In the middle of the ocean, the rules of civilization no longer apply.
Set in 1914, The Lifeboat is a gripping, psychologically intense debut novel that asks: What would you do to survive?
After a mysterious explosion sinks the ocean liner she was traveling on, newlywed Grace Winter finds herself on a lifeboat with thirty-nine other survivors—and the boat is dangerously over capacity. As days stretch into weeks, provisions run low, tempers flare, and dark decisions must be made.
Told from Grace’s perspective as she stands trial for her actions at sea, The Lifeboat examines morality, power, and the blurred line between survival and betrayal. Charlotte Rogan’s debut is a haunting meditation on human nature under pressure, and the lengths we’ll go to in order to live.
 
❤️ Why You’ll Love It
A claustrophobic, emotionally charged survival story
Told in a unique retrospective courtroom narrative
Combines historical detail with psychological suspense
Explores themes of power, guilt, and moral ambiguity
 
📌 Perfect For
Fans of The Titanic, Life of Pi, or Lord of the Flies
Readers who enjoy morally complex characters and isolation-based suspense
Book clubs looking for stories that spark ethical debates
Readers of historical fiction with a psychological twist
👥 Fans Also Liked
If The Lifeboat left you breathless, you may also enjoy:
⚖️ Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan – Moral ambiguity and courtroom suspense
🌊 Life of Pi by Yann Martel – Survival at sea and spiritual reckoning
⛴️ The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman – Isolation, fate, and the ripple effects of hard choices
🧠 The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – Another haunting narrator with secrets to hide