The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

 

Travel journalist Lo Blacklock is on the maiden voyage of a boutique cruise ship when she witnesses the woman in the next cabin being thrown overboard. The owner and crew are adamant no one was staying in the cabin and everyone aboard is accounted for. Lo is still convinced she saw a murder; she just has to find a way to convince everyone.

The Woman In Cabin 10 is the book that brought author Ruth Ware to my attention, but for some reason, I didn't read any of her novels until The It Girl. The Woman In Cabin 10 slipped further and further down my TBR pile until the announcement of a sequel AND a Netflix adaptation. I am so glad I read the book first!

This is the third book in a row I've read that featured a female main character whose mental health makes them an unreliable narrator. The author takes time to build the backstory of Lo's fragile state of mind, and it's one that most women can empathise with: a lack of security, feeling powerless, the invasion of personal space.

Hoping that a trip aboard a luxury yacht will help her overcome her fears doesn't go to plan for Lo. She's still struggling with nightmares when she hears a scream. You get a real sense of frustration as no one believes her and feel angry at the intimidation she faces; you also feel her shame as her mental health is brought into question. Having her mental health questioned also makes Lo doubt herself, another emotion that is easy to empathise with.

Little snippets of news from home are interspersed with the narrative. This news doesn't follow the linear timeline and adds to the rising tension; it has you fearing for Lo's safety. It becomes impossible for Lo to trust anyone on board. The danger level increases as Lo uncovers the truth behind what happened in cabin 10, and she has no means of escape. I found the setting became very claustrophobic, which really added to a feeling of panic. I could feel my heart racing. The pace increases rapidly towards the end, and I was willing Lo on with every page I turned, desperate for her to reveal the truth to the world.

Author Details

Ruth Ware is an international number one bestseller. Her thrillers In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, The Lying Game, The Death of Mrs Westaway, The Turn of the Key, One by One and The It Girl have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including the Sunday Times and New York Times, and she is published in more than 40 languages. She lives on the south coast of England, with her family.