s high-powered career and may be connected to a cold case.
And Guy has disappeared.
With a warrant out for his arrest, Linda travels to the scene of a forty-year-old unsolved murder and a night of violence that shattered the serenity of a fishing hamlet on the eastern end of Long Island. Aided and abetted by an ex-cop who’s in love with her, she searches for evidence that could clear Guy’s name. But as the manhunt intensifies and she begins to uncover the shocking truth--and the past Guy has buried deep--Linda must decide if the stranger she married is innocent or guilty. And if he truly deserves to be saved.
Hurtling down the tracks like a runaway train, this Hitchcockian thriller careens from a bedroom community to the Hamptons to a suburban train station, where a killer hiding in plain sight waits to exact a final revenge.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2024
10 people are currently reading
5640 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Babitt
6 books153 followersI am the author of SAVING GRACE, a "Best of 2021 Debut and FIRST VICTIM, a Buzz Book of 2022 from Scarlet Suspense
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
July 11, 2024
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Haley is awakened early one morning by two police officers at the door. She has no idea that her husband has been living a secret life during his daily commute from Scarsdale into the city. Now Guy is the prime suspect in a brutal murder that could derail Linda’s high-powered career and may be connected to a cold case.
And Guy has disappeared.
With a warrant out for her husband’s arrest, Linda sets out to prove his innocence accompanied by an ex-cop who harbors a secret affection for her. Together, they travel to the scene of a forty-year-old unsolved murder and a night of violence that shattered the serenity of a small fishing hamlet just past the Hamptons.
But as the manhunt intensifies and she begins to uncover the shocking truth―and the past Guy has buried deep―Linda must decide if the stranger she married is innocent or guilty. And if he truly deserves to be saved.
If you’re looking for a novel with a Hitchcockian plot, The Man on the Train will fit that bill to a T. Complex, deftly layered, and with two killer timelines, the storyline was executed with utter perfection. But it was the deft combination of a psychological thriller with a certain crime fiction feel that won me over in the end. Due to that, the story started off somewhat slowly, but as the page count grew, so too did the intensity, foreboding, and pace.
Sometimes in a plot such as this the characters feel over-the-top. That couldn’t be further from the truth for these dynamite personas. Told via dual POVs in the past and the present, both Linda and Guy were true-to-life and well developed in every respect. From a realistic rendition of a teenage boy to a desperate but intelligent wife, the story unrolled cleanly and I was easily pulled into this unputdownable tale of suspense.
The twists, however, were where this novel positively shined. Firmly keeping me in the dark until the final timely reveal, Babitt easily brought to mind classic stunners such as And Then There Were None or Strangers on a Train. Not for the topic matter, but because of the bait-and-switch about what was really going on. After all, from the edge-of-your-seat climax to the shocking twist right at the end, I didn’t have a chance putting it all together in time.
All said and done, Ms. Babitt has certainly won me over hook, line and sinker. With an atmospheric setting filled with the characteristic small town gossip, there were layers to why this book was an absolute home run. So if you love addictive whodunnits with depth to the plot, this is the book for you. All I know is that I’ve now discovered yet another author to add to my favorites pile. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Debbie Babitt and Scarlet Suspense for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 7, 2024
Trigger warning: terminal cancer, sexual assault, mention of: suicide
And Guy has disappeared.
With a warrant out for her husband’s arrest, Linda sets out to prove his innocence accompanied by an ex-cop who harbors a secret affection for her. Together, they travel to the scene of a forty-year-old unsolved murder and a night of violence that shattered the serenity of a small fishing hamlet just past the Hamptons.
But as the manhunt intensifies and she begins to uncover the shocking truth―and the past Guy has buried deep―Linda must decide if the stranger she married is innocent or guilty. And if he truly deserves to be saved.
If you’re looking for a novel with a Hitchcockian plot, The Man on the Train will fit that bill to a T. Complex, deftly layered, and with two killer timelines, the storyline was executed with utter perfection. But it was the deft combination of a psychological thriller with a certain crime fiction feel that won me over in the end. Due to that, the story started off somewhat slowly, but as the page count grew, so too did the intensity, foreboding, and pace.
Sometimes in a plot such as this the characters feel over-the-top. That couldn’t be further from the truth for these dynamite personas. Told via dual POVs in the past and the present, both Linda and Guy were true-to-life and well developed in every respect. From a realistic rendition of a teenage boy to a desperate but intelligent wife, the story unrolled cleanly and I was easily pulled into this unputdownable tale of suspense.
The twists, however, were where this novel positively shined. Firmly keeping me in the dark until the final timely reveal, Babitt easily brought to mind classic stunners such as And Then There Were None or Strangers on a Train. Not for the topic matter, but because of the bait-and-switch about what was really going on. After all, from the edge-of-your-seat climax to the shocking twist right at the end, I didn’t have a chance putting it all together in time.
All said and done, Ms. Babitt has certainly won me over hook, line and sinker. With an atmospheric setting filled with the characteristic small town gossip, there were layers to why this book was an absolute home run. So if you love addictive whodunnits with depth to the plot, this is the book for you. All I know is that I’ve now discovered yet another author to add to my favorites pile. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Debbie Babitt and Scarlet Suspense for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 7, 2024
Trigger warning: terminal cancer, sexual assault, mention of: suicide
February 15, 2024
The Man on the Train by Debbie Babitt is a fast-paced thriller that I highly recommend. My first read by this skillful author and certainly will not be my last. I was so excited to read, a real page turner that hooked me from the first page til the end. The author does not disappoint. Well crafted characters, amazing plot, and ending brilliantly executed
January 5, 2025
Debbie Babitt blew me away with her debut Saving Grace, and she just blew me away again with The Man on the Train! I loved the setup for the book with multiple viewpoints as well as different timelines, but especially that they were done in a way that made sense and added to the storyline. I especially loved Linda and her quest to figure out what really happened, and that she would even do this for her husband despite what he is being accused of and has been accused of in the past. The entire book felt very tense and suspenseful, and I found myself questioning everyone and everything.
