The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Lo has just gone through a frighteningly traumatic event after which she’s not slept for a week. But she knows she has to pull it together because she has a one and only chance to advance her career in the travel journalism field, with this upcoming, singular event: the maiden voyage of a VERY exclusive, very small cruise ship, hosting Britain’s elite with whom she must connect and impress. But suddenly, in the middle of her first night, shocking sounds have awoken Lo, and she is now distracted from her mission. Is she going mad? Can she rely on her memory of what happened in the middle of the night? She must get to the bottom of this, no matter what…

This is truly one of the most suspenseful novels I’ve read, one I felt I just couldn’t read fast enough! (And if you’ve followed this blog, you know I’ve been on a suspense tear, so this is saying quite a lot!) The story bursts immediately into action and, in truth, never stops. We follow Lo and feel for her, as she has her missteps and miscalculations but we also see that she is thwarted and misled by something devious and dangerous as well. And I NEVER would have guessed the ending – total twister!

This is not a character-based novel. I did not derive great insights or ponder deep thoughts about life’s meaning while reading this. I cannot wax poetic about about newfound wisdom gleaned from this novel.

But it is definitely great fun, a wonderful escape, and damn well what we need right now, so treat yourself and indulge!

Conviction by Denise Mina

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Anna has known her marriage was not going well for awhile now, but she never expected to be greeted at the door with the shocking (and truly cliche) news that her husband was leaving her for her best friend. And worse, he is taking their 2 daughters with them. The most heart-wrenching part of this is that Anna knows she is unable to fight this. Even her husband doesn’t know that she cannot show up in a court of law to contest this because he has no idea she’s concealed her true identity even from him. And she needs to keep it that way, to save her life and theirs – literally. That is, until she learns that a podcast she’s listening to reveals a story that is, in fact, part of HER story… And may come to bring her identity to light in spite of her best efforts.

With all that is going on in the world – more to the point, in our country by our federal government* – I have found that I am desperate for any kind of escapism now more than ever. Thrillers like this one are definitely doing the trick for me – and this one is QUITE the page-turner! Anna sets out to escape her circumstance, finding herself with, of all people, Fin, her best friend’s husband. The suspense builds as we gradually learn what she’s escaped and why she’s had to cover up her past. But as more is uncovered, the danger for her builds as well, and the twisty plot thickens. I actually found myself holding my breath as I was reading more than a few times!

I also came to love Anna’s character. She is honest to the point of being blunt, deeply compassionate in spite of being bruised, and values her family above all in spite of it being fractured. She is so brave and has a keen insight into people, most likely from necessity. Trauma does that – creates hypervigilance in a person, such that one becomes discerning of who to trust.

I would highly recommend this novel if you’re looking to escape, as I have been. This is a great one to drown out the world right now!

*My favorite quote about this point, by the way: from Thomas Friedman in his interview by Ezra Klein from yesterday: “Hire clowns, expect a circus.” That is what we have at the moment!

While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Avery Keene is so frustrated with herself when she realizes that she’s missed her opportunity to run into the Chief Justice “by accident” this morning. She’s spent months getting into the good graces of the Chief’s assistants in order to learn her schedule so that she can get a word in with her, and once again, her mother, a perpetually “recovering” addict, has distracted her from her intended plan to discuss her future. To her surprise, she is called into the Chief’s office anyway – and with news that is both shocking and horrifying: Justice Wynn, for whom she has been clerking, is currently in a coma and she, Avery, has been named his Power of Attorney. What could he possibly have been thinking, to name her, a measly law clerk? As she gains bit by bit of information about the Justice’s recent state of health and personal life details, she learns how tangled he has been in a sordid plot, which only Avery, with the help of a few other trusted souls, has the potential to uncover. But at what cost?

This is an utterly gripping thriller which will have you on the edge of your seat from page one until the very end. Avery is caught up in a series of clues left behind by Justice Wynn, prior to his drifting into his coma, and although many relate to chess (which I don’t play – but luckily Avery does!), the plot is brilliant, complex, layered, and twisty. Avery herself is also a likable character, with a vulnerable past, a kind heart, and brilliant mind. She wants to do the right thing, which has become a rarity, not only in government but in the justice system as well. (Not only in fiction, sad to say…)

Stacey Abrams is not only an impressive and brilliant legislator, but an impressive and brilliant author as well!