The Woman in Suite 11

“In my dream, I was trapped. Locked in a cell, deep underwater, where no one could hear my cries.”

This is the first line of The Woman in Suite 11. Lo’s nightmares are a residual effect of the trauma she experienced due to imprisonment on the cruise ship in The Woman in Cabin 10, immediately introducing The Effects of Trauma Due to Imprisonment as a theme. She has had this recurring nightmare for 10 years, ever since her experiences on the ship. The novel’s Prologue connects the two books because Lo’s nightmares reflect what happened in The Woman in Cabin 10.

“When I walked into the bedroom, I sucked in my breath.”

This is the first line of the main narrative in Chapter 1. The imagery of breathing connects to the Prologue’s imagery about being underwater, connecting the dream with Lo’s lived reality on the Aurora. However, Lo’s breathing relates to her children making a mess; this presents the domestic sphere in contrast with her work that takes place in suites cleaned by housekeepers.

“At the plane’s door, a cabin attendant greeted each of us by name—there were only three other first-class passengers—and showed us to what she described as our ‘suites,’ which were more like little cubicles, each equipped with a huge wide-screen TV, flat bed, and ottoman, and a sliding door for extra privacy.”

This is the first suite in the novel and is a reference to its title. The list of amenities illustrates the association of suites with wealth and luxury on Swiss Air. This suite is comparable to the suites in the two hotels that Lo stays in.