The Woman in Suite 11

Lo Blacklock #2

by Ruth Ware

In Ruth Ware's De vrouw in suite 11 keert Lo Blacklock terug om de opening van een luxe hotel bij te wonen, maar belandt ze al snel in een spannende achtervolging door Europa.
Wanneer journaliste Lo Blacklock een uitnodiging ontvangt om de persopening bij te wonen van een luxe hotel aan het Meer van Genève hoopt ze op een interview met de teruggetrokken en illustere eigenaar en miljardair Marcus Leidmann. Maar hij blijkt helaas nog moeilijker te benaderen dan zijn reputatie deed vermoeden.
Wanneer Lo ’s avonds laat een telefoontje krijgt met de vraag om naar Marcus’ hotelkamer te komen, stemt ze daarmee in, ondanks haar bedenkingen. Daar treft ze een vrouw die beweert de maîtresse van Marcus te zijn en zegt in levensgevaar te verkeren…
Wat volgt is een spannende kat-en-muisachtervolging door Europa, waardoor Lo zichzelf afvraagt ​​hoeveel ze bereid is op te offeren om deze vrouw te redden... en of ze haar überhaupt kan vertrouwen?
De vrouw in suite 10 is dit najaar te zien op Netflix met Keira Knightley in de hoofdrol.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Suspense, Adult

400 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2025

About the author

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, The It Girl, Zero Days, One Perfect Couple and The Woman in Suite 11 have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including the Sunday Times and New York Times, and have sold more than ten million copies.

Her books have been optioned for both film and TV, and she is published in more than 40 languages.

Ruth lives near Brighton with her family. Visit ruthware.com to find out more.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I rolled my eyes when I saw the news about The Woman in Cabin 10 getting a sequel—ten years after the first book. But as a devoted Ruth Ware fan, I kept my thoughts to myself, hit the request button without reading the synopsis, and dived in. Even though a decade had passed, and I’d long forgotten the character names and their backstories, I quickly refreshed my memory by grabbing my copy from the library and skimming through it before starting this one. That way, I could easily reconnect with each character and understand their motives.

The timeline in The Woman in Cabin 10: The Return aligns with real life, bringing us back to Lo Blacklock, now happily married with children. Once a travel journalist and survivor of the Aurora cruise ship nightmare—where she insisted she saw a woman thrown overboard, only for no one to believe her—Lo eventually proved her claims, endured terrifying events, and wrote a book about her experience.

Now, ten years after the harrowing incidents of Cabin 10, Lo is married to journalist Judas and raising two boys. She’s left her magazine job behind, choosing freelance journalism after giving birth and surviving the pandemic. But despite her contented family life, she misses the excitement of her past. So when she receives an invitation to attend the grand opening of an exclusive Swiss hotel, owned by the elusive billionaire Marcus Leidmann—who never gives press interviews—she's intrigued.

Her husband encourages her to go, seeing it as a well-deserved break and a chance to reconnect with the industry. On top of that, her old magazine asks her to conduct an interview—except it’s with Marcus Leidmann himself, a man notorious for rejecting journalists. Still, Lo is determined to try.

From the very start of her trip, unsettling events begin to unfold. Someone anonymously upgrades her flight to first class. The attendees at the press opening include familiar faces from the Aurora—her ex, Ben; gourmet critic Alexander; photographer Cole. But the most shocking presence? A person from her past, tied to the tragedy that changed her life. And this person needs Lo’s help.

If she says yes, she risks being dragged into another dangerous web—one that could shatter the peaceful life she’s built. If she says no, she’ll be haunted by guilt. But what she doesn’t realize is that the game being played behind closed doors is far darker than she could ever imagine. And this time, it’s not just her life at stake—but the lives of those she loves.

Overall:
As always, the pacing was fast and gripping, but I found Lo surprisingly naïve for throwing herself into chaos again after years of wisdom and stability. Bringing back a character from the first book felt somewhat unnecessary, but the mystery was so riveting that I kept turning the pages—biting my nails and shifting nervously in my seat until the very end. The conclusion was satisfying and well-wrapped, though I really hope we don’t get another sequel in another ten years. Let’s leave these characters with their resolutions.

I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to a solid 4 for the expertly crafted suspense and relentless pacing, especially in the final third, which was absolutely thrilling.

I highly recommend this to devoted fans of Ruth Ware (I proudly count myself among them!).

