My review of The Woman in Cabin 10 will follow the publisher’s blurb.
From New York Times bestselling author of the “twisty-mystery” (Vulture) novel In a Dark, Dark Wood, comes The Woman in Cabin 10, an equally suspenseful and haunting novel from Ruth Ware—this time, set at sea.
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 given the assignment of a lifetime: 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 is nothing but pleasant, but as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the desk, 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, terribly wrong…
With surprising twists, spine-tingling turns, and a setting that proves as uncomfortably claustrophobic as it is eerily beautiful, Ruth Ware offers up another taut and intense read in The Woman in Cabin 10—one that will leave even the most sure-footed reader restlessly uneasy long after the last page is turned.
I’ll be the first to admit that the title of this book and the cover art are what hooked me. I’m bringing you this review a little late but since Ruth Ware is coming out with her third novel The Lying Game quite soon you may be interested in reading The Woman In Cabin 10, that’s if you haven’t already.
I love a good suspense novel. I like them because I want to see if I can pinpoint all the clues and ultimately figure out “the what” or “the who” before the ending. Sometimes I win, other times I loose. Was I able to figure this one out? I’ll just say this: there was a random sentence somewhere that got me thinking: “huh, I bet this is key”… and it was. But that is as far as I’m going to take you because, it is a suspense and mystery after all.
The novel is set on a luxury yacht, travelling in the deep cold waters between London and Norway. This brought back some awesome memories of my own recent adventures (pictures posted at the end of the post).. but let’s get back to the book.
The setting is tight with a small cast of characters, it’s claustrophobic and doesn’t give much wiggle room. You could really sense that “closed in feeling” while reading The Woman In Cabin 10. Most of all, I enjoyed the enigma. The way Ruth Ware gives the reader tidbits of information in an unsuspecting way. Asking myself always, is this a piece to the puzzle or a random bit of information to blow me off track.
As for Lo’s character, I’m on the fence with her. She was vulnerable, paranoid, unreliable and somewhat pitiable at times. I wasn’t sure I could count on her throughout the novel, in the end she surprised me. Characters that frustrate me are the ones I’ll stick with because I want to see just how far they will go down the rabbit hole. There were pages that I could have done without and yes there were parts of the novel that I liked more than others, some ramblings that I felt dragged on but overall, it was a wonderful distraction and enjoyable read.
It all comes down to why you read mystery or suspense novels. I feel if you are looking for a rollercoaster who done it. This one may not be for you. If you are leaning more on the “can I figure this out” then I’d definitely pick it up. If you are heading to the beach this summer or have planned a quick getaway, I’d definitely pack The Woman In Cabin 10 for a quick, light read.
Other works by Ruth Ware :
In a Dark, Dark Wook, published in 2015
The Lying Game, to be published in July 2017
The Woman in Cabin 10
Simon & Schuster | 352 pages | ISBN 9781501151774
* A copy of this novel was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
And before I forget, I’ve promised some photos of my recent travels to the fjords in Tadoussac Quebec. They very much remind me of The Woman In Cabin 10. Very moody and atmospheric !
