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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Book

The Woman in Cabin 10

The Woman in Cabin 10 is a 2016 psychological thriller novel by British author Ruth Ware.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

The Woman in Cabin 10 is a 2016 psychological thriller by British author Ruth Ware. It follows travel journalist Lo Blacklock, who believes she witnessed a woman thrown overboard from a luxury cruise ship—only to be told all passengers are accounted for.

What it is

The novel is a suspense-driven mystery set almost entirely aboard a luxury cruise. Lo Blacklock, a travel journalist, is assigned to cover the voyage. After hearing a splash and seeing blood in her cabin, she reports a possible murder, but the crew insists everyone is safe. The story uses an unreliable narrator and a confined setting to build claustrophobic tension.

Author and publication

Ruth Ware published The Woman in Cabin 10 in 2016 through Scout Press. It is classified as a psychological thriller and mystery. Ware is known for other twisty novels like In a Dark, Dark Wood and The Lying Game. The book became a bestseller and is widely read in Canada through major English-language retailers.

Adaptation

A film adaptation starring Keira Knightley was released by Netflix in 2025. The movie follows the same basic plot but makes changes to the ending and character details. It is available to Canadian subscribers on the platform.

In short

  • Psychological thriller set on a luxury cruise ship.
  • Main character Lo Blacklock reports a woman overboard but is not believed.
  • Written by Ruth Ware and published in 2016.
  • Adapted into a 2025 Netflix film starring Keira Knightley.
Canadian angle

The book and its Netflix adaptation are available to Canadian readers and viewers through major English-language book and streaming markets.

Quick questions

What is The Woman in Cabin 10 about?
It is about travel journalist Lo Blacklock, who believes she saw a woman thrown overboard from a luxury cruise ship, but no one believes her because all passengers are reportedly accounted for.
Who wrote The Woman in Cabin 10?
Ruth Ware wrote The Woman in Cabin 10.
Is The Woman in Cabin 10 a movie?
It is originally a 2016 novel, but it was adapted into a Netflix film released in 2025.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woman_in_Cabin_10_(novel)
    Supports: Identifies the novel as a 2016 psychological thriller by Ruth Ware, summarises the plot, and notes the 2025 film adaptation.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woman_in_Cabin_10_(film)
    Supports: Identifies the 2025 film adaptation, director, cast, and Netflix release.
  3. LitCharts — https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-woman-in-cabin-10/summary
    Supports: Describes Lo Blacklock as the protagonist and gives a plot summary of the novel.
  4. Netflix Tudum — https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-woman-in-cabin-10-ending-explained
    Supports: Explains the film’s twist and character reveal.
  5. People — https://people.com/the-woman-in-cabin-10-ending-explained-11827901
    Supports: Summarises the film’s premise, characters, and that it is based on Ruth Ware’s 2016 novel.