Format: Kindle, 350 pages
Release Date: July 19, 2016
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press
Source: Amazon
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
In this tightly wound, enthralling story reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been assigned a lifetime assignment: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first, Lo’s stay was pleasant: the plush cabins, the dinner parties were sparkling, and the guests were elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly wrong…
Ruth Ware's The Woman in Cabin 10 is a gripping psychological thriller blends claustrophobic suspense with a classic whodunit mystery. Set aboard a luxury cruise ship, the novel follows travel journalist Laura "Lo" Blacklock as she grapples with a disturbing incident that spirals into a tense, paranoid-fueled investigation. With its atmospheric setting, unreliable narrator, and tightly wound plot, the book has cemented Ware’s reputation as a master of modern suspense.
Lo Blacklock, a 32-year-old journalist for a travel magazine, is given a dream assignment: a week-long trip on the Aurora, a boutique luxury cruise ship sailing through the Norwegian fjords. The Aurora is a brand new super-luxury cruise liner that will travel around the Norwegian fjords for it's maiden voyage. It's rather small with only 10 cabins, a maximum of 20 passengers, and a handpicked staff on board. Struggling with personal and professional pressures, including a recent traumatic burglary and a strained relationship with her boyfriend Judah, who seems to be itching to move to New York, Lo sees the trip as a chance to reset.
However, her fragile mental state—exacerbated by anxiety, insomnia, and heavy drinking—sets the stage for an unsettling experience. On the first night, Lo borrows mascara from a mysterious woman in Cabin 10, the room next to hers. Later, she is awakened by a scream and a loud splash, convinced she’s witnessed a body being thrown overboard from Cabin 10’s balcony. When she reports the incident, the ship’s crew insists that Cabin 10’s occupant is accounted for, and no passengers are missing. As Lo digs deeper, her credibility is questioned, and the line between reality and paranoia blurs.
Determined to uncover the truth, she navigates a web of secrets among the ship’s elite passengers and crew, all while the isolated Aurora sails further from help. Blacklock is a compelling protagonist whose flaws make her both relatable and frustrating. Her struggles with anxiety, PTSD from the burglary, and reliance on alcohol and antidepressants create doubt about her perceptions. Ware skillfully balances Lo’s determination with her vulnerabilities, keeping readers questioning whether her suspicions are grounded or delusional.
Ware intersperses the main narrative with snippets of emails, news articles, and social media posts hinting at Lo’s investigation’s broader consequences, adding layers of intrigue. The escalating sense of danger and Lo’s increasingly desperate search for answers keep the pages turning. The confined setting ensures that every encounter with passengers, crew, or even the ship’s layout feels fraught with potential menace. Lo’s struggle, anxiety, and trauma are not just plot devices but are portrayed with nuance, highlighting the challenges of navigating a crisis while battling internal doubts.
While consistent with her anxious and impulsive character, Lo's choices can frustrate readers. Her tendency to confront suspects directly or withhold key information from authorities sometimes feels contrived to prolong the plot. While this aligns with her unreliable nature, it sometimes risks straining believability. I'm not exactly a fan of the ending since it's like, hey, reader, are you ready to guess what happens next? NO!
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