Ruth Ware has long been hailed as one of the modern queens of psychological suspense. Her novel In a Dark, Dark Wood cemented that reputation. It’s no surprise she’s both a Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author. She has a knack for combining claustrophobic tension with elegant prose to create gripping mysteries. And this book is no exception; it’s a thriller, set at sea, that manages to trap both its protagonist (and its readers) in a world where nothing is as it seems.

At the heart of the novel is Lo Blacklock, a travel journalist given the chance to review a luxury cruise aboard the Aurora, a boutique ship with only a handful of passengers. But what begins as a career highlight soon spirals into a nightmare when Lo believes she witnesses a woman being thrown overboard from the cabin next door.

The twist? Everyone is accounted for.

Ware builds her story with expert precision, blending gothic atmosphere with Agatha Christie–style intrigue. The confined setting of the ship creates a sense of elegant unease, with glistening champagne flutes and polished decks masking a creeping dread that is ever more present with the changing weather out at sea. Lo’s growing paranoia becomes our own, as Ware’s sharp prose invites us to question whether Lo’s trauma and anxiety are clouding her judgement, or whether something truly sinister is unfolding.

Much like Ware’s other works (In a Dark, Dark Wood and The Lying Game), this novel thrives on atmosphere. Every creak of the ship, every splash of water, feels like a warning. Lo is a deeply flawed yet relatable heroine: determined, frightened, and desperately seeking truth in a world designed to make her doubt herself.

It’s this psychological complexity that elevates The Woman in Cabin 10 beyond a standard whodunnit. The novel explores gaslighting, the erosion of self-trust, and the terrifying isolation of being trapped, both physically and mentally.

While the story’s final act can feel slightly more cinematic than subtle, the tension never truly lets up. Even when the mystery unravels, Ware’s control over pacing and tone keeps you hooked until the very last chapter.

Nearly a decade after its original 2016 release, The Woman in Cabin 10 is once again in the spotlight thanks to Netflix’s new adaptation, released on 10 October 2025. Directed by Simon Stone, with an all-star cast lineup that includes Keira Knightley, Guy Pearce, and Hannah Waddingham, the film breathes new cinematic life into Ware’s tension-filled story.

The adaptation stays largely faithful to the book’s spirit, polished yet unnerving, elegant yet oppressive. Knightley’s portrayal of Lo captures both her fragility and determination, while Pearce and Waddingham bring depth to supporting roles that expand the world beyond the ship’s narrow corridors.

Over the years, The Woman in Cabin 10 has earned solid praise for striking the balance between classic mystery and modern psychological thriller. Many reviewers have likened the plot to an isolated, maritime version of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, with a closed setting full of suspects and hidden motives. Among readers, the novel’s mix of glamour and anxiety remains a draw: Google Books ratings praised it for the haunting ambience and the way Lo’s vulnerability invites empathy even as her reliability is questioned.

Nearly a decade since its original release, The Woman in Cabin 10 feels strikingly current, perhaps even more so today. Its exploration of credibility, particularly a woman’s credibility under pressure, has only grown more resonant. Ware captures how fear can distort perception, and how survival often depends on trusting your instincts even when no one else will.

With its spine-tingling twists, unexpected turns, and a setting as hauntingly beautiful as it is claustrophobic, The Woman in Cabin 10 reaffirms Ruth Ware’s mastery of psychological suspense. It’s a taut, unsettling journey that lingers long after the final page, less a straightforward thriller than a chilling study of perception, isolation, and the fragile line between truth and fear.

Other works by Ruth Ware

If The Woman in Cabin 10 has you hooked, you’ll love exploring Ware’s other chilling mysteries:

• In a Dark, Dark Wood (2015)
• The Lying Game (2017)
• The Turn of the Key (2019)
• One by One (2020)
• Zero Days (2023).

Explore more thrillers at Victoria Freudenheim

At Victoria Freudenheim, we love shining the spotlight on stories that blend elegant writing with pulse-pounding suspense. If psychological thrillers are your thing, explore our reviews of The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena or The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden next.

Rating: 3.8/5