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No One Aboard
The White Lotus meets The Last Thing He Told Me in this domestic mystery about a luxury sailboat found floating adrift in the ocean and the secrets of the missing family who set sail aboard it weeks before...
"No One Aboard is a riveting, astonishing debut, and Emy McGuire is an important new voice in fiction. I will read anything she writes!"
—Sarah Pekkanen, #1 New York Times bestselling author
At the start of summer, billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron set off on their private luxury sailboat to celebrate the high school graduation of their two beloved children.
Three weeks later, the Camerons have not been heard from, the captain hasn’t responded to radio calls, and the sailboat is found floating off the coast of Florida.
Empty.
Where are the Camerons? What happened on their trip? And what secrets does the beautiful boat hold?
Set over the course of their vacation and in the aftermath of the sailboat’s discovery, No One Aboard asks who is more dangerous to a a stormy ocean or each other?
"No One Aboard is a riveting, astonishing debut, and Emy McGuire is an important new voice in fiction. I will read anything she writes!"
—Sarah Pekkanen, #1 New York Times bestselling author
At the start of summer, billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron set off on their private luxury sailboat to celebrate the high school graduation of their two beloved children.
Three weeks later, the Camerons have not been heard from, the captain hasn’t responded to radio calls, and the sailboat is found floating off the coast of Florida.
Empty.
Where are the Camerons? What happened on their trip? And what secrets does the beautiful boat hold?
Set over the course of their vacation and in the aftermath of the sailboat’s discovery, No One Aboard asks who is more dangerous to a a stormy ocean or each other?
Audible Audio
First published December 2, 2025
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About the author
Emy McGuire
2 books78 followersEmy McGuire holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre/creative writing from New College of Florida. She has toured nationally in the Edgar Allan Poe Show, sailed from Rome to Antigua, and written everything from ocean thrillers to pirate musicals. She lives in Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
December 12, 2025
Evoking the feel of the open ocean in all of its wild, out of control beauty, McGuire crafted a love letter to sailing all while closely studying four different characters’ behaviors, motives, and feelings. You see, for me, No One Aboard was a character-driven story about a dysfunctional family and their darkly toxic relationships. Packed to the gills with plenty of mysterious secrets, manipulative lies, and deceitful schemes, the claustrophobic feel of this locked-room setting delivered in spades. That being said, it felt more like a delicious mashup of suspense and family drama than any kind of thriller. Despite that, however, with a ratcheting pace and an ever-present sense of foreboding, I was wrapped up in this haunting tale of a fracturing family. After all, just when I thought I had it all figured out, a whopping big twist arrived on the scene.
All said and done, with a taut atmosphere that you could cut with a knife and a handful of characters who I found equally suspicious, this book was an easy slam dunk. From the rich people behaving badly to the found family vibe, there was a bit of everything in this near perfect debut. You see, the only teensy, tiny flaw that I could find was the slow burn first half. That being said, it gave me a fly-on-the-wall view of each of these characters and their secretive ways. Showing and not telling via some truly lyrical prose, the dual timelines and multiple POVs easily created a plot that kept me on the back foot throughout as twist after twist exploded into view. So if you love messy family dynamics or the feel of The White Lotus, this book is for you. After all, I had a blast riding the waves as these long-buried secrets were exposed. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
At the start of summer, billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron set off on their private luxury sailboat to celebrate the high school graduation of their two beloved children.
Three weeks later, the Camerons have not been heard from, the captain hasn’t responded to radio calls, and the sailboat is found floating off the coast of Florida.
Empty.
Where are the Camerons? What happened on their trip? And what secrets does the beautiful boat hold?
Thank you Emy McGuire and Gallery Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: December 2, 2025
Content warning: infidelity, drowning, violence, mention of: emotional abuse
All said and done, with a taut atmosphere that you could cut with a knife and a handful of characters who I found equally suspicious, this book was an easy slam dunk. From the rich people behaving badly to the found family vibe, there was a bit of everything in this near perfect debut. You see, the only teensy, tiny flaw that I could find was the slow burn first half. That being said, it gave me a fly-on-the-wall view of each of these characters and their secretive ways. Showing and not telling via some truly lyrical prose, the dual timelines and multiple POVs easily created a plot that kept me on the back foot throughout as twist after twist exploded into view. So if you love messy family dynamics or the feel of The White Lotus, this book is for you. After all, I had a blast riding the waves as these long-buried secrets were exposed. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
At the start of summer, billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron set off on their private luxury sailboat to celebrate the high school graduation of their two beloved children.