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books/Scout Press for providing an ARC of one of the year’s most anticipated thrillers in exchange for my honest opinions.

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[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published July 8, 2025.

It saddens me to give this 2 stars.

This is a follow up to THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 and also features Lo Blacklock, who has not gotten any wiser in ten years and, if possible, may be even dumber than before. I wouldn’t have thought it possible, yet here we are.

So, as I said, it’s ten years after the events of the first book. Lo is now in her 40s and is living by in America, married to Just dah and has two children. She’s been a SAHM since their birth but now she’s trying to ease back into work, specifically, travel writing again and she’s thrilled to receive an invitation to the opening of a posh hotel on Lake Geneva owned by billionaire Marcus Leichman.

She goes and it’s like a CABIN 10 family reunion with loads of characters from that book popping up, including one who claims to be in jeopardy and whom is seeking help from Lo. And, naturally, dumb ol’ Lo leaps right in.

I know I enjoyed some of Ruth Ware’s earlier books, but what has happened? This is not badly written, but, ugh. Anyone reading this will be yelling at Lo the whole time. She is just so STUPID. And she’s 40 years old and has children (a well placed call to CPS would not be amiss because I don’t know that she can be trusted with them.) Seriously, Ruth. You have to work with us here!

And, belatedly, read as part of the Book Lovers Challenge by the the Book Club Girls, prompt #8, read a book by an author with a pen name. Ruth Ware was one of the authors suggested by the girls and I didn’t see any others on their list I wanted to read, so I rugged a little since I had already read this one this year. Book still dumb.

[Tara — on semi-hiatus for health reasons; will check in when possible. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Available Now

Lo Blacklock is now married to Judah, and they have two sons. After taking a five-year break from writing full-time, Lo, a travel writer, is ready to reestablish her journalism career. She is surprised to receive an invitation to attend the press opening of a luxury hotel launch by the Leidmann Group on the shores of Switzerland’s Lake Geneva. Judah encourages her to go, and she believes she can get a paying article or two out of it, especially if she can interview Marcus Leidmann, the reclusive billionaire who owns it. After the event, she can visit her mother in England for a few days.
Immediately, Lo is surprised that her plane ticket was upgraded to first class. When she arrives at the hotel, she is shocked to run into three people from an event in her past: Ben Edward (her ex-boyfriend), Alexander, a gourmet critic and Cole, a photographer, They were all on the Aurora with her, and she wrote a best-selling book about it (Dark Waters). Then she is left a note in her room to come to suite 11 as soon as possible. Readers will be excited to discover how and what choices lead to Lo once again getting herself involved in someone else's dire circumstances. Trouble seems to follow Lo when she goes on assignments.

Do you remember the storyline of “The Women in Cabin 10”? Or are you one of these people who wrote to Ruth Ware asking her for a sequel? I can’t think of one reason anyone would want a sequel for a thriller like “The Women in Cabin 10”. It ended on a perfect note.

I especially don’t need a sequel to a book I read 9 years ago. Yet here we are with a subpar sequel. I’d agree with a few others who also made this statement: A thriller novel NEVER needs a sequel. Thrillers are meant to thrill, not drag on for the next 9 years!!

Of course, as a fan of Ruth Ware, an unnecessary sequel or not, I will still look forward to her next book(s) release.

However, there isn’t much to say about this book in terms of reviewing it. It’s a classic, fast-paced Ruth Ware book we all know and love. Her writing keeps a reader engaged and makes it difficult to put down.

I find the content of this book annoying. The only thing you must know about The Woman in Suite 11 is that the main character, Lo Blacklock, is so naive. She repeats and doesn't learn from the same mistakes, making the story unrealistic.

It is a shame because I was looking forward to another book from Ruth Ware. Hopefully, she will have something more exciting to offer in her next book. I miss her earlier work. I wouldn’t recommend this book to my reader friends; however, it’s still borderline entertaining. Even though you will be yelling out loud about how annoying Lo's stupidity is throughout the book.

After much consideration, I feel it’s important to share my thoughts with my readers. In my opinion, the use of the f-word was excessive; it appeared 106 times, along with the word "shit," which was used 12 times in a 400-page book. While I don’t have an issue with strong language, these instances felt disproportionate, constituting a quarter of the book.

