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No One Aboard
At the start of summer, billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron set off on their private luxury sailboat to celebrate the high school graduation of their two beloved children.
Three weeks later, the Camerons have not been heard from, the captain hasn’t responded to radio calls, and the sailboat is found floating off the coast of Florida.
Empty.
Where are the Camerons? What happened on their trip? And what secrets does the beautiful boat hold?
Set over the course of their vacation and in the aftermath of the sailboat’s discovery, No One Aboard is a delicious domestic mystery that asks who is more dangerous to a family: a stormy ocean or each other?
Three weeks later, the Camerons have not been heard from, the captain hasn’t responded to radio calls, and the sailboat is found floating off the coast of Florida.
Empty.
Where are the Camerons? What happened on their trip? And what secrets does the beautiful boat hold?
Set over the course of their vacation and in the aftermath of the sailboat’s discovery, No One Aboard is a delicious domestic mystery that asks who is more dangerous to a family: a stormy ocean or each other?
368 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2025
74 people are currently reading
13329 people want to read
About the author
Emy McGuire
4 books73 followersEmy McGuire holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre/creative writing from New College of Florida. She has toured nationally in the Edgar Allan Poe Show, sailed from Rome to Antigua, and written everything from ocean thrillers to pirate musicals. She lives in Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
December 12, 2025
Evoking the feel of the open ocean in all of its wild, out of control beauty, McGuire crafted a love letter to sailing all while closely studying four different characters’ behaviors, motives, and feelings. You see, for me, No One Aboard was a character-driven story about a dysfunctional family and their darkly toxic relationships. Packed to the gills with plenty of mysterious secrets, manipulative lies, and deceitful schemes, the claustrophobic feel of this locked-room setting delivered in spades. That being said, it felt more like a delicious mashup of suspense and family drama than any kind of thriller. Despite that, however, with a ratcheting pace and an ever-present sense of foreboding, I was wrapped up in this haunting tale of a fracturing family. After all, just when I thought I had it all figured out, a whopping big twist arrived on the scene.
All said and done, with a taut atmosphere that you could cut with a knife and a handful of characters who I found equally suspicious, this book was an easy slam dunk. From the rich people behaving badly to the found family vibe, there was a bit of everything in this near perfect debut. You see, the only teensy, tiny flaw that I could find was the slow burn first half. That being said, it gave me a fly-on-the-wall view of each of these characters and their secretive ways. Showing and not telling via some truly lyrical prose, the dual timelines and multiple POVs easily created a plot that kept me on the back foot throughout as twist after twist exploded into view. So if you love messy family dynamics or the feel of The White Lotus, this book is for you. After all, I had a blast riding the waves as these long-buried secrets were exposed. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
At the start of summer, billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron set off on their private luxury sailboat to celebrate the high school graduation of their two beloved children.
Three weeks later, the Camerons have not been heard from, the captain hasn’t responded to radio calls, and the sailboat is found floating off the coast of Florida.
Empty.
Where are the Camerons? What happened on their trip? And what secrets does the beautiful boat hold?
Thank you Emy McGuire and Gallery Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: December 2, 2025
Content warning: infidelity, drowning, violence, mention of: emotional abuse
All said and done, with a taut atmosphere that you could cut with a knife and a handful of characters who I found equally suspicious, this book was an easy slam dunk. From the rich people behaving badly to the found family vibe, there was a bit of everything in this near perfect debut. You see, the only teensy, tiny flaw that I could find was the slow burn first half. That being said, it gave me a fly-on-the-wall view of each of these characters and their secretive ways. Showing and not telling via some truly lyrical prose, the dual timelines and multiple POVs easily created a plot that kept me on the back foot throughout as twist after twist exploded into view. So if you love messy family dynamics or the feel of The White Lotus, this book is for you. After all, I had a blast riding the waves as these long-buried secrets were exposed. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
At the start of summer, billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron set off on their private luxury sailboat to celebrate the high school graduation of their two beloved children.
Three weeks later, the Camerons have not been heard from, the captain hasn’t responded to radio calls, and the sailboat is found floating off the coast of Florida.
Empty.
Where are the Camerons? What happened on their trip? And what secrets does the beautiful boat hold?
Thank you Emy McGuire and Gallery Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: December 2, 2025
Content warning: infidelity, drowning, violence, mention of: emotional abuse
September 21, 2025
I’ve been waiting to devour this story since its deal announcement and it did not disappoint! No One Aboard is a locked-room psychological suspense novel with unlikeable characters, dual timelines, and an overarching mystery: what happened to the Camerons?