Three weeks later, the Camerons have not been heard from, the captain hasn’t responded to radio calls, and the sailboat is found floating off the coast of Florida.
Empty.
Where are the Camerons? What happened on their trip? And what secrets does the beautiful boat hold?
Thank you Emy McGuire and Gallery Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: December 2, 2025
Content warning: infidelity, drowning, violence, mention of: emotional abuse
September 21, 2025
I’ve been waiting to devour this story since its deal announcement and it did not disappoint! No One Aboard is a locked-room psychological suspense novel with unlikeable characters, dual timelines, and an overarching mystery: what happened to the Camerons?
McGuire’s writing evokes an atmosphere of claustrophobia and dread from the very first page. The pacing was exceptional — there are several mysteries at play with tidbits, reveals, and twists peppered throughout the novel — making for a compelling and emotional narrative. I loved the jumping timelines, which added tension to the plot as the chapters counted down to the Cameron’s eventual disappearance/demise. I furiously turned the pages and gasped at each reveal.
The domestic mystery is as thrilling as the overarching mystery — getting to the heart of who the Camerons are individually and as a family. In this story there are no good characters, so it all comes down to motivation — what drives a character who has been pushed to the edge time and time again — do they rise to the occasion or whither in its shadow? It’s brilliant character development when you can both despise and understand them in equal measure.
Overall, this was a fantastic debut with a richly layered plot and complex characters. I cannot wait to read what McGuire writes next!
Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
McGuire’s writing evokes an atmosphere of claustrophobia and dread from the very first page. The pacing was exceptional — there are several mysteries at play with tidbits, reveals, and twists peppered throughout the novel — making for a compelling and emotional narrative. I loved the jumping timelines, which added tension to the plot as the chapters counted down to the Cameron’s eventual disappearance/demise. I furiously turned the pages and gasped at each reveal.
The domestic mystery is as thrilling as the overarching mystery — getting to the heart of who the Camerons are individually and as a family. In this story there are no good characters, so it all comes down to motivation — what drives a character who has been pushed to the edge time and time again — do they rise to the occasion or whither in its shadow? It’s brilliant character development when you can both despise and understand them in equal measure.
Overall, this was a fantastic debut with a richly layered plot and complex characters. I cannot wait to read what McGuire writes next!
Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2025
A wild ride from start to finish!
A suspenseful thriller about a wealthy family who vanishes while on a luxury sailboat vacation.
White Lotus meets The Last Thing He Told Me - this one is equal parts domestic mystery and family drama. It is immediately intriguing and you as the reader can’t help but feel unsettled as the book goes on and the mystery unravels. Something is very wrong here…
A truly fun reading experience with nuanced, unlikable characters that hook you into their drama, a mystery that keeps getting more wild, and unexpected twists, turns, and reveals along the way. Highly recommend for those looking for a quick mystery that will make you keep turning the page!
I will say some of it was predictable and I wish we got a final resolution between characters, but otherwise I’m happy to have gone on this journey!
Read For
- Rich People Behaving Badly
- Dual Timelines
- Multiple POVs
- Complicated Family Dynamics
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review
A suspenseful thriller about a wealthy family who vanishes while on a luxury sailboat vacation.
White Lotus meets The Last Thing He Told Me - this one is equal parts domestic mystery and family drama. It is immediately intriguing and you as the reader can’t help but feel unsettled as the book goes on and the mystery unravels. Something is very wrong here…
A truly fun reading experience with nuanced, unlikable characters that hook you into their drama, a mystery that keeps getting more wild, and unexpected twists, turns, and reveals along the way. Highly recommend for those looking for a quick mystery that will make you keep turning the page!
I will say some of it was predictable and I wish we got a final resolution between characters, but otherwise I’m happy to have gone on this journey!
