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Summary
From New York Times bestselling author of the "twisty-mystery" (Vulture) novel In a Dark, Dark Wood, comes The Woman in Cabin 10, an equally suspenseful and haunting novel from Ruth Ware-this time, set at sea.
This audiobook was a fantastic listen, although I do agree with some reviewers who found the main character's inner thoughts a bit frustrating. It could have been aptly named "Panic and Neuroses on the Aurora". The protagonist, Laura, also known as "Lo", reminded me of Leonora "Lee" from Ware's previous book "In a Dark, Dark Wood" - both melodramatic, introspective, and always on edge. While I tolerated Lee because of her dry sense of humor and the rest of the story, Laura is a slightly more normal character, albeit haunted by anxiety and phobias.
Laura's anxiety is related to enclosed spaces and situations where she perceives physical threat. These fears stem from a minor burglary in her apartment before her trip and her crippling anxiety disorder that appeared when she turned 25. Despite years of therapy and taking medication, she remains highly anxious at the age of 32.
I found her reaction to the burglary excessive, as the melodrama and angst in her mind seemed more appropriate for a traumatic event like rape or a war experience. While I understand feeling intruded upon and shaken by such an incident, there comes a point where one must move on.
Other concerns include her fixation on sleep and extreme fear of sleep deprivation, as well as her borderline alcoholism. Throughout most of the story, Laura is either drunk or hungover, though the reason for this behavior is unclear.
Despite these issues, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, perhaps even more than "In a Dark, Dark Wood". It had elements reminiscent of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" and "Murder on the Orient Express", but with a modern and satirical twist. The writing skillfully captures Laura's conflicting emotions on the boat - the thrill of being in a glamorous setting and mingling with interesting people, juxtaposed with the uneasiness of being trapped in the middle of the ocean with untrustworthy individuals, one of whom may be a murderer.
The twists and turns in the plot were impressive, catching me off guard despite my usually accurate predictions in stories like these.
Imogen Church's narration was excellent, particularly her accents. However, I did not enjoy Joe's accent, which made him sound more like a salty mechanic than a young journalist.
The protagonist in 'The Woman in Cabin 10' was quite a downer, and I must admit, I found her irritating for the majority of the first half of the book. However, my perseverance paid off, as the second half turned out to be extremely satisfying... but don't worry, I won't spill any secrets here!
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