I would also recommend listening to the audiobook for The Man on the Train (I see what you did there with that title Babitt!) because Linda Jones was the perfect narrator. If you know me, you know I prefer full casts for audio, but Jones nails each POV and made me feel like I didn’t need anyone but her. The conclusion of the book shocked me, and there is also a darkness lurking in the pages that you may want to check triggers for. I loved the pacing and imagery, and Babitt’s writing is thoroughly engrossing. Read this if you are looking for a quick, nail-biting storyline, cold case elements, and an intensity that builds and builds!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I would also recommend listening to the audiobook for The Man on the Train (I see what you did there with that title Babitt!) because Linda Jones was the perfect narrator. If you know me, you know I prefer full casts for audio, but Jones nails each POV and made me feel like I didn’t need anyone but her. The conclusion of the book shocked me, and there is also a darkness lurking in the pages that you may want to check triggers for. I loved the pacing and imagery, and Babitt’s writing is thoroughly engrossing. Read this if you are looking for a quick, nail-biting storyline, cold case elements, and an intensity that builds and builds!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 1, 2024
Debbie Babitt follows up her novels FIRST VICTIM and SAVING GRACE with another engaging and twisty psychological thriller entitled THE MAN ON THE TRAIN. She brings much of her experience having worked in the publishing industry along with being the daughter of a former federal judge and wife to a criminal defense attorney to the forefront throughout her plotting of this novel.
Things kick off with a scene where a body is being pulled from the ocean, a body that played a big part in a horrible crime that took place on Eastern Long Island back in 1984. The story will also jump between timelines that feature the events of 1984 along with present day. In the present, we meet middle-aged Guy who is a copywriter and would-be serious novelist that makes the commute from Westchester to Manhattan each day via the Metro North Train.
One day while riding his regular train he finds himself sitting next to a much younger, highly attractive woman who is reading Dostoyevsky. Being a huge fan of classic literature, Guy cannot help but comment and so the platonic relationship between he and the woman named Anna has begun as the result of a mutual fondness for reading physical books. Guy has felt somewhat neglected and a bit unnecessary at home where his wife Linda earns the major keep of their household income with her job as a Manhattan District Attorney.
Guy starts to obsess over seeing Anna on the train and things eventually turn to rides home from the train station often after stopping at a different bar to talk literature. One night, Anna begins acting differently and confesses that there is trouble at home with her abusive boyfriend who she has just left. She takes a temporary room at a run-down hotel in Midtown and Guy meets up with her at a nearby bar to show that he is there for her. They go back to her new abode and the trip down the rabbit hole that Guy will end up taking will change his life forever.
Police show up at Linda’s door at 430AM on that same ill-fated night and they report that her husband Guy is wanted in the murder of a man who was killed in a hotel room. Guy was nowhere to be found and they were hoping she might know where he went. Linda, away from the high-profile case and, along with the assistance of her work colleague Pete, begins her own investigation into her husband Guy.
This investigation quickly ties to events in the summer of 1984, when Guy’s parents took the then teen-aged boy to the beach community of Manatawkett. It was during this summer that Guy met his eternal love, a slightly older girl named Dorothy Miller. That summer will end in tragedy and death, with Dorothy allegedly being raped inside the old lighthouse, the same spot where another teen named Alfred Johnson was thrown to his death into the raging waters of the Atlantic Ocean below them.
What horrifies Linda is when she learns that Guy and two other teens were suspected but never convicted for the alleged rape of Dorothy Miller. Guy and his family had to leave in shame, especially following the death of Alfred Johnson. What Linda and Pete need to do is try and connect the murder in NYC that Guy was involved in with the events of 1984. This will force Linda to face the unspeakable premise that Guy might be a multiple murderer and rapist. Beyond this, she still needed to find Guy for herself, dead or alive, to close the door on this surreal situation forever.
Nothing is what it appears to be in THE MAN ON THE TRAIN and that is all due to Debbie Babitt’s skillful handling of the twisty plot. With unsolved mysteries occurring in multiple timelines, it keeps the reader off guard and you have no choice but to buckle up and ride along with Linda as she works towards the truth, even if it is not to her liking. Another winner for Babitt!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
Things kick off with a scene where a body is being pulled from the ocean, a body that played a big part in a horrible crime that took place on Eastern Long Island back in 1984. The story will also jump between timelines that feature the events of 1984 along with present day. In the present, we meet middle-aged Guy who is a copywriter and would-be serious novelist that makes the commute from Westchester to Manhattan each day via the Metro North Train.
One day while riding his regular train he finds himself sitting next to a much younger, highly attractive woman who is reading Dostoyevsky. Being a huge fan of classic literature, Guy cannot help but comment and so the platonic relationship between he and the woman named Anna has begun as the result of a mutual fondness for reading physical books. Guy has felt somewhat neglected and a bit unnecessary at home where his wife Linda earns the major keep of their household income with her job as a Manhattan District Attorney.
Guy starts to obsess over seeing Anna on the train and things eventually turn to rides home from the train station often after stopping at a different bar to talk literature. One night, Anna begins acting differently and confesses that there is trouble at home with her abusive boyfriend who she has just left. She takes a temporary room at a run-down hotel in Midtown and Guy meets up with her at a nearby bar to show that he is there for her. They go back to her new abode and the trip down the rabbit hole that Guy will end up taking will change his life forever.