Read For
- Rich People Behaving Badly
- Dual Timelines
- Multiple POVs
- Complicated Family Dynamics
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review
May 14, 2025
I had the amazing opportunity to be one of the first people to read this book. McGuire's prose is captivating and full of imagery. The fast-paced thriller keeps you reading until all of a sudden you've finished the book and you have no idea where the time went. At the core of this story are its characters- who feel both like something out of a high-stakes Shakespeare play and like your next door neighbors. As someone who grew up in South Florida, the working-class Southern characters feel like home to me, which juxtaposes with the nouveau-riche yachting family in a clash of class tension. The comparison to White Lotus is quite apt. Don't expect to know exactly who to trust and who to root for at all times... this book affords so much complexity to all of its players. If you enjoy found families, coming-of-age stories, domestic thrillers, soap operas, the rich and powerful getting what they deserve, and murder: you will fall in love with McGuire's novel, as I certainly did.
January 8, 2026
No One Aboard was the December Thrillerfluencers Book of the month and it was a great choice. This page turner was the perfect summer read, full of unlikeable characters and a wild story that kept me guessing.
The Cameron family are uber rich and can afford all the best things in life. The twins, Tia and Rylan couldn’t be more different but they are about to turn 18 so the family is off on their luxury boat to cruise to Florida to celebrate, but when the boat arrives without its owners or crew, the press are full of theories.. what happened to the Cameron Family?
I would not want to be part of this family for all the money in the world. They are selfish, greedy, manipulative and together they are the most dysfunctional family I have read about in a long time. They don’t seem to like each other that much under the surface and will do anything to keep their long buried secrets from each other and the world.
This has some pretty dark and messed up scenes but I found it to be fun read, great escape from reality for a few hours.
Thanks to HQ Australia for sending g me this book to read.
The Cameron family are uber rich and can afford all the best things in life. The twins, Tia and Rylan couldn’t be more different but they are about to turn 18 so the family is off on their luxury boat to cruise to Florida to celebrate, but when the boat arrives without its owners or crew, the press are full of theories.. what happened to the Cameron Family?
I would not want to be part of this family for all the money in the world. They are selfish, greedy, manipulative and together they are the most dysfunctional family I have read about in a long time. They don’t seem to like each other that much under the surface and will do anything to keep their long buried secrets from each other and the world.
This has some pretty dark and messed up scenes but I found it to be fun read, great escape from reality for a few hours.
Thanks to HQ Australia for sending g me this book to read.
October 16, 2025
Captivating and fast-paced, this domestic thriller is an absolute wild ride!
I was completely hooked from the very beginning — the twists were unexpected and kept me flipping the pages late into the night. With its dual timeline and layered storytelling, this mystery dives deep into complicated family dynamics and long-buried secrets, making it both gripping and emotionally charged.
A thoroughly entertaining read that blends tension, emotion, and surprise perfectly.
Thank you so much to Emy McGuire for reaching out and sending me this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I was completely hooked from the very beginning — the twists were unexpected and kept me flipping the pages late into the night. With its dual timeline and layered storytelling, this mystery dives deep into complicated family dynamics and long-buried secrets, making it both gripping and emotionally charged.
A thoroughly entertaining read that blends tension, emotion, and surprise perfectly.
Thank you so much to Emy McGuire for reaching out and sending me this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
August 17, 2025
I was so fortunate to read an ARC of this book, and I can truly say without a doubt that Emy is one of the great talents of our time. This story gripped me from page one and never let go—from the intricately woven plot, to the mysterious and intriguing characters, to the prose that had my jaw on the floor. No One Aboard is 100% just the beginning for this amazing author and I cannot wait to have this one on my shelf!
December 3, 2025
A luxury yacht in perfect condition, nothing out of place, everything looking like a wonderful trip had started, but the boat is empty and floating on its own.
Jerry Baugh saw it because it almost crashed into his lobster boat.
The only sign of anything amiss is a note written in lipstick on the mirror that says "Save yOur Self."
The police investigation begins as the world finds out millionaires Francis and Lila Cameron along with their children and crew have vanished.
None of the Camerons are likable except Rylan. In fact, they all have some sort of secret, some sort of plan, and backgrounds that we see in alternating chapters and help us learn more about each character.
It's a good mystery, and to me a character-driven storyline with one of the characters trying to sabotage the whole trip, but why?
Or is there another reason the boat is empty?
Find out what’s going on in this slow buildup of a read with twists that will have your head spinning and a great ending. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Jerry Baugh saw it because it almost crashed into his lobster boat.
The only sign of anything amiss is a note written in lipstick on the mirror that says "Save yOur Self."
The police investigation begins as the world finds out millionaires Francis and Lila Cameron along with their children and crew have vanished.
