I Did Warn Her is a locked room thriller but with the added element of taking place out at sea with no chance to escape.

The tension builds well throughout the book as more and more problems happen, leaving the characters feeling more and more trapped.

Things are strange right from the beginning when all of the stewardess are basically clones of each other. None of them are particularly likeable and they are really horrible to each other, meaning the atmosphere on board the yacht is tense. There is also a very clear divide between the rich guests on the yacht, living in luxury, and the staff who are working desperately just to try and get by.

To begin with, I found it difficult to keep track of all of the characters as there are lots of different POVs and there are a lot of similarities, meaning I did have to check back several times to remind myself of which POV I was currently reading from.

I think I was suspicious of everyone at some point when reading this book. There are so many red herrings and great twists that kept me guessing, even up to the very last sentence in the epilogue!

There is so much action, so much going on amongst the characters and so many secrets. You’re in for a rollercoaster!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the UK publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly can't fault this book. It had every ingredient a thriller/mystery needs. Immaculate setting/vibes for the summer. A great cast of fully realised characters. Plenty of twists and turns. The epilogue truly shocked me!

I think the opening introduction to the characters is one of the best I've ever read. You got so many different POVs, and each one felt distinct and had a unique character voice. I was never confused as to who I was reading.

I didn't guess how it would all play out. The main person I was suspecting ended up a casualty, so I was miles out! Would thoroughly recommend.

LOVE! This is full of suspense from the get go! Many POVs to keep things interesting. The final chapters were twisty and packed full of mouth wide open moments.

I would definitely look to pick up more books from this author.

3.5* rounded up to 4*

'I Did Warn Her' by Sian Gilbert is a deliciously preposterous and fast-paced guilty pleasure read that I inhaled in a day. I found that every page propels you forward and it has constant action and events with plenty of ridiculous twists that I couldn't help but enjoy. It’s that perfect "devour-by-the-pool" thriller: fast-moving and absorbing.

Everyone in this story is wildly unlikeable, but somehow it works, as for me that tension between unpleasant characters adds to the fun, and there’s no emotional baggage tying you down. You don’t root for anyone - you're just along for the ride.

The premise is straight out of a soap opera - a bunch of beautiful indentikit stewardesses hiding secrets aboard a billionaire’s yacht, and whilst absurd it leads to a read that will make you laugh-out-loud at the drama and wannabe cat fights. Happily it doesn’t pretend to be anything else other that a great fun read in a glamourous location where everything that can go wrong, does go wrong.

This is a story that thrives as an escapist, guilty pleasure poolside read and is one that delivered for me.

From the very first chapter, this book had me. I’m always drawn to thrillers set on superyachts (something about the glamour-meets-danger combo just works), and this one delivered everything I love: a sharp setup, a snarky tone, and a whole crew of characters who can’t stand each other.

The story is told through multiple POVs - mostly the stewardesses aboard the Ophelia, all selected to look strikingly alike thanks to the owner's... particular preferences. And while that could’ve easily become confusing, the author does a great job giving each woman a distinct voice. Effie and Imogen in particular had me cackling - they’re both so deliciously awful I couldn’t decide who I disliked more. Jasmine, one of the guests, turned out to be a surprising standout too. And then there’s Sasha, the new junior stew, trying to outrun her life by escaping to sea. I really liked her arc - she brought just enough heart to ground the chaos.

What I enjoyed most was the biting sarcasm woven throughout. The tone is sharp, the chapters short and punchy, and the pace never lets up. It’s the kind of book that invites binge-reading because you just need to know who’s next - and who’s behind it all. Missing items, missing staff, tension behind every door… and that creeping feeling that the Ophelia’s glittering surface is hiding something much darker beneath.

That said, the book did feel a touch overstuffed. With five stewardess POVs, Jasmine’s chapters, and even flash-forward scenes woven into the final act, I found myself wondering why certain characters - like Runa, the cook - didn’t also get a say, or why we needed so many perspectives at all. It didn’t ruin the experience, but I think a slightly tighter cast would’ve given the reveals even more punch.

