First of all, thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for an advanced copy of I Did Warn Her. I read Sian Gilbert's debut novel last year and have been waiting for her next ever since, I am beyond thankful to have gotten the opportunity to read her next novel early.

'It's aaaammmaaaazing' - said in Aesha's iconic voice. I have been a huge fan of Below Deck for years and to find out one of my top authors last year was releasing a Below Deck inspired whodunit I was sat and impatiently waiting. And boy did Sian deliver, as with her last novel we follow the most unlikable group out there, in a secluded location and the bodies are just piling up. I think this novel was a phenomenal follow up to She Started It, with going into the book knowing how well Sian writes dislikable people it really helped flow the story along. The multiple points of view from the stews helped add touches of humor in a high stakes thriller. I would like to say this book also had me on the edge of my seat towards the end, like genuinely was getting scared.

If you are a fan of Below Deck, catty drama, & honestly - Clue - this novel felt like a cozy game of Clue with some bratty people, I think this is a perfect next read for you. Sian was one of my favorite authors last year, and she will be again this year.

Thanks netgalley for a copy of this book to review. I liked the premise of the book, i think there needs to be more books that take place on cruise ships or yachts. This gave off Below Deck vibes. But man i struggled with this book. It was overdone, overdone in having so many different points of views, for example one chapter is Sasha, another chapter Imogen, Jade, Effie, etc. Over done in terms of there being so many ping pong back and fourth things going on that it felt like it was being forced when it shouldn't have been. It just didn't feel smooth and flowy as a story should feel. I don't think any of the characters were likable, they were vile to each other.

I received a free copy of, I Did Warn Her, by Sian Gilbert, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Ophelia is a yacht, that had seen some trouble, death, people belongings going missing, when someone else is found dead, everyone is looked at as the perp. This was such a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a multiple POV type, so if you don’t like seeing different POV’s, this book is not for you. There’s alot of cruelness that is annoying at times and most of the characters were unlikable. There were so many characters and plot twists, that just fell short. I gave this book 3 stars because I was interested to know what was going on, but all in all, the story wasn’t developed as well as I had hoped for.

I enjoyed Gilberts debut a lot, this was very lackluster. I think it was way too ambitious for a sophomore release. There were so many different POV's from way too many unlikable and cruel characters that it made your head dizzy in the wrong way. It didn't lead to any sort of confusion on who the villain is at all. The premise was amazing and could have been executed much better.

ARC Review: I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert

Sian Gilbert delivers a thrilling and twisty ride with I Did Warn Her. This suspenseful novel kept me hooked from start to finish, with an epilogue that packed an extra twist I didn’t see coming—it elevated the whole story to another level.

If you’re a fan of Below Deck, you’ll love the below-deck-inspired setting, complete with all the drama and intrigue of luxury yacht life—but with a sinister, thrilling whodunit twist. I especially loved how the author gave a nod to Below Deck in the story, which added a fun layer for fans of the show.

The characters were intriguing and well-crafted, but I’ll admit they were a bit hard to follow at first. It took a few chapters to fully grasp who everyone was and how they fit into the narrative. However, once the pieces clicked, I was completely immersed in their tangled dynamics.

One of the best aspects of this book was how unpredictable it was. I thought I had the plot figured out, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The unexpected turns and shocking revelations kept me second-guessing until the very end.

Overall, I Did Warn Her is a solid thriller with great characters, plenty of surprises, and an unforgettable ending. With its blend of high-stakes drama and clever twists, it’s perfect for fans of psychological suspense and Below Deck alike. A solid 4 stars!

thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review!

yeah I think Sian Gilbert is just not for me. her books have great premises but the execution doesn't bear those ideas out. this book just has waaaaaayyyy too many samey characters running around. virtually all of them are horrible people and also not even interesting. like! make me care about all the juicy backstabbing on the luxury yacht! it shouldn't be that hard! I didn't even care about how the plot was gonna resolve itself because I didn't care about the characters. like the epilogue is clearly supposed to end with a big !!! but my reaction was more... who was that again?

like her other book, it's a pretty breezy read at least.

