Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Woman in Suite 11 is one of the rare continuations of a stellar thriller that retains the elements that made us all fall in love with the first book while adding something new to the story.

I recommend reading The Woman in Cabin 10 first, not so much because not doing so will take away from this book (though it’ll help enhance your enjoyment), but because it’s fantastic. In the follow up it’s been ten years since the events that left her traumatized on the cruiser, the Aurora, and Lo has written a bestseller about her time but since fallen into childcare and domesticity. Eager to get back to journalism and focus on serious writing, Lo is a little surprised to get an invite to a new hotel opening in Europe. When she finds an angle to write about the head of the hotel, a powerful businessman, she decides to run with it.

Call this a bit of a reunion for Lo with faces from her past, and what starts as a luxury stay quickly turns sour as Lo hops countries, carriers out some illegal activities, and gets faced with a murder and jail time. Everything comes together beautifully and I enjoyed seeing Lo take on the role of detective again all while trying to figure out how to save herself (and avoid anxiety). Lo is still very much as she was years ago and I loved revisiting this character and the clear challenge Ruth Ware had with herself to ensure fans of her books had no reason to complain with this follow up to her original highly enjoyed thriller.

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.

The Woman in Cabin 10 is the book that reintroduced me to my love of suspenseful books. I even read it while on a cruise. I loved the characters, the setting, the twists and turns. I was so excited to revisit Lo and knew it would have the same elements of twists and turns. And there are twists and turns which Ruth Ware fans have come to expect. But there was a certain predictably to this book and the ending landed flat for me. The setting was beautifully described and the fast pace made this an enjoyable read. I guarantee I will be first in line if there is another Lo book in 10 years.

Thank you to Gallery Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Ruth Ware proves once again that she’s the queen of modern psychological thrillers. The Woman in Suite 11 is a gripping sequel to The Woman in Cabin 10, bringing back Lo Blacklock for another high-stakes mystery that blends luxury, paranoia, and suspense.

Ten years after her harrowing ordeal on the Aurora, Lo is older, a little more grounded, and living in the U.S. with her husband and two kids. She’s trying to reclaim her career in travel journalism when a golden opportunity lands in her lap: an exclusive invitation to the opening of a luxury Swiss hotel owned by billionaire Marcus Leidmann. The setting is pristine, the guest list curated, and the experience nothing short of surreal. But things turn quickly.

Lo finds herself pulled into a deadly scandal after being summoned to Marcus’s suite—only to be met by Carrie, the same woman who helped save her a decade ago. Now Carrie claims to be in danger, caught in a web of blackmail, lies, and manipulation. What follows is a tense game of cat-and-mouse across Europe, with Lo risking everything to help someone she isn’t sure she can trust.

Ware delivers what fans expect: smart pacing, morally gray characters, and a plot that twists just enough to keep you guessing. While some of the reveals are easy to spot, that actually works for Lo’s character—still impulsive, still stubborn, still just a little too slow to see what’s coming.

The return of Carrie adds depth and tension. Their complicated dynamic drives much of the plot, and Ware leans into the idea that trust is rarely black and white. There’s history, betrayal, and an uneasy alliance that keeps the reader on edge.

This isn’t just a rehash of Cabin 10. Ware updates the world—post-pandemic travel, motherhood, burnout—and gives Lo’s voice a matured but still familiar tone. The result is a fresh, entertaining thriller that doesn’t require having read the first book, but rewards readers who have.

Fans of the original will love the callbacks and evolution of the characters, while newcomers will be pulled in by the glamour, danger, and layered storytelling. The Woman in Suite 11 is sleek, sharp, and just the right amount of unhinged.

I love Ruth Ware and I wanted to love this so badly but it was predictable! I guessed the twist towards the middle of the book, and the end was just not shocking enough to suprise me any further.

Ruth Ware has proven once again that she is one of the queens of suspense. I could not put this delightfully twisty book down!

Ruth Ware does it again. The queen of thrillers is back. This book did not disappoint, you need to pick it up!

Thank you for keeping the political climate out of the novel.My shoppers want an escape not a reminder

Ruth Ware is absolutely amazing and this is just further proof of that.

Lo Blacklock is back 10 years later after her horrific trip on the Aroura. She is trying to get back into the workforce after marriage and two kids and now living in America. Almost serendipitous she receives an invitation to go to a new luxury hotel in Switzerland. She seizes the opportunity only to find she's not the only familiar face that has been invited. Lo, unfortunately gets caught up in a large scandal that turns deadly.

The book is amazing and I love that it is a continuation of one of my favorite books. There are some plot twists that are obvious to the reader, but that Lo doesn't see coming which stays true to her character.

