Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware Narrator: Imogen Church
Series: Lo Blacklock #2
Published by Scout Press, Simon & Schuster Audio on July 8, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 400
Length: 15 hours, 11 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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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 reestablish her journalism career, but post-pandemic travel journalism is a very different landscape from the one she left ten years ago.
The chateau on the shores of Lake Geneva is everything Lo’s ever dreamed of, and she hopes she can snag an interview with Marcus. Unfortunately, he proves to be even more difficult to pin down than his reputation suggests. When Lo gets a late-night call asking her to come to Marcus’s hotel room, she agrees despite her own misgivings. She’s greeted, however, by a woman claiming to be Marcus’s mistress, and in life-or-death jeopardy.
I always enjoy a Ruth Ware mystery thriller. The Woman in Suite 11 is a follow up on the Lo Blacklock character 10 years after the time in The Woman in Cabin 10. It’s better if you have read the first book but not absolutely necessary.
In the interim, Lo has married Judah and they have two boys, living in New York City. She wrote a book on her experiences which provided some income while her boys were young. Now just as she is ready to get back to work, she has an invitation to a new exclusive hotel opening in Switzerland. She hopes to get an interview with the reclusive owner of the financial group Marcus Leidmann It will also be a treat for her and an opportunity to visit her mother in the UK as well.
When Lo arrives, there are many of those who were on the ill-fated cruise with her, including an ex-boyfriend. When she is summoned to Suite 11, she thinks it is for an interview of Marcus or to set things with his secretary. But no, it Marcus’ mistress in a life or death situation.
The following emotional tidal wave for Lo, with helping a woman in an abusive situation, putting herself at risk and the danger that follows. Luckily she has good support from family and friends, even though she felt isolated. There are some crazy twists. Every time Lo says,”F*****ck” when she figures out she is in trouble, which made me laugh. Lo does bend the rules quite a bit but it’s understandable though not legal.
Narration:
This narrator is often the one for this author’s books. I ‘m not knowledgeable about different inflections and dialects but the voices felt authentic. I thought the male and female voices were comfortable. I was familiar with her previous voices for Lo, Judah and others, so that felt right. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Imogen Church
Born in Scotland and raised in England, Imogen trained as an actress at The Drama Centre London, under Christopher Fettes, Yat Malmgren and Reuven Adiv. Since graduating several moons ago, she has worked extensively in theatre, film, commercials and comedy sketch work and she works regularly as a voice artist; she also spent several years underground enjoying success as a deliciously naughty cabaret artiste, making people laugh and generally being rude.
As a screenwriter, her first screenplay won the 2009 award for Best Feature Screenplay at the Reel Women Film Festival in Los Angeles.
About Ruth Ware
uth Ware grew up in Sussex, on the south coast of England. After graduating from Manchester University she moved to Paris, before settling in North London. She has worked as a waitress, a bookseller, a teacher of English as a foreign language and a press officer. She is married with two small children, and In a Dark, Dark Wood is her début thriller.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
I need this! I think I would start with the first book though. Thanks for your review😁
Thanks Tammy. Definitely better to start with the first book. I am OCD about that. But not essential, although it provides much more depth and background on the characters.
I didn’t love The Woman in Cabin 10 for several reasons, but I wouldn’t mind reading this one just to see what Lo’s up to and what happens to her next. 😀
It certainly will do that catching you up on everything important in her last 10 years.
It took me until nearly the end of the book to get into Cabin Ten, but I’m oddly intrigued by a follow up with Lo and some of those other characters. Glad it was a big hit for you.
yes I liked it a bit better than the first one. I did really enjoy the catch up on the character and her life.
I can’t wait to start this one. Imogen Church is one of my favorites. Glad you loved it, Anne💜
Enjoy. There are some real twists.
Bouncing between this and Atmosphere at the moment because Lo’s decision making is giving me major anxiety!! LOL
yes major anxiety for sure.
Great Review. Both the book were good but the first one has a little upper hand.
yes the first book did more to mess with her mind.
This is a series/author that I think my mom would really like. I keep recommending it to her. Maybe she’ll take me up on it some day. Great review!
Thanks most of hers are stand-alones so there’s lots of options.
Lo drove me a little nuts in the original and so it impacted my enjoyment. Sounds like this one is better and maybe she is a little smarter?
No I wouldn’t say she is any smarter. My anxiety was through the roof. She makes some horrible decisions but she is smart and has more backup and more to lose now.
Mmmmhmmmmm. Maybe. It does sound really good. Plus I love a good narrator.
The narrator is really great! It’s a mind bender and emotional.
I’m catching up on my blog visiting and am so glad to see your thoughts on this one. Imogen Church is one of my favorite narrators and I would like to revisit Lo though it sounds like her decision making skills haven’t changed too much since Cabin 10!
No she is still having some issues in making decisions. I enjoyed the catchup on her current life and problems.