None of the Camerons are likable except Rylan. In fact, they all have some sort of secret, some sort of plan, and backgrounds that we see in alternating chapters and help us learn more about each character.
It's a good mystery, and to me a character-driven storyline with one of the characters trying to sabotage the whole trip, but why?
Or is there another reason the boat is empty?
Find out what’s going on in this slow buildup of a read with twists that will have your head spinning and a great ending. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
December 16, 2025
No One Aboard by Emy McGuire is a taut, chilling domestic mystery about billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron and their two children Rylan and Tia, who set off on a luxurious sailboat cruise to celebrate the kids’ graduations only to vanish without a trace, leaving their ship adrift off the Florida coast and prompting a multifaceted search that unravels hidden tensions, secrets, and betrayals among the family and crew as the novel plays out across dual timelines.
The narrative blends psychological suspense with family drama, posing the haunting question of whether the sea’s merciless force or the fractured relationships within the family pose the greatest danger. McGuire’s debut leans into claustrophobia, mystery, and deeply flawed but compelling characters.
This book made me feel both unsettled and fully engrossed, because McGuire captures not just the eeriness of a ghost ship adrift but also the raw emotional turmoil simmering beneath the surface of the Cameron family’s vacation, drawing you into alternating perspectives and timelines that peel back layers of motive, resentment, and vulnerability. The characters emerge as richly textured and often morally complex, meaning you might find yourself empathetic and exasperated by them in equal measure, which to me heightened the suspense and emotional engagement. I liked the pacing and twists, and these kept me glued to the page even when certain sections meandered slightly, particularly in the middle. The multiple POVs deepened the intrigue while occasionally requiring extra focus to track.
For its captivating plot, layered family dynamics, and the way it made me feel both tense and curious about every choice the characters made, I would rate No One Aboard a 4 out of 5 stars, because it’s a compelling debut that delivers strong mystery, psychological depth, and dramatic tension even if some parts feel more atmospheric than action‑driven.
The narrative blends psychological suspense with family drama, posing the haunting question of whether the sea’s merciless force or the fractured relationships within the family pose the greatest danger. McGuire’s debut leans into claustrophobia, mystery, and deeply flawed but compelling characters.
This book made me feel both unsettled and fully engrossed, because McGuire captures not just the eeriness of a ghost ship adrift but also the raw emotional turmoil simmering beneath the surface of the Cameron family’s vacation, drawing you into alternating perspectives and timelines that peel back layers of motive, resentment, and vulnerability. The characters emerge as richly textured and often morally complex, meaning you might find yourself empathetic and exasperated by them in equal measure, which to me heightened the suspense and emotional engagement. I liked the pacing and twists, and these kept me glued to the page even when certain sections meandered slightly, particularly in the middle. The multiple POVs deepened the intrigue while occasionally requiring extra focus to track.
For its captivating plot, layered family dynamics, and the way it made me feel both tense and curious about every choice the characters made, I would rate No One Aboard a 4 out of 5 stars, because it’s a compelling debut that delivers strong mystery, psychological depth, and dramatic tension even if some parts feel more atmospheric than action‑driven.
November 28, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this book, but parts were confusing/slightly underwhelming. Rylan, Tia, and Lilas story really kept the pages turning for me though. I finished this in one day because I just wanted to know WHAT HAPPENED. I wish the epilogue was slightly longer because I just neeeeeded that ending. It definitely was a page turner, and there were moments I was shocked.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this book, but parts were confusing/slightly underwhelming. Rylan, Tia, and Lilas story really kept the pages turning for me though. I finished this in one day because I just wanted to know WHAT HAPPENED. I wish the epilogue was slightly longer because I just neeeeeded that ending. It definitely was a page turner, and there were moments I was shocked.
December 25, 2025
I honestly can’t believe I finished this book.
And worse? They didn’t even die. They should have.
The “plot twist” made zero fucking sense, and the writing was so flowery and over-descriptive I felt trapped on that boat staring at the bench tops. I do not care what colour they are. Call it pine. Call it a day. If it doesn’t matter to the plot—stop describing it.
Because while we’re busy cataloguing the decor, the characters sucked. Horribly unlikeable, snobbish, zero charm. I wasn’t invested—I genuinely did not care what happened to them, which is… kind of a problem in a survival mystery.