McGuire’s writing evokes an atmosphere of claustrophobia and dread from the very first page. The pacing was exceptional — there are several mysteries at play with tidbits, reveals, and twists peppered throughout the novel — making for a compelling and emotional narrative. I loved the jumping timelines, which added tension to the plot as the chapters counted down to the Cameron’s eventual disappearance/demise. I furiously turned the pages and gasped at each reveal.
The domestic mystery is as thrilling as the overarching mystery — getting to the heart of who the Camerons are individually and as a family. In this story there are no good characters, so it all comes down to motivation — what drives a character who has been pushed to the edge time and time again — do they rise to the occasion or whither in its shadow? It’s brilliant character development when you can both despise and understand them in equal measure.
Overall, this was a fantastic debut with a richly layered plot and complex characters. I cannot wait to read what McGuire writes next!
Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
McGuire’s writing evokes an atmosphere of claustrophobia and dread from the very first page. The pacing was exceptional — there are several mysteries at play with tidbits, reveals, and twists peppered throughout the novel — making for a compelling and emotional narrative. I loved the jumping timelines, which added tension to the plot as the chapters counted down to the Cameron’s eventual disappearance/demise. I furiously turned the pages and gasped at each reveal.
The domestic mystery is as thrilling as the overarching mystery — getting to the heart of who the Camerons are individually and as a family. In this story there are no good characters, so it all comes down to motivation — what drives a character who has been pushed to the edge time and time again — do they rise to the occasion or whither in its shadow? It’s brilliant character development when you can both despise and understand them in equal measure.
Overall, this was a fantastic debut with a richly layered plot and complex characters. I cannot wait to read what McGuire writes next!
Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2025
A wild ride from start to finish!
A suspenseful thriller about a wealthy family who vanishes while on a luxury sailboat vacation.
White Lotus meets The Last Thing He Told Me - this one is equal parts domestic mystery and family drama. It is immediately intriguing and you as the reader can’t help but feel unsettled as the book goes on and the mystery unravels. Something is very wrong here…
A truly fun reading experience with nuanced, unlikable characters that hook you into their drama, a mystery that keeps getting more wild, and unexpected twists, turns, and reveals along the way. Highly recommend for those looking for a quick mystery that will make you keep turning the page!
I will say some of it was predictable and I wish we got a final resolution between characters, but otherwise I’m happy to have gone on this journey!
Read For
- Rich People Behaving Badly
- Dual Timelines
- Multiple POVs
- Complicated Family Dynamics
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review
A suspenseful thriller about a wealthy family who vanishes while on a luxury sailboat vacation.
White Lotus meets The Last Thing He Told Me - this one is equal parts domestic mystery and family drama. It is immediately intriguing and you as the reader can’t help but feel unsettled as the book goes on and the mystery unravels. Something is very wrong here…
A truly fun reading experience with nuanced, unlikable characters that hook you into their drama, a mystery that keeps getting more wild, and unexpected twists, turns, and reveals along the way. Highly recommend for those looking for a quick mystery that will make you keep turning the page!
I will say some of it was predictable and I wish we got a final resolution between characters, but otherwise I’m happy to have gone on this journey!
Read For
- Rich People Behaving Badly
- Dual Timelines
- Multiple POVs
- Complicated Family Dynamics
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review
May 14, 2025
I had the amazing opportunity to be one of the first people to read this book. McGuire's prose is captivating and full of imagery. The fast-paced thriller keeps you reading until all of a sudden you've finished the book and you have no idea where the time went. At the core of this story are its characters- who feel both like something out of a high-stakes Shakespeare play and like your next door neighbors. As someone who grew up in South Florida, the working-class Southern characters feel like home to me, which juxtaposes with the nouveau-riche yachting family in a clash of class tension. The comparison to White Lotus is quite apt. Don't expect to know exactly who to trust and who to root for at all times... this book affords so much complexity to all of its players. If you enjoy found families, coming-of-age stories, domestic thrillers, soap operas, the rich and powerful getting what they deserve, and murder: you will fall in love with McGuire's novel, as I certainly did.
October 16, 2025
Captivating and fast-paced, this domestic thriller is an absolute wild ride!
I was completely hooked from the very beginning — the twists were unexpected and kept me flipping the pages late into the night. With its dual timeline and layered storytelling, this mystery dives deep into complicated family dynamics and long-buried secrets, making it both gripping and emotionally charged.
A thoroughly entertaining read that blends tension, emotion, and surprise perfectly.