Police show up at Linda’s door at 430AM on that same ill-fated night and they report that her husband Guy is wanted in the murder of a man who was killed in a hotel room. Guy was nowhere to be found and they were hoping she might know where he went. Linda, away from the high-profile case and, along with the assistance of her work colleague Pete, begins her own investigation into her husband Guy.
This investigation quickly ties to events in the summer of 1984, when Guy’s parents took the then teen-aged boy to the beach community of Manatawkett. It was during this summer that Guy met his eternal love, a slightly older girl named Dorothy Miller. That summer will end in tragedy and death, with Dorothy allegedly being raped inside the old lighthouse, the same spot where another teen named Alfred Johnson was thrown to his death into the raging waters of the Atlantic Ocean below them.
What horrifies Linda is when she learns that Guy and two other teens were suspected but never convicted for the alleged rape of Dorothy Miller. Guy and his family had to leave in shame, especially following the death of Alfred Johnson. What Linda and Pete need to do is try and connect the murder in NYC that Guy was involved in with the events of 1984. This will force Linda to face the unspeakable premise that Guy might be a multiple murderer and rapist. Beyond this, she still needed to find Guy for herself, dead or alive, to close the door on this surreal situation forever.
Nothing is what it appears to be in THE MAN ON THE TRAIN and that is all due to Debbie Babitt’s skillful handling of the twisty plot. With unsolved mysteries occurring in multiple timelines, it keeps the reader off guard and you have no choice but to buckle up and ride along with Linda as she works towards the truth, even if it is not to her liking. Another winner for Babitt!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
October 15, 2024
When I was in New York, I visited a bookstore and there was a writer there who immediately caught my attention by asking me « do you like thrillers? ». Thrillers are like my favourite genre so I was all ears and I ended up buying her book (my friend was laughing at me because I just bought an e-reader and this was like the second paper book that I was buying during our trip). I’m glad that I did give it a chance because I have really liked it. There was suspense from the beginning until the end and it was very well written. Now this book is like a memory from my trip to New York and I look forward to reading more books by Debbie.
March 20, 2024
This book has interesting characters, an intriguing plot and an unpredictable ending, it's an absolute page turner.
This was my first time reading a book by this author and it was extremely enjoyable. I will definitely be adding more of her books to my TBR.
This was my first time reading a book by this author and it was extremely enjoyable. I will definitely be adding more of her books to my TBR.
July 16, 2024
I liked this one more than I thought I would! There was a lot of back story that kinda confused me a little but it ended up becoming so important and brought the story full circle! Good murder mystery and moved pretty fast
May 8, 2024
This book kept my attention! There was so much going on. I enjoyed the way the book was told. It went back and forth from the present to the past. I also like how the story was told through both the point of view of the husband and the wife. It made me feel like I knew secrets! I didn’t see the twist coming so that was nice. This was a great read.
February 6, 2024
Linda is a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney living with her husband Guy, an unsuccessful writer, in Scarsdale, N.Y. Linda is shocked by the appearance of two police officers at her front door early one morning. Guy is missing and he is the suspect in a vicious murder in a Manhattan hotel. It might be linked to a forty year old cold murder case in the Hamptons on Long Island. Linda and an ex-cop friend embark on a thrilling and probably career-ending search for the truth. Guy has been having a secret life; is he guilty of this murder and the one forty years ago? For those of us familiar with the Metro North train commute and spending time in the Hamptons, this was a treat to read. The characters are very well developed. This book is intense, atmospheric, and the complicated story moves quickly. Highly recommended! With thanks to Netgalley and Penzler Publishers for this ARC. My opinions are my own.
March 12, 2024
Assistant District Attorney Linda Haley wakes up to the sound of two plain clothes detectives knocking on her door. Her husband I Gary is suspected of killing a man in a fleabag New York hotel. And he is now missing, assumed to have fled before the police arrived. Linda is determined to prove Gary innocent but there is a setback. Gary was charged with murder forty years earlier but the charges were mysteriously dropped. Now she and private investigator Peter Randolph drive to the Hamptons to see if this old case is somehow connected to the present. The residents of Manatawkett have been keeping secrets for a long time and they aren’t ready to give them up.
The Man on the Train is suspenseful and impossible to solve before the dramatic conclusion. The characters are well described and the village of Manatawkett, reminiscent of Montauk, is atmospheric. This mystery is deliberately slow paced at first moving to quick, can’t turn the pages fast enough action. 5 stars.
Thank you to NatGalley, Penzler Publishers and Debbie Babitt for this ARC.
The Man on the Train is suspenseful and impossible to solve before the dramatic conclusion. The characters are well described and the village of Manatawkett, reminiscent of Montauk, is atmospheric. This mystery is deliberately slow paced at first moving to quick, can’t turn the pages fast enough action. 5 stars.
Thank you to NatGalley, Penzler Publishers and Debbie Babitt for this ARC.
May 30, 2024
A deceitful husband, a lethal summer in a tourist town, and a spooky lighthouse at the center of it all? What more could you want from a thriller?
When Manhattan DA Linda Haley finds out from the police at her door that her husband is a suspect in a murder, she can't believe it's possibly true. Now, Guy is on the run, and she starts to learn about a deadly summer in 1984 that he never told her about. Linda travels to the tourist town where a sixteen year old was killed four decades prior, and tries to piece together her husband's involvement in the teenagers death, and what ties him to the present murder.
I was glued to the pages of this book from the beginning! There is an unsettling, haunting tone that pervades the book in every one of its timelines that makes it impossible to put down. Babitt expertly ratchets up the Hitchcockian suspense in every single short, snappy chapter, leading to a clever, satisfying ending.
Fans of Karin Slaughter will devour this thriller that spans four decades and multiple timelines.