I was SO excited to get this book.
Now? I regret it.
Finished out of spite. Closed it annoyed. Would not recommend. 🚢💀
And worse? They didn’t even die. They should have.
The “plot twist” made zero fucking sense, and the writing was so flowery and over-descriptive I felt trapped on that boat staring at the bench tops. I do not care what colour they are. Call it pine. Call it a day. If it doesn’t matter to the plot—stop describing it.
Because while we’re busy cataloguing the decor, the characters sucked. Horribly unlikeable, snobbish, zero charm. I wasn’t invested—I genuinely did not care what happened to them, which is… kind of a problem in a survival mystery.
I was SO excited to get this book.
Now? I regret it.
Finished out of spite. Closed it annoyed. Would not recommend. 🚢💀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
I can’t wait to get my hands on this book!
December 17, 2025
There is an Oh. My. Gosh! moment!
No One Aboard by Emy McGuire is an incredible, unputdownable thriller that kept me fully engaged from the first page to the last. The characters are deeply flawed. They are clearly driven by selfishness, greed, secrets, and quiet sadness. This made them compelling and realistic. I also appreciated how much I learned along the way, particularly about maritime law, and even picked up some new vocabulary, something I always enjoy in a well-written novel.
The story centers on Francis and Lila Cameron, ultra-wealthy billionaires who seemingly want for nothing, as they set sail with their twin children to celebrate the teens’ high school graduation. Traveling from one luxurious home to another, the voyage should be idyllic, yet discontent and tension among the family surface almost immediately.
Being trapped on a boat with deeply unhappy people sounds dreadful, and McGuire uses that claustrophobic setting to powerful effect. This novel tells more than one story, and that layered storytelling is what makes it such a riveting read. With multiple points of view and dual timelines, the narrative remains consistently engaging. I loved how the book seamlessly crosses genres—blending mystery, thriller, and psychological suspense. The tension is established early and steadily builds with each chapter, ultimately delivering a very satisfying conclusion.
Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
No One Aboard by Emy McGuire is an incredible, unputdownable thriller that kept me fully engaged from the first page to the last. The characters are deeply flawed. They are clearly driven by selfishness, greed, secrets, and quiet sadness. This made them compelling and realistic. I also appreciated how much I learned along the way, particularly about maritime law, and even picked up some new vocabulary, something I always enjoy in a well-written novel.
The story centers on Francis and Lila Cameron, ultra-wealthy billionaires who seemingly want for nothing, as they set sail with their twin children to celebrate the teens’ high school graduation. Traveling from one luxurious home to another, the voyage should be idyllic, yet discontent and tension among the family surface almost immediately.
Being trapped on a boat with deeply unhappy people sounds dreadful, and McGuire uses that claustrophobic setting to powerful effect. This novel tells more than one story, and that layered storytelling is what makes it such a riveting read. With multiple points of view and dual timelines, the narrative remains consistently engaging. I loved how the book seamlessly crosses genres—blending mystery, thriller, and psychological suspense. The tension is established early and steadily builds with each chapter, ultimately delivering a very satisfying conclusion.
Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
September 30, 2025
Thank you so much @htp_hive @htpbooks @graydonhousebooks for the complimentary DRC. #hiveinfluencer
An entertaining, rich people behaving badly, story. It’s mystery, meets lots of family drama, with a dash of soap opera.
The plot kept me guessing until the very end, which I always appreciate.. That said, I didn’t find myself emotionally invested in any of the characters, they were all so unlikeable, some moreso than others, but still no one I would root for. If you love a book full of truly hateable characters, this one’s for you.
You do need to suspend disbelief a bit, especially with some of the plot points, but if you’re here for the drama, it’s worth the ride. My only real wish? An epilogue. I needed just a little more closure.
An entertaining, rich people behaving badly, story. It’s mystery, meets lots of family drama, with a dash of soap opera.
The plot kept me guessing until the very end, which I always appreciate.. That said, I didn’t find myself emotionally invested in any of the characters, they were all so unlikeable, some moreso than others, but still no one I would root for. If you love a book full of truly hateable characters, this one’s for you.
You do need to suspend disbelief a bit, especially with some of the plot points, but if you’re here for the drama, it’s worth the ride. My only real wish? An epilogue. I needed just a little more closure.