Thank you so much to Emy McGuire for reaching out and sending me this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I was completely hooked from the very beginning — the twists were unexpected and kept me flipping the pages late into the night. With its dual timeline and layered storytelling, this mystery dives deep into complicated family dynamics and long-buried secrets, making it both gripping and emotionally charged.
A thoroughly entertaining read that blends tension, emotion, and surprise perfectly.
Thank you so much to Emy McGuire for reaching out and sending me this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
December 3, 2025
A luxury yacht in perfect condition, nothing out of place, everything looking like a wonderful trip had started, but the boat is empty and floating on its own.
Jerry Baugh saw it because it almost crashed into his lobster boat.
The only sign of anything amiss is a note written in lipstick on the mirror that says "Save yOur Self."
The police investigation begins as the world finds out millionaires Francis and Lila Cameron along with their children and crew have vanished.
None of the Camerons are likable except Rylan. In fact, they all have some sort of secret, some sort of plan, and backgrounds that we see in alternating chapters and help us learn more about each character.
It's a good mystery, and to me a character-driven storyline with one of the characters trying to sabotage the whole trip, but why?
Or is there another reason the boat is empty?
Find out what’s going on in this slow buildup of a read with twists that will have your head spinning and a great ending. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Jerry Baugh saw it because it almost crashed into his lobster boat.
The only sign of anything amiss is a note written in lipstick on the mirror that says "Save yOur Self."
The police investigation begins as the world finds out millionaires Francis and Lila Cameron along with their children and crew have vanished.
None of the Camerons are likable except Rylan. In fact, they all have some sort of secret, some sort of plan, and backgrounds that we see in alternating chapters and help us learn more about each character.
It's a good mystery, and to me a character-driven storyline with one of the characters trying to sabotage the whole trip, but why?
Or is there another reason the boat is empty?
Find out what’s going on in this slow buildup of a read with twists that will have your head spinning and a great ending. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 17, 2025
I was so fortunate to read an ARC of this book, and I can truly say without a doubt that Emy is one of the great talents of our time. This story gripped me from page one and never let go—from the intricately woven plot, to the mysterious and intriguing characters, to the prose that had my jaw on the floor. No One Aboard is 100% just the beginning for this amazing author and I cannot wait to have this one on my shelf!
December 16, 2025
No One Aboard by Emy McGuire is a taut, chilling domestic mystery about billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron and their two children Rylan and Tia, who set off on a luxurious sailboat cruise to celebrate the kids’ graduations only to vanish without a trace, leaving their ship adrift off the Florida coast and prompting a multifaceted search that unravels hidden tensions, secrets, and betrayals among the family and crew as the novel plays out across dual timelines.
The narrative blends psychological suspense with family drama, posing the haunting question of whether the sea’s merciless force or the fractured relationships within the family pose the greatest danger. McGuire’s debut leans into claustrophobia, mystery, and deeply flawed but compelling characters.
This book made me feel both unsettled and fully engrossed, because McGuire captures not just the eeriness of a ghost ship adrift but also the raw emotional turmoil simmering beneath the surface of the Cameron family’s vacation, drawing you into alternating perspectives and timelines that peel back layers of motive, resentment, and vulnerability. The characters emerge as richly textured and often morally complex, meaning you might find yourself empathetic and exasperated by them in equal measure, which to me heightened the suspense and emotional engagement. I liked the pacing and twists, and these kept me glued to the page even when certain sections meandered slightly, particularly in the middle. The multiple POVs deepened the intrigue while occasionally requiring extra focus to track.
For its captivating plot, layered family dynamics, and the way it made me feel both tense and curious about every choice the characters made, I would rate No One Aboard a 4 out of 5 stars, because it’s a compelling debut that delivers strong mystery, psychological depth, and dramatic tension even if some parts feel more atmospheric than action‑driven.
The narrative blends psychological suspense with family drama, posing the haunting question of whether the sea’s merciless force or the fractured relationships within the family pose the greatest danger. McGuire’s debut leans into claustrophobia, mystery, and deeply flawed but compelling characters.
This book made me feel both unsettled and fully engrossed, because McGuire captures not just the eeriness of a ghost ship adrift but also the raw emotional turmoil simmering beneath the surface of the Cameron family’s vacation, drawing you into alternating perspectives and timelines that peel back layers of motive, resentment, and vulnerability. The characters emerge as richly textured and often morally complex, meaning you might find yourself empathetic and exasperated by them in equal measure, which to me heightened the suspense and emotional engagement. I liked the pacing and twists, and these kept me glued to the page even when certain sections meandered slightly, particularly in the middle. The multiple POVs deepened the intrigue while occasionally requiring extra focus to track.
