Hello, readers. Today let’s go over The Woman in Cabin 10, by Ruth Ware, published in 2016. This is the second Ruth Ware novel I’ve read; the other was The Turn of the Key. Both books are claustrophobic, walking plot twists.
The Woman in Cabin 10 is about Lo Blacklock, an ambitious journalist eager to prove herself by covering a press launch of a new luxury cruise ship. The timing of the trip couldn’t be better: Lo’s apartment was broken into days before the scheduled cruise. She is looking forward to a few days of relaxation to recover from the break-in. Most importantly, she desperately wants to catch up on the sleep she couldn’t get, in an apartment that no longer felt safe.
Plot Twist
Unfortunately, things go wrong almost from the minute the ship leaves safe harbor. The very first night onboard, Lo wakes up to the sound of screams. She runs out to her balcony just in time to see what she thinks is a woman’s body sinking below the waves. She reports the incident to security, who tell her the cabin is empty. No guest checked into that cabin, and all guests and crew are accounted for. No one believes her.
As a journalist, Lo can’t let this mystery go. She knows what she saw, and she’s determined to speak for the missing woman. Her questions to the crew and fellow passengers put her in even deeper danger. The more people she talks to, the less certain she feels about what she saw.
The Good Bits
I loved this book. I am very uncomfortable with tight spaces; parts of the story were tough for me to read. However, that just added to the overall creepy vibes of the book. Every new chapter I read changed my mind about what I thought happened in the chapter before. I was on the edge of my seat up to the very last page. Just don’t pack it on your next cruise, unless you’re planning to stay awake until you’re back on dry land.
THE SEQUEL?!
If you liked The Woman in Cabin 10, you’ll be excited to hear this: its sequel, The Woman in Suite 11, just came out yesterday, July 8. If this book wasn’t your jam but you’d like to check out others by Ruth Ware, she has a small pile of equally good reads available for purchase on her website: https://ruthware.com/
The Movie!!!!!
Netflix is adapting The Woman in Cabin 10 into a movie, starring Keira Knightley and Guy Pierce. It is expected to be released in late 2025. The Turn of the Key is also being considered for a future movie release.
How to Help
In support of fellow journalists, please check out the International Press Institute. The IPI is celebrating their 75th year defending journalistic freedom and the free flow of news around the globe. Find out more at https://ipi.media/