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware is a suspenseful novel about a travel journalist/writer who has had some success with a nonfiction expose surrounding a murder on board a ship that she was aboard. Fast forward a decade and she has a husband and two kids. The pandemic is in the rear-view mirror and she is ready to get back to work.

She receives an invitation to a luxury hotel opening in Switzerland and she dumps it in the trash. She mentions it to her husband who thinks it may be a great way to get back into the travel journalist scene. He tells her to go and that he will take care of their two preschoolers, after all, it is only for a few days.

On the flight over, someone has increased her seat to first class and she assumes it is her husband. She gets to the airport and is treated to luxury lounges, gourmet meals, and treatment the likes of which she is sure she does not deserve. How did this happen?

What ensues is exciting, complicated (but not so much the story is hard to follow, just enough to keep it interesting!), and suspenseful. This is hard to put down, you better set aside reading time so your loved ones don't get upset that you are ignoring them!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the prepublication copy to read and review!

Interesting mystery and follow up to the last one.
I found the explanations early on of british/american language differences to be a little labored, but other than that, this was fast-paced and enjoyable.
It is helpful to have read the 1st book, but not totally necessary.

I would read Ruth Ware's books over her shoulder as she typed them, if that was possible. She never disappoints and The Woman in Suite 11 is delightfully suspenseful and twisty against a lush background that makes me want to be a freelance travel writer despite it apparently being fraught with peril.

Lo Blacklock finds herself again in a precarious situation where she's unsure what's really happening and has no idea who she can count on. I felt like there were a couple of untied loose ends that I would have liked to have seen wrapped up, but overall this was a good thriller with lots of twists and turns. Note to Lo, maybe leave travel journalism behind, and don't trust anyone you used to know.

Ruth Ware is back with another twisty and high stakes thriller, and I was hooked. The Woman in Suite 11 brings back Lo Blacklock (yes, from The Woman in Cabin 10!), and this time, she’s trading in cruise ships for a luxury Swiss hotel. Lo is now a mom trying to reclaim her journalism career, and gets invited to the exclusive grand opening of billionaire Marcus Leidmann’s fancy chateau. Then she gets a late night call that throws her into a full blown international chase, trying to figure out if she can trust the mysterious woman begging for her help. This book is fast, glamorous, and suspenseful, and did not disappoint!

The Woman in Suite 11 is the followup to The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. It’s set ten years after Lo Blacklock managed to escape off of the Aurora. She’s now married and a mother when an invitation arrives for her to attend the opening of a Swiss motel. Things are not what they seem and she lands back in a crazy predicament.
The book was easy to read but the story itself is convoluted and even if you suspend disbelief it’s a tough sell.

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!

A follow up to Woman in Cabin 10, Woman in Suite 11 takes Lo Blacklock on another twisted case where honesty is sometimes the damndest policy, and sometimes good deeds do get punished, especially with the reintroduction of Carrie back in the mix. You’d think after surviving her once, Lo would get it together and have Carrie exed right off the ole friends list. But that wouldn’t lend to an epic do over now would it?!

Trade the Aurora on the open seas to a high class hotel adventure with a little passport sleight of hand and you’re off on another crazy adventure of death and treachery … high in Switzerlands beautiful alps.

If you couldn’t get enough of these two while stuck on the Aurora, this is the perfect novel for you. Ruth Ware brings these delightfully imperfect women back together for a little death, subterfuge, and debauchery all on a wild mouse adventure out and into countries, tons of totally reliable (wink - wink) and morally aggravating characters in an epic attempt to once again be accused of murder! These women really gotta take a long vacation from each other haha.

This is a fun read and could be read without the previous novel, however context and backstory would give you a far better grip of the plot to read these two in order.

Thank you again to the author, the publisher, and to Net Galley for providing me and arc in exchange for an unbiased review. Happy reading friends!

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 re-establish her journalism career, but post-pandemic travel journalism is a very different landscape from the one she left ten years ago.

This is a great read. Ruth Ware is a master story teller. I have loved all of her book and this one is right up there with her others!

I typically love sequels to good books. In this case however, I know I read The Woman in Cabin 10. And I know I liked it. But it's been nine years... I really wasn't in the mood to reread it, so I went ahead and dived into The Woman in Suite 11. Most of the time you can catch up pretty quickly, right? Not so in this case. The entire mood, the entire cast of characters, etc. were all tied deeply to the first book. So although I knew a little going in, I think maybe to enjoy The Woman in Suite 11 I'd recommend reading the first book to refresh. Even so, it felt like a lot of rehashing to me. I like Lo. But she wasn't able to make this book work for me. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I am a great fan of Ruth Ware and have read and loved every single one of them. This book is exceptional. From the very first chapter, the story pulls you in with its atmospheric setting, scenery and intriguing characters. The author masterfully weaves suspense and tension, dropping just enough clues to keep you on edge without giving too much away. Highly recommend!