This is an ARC from NetGalley. This book was over the top in the worst ways possible. This was definitely inspired by Below Deck, as the show was mentioned several times. All the stewardesses, taking the backstabbing, jealous, and sabotage to a level 20 from the beginning with little to no justification took me out of the story from the very beginning. Unfortunately, it never recovered. Everyone just ignoring multiple deaths in a locked door environment was just laughable. None of the characters were worth rooting for. #netgalley #ididwarnher #lockedroommystery #yatching #multiplepov

I received a Netgalley ARC for this book and the publisher reached out to encourage my review of it. So, I made it my next read. It wasn't that bad, in that it moved quickly.

I just have to say that I didn't care for the setting or nearly all of the characters.

I never watch Below Deck and have no desire to watch it - ever. So, reading this with so many stereotypes of all the people aboard the superyacht was tiring.

However, there were quite a few chapters that ended with good enough hooks that I wanted to keep reading it and coming back to it.

PS - I didn't love the cover artwork - I think there is so many other options, given what happens in the book. LMK if you read and agree?

I now know more than I ever did about yacht culture and the super rich. This is one warped 1%.

This is a suspenseful book and I was dying to know what was behind everything.

If I had one complaint it was that our stewardesses are interchangeable. The thing is...they're suppose to be. It's part of the plot. But all the different POV characters kind of ran together for me. They're all one woman in voice.

Despite that, I enjoyed the read. I mean I couldn't tell you if girl one was dead or girl three or girl four, but I knew that I kind of liked them (even though they were a little mean girl) and I wanted to know the way of everything.

Good beach read.

I absolutely love Below Deck, so I was excited to get this book (the author even references the show a few times). The story is narrated by super yacht Ophelia’s lookalike stewardesses: chief stew Jade, Imogene, Effie and newbie Sasha. Also chiming in is Jasmine, an escort of one of two businessmen chartering the boat. The Ophelia is seemingly plagued by problems including a stewardess that disappeared during one of its last season’s charters. This season is shaping up no better, with missing jewelry, other items, and eventually, a death that that some suspect is murder. Are the current unsavory guests killing, or is it someone on the crew? Will they all survive this trouble filled last charter or will more bodies hit the water?

I absolutely devoured this entertaining locked room thriller. With a fun cast of characters, excellent writing and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, this book is sure to please you (bonus points if you are a Below Deckie like me). 4.25 Stars rounded to 4.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

4.5⭐️

"I Did Warn Her" is an entertaining and captivating locked-room mystery. As a huge fan of Sian Gilbert's debut novel and the reality TV show "Below Deck," I couldn't wait to get my hands on her newest novel. Unsurprisingly, I greatly enjoyed this book and devoured it in one day. The story is told from multiple POVs of the superyacht crew, which created a lot of suspense and kept me guessing. It takes a bit of getting used to all of the POVs, but just like on "Below Deck," I loved all of the drama and the chaotic, unlikeable characters. I thought the plot twists were surprising and fun, and I never saw the ending coming. Gilbert never fails to keep me entertained, and I can't wait to see what she does next!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book started out okay, but I struggled with the multiple POVs. While I appreciate the attempt, the characters felt indistinguishable at times. They were described as nearly identical, with similar mannerisms, but I found it hard to keep track of who was who—especially with everyone going by nicknames. Euphemia was “Effie,” Imogen was “Mouse,” and the deckhand characters—Axel, Drew, and Noah—blended together. Axel was the only one with any real personality, but Drew and Noah were forgettable.

My main issue, though, was the length. For a "locked room mystery," the story felt unnecessarily drawn out. There’s only so much that can happen on a boat in the middle of the ocean, and at 60%, I was struggling to finish. It felt like the plot was treading water with tons of drama, but none of it captured my interest. The conflict was petty and immature, which I just couldn’t get into.

The ending left me unsatisfied, especially since her previous book was one of my favorites of 2023. This one simply didn’t work for me, but I’m sure others might enjoy it more.

This was a 4 star read for me! I never saw the twist coming and I love the whodunnit vibe of it with everyone onboard having something to hide. The setting was great. Overall very good book

This is fun mystery book. The mysterious passing of a previous stewardess and the disappearance of expensive jewelry create an atmosphere of distrust that intensifies with each passing day. The plot thickens as the yacht's ruthless owner brings more beautiful and secretive guests on board, adding to the intrigue. The dynamic between the crew and the guests is masterfully portrayed, with everyone hiding something and suspicion mounting. The author keeps readers on edge, weaving a narrative filled with twists and turns that make it impossible to put the book down. The sense of isolation on the open sea heightens the tension, making every interaction fraught with potential danger.

