The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware


Review by Lauren


source: copy from BEA ’16; all opinions are my own


Official Summary: 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: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are 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, terribly wrong…

Review: This was one of the first books I read after coming back from BEA and man, is it good! This was a definite 5-star read for me and I don’t give out a TON of those. I love a good mystery/thriller and this book definitely kept me reading and wondering. I had no idea what was going on until all was revealed in the end, and I think it was done very well.

Lo is a great character, because she’s someone you can easily like and relate too. She’s a travel reporter who just wants to progress her career, but she’s not sure how to do that. When her boss can’t go on the inaugural cruise for the new ship Aurora, Lo is given the task and it’s a big deal. She could really do things for her career if all goes well, especially since a lot of other top reporters will be cruising with her.

Unfortunately, something almost immediately goes wrong. Lo wakes in the middle of the night, swearing she heard a scream. Then she hears a splash, almost as if someone had tipped a body overboard. She goes onto her balcony but can’t see anything, until she notices a streak of blood on the door next door. Of course, no blood is there when security finally make it to investigate. The room next door is spotless, even though Lo met a woman there just that evening, and the room had been full of clothes and makeup. Everything was gone, and Cabin 10 is meant to be empty. Nobody is missing. So what did Lo see and hear? And will anyone believe her?

A possible murder on a cruise is a great idea. If everyone is accounted for, then did a murder actually occur? And if it did, the murderer is probably still on board. Lo realizes this. She knows if she makes too much of a fuss, they could come after her, but she also can’t forget the woman she borrowed mascara from. If she was dead, she had to figure out who killed her and bring justice to the case.

Like I said before, this was a 5-star read for me and it’s one I’d definitely push on anyone who wants a really good mystery that leaves you guessing and your heart pounding! It’s very much a novel of suspense. I must read the author’s book before this one!