Ruth Ware Books in Order (Updated February 18, 2026)

Ruth Ware (pen name of Ruth Warburton) writes modern psychological thrillers that are mostly standalone.

The one place where order truly matters is the Lo Blacklock line: the sequel assumes you already know what happened the first time.

Where to start

• If you want the only clear “series” path: begin with The Woman in Cabin 10, then read The Woman in Suite 11.
• If you prefer a pure one-and-done: start with In a Dark, Dark Wood (classic setup, no continuity obligations).
• If you like a faster, chase-driven thriller: try Zero Days.

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All Ruth Ware novels in publication order (best for new readers)

1. In a Dark, Dark Wood (2015): A reunion weekend in a glass house turns into a tangled reckoning with the past.
2. The Woman in Cabin 10 (2016): A travel journalist on a luxury cruise sees something impossible, and can’t convince anyone it happened.
3. The Lying Game (2017): Old school secrets resurface when four friends are forced to deal with what they buried years ago.
4. The Death of Mrs Westaway (2018): A struggling woman accepts an inheritance that isn’t hers, then learns why she was chosen.
5. The Turn of the Key (2019): A nanny’s confession frames a locked-house nightmare where technology becomes part of the trap.
6. One by One (2020): A work retreat in the mountains becomes a survival puzzle as the group dwindles and trust collapses.
7. The It Girl (2022): A decade after a friend’s murder, new evidence reopens a case built on shaky certainty.
8. Zero Days (2023): A security specialist is blamed for her husband’s death and runs to prove who set her up.
9. One Perfect Couple (2024): A reality-show island setup turns lethal when the cast is cut off and someone starts picking them off.
10. The Woman in Suite 11 (2025): Lo Blacklock returns for a new assignment and ends up in another high-end setting with very real danger.

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The Lo Blacklock reading order (read these in sequence)

1. The Woman in Cabin 10 (2016): Introduces Lo Blacklock and her first life-or-death mystery at sea.
2. The Woman in Suite 11 (2025): Brings Lo back later in life, with callbacks that land best if you’ve read Cabin 10 first.

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Chronological order

There isn’t a meaningful “timeline order” across the standalones. If you want the smoothest experience, use publication order, and only keep the Lo books together.

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Latest Releases

The recent book released by the author is: The Woman in Suite 11 (July 8, 2025).

As of February 18, 2026, I did not find an officially dated next Ruth Ware novel beyond The Woman in Suite 11.

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FAQs

Do Ruth Ware’s books connect to each other?
Almost always no. Treat them as separate stories, except for the Lo Blacklock books.

Can I read The Woman in Suite 11 first?
You can, but it’s not the best choice. It’s written as a follow-up, and reading The Woman in Cabin 10 first avoids spoilers and makes returning characters feel intentional instead of confusing.

Which order should I choose if I only want two books?
Read The Woman in Cabin 10 (2016), then The Woman in Suite 11 (2025) for the cleanest two-book arc.