When Manhattan DA Linda Haley finds out from the police at her door that her husband is a suspect in a murder, she can't believe it's possibly true. Now, Guy is on the run, and she starts to learn about a deadly summer in 1984 that he never told her about. Linda travels to the tourist town where a sixteen year old was killed four decades prior, and tries to piece together her husband's involvement in the teenagers death, and what ties him to the present murder.
I was glued to the pages of this book from the beginning! There is an unsettling, haunting tone that pervades the book in every one of its timelines that makes it impossible to put down. Babitt expertly ratchets up the Hitchcockian suspense in every single short, snappy chapter, leading to a clever, satisfying ending.
Fans of Karin Slaughter will devour this thriller that spans four decades and multiple timelines.
August 11, 2024
I ran into Debbie while I was out in South Hampton with friends. As I was talking with my friends Debbie and her husband were telling me about how special her book was. I instantly felt the need to purchase this book that she was so exited about and I am glad I did. I never read books it is something that I struggle with being that they are always so hard to follow but Debbie's book was not hard to read. Her book kept my interest for the entire book.ir had a great story. I was surprised but the ending and loved the entire book. I was sad to see it end. I have now purchased her other 2 books and am glad that I ran into her. Thank you Debbie for your book I have not sat down to read in probably 25 years at least and your book made me want more.
June 8, 2024
It's a great book with twists and turns. I loved the way the author described the thoughts of the characters and the depth of their emotions. A serious, sad, well written novel. Recommend read.
July 16, 2024
A fast-paced thriller that reads like a noir classic. Well-crafted, deeply-drawn main and supporting characters add to the suspense and tension as you try to sort out the mystery behind the series of murders from both the past and present. Highly recommend!
March 3, 2025
Ugh…how did this even get published
January 22, 2025
I think this is a very underrated book. I’m surprised that it only has around 200 reviews on this app. That being said, it didn’t necessarily explore a new concept or idea, and may not be as unique of a story then some readers would like. Even though the book wasn’t noteworthy, it didn’t seem to lack any depth. It had good characters with interesting back stories, a cool setting, and a pretty good plot that would be hard to mess up. I honestly didn’t think I would like this book as much as I did, but I wouldn’t rave about it. It was fast-paced and easy to follow. When I first picked it up I honestly thought it was gonna be similar to Murder on the Orient Express. But I was pleasantly surprised with how the plot went. I liked how the author switched from 1984 to the present. Also, the ending was good (a little predictable), but I couldn’t believe what went down in the lighthouse in 1984. I mean it was already pretty clear what happened, but I couldn’t believe Alfred did that. I thought he was this shy boy, so that didn’t make much sense to me. Still a crazy twist. I do wish Dorothy had written a letter or something before her death, I wanted to hear from her when she wasn’t a teenager. It’s funny for a while I thought the Samantha girl (Dorothy’s daughter) was actually Dorothy who had faked her death. But that would have been a stretch. Anyways, good book and I now I want to visit the town where the setting was. It sounded familiar to a place I’ve gone before. I need to take a break from thrillers. 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2024
Guy has met a gorgeous woman on the commuter train to and from work. He becomes entangled in her drama. Her boyfriend is beating her. He is sure of that. He will not tolerate that because of his Mom and past trauma. Now, Guy is the prime suspect in a murder.
When this book began, I almost DNFed it. I hated Guy almost from the get go! I thought, I am not reading this if he is going to be as bad as I think! But then…it got better and better and better!
I became completely captivated in the mystery of this tale. I will try not to give anything away, but the more this tale unfolds the more of a guessing game it is! And Linda! She is rock solid for her husband from start to finish. She never gives up!
Need a fast paced thriller with a twist…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
When this book began, I almost DNFed it. I hated Guy almost from the get go! I thought, I am not reading this if he is going to be as bad as I think! But then…it got better and better and better!
I became completely captivated in the mystery of this tale. I will try not to give anything away, but the more this tale unfolds the more of a guessing game it is! And Linda! She is rock solid for her husband from start to finish. She never gives up!
Need a fast paced thriller with a twist…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
May 31, 2025
So this book was my Book Club‘s book pack for this month. I love a murder mystery but for me this just felt really slow and confusing. The Time jumps happened to frequently and sometimes without clarification. One chapter would have a date on it and then the next chapter would be a different time. But with no date on it. I did think the story wasinteresting and I read it in two days. I’m not sure how great it functions as a Book Club book given that once you have the answer of who the murderer was, what is there left to discuss. So we shall see how it goes this week.
April 25, 2024
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Man on the Train by Debbie Babitt, published by Penzler Publishers
I was hooked from the first page, I loved how the author created interest right from the beginning, the story could have gone in so many directions and I had to find out what was going to happen. The characters and places and events were all well described. I got a little confused part way through with the characters but sorted myself out as I kept reading. I just lost track of who was who.
I did not predict the ending, it was well written, and a great twist. I honestly never wanted to put this book down, I loved the drama and suspense.
I would absolutely read more novels by Debbie Babitt
I was hooked from the first page, I loved how the author created interest right from the beginning, the story could have gone in so many directions and I had to find out what was going to happen. The characters and places and events were all well described. I got a little confused part way through with the characters but sorted myself out as I kept reading. I just lost track of who was who.
I did not predict the ending, it was well written, and a great twist. I honestly never wanted to put this book down, I loved the drama and suspense.
I would absolutely read more novels by Debbie Babitt
June 23, 2024
Read in one sitting! Great book that kept me intrigued.
February 26, 2024
The Man on the Train by Debbie Babitt
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A man with a secret past and now missing after a murder, his wife an assistant DA and she needs to find her husband to decide if he is innocent or guilty. An interesting who-dunnit with a nice twist. I enjoyed the novel it had plenty to keep you reading on. If you love a good mystery, don’t miss this one coming out 7 May 2024.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A man with a secret past and now missing after a murder, his wife an assistant DA and she needs to find her husband to decide if he is innocent or guilty. An interesting who-dunnit with a nice twist. I enjoyed the novel it had plenty to keep you reading on. If you love a good mystery, don’t miss this one coming out 7 May 2024.