January 4, 2026
The good: I very rarely read a book this quickly. It can take a lot of starts and stops for me to get into a book. This one held my attention from the get-go (hence my rating).
The bad: There's one really convenient coincidence that's a step too far for believability. I do wish we'd gotten the POV of one of the true villains. I like to see how the psychopaths justify themselves.
The ugly: Pretty much every character at one point. There's no one character I like completely, which makes for interesting moral quagmires.
The bad: There's one really convenient coincidence that's a step too far for believability. I do wish we'd gotten the POV of one of the true villains. I like to see how the psychopaths justify themselves.
The ugly: Pretty much every character at one point. There's no one character I like completely, which makes for interesting moral quagmires.
November 18, 2025
This book is a great example of when overly flowery writing distracts from the plot. Minute details seemed to take priority over forward momentum. The characters are painfully unlikable, which may appeal to some but I struggled with this. Overall I just had a very difficult time getting invested in this book.
Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.
Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.
December 9, 2025
I was so excited to read this book. Then I hated every character and hoped they all drowned.
December 2, 2025
Finished reading: November 30th 2025
"He was right, after all. About more things than he realized."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Graydon House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
February 27, 2026
I generally don’t love thrillers, so listen when I say that this is one of my absolute favorite books now! OH MY GOODNESS this one has a grip on my heart and my brain that I don’t think I’ll ever be rid of. I love the complexity of the characters and how real they are (especially the twins). I was instantly attached. The prose is absolutely beautiful. There were moments I had to put the book down just to let the sentence marinate in my brain. I genuinely did not guess the plot/ see what was coming which is often my complaint with true crime/ murder mystery. I was shocked, heart broken, actually terrified… like maybe don’t read this at 2 am? The dual timeline works so well and the way it’s wrapped up is genius and had my jaw on the floor. I love how the author’s own experiences and knowledge of the ocean inform the story. As a fellow marine biology enthusiast, I loved the tidbits of biology and that you could genuinely tell the author knows about sailing. The book is beautifully constructed, researched, and anything else you could want from an ocean thriller.
February 2, 2026
So unrealistic it could be a fantasy!
I really did not connect with any aspects of this novel.
I really did not connect with any aspects of this novel.
December 1, 2025
A luxury boat is found drifting at sea with no one aboard, leaving people puzzled. We then follow various characters in this dual timeline thriller to find out what happened.
This is a slowburn thriller that quietly pulled me under before I knew it. I loved how layered this story was giving us the complexities and journey of these people onboard this ship before they went missing. The story was also atmospheric in making me feel unsettled and claustrophobic in some scenes and I loved that!
Thank you Netgalley, Emy McGuire and publishers for a digital copy of this thriller !!
This is a slowburn thriller that quietly pulled me under before I knew it. I loved how layered this story was giving us the complexities and journey of these people onboard this ship before they went missing. The story was also atmospheric in making me feel unsettled and claustrophobic in some scenes and I loved that!
Thank you Netgalley, Emy McGuire and publishers for a digital copy of this thriller !!
Read
November 28, 2025I am still traumatized by watching Dead Calm as a teenager so I went into this with a fair amount of trepidation but I really enjoyed it.
A family of four (mom, dad, college-aged twins) sets sail in the boat with a small crew but immediately we see that something is not quite right. One person dies and the reaction of the father of the family is odd and unexpected. What is going on? Who can the kids trust? Will they all end up dead? This had a nice "We Were Liars" vibe that I think readers of psychological suspense will enjoy.
A family of four (mom, dad, college-aged twins) sets sail in the boat with a small crew but immediately we see that something is not quite right. One person dies and the reaction of the father of the family is odd and unexpected. What is going on? Who can the kids trust? Will they all end up dead? This had a nice "We Were Liars" vibe that I think readers of psychological suspense will enjoy.
January 3, 2026
hella twisty! loved it!
November 30, 2025
At the start of summer, billionaire couple Francis and Lila Cameron set off on their private luxury sailboat to celebrate the high school graduation of their two beloved children. Three weeks later, the Camerons have not been heard from, the captain hasn’t responded to radio calls, and the sailboat is found floating off the coast of Florida.
EMPTY
These characters just get a bit crazier and crazier as this story moves along. And as a reader, this really keeps you guessing. This is very much a character driven tale. And I will be honest, when I first started it, I thought…I am not reading this…way too many characters. But the author does a fabulous job introducing them and keeping the intensity up.