For its captivating plot, layered family dynamics, and the way it made me feel both tense and curious about every choice the characters made, I would rate No One Aboard a 4 out of 5 stars, because it’s a compelling debut that delivers strong mystery, psychological depth, and dramatic tension even if some parts feel more atmospheric than action‑driven.
November 28, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this book, but parts were confusing/slightly underwhelming. Rylan, Tia, and Lilas story really kept the pages turning for me though. I finished this in one day because I just wanted to know WHAT HAPPENED. I wish the epilogue was slightly longer because I just neeeeeded that ending. It definitely was a page turner, and there were moments I was shocked.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this book, but parts were confusing/slightly underwhelming. Rylan, Tia, and Lilas story really kept the pages turning for me though. I finished this in one day because I just wanted to know WHAT HAPPENED. I wish the epilogue was slightly longer because I just neeeeeded that ending. It definitely was a page turner, and there were moments I was shocked.
November 3, 2025
I can’t wait to get my hands on this book!
September 30, 2025
Thank you so much @htp_hive @htpbooks @graydonhousebooks for the complimentary DRC. #hiveinfluencer
An entertaining, rich people behaving badly, story. It’s mystery, meets lots of family drama, with a dash of soap opera.
The plot kept me guessing until the very end, which I always appreciate.. That said, I didn’t find myself emotionally invested in any of the characters, they were all so unlikeable, some moreso than others, but still no one I would root for. If you love a book full of truly hateable characters, this one’s for you.
You do need to suspend disbelief a bit, especially with some of the plot points, but if you’re here for the drama, it’s worth the ride. My only real wish? An epilogue. I needed just a little more closure.
An entertaining, rich people behaving badly, story. It’s mystery, meets lots of family drama, with a dash of soap opera.
The plot kept me guessing until the very end, which I always appreciate.. That said, I didn’t find myself emotionally invested in any of the characters, they were all so unlikeable, some moreso than others, but still no one I would root for. If you love a book full of truly hateable characters, this one’s for you.
You do need to suspend disbelief a bit, especially with some of the plot points, but if you’re here for the drama, it’s worth the ride. My only real wish? An epilogue. I needed just a little more closure.
December 2, 2025
Finished reading: November 30th 2025
"He was right, after all. About more things than he realized."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Graydon House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
December 17, 2025
There is an Oh. My. Gosh! moment!
No One Aboard by Emy McGuire is an incredible, unputdownable thriller that kept me fully engaged from the first page to the last. The characters are deeply flawed. They are clearly driven by selfishness, greed, secrets, and quiet sadness. This made them compelling and realistic. I also appreciated how much I learned along the way, particularly about maritime law, and even picked up some new vocabulary, something I always enjoy in a well-written novel.
The story centers on Francis and Lila Cameron, ultra-wealthy billionaires who seemingly want for nothing, as they set sail with their twin children to celebrate the teens’ high school graduation. Traveling from one luxurious home to another, the voyage should be idyllic, yet discontent and tension among the family surface almost immediately.
Being trapped on a boat with deeply unhappy people sounds dreadful, and McGuire uses that claustrophobic setting to powerful effect. This novel tells more than one story, and that layered storytelling is what makes it such a riveting read. With multiple points of view and dual timelines, the narrative remains consistently engaging. I loved how the book seamlessly crosses genres—blending mystery, thriller, and psychological suspense. The tension is established early and steadily builds with each chapter, ultimately delivering a very satisfying conclusion.
Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
No One Aboard by Emy McGuire is an incredible, unputdownable thriller that kept me fully engaged from the first page to the last. The characters are deeply flawed. They are clearly driven by selfishness, greed, secrets, and quiet sadness. This made them compelling and realistic. I also appreciated how much I learned along the way, particularly about maritime law, and even picked up some new vocabulary, something I always enjoy in a well-written novel.
The story centers on Francis and Lila Cameron, ultra-wealthy billionaires who seemingly want for nothing, as they set sail with their twin children to celebrate the teens’ high school graduation. Traveling from one luxurious home to another, the voyage should be idyllic, yet discontent and tension among the family surface almost immediately.