May 13, 2024
3.75 stars
I was intrigued by the premise of this novel and it was generally well-executed. I enjoyed the short chapters, the easy to read writing, the dual points of view and timelines, as well as the story of a husband accused of murder whose wife investigates links to a 40-year-old murder when her husband was a teenager. There was a good surprise reveal near the end.
A few quibbles with the novel: There was a love triangle hinted at that didn’t go anywhere and I wondered why it was even included. I liked the main characters but their relationship could have been better fleshed out.
Overall, a quick, easy to read mystery.
I was intrigued by the premise of this novel and it was generally well-executed. I enjoyed the short chapters, the easy to read writing, the dual points of view and timelines, as well as the story of a husband accused of murder whose wife investigates links to a 40-year-old murder when her husband was a teenager. There was a good surprise reveal near the end.
A few quibbles with the novel: There was a love triangle hinted at that didn’t go anywhere and I wondered why it was even included. I liked the main characters but their relationship could have been better fleshed out.
Overall, a quick, easy to read mystery.
May 3, 2024
A marriage already on shaky ground is subjected to an unimaginable pressure.
Linda Haley is an Executive Assistant DA in Manhattan whose career is on a solid upward trajectory, while her husband Gus (whose dream it has always been to be a published author) is in a quasi-writing job he increasingly hates and where he continues to be passed over for promotion. Each has experienced tragedy in their youth: Linda’s younger brother was killed in a hit and run while riding his bike, and Guy was raised by an alcoholic and abusive father and discovered his mother’s body when she committed suicide. It’s one of the things that binds them together as a couple, until the day that Linda wakes up alone to find the police at her front door looking for Guy, who they say is a suspect in a murder. As details emerge indicating that Guy has not only started drinking again, he has been seen out with a beautiful younger woman who may, or may not, be connected to the dead man in the seedy no-tell motel around the corner from Guy’s office. Despite being ordered by her boss to stay away from the investigation, Linda feels compelled to dig in to the case. With Pete, the DA’s office investigator and former cop at her side, LInda finds that there is a lot about her husband that she doesn’t know…including the fact that he has been accused of murder before.
With two separate mysteries unfolding, the present day murder of the man in the motel and the death of a teenage boy in 1984 in the seaside town of Manatawkett (where Guy and his parents spend their last weeks together before his mother’s suicide), my attention was piqued from the first pages and kept until the end. Linda is a strong but vulnerable woman who finds herself in a nightmare which may cost her not only her marriage but her career. Her faith in Guy’s innocence is badly shaken….there is so much evidence pointing to his guilt not only in the present day but in the events of 1984. People in Manatawkett have long memories, and a recent suicide there also seems linked to the 1984 death. Guy is a man in the midst of a mid-age crisis that has spun out of control. Just like having one drink has undone his sobriety, responding to the attention of a beautiful woman has led him to the brink of infidelity. Waking up hungover with no memory of the previous days puts him in the same position he found himself in 1984, unable to say for certain whether or not he s innocent. Weaving in the themes of class resentments between holiday towns and the city people who play there, the blow to the ego when one partner’s success eclipses the other’s dreams, and how past traumas and secrets can erupt later in life in unanticipated ways, The Man on the Train is a gripping thriller that fans of authors like Claire Mackintosh, Ruth Ware and Alex Findlay will enjoy. Did some of my early suspicions pan out? Maybe, but it was a fun ride nonetheless. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Scarlet for allowing me early access to this entertaining read.
Linda Haley is an Executive Assistant DA in Manhattan whose career is on a solid upward trajectory, while her husband Gus (whose dream it has always been to be a published author) is in a quasi-writing job he increasingly hates and where he continues to be passed over for promotion. Each has experienced tragedy in their youth: Linda’s younger brother was killed in a hit and run while riding his bike, and Guy was raised by an alcoholic and abusive father and discovered his mother’s body when she committed suicide. It’s one of the things that binds them together as a couple, until the day that Linda wakes up alone to find the police at her front door looking for Guy, who they say is a suspect in a murder. As details emerge indicating that Guy has not only started drinking again, he has been seen out with a beautiful younger woman who may, or may not, be connected to the dead man in the seedy no-tell motel around the corner from Guy’s office. Despite being ordered by her boss to stay away from the investigation, Linda feels compelled to dig in to the case. With Pete, the DA’s office investigator and former cop at her side, LInda finds that there is a lot about her husband that she doesn’t know…including the fact that he has been accused of murder before.
With two separate mysteries unfolding, the present day murder of the man in the motel and the death of a teenage boy in 1984 in the seaside town of Manatawkett (where Guy and his parents spend their last weeks together before his mother’s suicide), my attention was piqued from the first pages and kept until the end. Linda is a strong but vulnerable woman who finds herself in a nightmare which may cost her not only her marriage but her career. Her faith in Guy’s innocence is badly shaken….there is so much evidence pointing to his guilt not only in the present day but in the events of 1984. People in Manatawkett have long memories, and a recent suicide there also seems linked to the 1984 death. Guy is a man in the midst of a mid-age crisis that has spun out of control. Just like having one drink has undone his sobriety, responding to the attention of a beautiful woman has led him to the brink of infidelity. Waking up hungover with no memory of the previous days puts him in the same position he found himself in 1984, unable to say for certain whether or not he s innocent. Weaving in the themes of class resentments between holiday towns and the city people who play there, the blow to the ego when one partner’s success eclipses the other’s dreams, and how past traumas and secrets can erupt later in life in unanticipated ways, The Man on the Train is a gripping thriller that fans of authors like Claire Mackintosh, Ruth Ware and Alex Findlay will enjoy. Did some of my early suspicions pan out? Maybe, but it was a fun ride nonetheless. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Scarlet for allowing me early access to this entertaining read.