Also, this story has some beautiful prose. It will come out of no where and surprise you. One minute you are trying to figure out what is going on and the next you are blown away with a description or a character’s feeling.
Need a story which will keep you guessing…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
EMPTY
These characters just get a bit crazier and crazier as this story moves along. And as a reader, this really keeps you guessing. This is very much a character driven tale. And I will be honest, when I first started it, I thought…I am not reading this…way too many characters. But the author does a fabulous job introducing them and keeping the intensity up.
Also, this story has some beautiful prose. It will come out of no where and surprise you. One minute you are trying to figure out what is going on and the next you are blown away with a description or a character’s feeling.
Need a story which will keep you guessing…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
February 27, 2026
When it got to the middle things started speeding up and I became hooked but crashed to a halt by the end. I couldn’t quite get my head around it overall though, because even if it’s a thriller it needs to have a vaguely realistic point to it; you need to imagine that things like this might actually happen, and this .. it ended in the realms of fantasy. But! I do love anything set on a ship or boat, even more so if it’s a creepy mystery, so that kept me going.
November 30, 2025
Rating 4/5 🌟's
No One Aboard is an eerie, claustrophobic thriller that grabs you by the collar from the opening pages and never loosens its grip. Emy McGuire does a brilliant job building tension not with jump-scares, but with atmosphere—the kind that makes you feel the boat rocking under your feet as you read.
The setup is simple but irresistible. An abandoned vessel, a disappearing crew, and one character determined to figure out what happened. What I loved most is how McGuire blends psychological unease with slow-burn mystery. The isolation is palpable, the twists are well-timed, and the creeping sense of “something is very wrong here” kept me on edge.
The pacing is tight and the reveals land with a satisfying snap. I especially enjoyed how the book plays with perception you’re constantly questioning what’s real and what’s imagined.
If you enjoy maritime mysteries, closed-circle thrillers, or that delicious sinking stomach kind of suspense, this one is a must-read.
Highly recommended for fans of:
Ruth Ware
Lucy Foley
Survival/Isolation thrillers
Unreliable narrators
No One Aboard is an eerie, claustrophobic thriller that grabs you by the collar from the opening pages and never loosens its grip. Emy McGuire does a brilliant job building tension not with jump-scares, but with atmosphere—the kind that makes you feel the boat rocking under your feet as you read.
The setup is simple but irresistible. An abandoned vessel, a disappearing crew, and one character determined to figure out what happened. What I loved most is how McGuire blends psychological unease with slow-burn mystery. The isolation is palpable, the twists are well-timed, and the creeping sense of “something is very wrong here” kept me on edge.
The pacing is tight and the reveals land with a satisfying snap. I especially enjoyed how the book plays with perception you’re constantly questioning what’s real and what’s imagined.
If you enjoy maritime mysteries, closed-circle thrillers, or that delicious sinking stomach kind of suspense, this one is a must-read.
Highly recommended for fans of:
Ruth Ware
Lucy Foley
Survival/Isolation thrillers
Unreliable narrators
March 8, 2026
4⭐️
this was a great beach read. you won't hardly like any of the characters, but that's what really makes this book fun. it was a little slow in some parts, but i enjoyed all the dramatic events that happened.
this was a great beach read. you won't hardly like any of the characters, but that's what really makes this book fun. it was a little slow in some parts, but i enjoyed all the dramatic events that happened.
December 9, 2025
NO ONE ABOARD is a gorgeously written and fast-paced thriller about a dysfunctional billionaire family that would fit perfectly in The White Lotus and Succession. I prefer a character-driven mystery, and this book delivers with a cast of complex and "lived-in" characters with strong motivations, emotional wounds, and a level of unpredictability that kept me guessing until the end of the satisfying conclusion. The sea itself and the luxury sailboat offered an unforgettable setting that lent perfectly to the unsettling tension bubbling beneath the surface of every page. Emy Mcguire is a rare talent and I am confident that she is just on the cusp of taking the entire world by storm!
January 24, 2026
I wanted so badly to love this one because I love the ocean and sailing and any book related to these topics, but I just didn’t love the storyline or the characters. Beautiful descriptions in the writing though!
February 4, 2026
THIS BOOK. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. The cast of characters was so unique and there were so many pivotal reveals that kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last. The Camerons and their ghost ship are a can’t-miss read.
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