Being trapped on a boat with deeply unhappy people sounds dreadful, and McGuire uses that claustrophobic setting to powerful effect. This novel tells more than one story, and that layered storytelling is what makes it such a riveting read. With multiple points of view and dual timelines, the narrative remains consistently engaging. I loved how the book seamlessly crosses genres—blending mystery, thriller, and psychological suspense. The tension is established early and steadily builds with each chapter, ultimately delivering a very satisfying conclusion.
Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
December 1, 2025
A luxury boat is found drifting at sea with no one aboard, leaving people puzzled. We then follow various characters in this dual timeline thriller to find out what happened.
This is a slowburn thriller that quietly pulled me under before I knew it. I loved how layered this story was giving us the complexities and journey of these people onboard this ship before they went missing. The story was also atmospheric in making me feel unsettled and claustrophobic in some scenes and I loved that!
Thank you Netgalley, Emy McGuire and publishers for a digital copy of this thriller !!
This is a slowburn thriller that quietly pulled me under before I knew it. I loved how layered this story was giving us the complexities and journey of these people onboard this ship before they went missing. The story was also atmospheric in making me feel unsettled and claustrophobic in some scenes and I loved that!
Thank you Netgalley, Emy McGuire and publishers for a digital copy of this thriller !!
Read
November 28, 2025I am still traumatized by watching Dead Calm as a teenager so I went into this with a fair amount of trepidation but I really enjoyed it.
A family of four (mom, dad, college-aged twins) sets sail in the boat with a small crew but immediately we see that something is not quite right. One person dies and the reaction of the father of the family is odd and unexpected. What is going on? Who can the kids trust? Will they all end up dead? This had a nice "We Were Liars" vibe that I think readers of psychological suspense will enjoy.
A family of four (mom, dad, college-aged twins) sets sail in the boat with a small crew but immediately we see that something is not quite right. One person dies and the reaction of the father of the family is odd and unexpected. What is going on? Who can the kids trust? Will they all end up dead? This had a nice "We Were Liars" vibe that I think readers of psychological suspense will enjoy.
November 18, 2025
This book is a great example of when overly flowery writing distracts from the plot. Minute details seemed to take priority over forward momentum. The characters are painfully unlikable, which may appeal to some but I struggled with this. Overall I just had a very difficult time getting invested in this book.
Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.
Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.
November 30, 2025
At the start of summer, billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron set off on their private luxury sailboat to celebrate the high school graduation of their two beloved children. Three weeks later, the Camerons have not been heard from, the captain hasn’t responded to radio calls, and the sailboat is found floating off the coast of Florida.
EMPTY
These characters just get a bit crazier and crazier as this story moves along. And as a reader, this really keeps you guessing. This is very much a character driven tale. And I will be honest, when I first started it, I thought…I am not reading this…way too many characters. But the author does a fabulous job introducing them and keeping the intensity up.
Also, this story has some beautiful prose. It will come out of no where and surprise you. One minute you are trying to figure out what is going on and the next you are blown away with a description or a character’s feeling.
Need a story which will keep you guessing…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
EMPTY
These characters just get a bit crazier and crazier as this story moves along. And as a reader, this really keeps you guessing. This is very much a character driven tale. And I will be honest, when I first started it, I thought…I am not reading this…way too many characters. But the author does a fabulous job introducing them and keeping the intensity up.
Also, this story has some beautiful prose. It will come out of no where and surprise you. One minute you are trying to figure out what is going on and the next you are blown away with a description or a character’s feeling.
Need a story which will keep you guessing…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
November 30, 2025
Rating 4/5 🌟's
No One Aboard is an eerie, claustrophobic thriller that grabs you by the collar from the opening pages and never loosens its grip. Emy McGuire does a brilliant job building tension not with jump-scares, but with atmosphere—the kind that makes you feel the boat rocking under your feet as you read.
The setup is simple but irresistible. An abandoned vessel, a disappearing crew, and one character determined to figure out what happened. What I loved most is how McGuire blends psychological unease with slow-burn mystery. The isolation is palpable, the twists are well-timed, and the creeping sense of “something is very wrong here” kept me on edge.
The pacing is tight and the reveals land with a satisfying snap. I especially enjoyed how the book plays with perception you’re constantly questioning what’s real and what’s imagined.
If you enjoy maritime mysteries, closed-circle thrillers, or that delicious sinking stomach kind of suspense, this one is a must-read.
Highly recommended for fans of:
Ruth Ware
Lucy Foley
Survival/Isolation thrillers
Unreliable narrators
No One Aboard is an eerie, claustrophobic thriller that grabs you by the collar from the opening pages and never loosens its grip. Emy McGuire does a brilliant job building tension not with jump-scares, but with atmosphere—the kind that makes you feel the boat rocking under your feet as you read.