I couldn't believe that was the total!! I highlighted every last one and counted them twice. This excessive profanity detracted from any intrigue and suspense. I also found the plot unrealistic lacking in substance and repetitive; the main character felt flat, lacking depth, and the supporting characters were one-dimensional, making it hard to root for them. I almost didn’t finish the book, but my curiosity prevailed. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I wanted to see how the plot would develop, and also wanted to find how many f-bombs were dropped.

Ultimately, I decided to lower my rating from 3 to 2.5 stars due to the excessive profanity and other issues.



Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

[Holly B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lo Blacklock #2

A sequel to The Woman in Cabin 10 (It was my first by this author)!

Yes, of course, I had to read this one!

The synopsis promises a thrilling cat and mouse chase, but I have to say I wasn't very thrilled (sadly).

Lo has taken a career break and has been raising her boys. She wants to get back in the game though and has accepted an invitation to the press opening of a luxury Swiss hotel. She is a travel writer and thought it would be a good opportunity. A woman from her past that she may owe her life too shows up and things get way out of hand.

I felt the overall story was slow on suspense and pacing. It did hold my interest enough to keep reading, but there wasn't really enough "page-turning" happenings that I was expecting from this author!

Thanks to NG for the ARC! Comes out July 8, 2025

[Joey Tong · Rating 1 out of 5]

Example of when a book should not get a sequel

This main character is soo stupid and unlikeable. You are telling me that a 40 something year old women who has two children is this dense and gullible. First half of the book is so slow and took 50 percent until it got to a murder. One of the worst books I read this year period.

[Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lo is an idiot.

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years ago, The Woman in Cabin 10 not only made me fall for Ruth Ware’s writing, but for thrillers as well. Fast-forward almost a decade to the news of a sequel, and I was beyond overjoyed. After all, what could be better than more time with Lo in The Woman in Suite 11? Well, needless to say, while Ware’s classic relentless pace, relatable characters, and oodles of twists were there in spades, there was also a definite need to suspend all disbelief, which took away from the plot just a bit. You see, despite it being fast-paced and addictive, the over-the-top scenes sometimes overrode some of the fun and pulled me out of the fictional reverie, which was a shame.

In spite of the somewhat unhinged lean to the premise, however, for some reason I just couldn’t get enough of the plot or the characters. From the ratcheting suspense to the constant sense of foreboding, my skin tingled with unease as the events got fully underway. As for the characters, I quickly recalled how Lo’s questionable choices made me want to shake her but good. But then, that was a huge part of why I loved both her and the plot. A naive, overly trusting woman, I had a blast not only revisiting her past misdeeds, but also seeing her come full circle in all of her well-developed, fully fleshed out perfection.

I do have to mention, however, that while it might be possible to read this book without reminding yourself of what happened the last time around, I personally wouldn’t recommend it as you’ll have to fight to recall what happened when. So, if it’s been years since you met Lo and the rest of the crew, you might want to—at the very least —find a comprehensive summary complete with some spoilers. After all, while this story diverged quite a bit from the first book in the series, it also leaned somewhat heavily on bygone events so you might be a little bit lost between the returning characters and the barely-there recollections of past of scenes.

All said and done, despite a slow-boiling start and a flair for the dramatic, I loved this one *almost* as much as I hoped I would before diving in. You see, with plenty of cat-and-mouse antics and a whole host of possible mind games, I never knew when the next shoe was going to drop and shock me but good. That being said, it didn’t quite live up to the first book in the series. So while it oozed with rising dread and had me side-eyeing almost every character in turn, it certainly wasn’t my favorite book by this author. Still…If you’re looking for a one-sitting read filled with adrenaline-fueled hijinks, certainly give it a try. I loved it, and I hope you will as well. Rating of 4 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

When the invitation to attend the press opening of a luxury Swiss hotel—owned by reclusive billionaire Marcus Leidmann—arrives, it’s like the answer to a prayer. Three years after the birth of her youngest child, Lo Blacklock is ready to reestablish her journalism career, but post-pandemic travel journalism is a very different landscape from the one she left ten years ago.

The chateau on the shores of Lake Geneva is everything Lo’s ever dreamed of, and she hopes she can snag an interview with Marcus. Unfortunately, he proves to be even more difficult to pin down than his reputation suggests. When Lo gets a late-night call asking her to come to Marcus’s hotel room, she agrees despite her own misgivings. She’s greeted, however, by a woman claiming to be Marcus’s mistress, and in life-or-death jeopardy.

