As an English teacher for twenty-eight years, I’ve read countless books with my students. My love for Gatsby is like no other, but sometimes I crave stories that are edgier– ones that aren’t taught in school, but are still fun to share parts of with my juniors and seniors. Each January, I make myself a promise to prioritize personal reading and set aside at least twenty minutes a day to read for fun. This past summer, Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10 was the book that lingered in my mind long after I finished it. In fact, I’ve already read aloud the opening lines with my classes as a review of mood and tone, and I’m now thinking about creating a few mini-lessons on imagery and unreliable narrators (something Gatsby fans like me can appreciate!). I just love this book that much.
From the very first line– “In my dream, the girl was drifting, far, far below the crashing waves and the cries of the gulls in the cold, sunless depths of the North Sea”–I was drawn in. The story centers around Laura (Lo) Blacklock, a travel journalist who lands a dream assignment aboard a small, exclusive luxury cruise ship for the ultra-wealthy and powerful. It is on this maiden voyage that Lo believes she witnessed a woman (whom she met earlier) being thrown overboard from the deck of Cabin 10, even though all passengers appear to be accounted for. When she tries to report what she saw, she faces skepticism and resistance from the ship’s staff and elite guests. The ship’s remote location in the North Sea creates an intense and almost claustrophobic feeling as the events unfold. Communication with anyone on shore, including her family and the authorities, is nearly impossible. This, in combination with the building tension and suspicion amongst the other guests, further complicates Lo’s continued search for the truth and to find the missing woman.
Lo is a character with both an edge and softness about her that makes it easy to root for her. Her paranoia and trauma from a recent event impacts her mental state aboard the ship. She suffers from anxiety and insomnia. Her perspective on events can be blurred at times, making her seem unreliable- but instead of finding this frustrating, I thought it heightened the mystery and tension of the story. Ware weaves these anxieties and doubts (about what Lo truly believes she saw) throughout the text making her relatable and believable.
The pacing of the book is fast and intense, and at times I needed to re-read some passages or flip back to keep things straight, but overall this was a fun read that kept me guessing til the end. If you’re looking for a suspenseful thriller, then The Woman in Cabin 10 is a strong choice. Be ready for a book that stays with you long after you finish it. But don’t wait too long to read it –Netflix is set to release a film version in early October. I can’t wait to see Ruth Ware’s words brought to life on the big screen.
Robyn McDonough is in her 26th year teaching English at the Rondout Valley Central School District in Ulster County and has taught nearly every grade from seventh to twelfth. She currently teaches both AP English Lit and Lang, as well as several other Regents-level courses at the high school. Robyn is also an active member of her local union, the Rondout Valley Federation of Teachers and School-Related Professionals, and has served as both a teacher representative and vice president. She currently serves as a delegate for the Representative Assembly and is the Editor-in-Chief of the union’s newsletter. In her free time, Robyn enjoys working in her vegetable garden, reading, and making special memories with her husband, two children and rescue dogs.