The setup is simple but irresistible. An abandoned vessel, a disappearing crew, and one character determined to figure out what happened. What I loved most is how McGuire blends psychological unease with slow-burn mystery. The isolation is palpable, the twists are well-timed, and the creeping sense of “something is very wrong here” kept me on edge.
The pacing is tight and the reveals land with a satisfying snap. I especially enjoyed how the book plays with perception you’re constantly questioning what’s real and what’s imagined.
If you enjoy maritime mysteries, closed-circle thrillers, or that delicious sinking stomach kind of suspense, this one is a must-read.
Highly recommended for fans of:
Ruth Ware
Lucy Foley
Survival/Isolation thrillers
Unreliable narrators
December 9, 2025
I was so excited to read this book. Then I hated every character and hoped they all drowned.
December 9, 2025
NO ONE ABOARD is a gorgeously written and fast-paced thriller about a dysfunctional billionaire family that would fit perfectly in The White Lotus and Succession. I prefer a character-driven mystery, and this book delivers with a cast of complex and "lived-in" characters with strong motivations, emotional wounds, and a level of unpredictability that kept me guessing until the end of the satisfying conclusion. The sea itself and the luxury sailboat offered an unforgettable setting that lent perfectly to the unsettling tension bubbling beneath the surface of every page. Emy Mcguire is a rare talent and I am confident that she is just on the cusp of taking the entire world by storm!
May 17, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC! No One Aboard by Emy McGuire is a compelling psychological suspense that hooks you from the very first chapter. When billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron set off on a luxurious sailing trip to celebrate their children's graduations, no one anticipates the ominous turn the story will take. The narrative masterfully unfolds over two timelines—the idyllic days of their vacation and the tense aftermath after the boat is discovered drifting off the Florida coast, completely empty. The contrast between the carefree family moments and the sinister mystery of their disappearance creates a palpable sense of unease. McGuire does an excellent job layering secrets and motives among the family members and crew, making each character complex and suspicious. As the story progresses, the reader is taken deeper into the stormy ocean of family dynamics, unspoken truths, and hidden resentments—highlighting that sometimes, the greatest danger lies not in the elements but within ourselves. The writing is sharp, atmospheric, and keeps the suspense high until the final pages. While some plot twists may be predictable, the overall atmosphere and character development make this a satisfying read that will appeal to fans of nautical mysteries and family dramas alike. In summary, No One Aboard is a beautifully crafted, thought-provoking novel that explores the perilous waters beneath a seemingly perfect family façade. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a suspenseful, emotionally charged read.
December 3, 2025
The premise of this boat being set on a yacht and disappearing at sea peaked my interest when reading the description for this book. It sounded different from other mysteries I have recently read and it definitely was!
No One Aboard is told through two timelines, present day when the Old Ilene is found with no one aboard and a few weeks in the past. The Cameron family sets sail to celebrate the graduation of their twin children, but never reach their destination. What secrets surround the family and what happened to everyone aboard the yacht?
This was a fun mystery that kept me guessing. I truly couldn’t figure out where the book was going. It was told through multiple POVs including three of the family members and the person who found the boat. I enjoyed the little snippets of media coverage about the family as well and thought they were fun additions to the story. I do wish the audio had multiple narrators as it was hard to keep track of whose POV was telling the story at times. In the middle, some parts of the story felt like they dragged a little bit, but then the story really picked up and I was shocked at the twist revealed in the final chapters. I had not seen it coming at all! Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery and will definitely read more from the author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion!
No One Aboard is told through two timelines, present day when the Old Ilene is found with no one aboard and a few weeks in the past. The Cameron family sets sail to celebrate the graduation of their twin children, but never reach their destination. What secrets surround the family and what happened to everyone aboard the yacht?
This was a fun mystery that kept me guessing. I truly couldn’t figure out where the book was going. It was told through multiple POVs including three of the family members and the person who found the boat. I enjoyed the little snippets of media coverage about the family as well and thought they were fun additions to the story. I do wish the audio had multiple narrators as it was hard to keep track of whose POV was telling the story at times. In the middle, some parts of the story felt like they dragged a little bit, but then the story really picked up and I was shocked at the twist revealed in the final chapters. I had not seen it coming at all! Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery and will definitely read more from the author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion!
November 17, 2025
⛵️ M Y S T E R I O U S M O N D A Y review ⛵️ featuring “No One Aboard” by Emy McGuire!