Thank you to Ruth Ware and Gallery/Scout Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: July 8, 2025

Content warning: panic attack/anxiety disorder, threatening messages, violence, kidnapping, home invasion, gun violence, mention of: murder

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars, cuz I really love Ruth Ware, but seriously the MC Lo Blaylock’s naivety made me want to smash my iPad more than once! Overall, it was a fairly decent thriller, but now I’m left questioning my original rating and memory of “Woman in Cabin 10” - was Lo always this slow on the uptake?? Or is it just my changing expectations as a reader?? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Anyway, I did like all the callbacks to the first book, and Lo aside, I liked the overall plot and ending, even if I could see it a mile away. Guess I’ll check out Lo on streaming this Fall & see how Keira does with her.

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, twisty, and immersive! The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware was exactly the kind of clever, stylish escape I needed for a fun getaway read.

As a Ruth Ware fan who often dives in without reading the synopsis (a habit I keep telling myself adds to the suspense), I hit the request button and jumped right in. I do have a bit of a love/hate relationship with her books. Sometimes I find her characters frustrating or the pacing uneven, but this time around I was in just the right mood. Even Lo’s occasional naïveté didn’t get under my skin, though I did question a few of her choices along the way. And there were a few f-bombs sprinkled in, which I don’t usually love, but they didn’t bother me here. Go figure, I was simply enjoying the story too much.

Even though nearly a decade had passed since The Woman in Cabin 10, and I had long forgotten the character names and backstories, Ruth Ware seamlessly wove in just enough to help me reconnect with Lo Blacklock and understand her motives, which I thoroughly appreciated.

Lo is juggling motherhood and trying to restart her career in journalism, and that felt real and grounded to me. The setting, a luxurious Swiss hotel perched on Lake Geneva, was dreamy on the surface but definitely had shadows underneath. When Lo gets a late-night call to come to billionaire Marcus Leidmann’s suite and finds a woman claiming to be his mistress and in serious danger, the story takes a turn. Not a high-octane, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, but more of a layered mystery with a rewarding, satisfying end. The puzzle pieces were all there, and while it wasn’t wildly unpredictable, it still managed to surprise me in the right way.

I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook to squeeze in more reading time, and while I usually love Imogen Church, I struggled when she switched voices for other characters, especially the kids. Those cringeworthy scenes had me jumping back to the page to save my sanity. 😂

The cover? Classic Ruth Ware. Moody, elegant, and a perfect fit for the story’s atmosphere without giving too much away.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the advance copy. A clever, escapist read I was happy to fall into.

As a mood reader, this one hit when I wanted something smart but not too tense, familiar but still fresh. It didn’t demand a lot of me, it just let me settle in and enjoy the layered mystery. I could dip in and out easily, which made the reading experience feel easygoing but satisfying. And even though it wasn’t flawless (I am looking at you, kid voices), it still left me glad I stayed in Suite 11 for a while.

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***

I was definitely apprehensive about a follow up to “The Woman In Cabin 10”. I’m hit or miss with this author but I thought I’d give it a go.

It’s been ten years since Lo Blacklock and her misadventures aboard the Aurora where she saw a woman thrown overboard - the incident and it’s aftermath changed her life.

Lo is now married with two little boys but has been yearning for the adventures she had as a travel writer. She’s not even sure that many in the industry remember her.

When she gets an invitation from billionaire Marcus Leichman to cover the opening of his posh hotel in Switzerland she is surprised. Her husband encourages her to go and perhaps connect with other journalists from her past.

What she didn’t expect was the appearance of others from her time on the Aurora including none other than Carrie who readers will know from the previous book. She claims that she is being held as a “prisoner” in her marriage to Marcus. She wants Lo to help her escape.

Here we go again - picture a hotel in place of the ship and we are in a cat and mouse chase across Switzerland and beyond!

This isn’t a strong mystery or thriller but after the initial set up it was entertaining. You definitely have to put believability aside for this one. 40 year old Lo hasn’t learned not to trust or believe others in the ten years since Cabin 10.

Read this one for a quick fun escape with familiar characters.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

[JanB · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sequel to the Woman in Cabin 10, Lo receives an invitation to the grand opening of a luxury hotel in Switzerland, owned by Marcus Leidman

Laura, “Lo”, thinks this is the perfect opportunity to jumpstart her journalism career, especially If she can get an interview with the reclusive and very private Marcus Leidman.