Still, I had so much fun with this. The final quarter flew by in a blur of drama, tension, and jaw-dropping moments. And while one of the key questions felt slightly unresolved by the end, the ride was worth it. If you're in the mood for a popcorn mystery with a venomous bite, this one’s for you.

This book just didn’t work for me.

The premise had potential and the beginning started off strong, which made me hopeful. But as the story went on, I found myself more and more disengaged. For a mystery, it felt oddly flat. There were constant reminders that something mysterious had happened, but not in a way that built suspense. Instead, it just became repetitive and frustrating.

The plot relies heavily on clichés, and I didn’t find the resolution satisfying. It felt cheesy and predictable, without any real payoff. Most of the book felt like it was stalling, with nothing truly interesting happening. I kept waiting for a twist or moment of surprise, but it never came. The story often hinted at “something” that happened, without giving much substance, and that kind of vague teasing quickly lost its effect.

To be honest, I only finished it because I planned to write a review. If I hadn’t requested this through NetGalley, it would have been a DNF for me.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Sasha joins the crew of a luxury yacht last minute to work as a stewardess. She is introduced to her team of other stewardesses, all who look the same and are beautiful. Despite the beauty of the ship, she discovers things aren’t as great at they seem. A previous stewardess disappeared mysteriously and it becomes clear that others are trying to hide things.

This was my first book by this author so I wasn’t sure what to expect. This ended up being a fun locked room mystery with plenty of drama and secrets to discover. The characters were entertaining, mainly because most were hugely unlikeable, however It ended up being a bit over the top at times.

I enjoyed the setting of this story, although have read a few boat thrillers recently so it didn’t seem too original. I enjoyed watching it all come together though and would say this is an entertaining thriller overall. This would make a good holiday read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you Penguin and NetGalley for this ARC of I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert

This story is a multi POV murder mystery which mixes the decadence of the super wealthy with the gritty reality of working for them. I really enjoyed the multi POV as it gave all the characters great depth as well as helping the story seem fresh and face paced. I also enjoyed how every character is flawed meaning that no one is seemingly the good guy, just a level of bad in their own way.

This book very much had hints of Pretty Little Liars sort of catty camaraderie and I enjoyed how our main protagonist is not the only focus or detective trying to figure out the answers.

I really enjoyed this especially reading it during a heatwave making the sun and sea a very apt setting for a good read

I found this a fun book to read. The different POV really worked. The whole mystery of it was so good and made it a great book to read.

A claustrophobic mystery on board a super yacht. I did get a bit lost in the cast of characters, and chapters told from so many perspectives and voices.

Sasha has recently left her job as a nurse to become a stewardess on the superyacht, Ophelia. Along with the other ladies who all look remarkably like her, they are to make sure everything runs smoothly for the priority guests onboard.
When one of them is found dead, the Captain tells them it's nothing more than an accident. But when a second stewardess is found, tensions rise and everyone is desperate to find out what is going on.

This was a thrilling "locked room" mystery. A superyacht heading to New York, only a small number of people onboard, and no one knows who the killer is. Everyone has their own secrets, and pretty much all the characters are unlikeable, but it was still a fun story. It kept me guessing throughout, and not once did it go the way I thought it would.
I loved this authors debut and was so excited for this one. It did not disappoint.

Onboard the luxurious private superyacht Ophelia, four moneyed passengers and a dozen crew are on their non-stop journey to New York. Soon after putting out to sea, things start to go wrong…
After a rather slow start describing all the ship’s luxuries and each of the almost identic looking women‘s pejorative and outright inimicable thoughts about all of their colleagues, the actual plot finally gathers momentum and culminates in a veritable firework of twists to the very end

Unfortunately this one wasn't for me. I felt it was all over the place and the amount of POVs made it harder to follow.

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. It was absolutely gripping, I couldn't put it down and read it over a couple of hours because I had to know what happened. Fantastic

I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert started off as a strong read, however I found it hard to follow as I got further into the book. There are a lot of character POVs which can make it a little difficult to keep up.

