A cruise to nowhere

THE Woman in Cabin 10 is a hard no. It’s not a bad book per se, yet it’s one of those thrillers that starts with all the right elements and then slowly loses its grip.

- LIESL VAN DER SCHYFF

Ruth Ware builds up the kind of story that should have readers hooked. A journalist, a luxury cruise, and a mysterious disappearance at sea.

It sounds like the kind of book that should keep readers turning the pages late into the night. But somewhere along the way, the suspense fades and what could have been a tight, clever thriller becomes a slow and uneven read.

The story follows Lo Blacklock, a travel writer who lands a dream assignment, a week on a high-end cruise ship with only a few guests.

The opening chapters set the scene well. There's champagne, polished decks and small talk among wealthy passengers.