I Did Warn Her By Sian Gilbert Book Review

Ever wanted a summer thriller set on a luxury yacht? I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert brings that “Below Deck with a body count” energy. Sasha, the main character, steers us through secrets and drama.

If you love locked-room mysteries with a splash of sun, this one’s for you. Perfect for readers craving suspense and summer vibes.

Key Takeaways

I Did Warn Her is a quick and exciting summer thriller. It takes place on a fancy yacht. This book is great for people who like mysteries with surprises and drama.
The story has a special locked-room mystery. There are many different characters. Sasha is the main character. Sasha is easy to relate to. Sasha’s personal story makes the book deeper.
Sian Gilbert writes in a clear and smart way. The story is told from different points of view. This keeps the story tense and full of surprises. It is hard to stop reading this book.

Worth Reading?

Quick Verdict

I’ll be honest, I finished I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert in one sitting. I started reading after dinner, thinking I’d just check out a few chapters. Next thing I knew, it was 2 a.m. and I was still glued to the pages, heart pounding, eyes wide.

This book is a summer thriller that actually delivers on its promise. If you want a locked-room mystery with a sun-soaked, high-drama setting, this one checks all the boxes.

Here’s what stood out for me:

The yacht setting feels both glamorous and claustrophobic.
Every character has secrets, and the tension never lets up.
The plot twists come fast, but they never feel cheap or forced.

I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert isn’t just another beach read. It’s a locked-room whodunnit that left me gasping more than once. I’d rate it a solid 7/10 for pure entertainment and suspense.

Who Should Read It

If you love:

Locked-room mysteries where everyone’s a suspect
Summer thrillers with a splash of luxury and danger
Stories that keep you guessing until the last page

You’ll want this book in your beach bag. Fans of Below Deck, Agatha Christie, or Ruth Ware will feel right at home. I’d also recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories about complicated friendships and hidden motives. The book’s reception has been glowing, with readers praising its suspenseful, twist-filled plot and the voyeuristic thrill of peeking into the lives of the rich and reckless.

To be fair, if you prefer slow-burn mysteries or deep character studies, this might not be your cup of tea. But if you want a fast-paced, pulse-pounding read that’s perfect for summer, I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert is absolutely worth your time.

I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert: Plot

Yacht Setting

The story drops you right onto the luxury yacht Ophelia, where everything looks perfect on the surface. I could almost feel the sun on my face and the salty breeze in my hair. But the longer I stayed with these characters, the more I noticed the shadows.

Andersson, the moody outsider, keeps the speedboats running—turns out, those boats aren’t just for fun. There’s a criminal vibe running through the whole place, with hints of drug smuggling and even arson. At one point, a stolen speedboat goes up in flames, and someone’s hire car gets torched. The yacht feels both glamorous and like a trap. I kept thinking, “This is Below Deck, but with secrets that could ruin lives.”

Main Character Sasha

Sasha stands out as the heart of the book. They use they/them pronouns and bring a fresh perspective to the story. Diagnosed with Asperger’s as a kid, Sasha shows a mix of intelligence, thoughtfulness, and real compassion. I loved how Sasha’s journey isn’t just about solving a crime—it’s about figuring out who they are and standing up for themselves.

They face tough moments, like a traumatic fire, but never lose their empathy. Sasha’s love for Russian culture and public transit made them feel real to me. Their daily skirt-wearing becomes a quiet act of rebellion, challenging everyone’s ideas about gender.

Sasha’s story isn’t just about the mystery. It’s about acceptance, identity, and finding your place—even when everyone around you is hiding something.

The Murder Mystery

The mystery in I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert kicks off fast. Here’s how the suspense builds:

1. The story opens with a shocking crime—someone is dead, and everyone’s a suspect.

2. Sasha gets pulled into the investigation, not just as a bystander but as someone with skin in the game.

3. The clues pile up. Sasha interviews the crew, uncovers lies, and runs into plenty of red herrings.

4. Just when I thought I had it figured out, new info flipped everything upside down.

5. Sasha faces setbacks and has to rethink what they know.

6. A sudden insight leads to a risky plan.

7. The tension peaks as Sasha confronts the truth and the killer.

8. Everything wraps up with a satisfying reveal, tying up the secrets and lies.

Unique Elements

Locked-Room Setup

This book nails the classic locked-room vibe. The yacht feels like a floating puzzle box—no one can leave, and everyone has something to hide. I kept thinking about how shows like Poker Face and Columbo play with time and perspective.

Here, the story uses tight spaces and shifting timelines to keep me guessing. The tension never lets up because the setting itself becomes a character. Every time I thought I had a handle on things, the story would flip the script.

The yacht’s isolation ramps up the suspense. I felt trapped right along with the characters, which made every reveal hit harder.