Lila and Francis Cameron have embarked on a diving trip with their fraternal twins Tia and Rylan aboard their luxury family sailing yacht called The Old Eileen.
The twins are days away from turning 18 years old and this trip is to celebrate their birthdays and high school graduation as a family. Their family dynamic has always been a bit twisted and dysfunctional and tensions are thick on a boat that is surrounded by nothing but the wide open sea.
Three weeks into their voyage, a fisherman named Jerry Baugh almost collides his boat with The Old Eileen. The yacht is found adrift within the bounds of the Bermuda Triangle and no one is aboard. Seven people have mysteriously gone missing and the yacht was over 180 nautical miles from their destination.
“You don’t get that far off course, not with four experienced sailors onboard — you just don’t. Either there was an incompetent navigator, a reason to panic, or someone had something to hide”.
💭 WOW is this book ever unsettling! The locked room setting of a yacht is perfect for a domestic thriller that doesn’t allow those onboard to escape the people they are with. The sinister and ever changing moods of the ocean/weather adds eerie, taunting and dangerous vibes to the story. My emotions felt like they were being put through a washing machine as the yacht goes off course and getting home to safety feels completely out of the question.
Thank you kindly to @emy_mcguire @graydonhousebooks @harpercollinsca @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on December 2, 2025!
Lila and Francis Cameron have embarked on a diving trip with their fraternal twins Tia and Rylan aboard their luxury family sailing yacht called The Old Eileen.
The twins are days away from turning 18 years old and this trip is to celebrate their birthdays and high school graduation as a family. Their family dynamic has always been a bit twisted and dysfunctional and tensions are thick on a boat that is surrounded by nothing but the wide open sea.
Three weeks into their voyage, a fisherman named Jerry Baugh almost collides his boat with The Old Eileen. The yacht is found adrift within the bounds of the Bermuda Triangle and no one is aboard. Seven people have mysteriously gone missing and the yacht was over 180 nautical miles from their destination.
“You don’t get that far off course, not with four experienced sailors onboard — you just don’t. Either there was an incompetent navigator, a reason to panic, or someone had something to hide”.
💭 WOW is this book ever unsettling! The locked room setting of a yacht is perfect for a domestic thriller that doesn’t allow those onboard to escape the people they are with. The sinister and ever changing moods of the ocean/weather adds eerie, taunting and dangerous vibes to the story. My emotions felt like they were being put through a washing machine as the yacht goes off course and getting home to safety feels completely out of the question.
Thank you kindly to @emy_mcguire @graydonhousebooks @harpercollinsca @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on December 2, 2025!
December 12, 2025
I devoured No One Aboard in a single sitting and honestly still cannot believe this is a debut. If you enjoyed the uneasy, luxurious tension of White Lotus, this has a very similar vibe, only darker and more contained.
The set up is irresistible: a billionaire family disappears while sailing, and weeks later their stunning private boat is found drifting off the coast of Florida, intact but completely empty. The novel moves between the apparently perfect family holiday and the investigation after the boat is discovered. With each chapter the glossy surface of the Cameron family starts to crack, and the sense that something is deeply wrong only grows stronger.
Emy McGuire is brilliant at atmosphere. From the very beginning there is this creeping feeling that something is not only off but actually rotten underneath the luxury. The pacing is tight, the character work is sharp and the ending really pays off the tension that has been building from page one.
A highly addictive, eerie domestic mystery that I would happily recommend to anyone who loves messy rich people, secrets at sea and slow, suffocating dread.
The set up is irresistible: a billionaire family disappears while sailing, and weeks later their stunning private boat is found drifting off the coast of Florida, intact but completely empty. The novel moves between the apparently perfect family holiday and the investigation after the boat is discovered. With each chapter the glossy surface of the Cameron family starts to crack, and the sense that something is deeply wrong only grows stronger.
Emy McGuire is brilliant at atmosphere. From the very beginning there is this creeping feeling that something is not only off but actually rotten underneath the luxury. The pacing is tight, the character work is sharp and the ending really pays off the tension that has been building from page one.
A highly addictive, eerie domestic mystery that I would happily recommend to anyone who loves messy rich people, secrets at sea and slow, suffocating dread.
December 5, 2025
In No One Aboard, we meet the Cameron family, parents Francis and Lila, and twins Taliea & Rylan. They have set sail on the family yacht, The Old Eileen, with Skipper Captain Cameron, M.J. Tuckett (Mate/Dive Instructor), Alejandro Matamoros (Francis' friend and partner), and Nicolás de la Vega (Alejandro's Nephew). Three weeks later, the sailboat is found floating off the coast of Florida, empty. Where are the Cameron's? What happened to them?