June 2, 2024
Debbie Babitt follows up SAVING GRACE and FIRST VICTIM with another engaging psychological thriller. At the start of THE MAN ON THE TRAIN, a body is being pulled from the ocean. This individual played an instrumental role in a horrendous crime that took place on eastern Long Island in 1984.
In present day, we meet Guy Haley, a middle-aged copywriter and would-be serious novelist who makes the commute from Westchester to Manhattan every day via Metro-North Railroad. One day, while riding on the train, he finds himself sitting next to a much younger, extremely attractive woman who is reading Dostoyevsky. Being a huge fan of classic literature, Guy cannot help but comment. He has felt somewhat neglected and a bit unnecessary at home; his wife, Linda, earns the major keep of their household income as Manhattan Assistant District Attorney.
Guy starts to obsess over seeing Anna on his commute, which eventually leads to rides home from the train station after stopping at bars to talk literature. One night, she begins acting differently and confesses that there is trouble at home with her abusive boyfriend, whom she has just left. Anna takes a temporary room at a run-down hotel in midtown, and Guy meets up with her at a nearby bar to show that he is there for her. They go back to her new abode, and the trip down the rabbit hole that Guy ends up taking will change his life forever.
The police show up at Linda’s door on that same ill-fated night, and they report that Guy is wanted for the murder of a man who was killed in a hotel room. He is nowhere to be found, and they were hoping she might know where he went. With the assistance of her colleague, Pete, Linda begins looking into his disappearance.
This investigation quickly ties to events in the summer of 1984, when Guy’s parents took the then-teenager to the beach community of Manatawkett. There, he met his eternal love, Dorothy Miller, who was slightly older than him. The summer will end in tragedy, with Dorothy allegedly raped inside the old lighthouse. This is the same spot where another teen, Alfred Johnson, was thrown to his death into the raging waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Linda is horrified to learn that Guy and two other teens were suspected of raping Dorothy. Guy and his family had to leave in shame, especially following Alfred’s death. Linda and Pete must try to connect the murder in NYC to what went down 40 years ago. This will force Linda to face the unthinkable prospect that her husband might be a rapist and a murderer. Beyond that, she still needs to find Guy for herself, dead or alive, to close the door on this surreal situation forever.
Nothing is what it appears to be in THE MAN ON THE TRAIN thanks to Debbie Babitt’s skillful handling of this twisty plot. With unsolved mysteries occurring in multiple timelines, it keeps the reader off-guard, and you have no choice but to buckle up and ride along with Linda as she works towards the truth, even if it's not to her liking.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
In present day, we meet Guy Haley, a middle-aged copywriter and would-be serious novelist who makes the commute from Westchester to Manhattan every day via Metro-North Railroad. One day, while riding on the train, he finds himself sitting next to a much younger, extremely attractive woman who is reading Dostoyevsky. Being a huge fan of classic literature, Guy cannot help but comment. He has felt somewhat neglected and a bit unnecessary at home; his wife, Linda, earns the major keep of their household income as Manhattan Assistant District Attorney.
Guy starts to obsess over seeing Anna on his commute, which eventually leads to rides home from the train station after stopping at bars to talk literature. One night, she begins acting differently and confesses that there is trouble at home with her abusive boyfriend, whom she has just left. Anna takes a temporary room at a run-down hotel in midtown, and Guy meets up with her at a nearby bar to show that he is there for her. They go back to her new abode, and the trip down the rabbit hole that Guy ends up taking will change his life forever.
The police show up at Linda’s door on that same ill-fated night, and they report that Guy is wanted for the murder of a man who was killed in a hotel room. He is nowhere to be found, and they were hoping she might know where he went. With the assistance of her colleague, Pete, Linda begins looking into his disappearance.
This investigation quickly ties to events in the summer of 1984, when Guy’s parents took the then-teenager to the beach community of Manatawkett. There, he met his eternal love, Dorothy Miller, who was slightly older than him. The summer will end in tragedy, with Dorothy allegedly raped inside the old lighthouse. This is the same spot where another teen, Alfred Johnson, was thrown to his death into the raging waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Linda is horrified to learn that Guy and two other teens were suspected of raping Dorothy. Guy and his family had to leave in shame, especially following Alfred’s death. Linda and Pete must try to connect the murder in NYC to what went down 40 years ago. This will force Linda to face the unthinkable prospect that her husband might be a rapist and a murderer. Beyond that, she still needs to find Guy for herself, dead or alive, to close the door on this surreal situation forever.
Nothing is what it appears to be in THE MAN ON THE TRAIN thanks to Debbie Babitt’s skillful handling of this twisty plot. With unsolved mysteries occurring in multiple timelines, it keeps the reader off-guard, and you have no choice but to buckle up and ride along with Linda as she works towards the truth, even if it's not to her liking.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
March 31, 2025
Book Review: The Man on the Train by Debbie Babitt 4 Stars **** (Mystery) (Suspense) (2024)
Husbands in the midst of a mid-life crisis can cause a lot of problems. Just ask Linda Haley, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, who's awakened at dawn in her Scarsdale home by two New York City police officers searching for her husband Guy who left his cell phone and fingerprints at the scene of a Manhattan hotel murder. Refusing to believe her missing, stable, straight-laced husband could be guilty of a sordid murder, Linda mobilizes to investigate Guy's whereabouts from Scarsdale to Manhattan to the tony fictitious eastern Long Island Manatawkett, where forty years ago Guy's involvement in a scandalous murder investigation was expunged by his father, a prominent judge. Guilty or innocent bystander? What other secrets will Linda discover about the man she thought she knew so well?