Multiple Perspectives

One thing that really worked for me? The way the story jumps between different viewpoints. It’s not just Sasha’s show. I got to peek into the minds of other crew members and guests, which added layers to the mystery. Here’s a quick look at how different perspectives shape the story:

Perspective Type	Narrative Function	Thematic Contribution
Technical Specialist Focus	Shows behind-the-scenes yacht life	Balances detail with drama
Newcomer Perspective	Explains the yacht’s odd rules and routines	Gives a fresh, relatable angle
Multiple Viewpoint Integration	Keeps the story moving and avoids repetition	Deepens the mystery by showing secrets from all sides

Switching perspectives kept me on my toes. I never knew who to trust, and that made the whole experience more fun.

Twists

Let’s talk about the twists. This book doesn’t just throw in surprises for shock value. Each twist made me question everything I thought I knew. Sometimes I’d gasp out loud or even laugh at how wrong my guesses were. Here’s what stood out:

Twists kept me engaged and constantly second-guessing.
Suspicion shifted from one character to another, making the story feel alive.
Some reveals made me rethink earlier scenes, which I loved.

The best part? Even when I saw a twist coming, it still packed an emotional punch. That’s rare.

Themes

Secrets and Rivalries

Secrets run wild on the Ophelia. I felt like every character had something to hide, and that made me suspicious of everyone. The crew and guests all seem friendly at first, but the longer I read, the more I noticed the cracks.

Rivalries bubble up fast—old grudges, jealousy, and hidden crushes. I loved how the book made me question who I could trust. Sometimes, I even doubted Sasha.

Hidden motives keep the story moving.
Friendships turn into battles in a heartbeat.
Lies pile up until the truth feels impossible to find.

I found myself whispering, “Don’t trust them!” more than once. The tension between the characters made the yacht feel even smaller. It’s like everyone’s playing a game, and the stakes just keep getting higher.

Suspense and Drama

This book had my heart racing. I couldn’t put it down because every chapter ended with a new shock. The suspense felt real, almost physical. I actually caught myself holding my breath during some scenes.

Neuroimaging studies show that suspenseful stories light up parts of the brain linked to empathy and prediction. I totally get that—my brain was working overtime, trying to guess what would happen next.

Quantitative genre data backs this up. Thrillers like this one use certain words and patterns that make the suspense pop. I noticed how the author built tension with short chapters, quick dialogue, and sudden twists.

Unexpected reveals kept me guessing.
Emotional stakes made me care about the outcome.
Dramatic confrontations left me gasping.

If you want a book that grabs you and doesn’t let go, this one delivers on suspense and drama.

Sian Gilbert’s Style

Writing Strengths

I noticed right away that Sian Gilbert’s writing feels sharp and real. She uses direct speech a lot, which makes the conversations pop off the page. I could almost hear the crew arguing or whispering secrets in the dark. That style pulled me into the story and made the drama feel even juicier.

What really stood out to me:

Word choice feels fresh and modern. Gilbert doesn’t waste time with flowery language. She gets straight to the point.
She switches up pronouns and perspectives, which helps me see the story from different angles. This trick made the characters feel more real and their secrets more personal.
The story has clear narrative peaks—those moments when everything explodes or a secret finally comes out. I found myself holding my breath, waiting for the next big reveal.
Gilbert keeps the story moving with short chapters and quick dialogue. I never felt bored or lost.

I love how she balances the glitzy yacht life with gritty, honest moments. The story feels both fun and meaningful, which isn’t easy to pull off.

Pros and Cons

Highlights

I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert gave me a wild ride. Here’s what I loved most:

The locked-room mystery on a yacht felt fresh and exciting. I never got bored.
Sasha’s voice stood out. Their journey felt real and made me root for them.
The story kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist hit.
Short chapters and quick dialogue made the book easy to read in one sitting.
The mix of secrets, rivalries, and drama kept the tension high.
The author balanced glitzy yacht life with honest, gritty moments.
I noticed the story followed good review practices: clear motives, strong pacing, and no wasted scenes.

Drawbacks

Sometimes, even a pulse-pounding thriller has a few bumps. Here’s where I felt I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert could have done better:

Review Type	Cons (Storytelling/Methodological Evidence)
Meta-Analysis	Risk of mixing too many secrets at once, which can make the plot feel crowded
Scoping Review	Some character backstories felt thin, leaving me wanting more depth
Umbrella Review	The story sometimes focused on the main plot and skipped over smaller details I wanted to know
Narrative Storytelling	At times, the book seemed to push the story in a set direction, which made a few twists feel less natural

I noticed that when a story tries to fit everything into a tight space, it can leave out some of the complexity. Sometimes, the book felt like it wanted to keep the action moving so much that it skipped over quieter moments. This made a few scenes feel rushed or a little forced. Still, the ride was worth it.

I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert surprised me in the best way. I couldn’t put it down and kept guessing until the end. If you want a summer thriller with a locked-room twist, grab this one.

Dionysus Review Rating: 7/10