So off she goes, whisked into the mysterious 1st class upgrade on the way there, to an over the top suite in the grand hotel overlooking Lake Geneva, with the Alps in the distance.

Once at her destination, Lo attends the welcome cocktail hour, and is shocked to discover four people from her past were also guests.

Then Lo receives a mysterious invitation to suite 11, where she finds a woman from her past claiming to be in trouble & needing help.

And off Lo goes, once again drawn into drama and intrigue - and checking her brain cells at the door.

It was difficult to not feel frustration at Lo and her poor choices, but we all know people like Lo, and to be fair, it did drive the plot forward. Otherwise would we have a story?

In the end I found this to be an entertaining, compelling read. A fun popcorn read!

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 ★

This book is the definition of witnessing a train wreck and being unable to look away.

Was a sequel unnecessary? ✅
Was it predictable? ✅
Was Lo Blacklock one of the dumbest protagonists I’ve read a perspective from? ✅

Was I entertained? ✅✅✅

The Woman in Suite 11, the sequel to The Woman in Cabin 10, follows journalist Lo Blacklock to a luxury Swiss resort where a late-night encounter in Suite 11 pulls her into a dangerous chase across Europe.

As a fan of Ruth Ware who has read all her other books, I decided I needed to read this one, even though I had the unpopular opinion of disliking the first one. I was quickly questioning that decision as I got into this story.

I found that the reader is expected to remember and care a bit too much about a story some people read nearly 10 years ago. The setup felt eerily similar to the first book. I was questioning: Why am I here?! 🫠

Luckily, the more I read, the crazier it got. I ended up finding this one more entertaining and less repetitive than the first.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading chaotic mystery/thrillers with protagonists who make you shake your head over and over as they make dumb choices.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADD LO TO THE ‘NO FLIGHTS’ LIST ‼️

If you don’t take it too seriously, this book can be fun to read.

[Laura]

Okay turns out I don’t care what Lo is up to. I barely made it to the hotel before i tapped out🤡


okay so yes i'm going to read this

buuuuuuut did woman in cabin 10 NEED a sequel? thriller sequels are always so....... iffy

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Ruth Ware is an auto-read author for me, but her last few books have been more misses than hits for me, so I have ventured into Ware’s books a bit more skeptical nowadays. That being said, The Woman in Cabin 10 is my favorite novel of hers and it got me into wanting to start a bookstagram, so when I saw that she was writing a sequel, I knew that I needed to read it!

THE WOMAN IN SUITE 11 reintroduces Lo Blacklock, now a married mother of two, who has transitioned from her magazine job to freelance journalism. Despite her contented family life, Lo misses the thrill of her past adventures. When presented with an opportunity to attend the grand opening of an exclusive Swiss hotel owned by the elusive billionaire Marcus Leidmann, she seizes it, especially since her former magazine requests an interview with the reclusive owner. From the onset of her journey, mysterious events begin to unfold, setting the stage for another suspenseful narrative.

I enjoyed revisiting Lo Blacklock and despite not rereading The Woman in Cabin 10, I was able to quickly get back into the swing of things. I really enjoyed some of the returning characters (one specifically was the winner for me, but I’m not giving out spoilers). However, the story was very slow moving and took about 100 pages to really get into the action. I miss the fast-paced suspense from Ruth Ware’s older novels, but I did enjoy the return into Lo’s world and the luxury hotel vibes. I don’t expect another installment in this world, but no matter what Ruth Ware writes next, I will read it! STARS: 3.5, PUB: 7/8

AUTHOR RANKINGS:
1. The Woman in Cabin 10
2. The Death of Mrs. Westaway
3. The Turn of the Key
4. One Perfect Couple
5. In a Dark, Dark Wood
6. The IT Girl
7. The Woman in Suite 11
8. Zero Days
9. One by One
10. The Lying Game

[megs_bookrack]

Ha! This is so funny, because I love Ruth Ware, but The Woman in Cabin 10 is my least favorite of her work, yet this is the one we're getting a sequel for?!



Lo Blacklock would be the last protagonist that I would choose to spend more time with. Okay, that's probably a tad excessive, but she wasn't a fave.

Nevertheless, I think I'll reread it and then give this one a shot. Maybe I'll change my mind on ole' Lo...