Like clockwork, Guy is on the 8:04am train to Manhattan, returning on the 5:52pm. One fateful day, feeling his age and disappointment at being passed over for a promotion, the stunning Anna takes the seat next to him where they converse about classic books. After a few days, these innocent conversations turn into trysts. Guy can't believe this beautiful, vibrant woman is attracted to him. Too good to be true? Yes! Anna is up to no good and has set him up. Big time! The sting connects directly to the forty year old murder case. It seems the past never really stays where it belongs.
Lucky for Guy, his loving, trusting wife Linda refuses to believe in his guilt, and pulls out all stops to investigate her still missing husband's past life in Manatawkett which leads to the truth of the Manhattan set-up. Oh, what a tangle web she discovers!
I totally enjoyed reading this book. Fast-paced. Believable. Plot twists. Red herrings. Short chapters so great commuter book or beach read. I couldn't put it down. For me, the big problem is there are too many details and incidents and characters. It took a long time until the author made the connections for the reader, so for me, the middle of the book floundered. To her credit, Ms. Babitt brought it all together so it makes sense. Totally worth your time if you like a plot that surprises.
Please let me know your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net.
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
All rights reserved 2025.
Husbands in the midst of a mid-life crisis can cause a lot of problems. Just ask Linda Haley, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, who's awakened at dawn in her Scarsdale home by two New York City police officers searching for her husband Guy who left his cell phone and fingerprints at the scene of a Manhattan hotel murder. Refusing to believe her missing, stable, straight-laced husband could be guilty of a sordid murder, Linda mobilizes to investigate Guy's whereabouts from Scarsdale to Manhattan to the tony fictitious eastern Long Island Manatawkett, where forty years ago Guy's involvement in a scandalous murder investigation was expunged by his father, a prominent judge. Guilty or innocent bystander? What other secrets will Linda discover about the man she thought she knew so well?
Like clockwork, Guy is on the 8:04am train to Manhattan, returning on the 5:52pm. One fateful day, feeling his age and disappointment at being passed over for a promotion, the stunning Anna takes the seat next to him where they converse about classic books. After a few days, these innocent conversations turn into trysts. Guy can't believe this beautiful, vibrant woman is attracted to him. Too good to be true? Yes! Anna is up to no good and has set him up. Big time! The sting connects directly to the forty year old murder case. It seems the past never really stays where it belongs.
Lucky for Guy, his loving, trusting wife Linda refuses to believe in his guilt, and pulls out all stops to investigate her still missing husband's past life in Manatawkett which leads to the truth of the Manhattan set-up. Oh, what a tangle web she discovers!
I totally enjoyed reading this book. Fast-paced. Believable. Plot twists. Red herrings. Short chapters so great commuter book or beach read. I couldn't put it down. For me, the big problem is there are too many details and incidents and characters. It took a long time until the author made the connections for the reader, so for me, the middle of the book floundered. To her credit, Ms. Babitt brought it all together so it makes sense. Totally worth your time if you like a plot that surprises.
Please let me know your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net.
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
All rights reserved 2025.
April 18, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
"The Man on the Train" by Debbie Babitt is a riveting thriller that takes readers on a tumultuous journey through the complexities of trust, love, and deception. The narrative unfolds with Linda Haley, a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, whose life is upended when her husband Guy becomes the prime suspect in a brutal murder. The case not only threatens to derail Linda's career but also forces her to confront the possibility that her husband may have been living a double life.
Babitt's storytelling is masterful, weaving a tale that is as much about the fragility of relationships as it is about solving a crime. The plot hurtles forward like a runaway train, taking us from the quiet suburbs to the Hamptons, and finally to a suburban train station where a killer lies in wait. The story oscillates between the present and a forty-year-old unsolved murder, creating a layered narrative that keeps the reader guessing.
The characters are well-drawn, with Linda's character arc being particularly compelling. As she grapples with the reality of her husband's secret life and the implications of his disappearance, we see her strength and vulnerability in equal measure. The supporting cast, including an ex-cop who harbors feelings for Linda, adds depth to the story, each with their own motivations and secrets.
Babitt's prose is evocative, capturing the essence of each setting and the emotional turmoil of the characters. The pacing is tight, with twists and turns that maintain suspense throughout. The final reveal is both shocking and satisfying, leaving readers to ponder the lengths one would go to protect (or condemn) a loved one.
"The Man on the Train" by Debbie Babitt is a riveting thriller that takes readers on a tumultuous journey through the complexities of trust, love, and deception. The narrative unfolds with Linda Haley, a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, whose life is upended when her husband Guy becomes the prime suspect in a brutal murder. The case not only threatens to derail Linda's career but also forces her to confront the possibility that her husband may have been living a double life.
Babitt's storytelling is masterful, weaving a tale that is as much about the fragility of relationships as it is about solving a crime. The plot hurtles forward like a runaway train, taking us from the quiet suburbs to the Hamptons, and finally to a suburban train station where a killer lies in wait. The story oscillates between the present and a forty-year-old unsolved murder, creating a layered narrative that keeps the reader guessing.
The characters are well-drawn, with Linda's character arc being particularly compelling. As she grapples with the reality of her husband's secret life and the implications of his disappearance, we see her strength and vulnerability in equal measure. The supporting cast, including an ex-cop who harbors feelings for Linda, adds depth to the story, each with their own motivations and secrets.
Babitt's prose is evocative, capturing the essence of each setting and the emotional turmoil of the characters. The pacing is tight, with twists and turns that maintain suspense throughout. The final reveal is both shocking and satisfying, leaving readers to ponder the lengths one would go to protect (or condemn) a loved one.