What sets this book apart from other similar books is its delightfully voyeuristic look into the lives of the ultra-wealthy and the dark secrets they harbor. The writing is sharp, the characters are well-developed, and the pacing is perfect. This one kept me guessing until the end.

This book is a must-read for fans of suspenseful mysteries and anyone looking for a gripping tale of deception and intrigue on the high seas.

An entertaining locked room Cruise mystery. Perfect for fans of escapist vacation type thrillers. Those who loved She Started It will not be disappointed

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for a free eARC of this awesome book!

Let me start by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Bravo’s “Below Deck”, so when I saw this pop up on NetGalley and read the synopsis, I knew I had to request it!

The superyacht Ophelia is getting ready for its final charter of the season. One of the stewardesses was dismissed right before this last charter, so she is replaced by Sasha. Sasha used to be a nurse, and something has caused her to leave that profession and join the crew of this ship. As soon as she boards, she sees they all of the other stewardesses look exactly like her. Everyone has an attitude, and there has been an entire charter season worth of drama building up. Sasha starts questioning her decision fairly quickly.

The guests for the final charter are two scumbags, and their escorts. These guys are real sleazy, and only want one thing from women. One of the escorts has a past that is tied to the Ophelia…a past that she is trying to piece together to find out what happened to her best friend, a stewardess on the ship last year.

I won’t say any more than that. There were so many chapter cliffhangers in this, and it annoyed me because I just couldn’t put it down! Very twisty. Very satisfying. Very dramatic. It’s like an episode of “Below Deck” with some added murder! Definitely check those one out!

This mystery was engaging at first from the beginning with the instant introduction to the dead body. Multiple POVs weren't really needed as the mystery kept going on and on almost in circles as the side characters became useless. The ending wasn't as satisfying but the epilogue did leave the door open to a potential spin off with the actual murderer.

3.5 stars - Someone is murdered on a luxury yacht while out in the middle of the ocean. The killer is among the guests or crew and no one can leave.

I love a locked room mystery and this book executed it well. I was thoroughly entertained the entire time. There are a lot of characters and multiple chapter POVs which was a bit confusing at first. Despite multiple plot twists, I didn’t feel satisfied when they were revealed.

If you’re a fan of Mean Girls and Below Deck, you’ll enjoy I Did Warn Her.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of this book from William Morrow via NetGalley.

Luxury yachts, scandalous secrets, and a touch of murder—what could go wrong? The Ophelia dives into the glittering, treacherous world of mega-yachts, where the champagne flows endlessly, the jewelry keeps disappearing, and murder might just be on the itinerary.

The story follows Sasha, the newest addition to the yacht’s all-blonde, model-perfect crew of stewardesses, as she embarks on a weeklong Atlantic crossing with a group of wealthy, enigmatic guests. The Ophelia might ooze opulence, but the luxury veneer quickly cracks when whispers of a mysterious death, missing jewels, and mounting tensions among the crew start to bubble to the surface. When a crew member turns up dead after a night of debauchery, the yacht becomes a floating pressure cooker of suspicion. Everyone aboard—crew and guests alike—has secrets to hide, and with no land in sight, there’s nowhere to run.

The premise is killer (pun intended): murder on a billionaire’s mega-yacht? Sign me up. The setting is dripping with potential, offering the perfect storm of isolation, wealth, and interpersonal drama. And while fans of Below Deck will recognize the references and dynamics of high-stakes yacht life, some gaps in authenticity might leave insiders scratching their heads. (Seriously, five stewardesses but only three deckhands? Even the real Captain Sandy would raise an eyebrow.)

The pacing is quick, and the drama unfolds steadily, but the story falters where it should shine: the characters. The crew and guests feel underdeveloped, and with so many “model-gorgeous” blondes running around, it’s hard to tell who’s who—let alone care who’s hiding what.

Still, The Ophelia is a fun, breezy read.