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging enough, but a lot of disbelief had to be put aside and the main character was so easy to dupe.

[Casey Reads &#x1f338; · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had hit or miss reviews, so I thought it might not be as good, but I enjoyed the first one so much that I had to give it a try. It turned out the reviews were right.

This one had a strong start but then became long-winded. The twists and turns were so predictable in this one. Lo seemed like the dumbest girl in the entire world and I wanted to smack her.

I think this had promise, but fell a little flat. I enjoyed parts, but this should have been more condensed. This story was not worth the almost 400 pages. Also, I think the twists should have been a little less obvious.

While it wasn’t horrible, it wasn’t great either. I think this is one of those times where it’s nice to see the characters again, but the original did not really need this sequel.

[Allison Horrocks · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Woman” should stop traveling. 🚢🏨

[BookwormCat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t like this one for multiple reasons.

The Woman in Cabin Ten did not need a sequel in my opinion. I see that there is a movie coming out based on that book so perhaps that’s why we got a sequel. The Woman in Suite 11 does have some spoilers for the previous book though so if you haven’t read the first book, you might want to read it first.





******SPOILERS BELOW*******











Despite a decade passing from the previous book, getting married and having two children, Lo Blacklock is still one of the biggest idiots I have encountered in fiction. Lo isn’t even drinking in this book like in the last! She’s still a naïve idiot despite ten years passing! How does she manage to get even dumber in ten years? She makes questionable decisions that put her family in danger and had me rolling my eyes. I don’t know why she would help Carrie after what she did. Lo is still dealing with the aftermath of the trauma that Carrie caused. She shares her passport and identity with Carrie which is a major felony!

There’s no ‘cat and mouse’ chase across Europe. They leave the hotel and go to a fancy hotel in England. That’s it. Of course it has to be a fancy pricey hotel so the billionaire Carrie is running from can show up there. It’s very obvious that Carrie kills him.

There are plot holes and things that go nowhere or are forgotten about. The book is too long as well. We don’t need to know every thought that passes thru Lo’s head! To me the book was too slow and I got bored.

I listened to the audiobook from my local library. Imogen Church is the narrator as usual. She’s not my favorite reader, but I don’t mind her. I find that she reads too slow for me so I speed up the playback speed. Because I got bored the book was sped up considerably. Imogen did a perfect annoying toddler whine. I was wearing EarPods and she actually hurt my ears the whine.

Needless to say, I wish I would have passed on this one. I’m very glad I got this from the library instead of paying money for it.

[Melissa ~ Bantering Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

First thought: Lo Blacklock is no smarter now than she was in The Woman in Cabin 10. If she annoyed you in the first book, then she’ll annoy you just as much in The Woman in Suite 11 because it doesn’t seem she’s learned anything in the ten years that have passed between the two stories. I can’t tell you the number of times I shook my head in disbelief while listening to the audiobook due to her poor decision-making and gullibility.

I didn’t love Cabin 10, but seeing as it’s the only Ruth Ware novel I’ve ever read and I didn’t find it to be totally awful, I thought I’d give her another go and see if the sequel showed improvement.

And surprisingly it does. Despite all my head shaking, I enjoyed Ware’s latest quite a bit. I found it engaging and, though predictable and unsurprising, I was hooked as soon as I started listening to the audio.

Which brings me to my second thought: narrator Imogen Church makes the book seem better than it really is. If I had instead read Suite 11, I would not have liked it. Lo would’ve frustrated me to no end, and her stupidity and the plot’s unbelievability would’ve done the book in. But Church’s acting and voicing skills are excellent, and it’s so impressive how she flips her voice from character to character. It doesn’t matter if she’s portraying a woman or a man, she’s convincing, and her narration is pure entertainment. I had so much fun listening to her I could set aside my hang-ups with both Lo and the plot.

So if you like audiobooks and have a choice in the format, opt for the listening route. It’s for sure the way to go for maximum entertainment.

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lo Returns: Secrets in Suite 11

Reading by Mood
I followed my mood (as any good witch should) and dove straight into The Woman in Suite 11 after finishing The Woman in Cabin 10 and I’m glad I did.

Having Lo Blacklock’s backstory fresh in my mind made this sequel feel instantly tenser. Knowing what she’d already endured and understanding her fears and fragile mental state brewed up the tension from the very start.