May 23, 2024
Thank you Scarlet Suspense, #partner, for the advanced copy of The Man on the Train in exchange for my honest review.
If there’s one thing I love it’s discovering new-to-me authors who write books in genres I love and that’s exactly what we have here. Debbie Babitt’s latest release is a fast-paced thriller that kept me engaged from start to finish and you can be sure I’ll be adding her other books to my tbr immediately!
I’m always a fan of a cold case so this one immediately pulled me in. The suspense starts building from there and doesn’t let up until the end, keeping me guessing as to what was going to happen next and what secrets might be revealed. I absolutely loved the character development that we got here – it really helped me get more invested in this story.
This whodunit really had me on the edge of my seat, frantically flipping the pages – a true one-seat reading that I cannot recommend enough! It is full of twists and turns I did not see coming and that ending completely shocked me – which is exactly what I love when reading a good thriller!
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
If there’s one thing I love it’s discovering new-to-me authors who write books in genres I love and that’s exactly what we have here. Debbie Babitt’s latest release is a fast-paced thriller that kept me engaged from start to finish and you can be sure I’ll be adding her other books to my tbr immediately!
I’m always a fan of a cold case so this one immediately pulled me in. The suspense starts building from there and doesn’t let up until the end, keeping me guessing as to what was going to happen next and what secrets might be revealed. I absolutely loved the character development that we got here – it really helped me get more invested in this story.
This whodunit really had me on the edge of my seat, frantically flipping the pages – a true one-seat reading that I cannot recommend enough! It is full of twists and turns I did not see coming and that ending completely shocked me – which is exactly what I love when reading a good thriller!
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
April 21, 2024
𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This is a fun, fast-paced thriller by a new to me author and it was a definite page turner. A missing person who is a suspect in a murder case + a cold murder case+ plenty of secrets= makes for a thrilling and suspenseful read! The author sucked me in from the first chapter and had me on the edge of the seat with the built up suspense, the ‘whodunit’, & the superb character development all which led up to a climatic and exhilarating ending that I did not see coming. Overall, this was a fun, twisty, suspenseful ‘whodunit’ thriller/mystery and Babitt is definitely an author to have on your radar! I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦A twisty, suspenseful ‘whodunit'
✦A fun murder mystery
✦A book with an unexpected ending that you don’t see coming
✦Great character development and an interesting, engaging plot
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
This is a fun, fast-paced thriller by a new to me author and it was a definite page turner. A missing person who is a suspect in a murder case + a cold murder case+ plenty of secrets= makes for a thrilling and suspenseful read! The author sucked me in from the first chapter and had me on the edge of the seat with the built up suspense, the ‘whodunit’, & the superb character development all which led up to a climatic and exhilarating ending that I did not see coming. Overall, this was a fun, twisty, suspenseful ‘whodunit’ thriller/mystery and Babitt is definitely an author to have on your radar! I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦A twisty, suspenseful ‘whodunit'
✦A fun murder mystery
✦A book with an unexpected ending that you don’t see coming
✦Great character development and an interesting, engaging plot
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
November 1, 2024
𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read this if you like short chapters, dual timelines, and female sleuths.
As Manhattan District Attorney Linda Haley wakes up to two police officers knocking on her door, she realizes that her husband never came home the night before. Guy is now the prime suspect in a murder, and has gone missing. As Linda starts investigating, she finds out that Guy had been living a double life. She heads out with her investigator to the small town of Manatawkett, where one summer 40 years ago her husband’s life was changed forever.
I am torn about this book. While I enjoyed it, I expected it to be more focused in the present time and on Guy’s relationship with the mystery woman he met on the train, but the story is really focused on his life that one summer all those years ago. Still an enjoyable read with some interesting characters and some good twists.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Penzler Publishers for an ARC of this book.
Read this if you like short chapters, dual timelines, and female sleuths.
As Manhattan District Attorney Linda Haley wakes up to two police officers knocking on her door, she realizes that her husband never came home the night before. Guy is now the prime suspect in a murder, and has gone missing. As Linda starts investigating, she finds out that Guy had been living a double life. She heads out with her investigator to the small town of Manatawkett, where one summer 40 years ago her husband’s life was changed forever.
I am torn about this book. While I enjoyed it, I expected it to be more focused in the present time and on Guy’s relationship with the mystery woman he met on the train, but the story is really focused on his life that one summer all those years ago. Still an enjoyable read with some interesting characters and some good twists.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Penzler Publishers for an ARC of this book.
December 8, 2025
Met the author at a Barnes and Noble in NYC and decided to give the book a chance. It was totally worth it! I'm not huge into this genre, but I thought this story was engaging and the reading itself was easy and enjoyable (despite dark subject matter).
The big reveal (the flashback one) actually really affected me. I kind of put it together right before the reveal but I love that! People always want a crazy shocking unexpected twist but this one was perfectly foreshadowed, and therefore when it happened it was very gratifying. I think Babitt nailed down the small summer town during winter season vibe very accurately.
Of course, the big climax was a little ridiculous, and like all books, there are a few "wait how did that happen??" moments, but I have almost never not seen that in a book (even some of the most famous) and this one is not egregious by any means. Would totally recommend!
The big reveal (the flashback one) actually really affected me. I kind of put it together right before the reveal but I love that! People always want a crazy shocking unexpected twist but this one was perfectly foreshadowed, and therefore when it happened it was very gratifying. I think Babitt nailed down the small summer town during winter season vibe very accurately.
Of course, the big climax was a little ridiculous, and like all books, there are a few "wait how did that happen??" moments, but I have almost never not seen that in a book (even some of the most famous) and this one is not egregious by any means. Would totally recommend!
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