This story is told in both flashbacks, so we see what happened on that sailboat. This is a story of an extremely dysfunctional family. There is no love lost between it's members. As the story I unfolded, I found it hard to like any of the characters. It also took some time to get into the story, perhaps for that reason. There were a lot of secrets, manipulations and lies between the family members, and I often wondered what was truth and what wasn't. Lots of unreliable narrators. There is a very tense and atmospheric feel to the story and it kept me guessing as to what happened to them. There were twists, and unexpected events that gradually revealed what happened on that boat, and where the Camerons are now.
This story is told in both flashbacks, so we see what happened on that sailboat. This is a story of an extremely dysfunctional family. There is no love lost between it's members. As the story I unfolded, I found it hard to like any of the characters. It also took some time to get into the story, perhaps for that reason. There were a lot of secrets, manipulations and lies between the family members, and I often wondered what was truth and what wasn't. Lots of unreliable narrators. There is a very tense and atmospheric feel to the story and it kept me guessing as to what happened to them. There were twists, and unexpected events that gradually revealed what happened on that boat, and where the Camerons are now.
November 17, 2025
The sea keeps its secrets—and so do the Camerons.
No One Aboard lures you in with the shimmer of luxury and the promise of a perfect family getaway. But beneath the polished decks and endless horizon lies something far darker. When the Camerons’ sailboat drifts ashore—silent, empty, and soaked in mystery—you can almost hear the echo of what went wrong.
Each chapter tightens the noose of suspense, peeling back layers of deceit, envy, and desperation. What begins as a celebration at sea turns into a chilling reminder: sometimes, the people you trust most are the ones you should fear the deepest.
This isn’t just a missing-persons mystery—it’s a haunting voyage into the darkness that thrives behind closed cabin doors.
⚓️ Once you step aboard, there’s no getting off.
#NoOneAboard #DomesticThriller #PsychologicalSuspense #Bookstagram #ThrillerReads #DarkReads #MysteryBooks #OceanSecrets #WhatHappenedAtSea #BookReview #Bookish #ReadersOfInstagram #PlotTwist #SuspenseBooks
No One Aboard lures you in with the shimmer of luxury and the promise of a perfect family getaway. But beneath the polished decks and endless horizon lies something far darker. When the Camerons’ sailboat drifts ashore—silent, empty, and soaked in mystery—you can almost hear the echo of what went wrong.
Each chapter tightens the noose of suspense, peeling back layers of deceit, envy, and desperation. What begins as a celebration at sea turns into a chilling reminder: sometimes, the people you trust most are the ones you should fear the deepest.
This isn’t just a missing-persons mystery—it’s a haunting voyage into the darkness that thrives behind closed cabin doors.
⚓️ Once you step aboard, there’s no getting off.
#NoOneAboard #DomesticThriller #PsychologicalSuspense #Bookstagram #ThrillerReads #DarkReads #MysteryBooks #OceanSecrets #WhatHappenedAtSea #BookReview #Bookish #ReadersOfInstagram #PlotTwist #SuspenseBooks
January 4, 2026
The good: I very rarely read a book this quickly. It can take a lot of starts and stops for me to get into a book. This one held my attention from the get-go (hence my rating).
The bad: There's one really convenient coincidence that's a step too far for believability. I do wish we'd gotten the POV of one of the true villains. I like to see how the psychopaths justify themselves.
The ugly: Pretty much every character at one point. There's no one character I like completely, which makes for interesting moral quagmires.
The bad: There's one really convenient coincidence that's a step too far for believability. I do wish we'd gotten the POV of one of the true villains. I like to see how the psychopaths justify themselves.
The ugly: Pretty much every character at one point. There's no one character I like completely, which makes for interesting moral quagmires.
September 16, 2025
What a ride!!
What a wonderful debut book!
Without giving away this creative story, I found it to be a fast-paced page turner that grabs you from chapter one. I enjoyed the quick chapters as they keep you moving and want to know what's next. Love the twists and turns with these characters!
Thank you to HarperCollins Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
What a wonderful debut book!
Without giving away this creative story, I found it to be a fast-paced page turner that grabs you from chapter one. I enjoyed the quick chapters as they keep you moving and want to know what's next. Love the twists and turns with these characters!
Thank you to HarperCollins Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
December 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this! Very fast paced with a wild twist. I enjoyed all the characters and the jumps in POV. A fun thriller!
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