Lo assignment this time is for the opening of a luxurious hotel. But someone in Suite 11 has other plans, and Lo finds herself swept into another web of secrets and danger.

Witchy Theorizing vs. Lo’s Logic
Now… confession time. I didn’t love this one as much as Cabin 10. I still like Lo as a character, but she grated on me here. Her drama kept me in it, but her constant overthinking, circling the same theories, and trying to piece it all together well, I am not a fan of that. I want to hunt the clues myself and feel that satisfying “click” moment. Let me do the witchy theorizing and overthinking

The Spell It Cast
That said, I do love a good cat-and-mouse game, and this story definitely entertained me.

🕷️ My Witchy Mood Meter: Almost Aligned
The energy was there. The mystery intrigued me. But it didn’t fully cast a spell.

Haven’t read Lo’s stories? Conjure both and binge away. Just keep a grounding crystal nearby for this one. (Witchy wink.)

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley

[Rachel L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set a decade after the events of The Woman in Cabin 10, Lo Blacklock is married, living in New York and has two children. When she gets invited to review a Swiss Castle, she takes the chance to have a break. But there, she meets some old acquaintances and is roped into a race across Europe.

Somehow, I liked this one better than Woman in Cabin 10?? But also I listened to the audiobook of this one and did the paperback of Cabin 10. Either way, my toxic trait is reading Ruth Ware's entire backlog and rating it 3 stars or lower (with the exception of 1 book). What can I say? The one thing Ware can do is set a mood or a tone, but I think she's pretty bad at her book endings. This book is no different.

It was interesting to see what happened to Lo after the last book, but this book was too long. I think it could have been edited down quite a bit. The story was fairly interesting, but I think I'll forget it shortly.

[Ranjini Shankar · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This was a total dud. I enjoyed Woman in Cabin 10 but this felt like a total money grab. The main character is a total idiot, having learned nothing from her first go around. Supposedly this book shows her more mature and as a grown woman with a husband and two kids and yet she is gullible, naive and just as stupid as she was before, if not more.

Lo is invited to a high end hotel PR party in Switzerland but when she arrives she finds that there are other guests who were with her on that first horrible cruise. She starts to suspect someone has more at play and then when she runs into an old acquaintance she realizes there’s definitely a connection to what happened before.

As soon as Carrie came back into play, I knew this book was going to get dumb fast. Sure enough, Lo loses all her logic and survival instincts immediately after meeting Carrie. I can’t believe I lost two days to this book.

[Dutchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

10 years have passed since we last met Lo. She now lives in America with her two kids and is in between jobs until she receives an invitation to be part of a hotel’s grand opening on Lake Geneva. Excited for the opportunity to possibly get an exclusive interview with the hotel’s owner she hops on the plane. Once there she discovers that she’s not the only guest who was invited who had previously been on the Aurora. Lo, being the naïve(I’m being very generous using the term naïve) person she is, finds herself in trouble once more.

The first half was almost identical to the previous novel, except the location is switched from a boat to a hotel. The second half definitely was more entertaining than the first, but you really had to shake your head at some of the decisions that Lo made to find herself in the situation she was in… Again.

I definitely think the first novel was better and there was personally no need for the second one especially since it felt like a good bit of it was rehashed. However, it was a fast read and all loose ends were tied up.

[Marialyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find another type job, Lo! 🛫 The travel business is not for you!

Nothing is ever free as Lo Blacklock soon learns. Invited to a new upper crust hotel in the Swiss Alps, she hesitates about accepting. Lo now has two children and a loving husband but after ten years home, she is itching to return to the writing business.

With the "Aurora" incident in the past, Lo heads to Lake Geneva where to her surprise some people from the Aurora incident appear, including her nemesis, who is now the mistress of the all powerful billionaire, Marcus Leidmann.

"Dying" to get a one on one interview with Marcus Leidmann, Lo soon finds out it is not all fun and frolic at this new hotel and shades of the terrifying past crop up.

Is Lo as naive or as trusting as it seems? Yes, indeed, and of course she is in danger even to the point of being arrested for murder. Gawk! However, all works out in the end and Lo is back in the good ole USA.

Unfortunately, this was not as good as many of Ruth Ware's books even seeming to be a tad repetitious and "been there, done that" vibes.

No more free travel assignments for Lo, one hopes. After all nothing is free.

