Great plot irritating heroine

This is the second of Ruth Ware's books I have read and although the plot is gripping the heroine left me frustrated. I found her highly strung and irritating . Despite this I would recommend the book and will continue to read more by this author.

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Slow to get into, but worth it

First 3.5 hours I was questioning whether to persist, but absolutely glad I did as the rest of the story kept me looking for opportunities in my day to keep listening to hear what happens next.
The main character drove me mad and I felt a bit trapped in her head (a place I didn’t like because she’s so annoying), but the actual events in the story had me hooked and gasping out loud at each discovery.
Definitely worth a read / listen.

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tense, claustrophobic and nail-bitingly intense

The Woman in Cabin 10 was one of my best finds on kindle monthly deals this year – and one of my favourite audiobook mysteries of 2017 to date. I loved everything about this book, from the neurotic main protagonist Lo Blacklock to its claustrophobic setting on a boat where there is a killer on the loose. With increasing interest in the legal loopholes of death at sea (which is a fascinating subject, I agree), there have been quite few contemporary novels which have exploited the controversy to create tense mysteries with their own unique take on the obstacles encountered by victims or families of victims seeking answers, and justice. But by far none of them have done it quite as well as Ruth Ware, who – in my humble opinion – has created a true masterpiece of suspense set aboard a luxury yacht. I really love a good cat-and-mouse game, and this was one of the best!

Ensconced in the tight (but relatively safe) confines of my car, I could picture Lo’s growing panic trapped aboard the boat with a killer only too well – and nobody willing to believe her story. Ironically, at the same time, I was yearning for just such a luxury trip, and bemoaning Lo’s persistence to pursue the story. Chill, Lo, just sit in the hot-tub and sip champagne! With Lo being slightly on the neurotic side (an understatement) and not disinclined to imbibe in alcohol to self-medicate her PTSD, there is of course always that niggling doubt as to how reliable her reality really is. Is Lo going crazy? Is her paranoia not stepping slightly over the conspiracy-theory line? Was there ever even a girl in Cabin 10? But every time I thought I had worked it all out, Ware managed to toss another curveball, throw a bit of tense action into the mix. I especially loved the inclusion of the “now” elements into the story, the emails and blog posts concerning Lo’s disappearance. So very well done!

This was an extremely tense, claustrophobic and nail-bitingly intense read that kept me guessing throughout, and had me sitting quietly in my carport late at night still listening to “just a few more minutes” because I absolutely had to find out what happens next. Praise also goes to Imogen Church, whose voice was perfect for Lo’s character and made listening all the more compelling and enjoyable!

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Interesting

It’s a great murder mystery and very interesting when it comes to finding who did it.

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Poorly written

I hate to leave bad reviews but this book in particular had me frustrated. After seeing many promising reviews I am left disappointed by the poor story line, plot holes and just general lack of interest I felt for this book. Even in the reveals I felt underwhelmed and so many points were left unexplained or just don’t make sense. It had potential but missed the mark unfortunately

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Good story, terrible accents

The story itself is interesting and suspenseful but why oh why would you get a narrator to do lengthy passages of dialogue in terrible foreign accents??!! It really takes you out of the story and makes it hard to enjoy all the way through.

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unsuspecting story! loved this book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

100%, gripping book! I loved this one, I couldn't put it down! Lots of twists in the book, good tension built throughout.

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Intense!

I found the story a bit slow to get into, however pursued the read and, wow, did not expect the outcome! A who-done-it tale which kept me hooked until the end.

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That was OK, but wouldn't recommend

Would you consider the audio edition of The Woman in Cabin 10 to be better than the print version?

I only heard the audio version, have not seen the printed book. and I don't think I would be more interested in either of them. Idea is interesting, but not original.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book made me very annoyed sometimes hearing the main heroine being always not sure, not been able to do something, always stressed and depressed. In the end whatever happened to her was the result of some very stupid actions; and then for another couple of chapters she would sit and think how stupid she was....

Any additional comments?

It was not a complete waste of time, but i would not recommend it to anybody.

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3 people found this helpful

Good story but awful narration

What did you like best about The Woman in Cabin 10? What did you like least?

I enjoyed this book overall, even though the main protagonist, Lo Blacklock, was unbelievably annoying at times. I found myself screaming at her when she did yet another inept thing. There was a good twist at the end, although I had worked it out and was not surprised. This book was let down by the narration. Imogen Church overdid the dramatic bit, increasing my irritation. I suspect that I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it rather than listening to it. The book begins with Lo Blacklock waking up one night with an intruder in her home. This is not particularly relevant to the plot, other than underlining that she is neurotic, although one should not be dismissive of mental illness and she does take medication for an anxiety disorder. This is partly why no one believes her when she thinks that someone has been murdered in the eponymous cabin 10, the cabin next to hers on an exclusive small cruise ship. Lo has been invited in the maiden voyage in her capacity as a travel writer. The rest of the guests are also from the press, and they are all awful. The only vaguely likable character is Lo's boyfriend Judah, but his is a bit-part only.

What could Ruth Ware have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I think the book could have been shortened and more tightly edited. Some of the dramatization was over done.

Which character – as performed by Imogen Church – was your favourite?

None. I did not like her reading at all.

Did The Woman in Cabin 10 inspire you to do anything?

Scream.

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3 people found this helpful