Laura “Lo” Blacklock
A journalist in her early 30s living in London, England and in a relationship with her American boyfriend, Judah Lewis. At the beginning of the novel, Lo experiences a home invasion that leaves her traumatized and suffering from anxiety, relying on antidepressant medication. She has worked for a travel magazine called Velocity for the last ten years and is keen to move up in her stagnant career. When her boss Rowan falls ill, Lo gets the chance to cover the maiden voyage of a new luxury yacht, the Aurora.
On her first evening aboard the ship, Lo borrows mascara from the woman next door to her - the woman in Cabin 10. Later that night, she believes she hears a body being thrown overboard and sees blood on the balcony next to hers. The ship’s captain and crew initially take her claims seriously and help her look for evidence of a missing woman but ultimately conclude that she is confused from her drinking and use of medication. Lo is convinced she heard and saw something suspicious so she continues to question her fellow passengers.
Later, the woman in Cabin 10 reappears at Lo’s door and has her come below deck with her, where she traps and starves Lo over the next few days while the ship’s journey comes to an end. While down there, Lo figures out who the woman in Cabin 10 really is, and manages to gain her trust. She in turn helps Lo escape, and Lo flees to the Norwegian countryside and police. At the end, she decides to move to New York with Judah, quitting the travel magazine for a new career in investigative journalism.
Woman in Cabin 10 (Carrie)
Her initial appearance shows her as a young woman in her late 20s-early 30s with long dark hair, wearing a Pink Floyd T-shirt. The woman is actually Carrie, who impersonates Anne Bullmer, wife of the ship’s owner, Lord Richard Bullmer. Anne is killed by Richard on the first night and Carrie poses as her for the rest of the trip.
As Lo continues to question guests, threatening Richard and Carrie’s plans, Carrie lures Lo below deck and knocks her unconscious. She locks her in a room and starts to starve Lo as well as deprive her of her medication. Eventually, Lo starts to win Carrie’s trust and it’s revealed that Carrie initially met Bullmer as a struggling actress, waitressing at a club. Carrie believes Bullmer is in love with her, but he’s actually just using her to aid him in getting rid of his wife and inherit her fortune. Lo helps her see this and Carrie helps Lo escape. She shoots Bullmer and escapes herself, accessing his late wife’s fortune and sending Lo money.
Lord Richard Bullmer
Wealthy British Lord and owner of the Aurora. He is only a few years older than Lo and married to Anne. Though he began life wealthy, he became orphaned and destitute early on, but later formed a successful start-up company, with the Aurora being one of his latest business ventures.
On the outside, he appears friendly and approachable, despite being so rich. He even appears to listen to and believe Lo at first over her initial suspicions on board the ship. However, he has actually killed his wife Anne, convincing his lover, Carrie, to impersonate her for the rest of the trip. He is eventually shot and killed by Carrie.
Anne Bullmer
A wealthy Scandinavian heiress, around Lo’s age, and married to Lord Richard. Her family wealth comes from owning a famous Norwegian car manufacturing company. She has been fighting breast cancer and is noticeably ill on the first night of the voyage. Later that night, her husband murders her in the hopes of inheriting her vast fortune, and Carrie spends the rest of the trip impersonating her. At the end of the novel, Anne’s body is found in the North Sea where she had been thrown overboard.
Judah “Jude” Lewis
Lo’s boyfriend, originally from New York, who works as a foreign correspondent. He spent the large part of a year trying to convince Lo to move in with him, even passing on a job opportunity in order to stay in England with her. However, he is beginning to get fed up with waiting for Lo and they argue the night before she leaves on the Aurora. He worries when he doesn’t hear from her and raises the alarm about her disappearance. Once Lo escapes the whole ordeal, Jude and her reunite and she agrees to move back to New York with him.
Ben Howard
A fellow passenger aboard the Aurora and travel journalist who used to work with Lo at Velocity but now works in investigative journalism at a newspaper. They dated when they were younger and Ben has some remaining feelings for her. He makes a pass at her on their first night when they are drunk but she declines. He is the only one on board that tries to help her or truly listen to her about her suspicions.
Tina West
A fellow passenger aboard the Aurora and editor of the travel publication The Vernean Times. She is known for being a ruthless journalist, having been in the business since the 1980s.
Cole Lederer
A fellow passenger aboard the Aurora and award-winning photographer. He is charming and handsome. Lo briefly suspects him of being involved in the woman in Cabin 10’s disappearance.
Johann Nilsson
Head of security on the Aurora. Although he initially takes Lo’s claims seriously, he struggles with believing her reliability based on her mental state and drinking. His kindness turns and he begins to undermine and belittle her in front of the other staff.