2.5 stars

[Kurryreads (Kerry) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. Thank you gallery books for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

Publishes July 8 2025

I found Lo to be pretty insufferable throughout this story. It was just watching her make dumb dangerous decisions over and over. That being said, it was entertaining. The drama and the action never stops.

I will say I wasn’t a big fan of the whole wealthy corrupt family in this book, but it really was so engrained into the story that without them there would be no plot so I got on board.

Did I think the woman in cabin 10 needed a sequel? No. Did I enjoy this? Overall, yes. The author also definitely sets up the ending of this book for a potential 3rd book which I don’t at all think needs to be written.

Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTj5kQHqM/

[Liza Franklin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF very early on. I found her children whining annoying but I could not get past the way a travel writer could not fathom riding in first class on a plane. She marveled like a medieval serf. I just couldn’t take it.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because she didn’t make enough bad choices in The Woman in Cabin 10, Lo Blacklock is back to make some more in The Woman in Suite 11. It is 10 years since she barely survived the Aurora and she is now married with. 2 young sons and living in New York. All that is missing is her work, which has been on the back burner since becoming a mother and then Covid happened. When she receives an invitation in the mail to the press opening of a new luxury hotel in Switzerland she believes it could be the jump start she needs.

I don’t want to say too much more about the plot and everyone knows that it couldn’t possibly be that easy. Of course things go wrong and familiar faces reappear in her life. It is wild ride once it gets going. I read the first book when it first came out so I was a little vague on the details, but it all came back to me as I was reading this one, I did hope that Lo might have learnt something from the boat but it wouldn’t as good a story if she had would it.

RuthWare is a favourite thriller writer for me and I was not disappointed in this new book. Her twists are always interesting and plots are fun and quick read. Thanks so much to Gallery Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on July 8th.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ten years after the events on the Aurora. Laura Blacklock is a journalist who now lives in New York with her husband and two young sons. After taking six years off in part because of the pandemic and to raise her growing family and to write a book about what happened on the Aurora.
Laura is now invited to Switzerland to the opening of a hotel, The Grand Hotel du Lac. Looking to get back on the horse as a journalist Lo takes the offer leaving her family in New York.
Once Lo arrives in Switzerland she finds more than a few of the others involved in the events on the Aurora make an appearance. A coincidence or does someone have a hidden agenda that may involve murder?
When someone from Lo's past comes forth and asks Lo to help them with a huge favor should Laura trust them or not?
While the book can be considered a psychological thriller for me I wish the thrill factor would have been stronger and the ending left me feeling a little empty. I wanted someone pay for what they had done and instead Pieter took the cowards way out. I agree with what has already been said, why did we need a sequel. 3 stars. Thank You to Scout Press and Ruth Ware for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release date July 8 2025.

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
It’s been ten years since Laura (Lo) Blacklock almost lost her life on the ill-fated Aurora. She and Judah are now married and parents of two boys. When her youngest was born three years ago during the pandemic, she opted to stay home. Now she’s ready to re-enter the travel journalism marketplace but the landscape has changed significantly. Out of the blue, she receives an invitation to attend a luxury Swiss hotel opening owned by the reclusive Marcus Leidmann, a wealthy businessman who has also eluded the press. Enticed by the location and the possibility of snagging an interview, Lo accepts. Once there, all goes well until she receives a mysterious request to join Marcus in Suite 11, only to be greeted by a woman who’s a blast from the past.

the heart of the story…
It wasn’t a surprise to find Lo faced with another situation where she feels the need to come to the rescue of someone in distress, despite what happened ten years ago. It’s Marcus’s mistress who he’s kept in his own private prison. Even though what happens next had me screaming, “no, no, no,” at least her logic was somewhat sound and in character. I had my suspicions from the onset but they kept shifting so I gave Lo the benefit of the doubt.

the narration…
I’m a fan of Imogen Church and loved her interpretation of Lo, despite her “interesting” American accent for Judah. She’s also a talented storyteller.

the bottom line…
I didn’t want to listen to the first book again and was fortunate to find a summary of it that set me up perfectly. While Lo didn’t always use the best judgment here, she made enough smart moves to protect herself. It’s more of a puzzler than a thriller, often with some locked room elements. I was always engaged and liked being well immersed in Lo’s life prior to her arriving in Lake Geneva. Even though I saw the final twist coming, I heartily enjoyed the journey getting there. Here’s hoping there’s at least one more story to tell involving Lo Blacklock…and friends.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)