I like the authors writing, very clear and easy to read. This book will be perfect for those who enjoy a twisty mysterious Thriller, definitely a 'who-done-it'

I missed out on Sian Gilbert's debut novel, "She Started It", so I didn't have any preconceptions about her writing style when I picked up "I Did Warn Her". This twisty thriller is set aboard a superyacht and has all the super-glamorous trappings that one would expect. The setting put me in mind of those favoured by Catherine Cooper in her books and, in common with Ms Cooper's more recent offerings, this one from Sian Gilbert also tends towards the melodramatic, though it has to be said that the author succeeds in ensuring that it always remains fun to read.

Maintaining that fun element is an important aspect of the overall impact of this novel. The seemingly endless twists and unveiling of secrets would be too much to be taken seriously if the author were aiming to position this at the worthier end of the psychological thriller scale. Instead, this is unashmedly glitzy, glossy and full of bitchiness and backstabbing. It could, perhaps, be described as setting its sights on "the Love Island generation".

I felt the pace in Part One was on the slow side. There seemed to be a lot of treading of water and reinforcing of certain points. This wasn't really necessary with a cast of characters who were (deliberately) quite shallow and superficial - the point was made, so it would have been better to simply move the proceedings on. There are quite a few character perspectives utilised in the narrative, but, like the visual descriptions of those protagonists, it isn't always easy to distinguish one from another, so readers may well find themselves having to check back. The plot is unquestionably contrived and there are some fortunate developments to allow the twists to be introduced, but Sian Gilbert does just about manage to stay within the parameters of creative acceptability.

Overall, I would say that this makes for a sound casual read that is enjoyable, but without taxing the grey matter too heavily and I wouldn't be averse to reading more from this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of I Did Warn Her.

I love a locked room style story! As far as this theme goes, I enjoyed this quick read. Easy writing style and which meant I got through it in 24 hours.

My only real gripe was that I found it very difficult to keep track of who POV I was reading, as this changed between 4 or 5 different characters, every chapter. I don’t usually mind this, but I felt there were too many different POVs going on here, especially with them all being women.

Overall, an enjoyable read though.

I loved this book ! I’m a massive fan of below deck so when I read this book was similar to the show I had to read it.

This is my first book by the author and I definitely can’t wait to read more.

The main character is likeable and easy to relate to, the other characters have a character have you questioning should you like them.

With so many twist you never know what to expect next.

Thank you for the advanced copy netgallery and Sian

i loved how much of my time this book took up. there is nothing better than having no guilt over how much joy you get from a book and just want to go all in and continue...and on until the end. this book has that for me. it was one of those thriller that are almost joyous in there thrill making, you are almost rubbing your hands together at both the goings on and plot reveals.
the characters not all likeable were still ones i wanted to hear more from every time their point of view came around and only made me more invested the more i new.
the book gives us a super yacht. yes one of those almost disgustingly super super yachts( jealous,me,never) and Sasha gets her dream job as one of the crew. or as we should call it for these types of money shes going to be a stewardess. and she needs this, she needs this escape. but wow little does she know this will not be an escape at all.
when she arrives she finds people who look, well, like her. weird. they are all blonde and beautiful(yawn). to add to being like everyone else she doesnt feel nice feelings off any of them. they are all in it for themselves. and the head member is determined things will run smoothly this time. for they wont be mentioning the missing things or accident that occurred last time will they? will they?
there are secrets and accusations going on and around everyone. everyday new things comes up. new whispers are spread. and new developments in people plots or backstory gives us more of a window into who they are.
are any of them actually likeable? do more people know what is going on on this boat? and jut what is going on on this boat?
and then... a death. or more like a murder. and things keep unravelling from there on in. you thought this lot were messy before. well you saw nothing to what happens now.
because to survive they might need to work together more than they'd first like. to uncover the killer might be the only things that means they arent swimming among the fishes and making it to land.

Below Deck meets Death in Paradise

I quite enjoyed this book and not having read any previous books by Sian Gilbert I felt this book was well written with a good twist at the end.

I did feel with the amount of different POV it was sometimes difficult to understand which character we were following and often had to go back to check so it made more sense. At times the characters were very unlikeable which in turn made certain chapters less enjoyable.

The story was over-the-top but the book felt like a guilty pleasure read.

The chapters were kept fairly short which I do prefer and I really enjoyed this read. I liked the twist at the end.