I really enjoyed the Woman on the Ledge so was delighted to be approved for a copy of this new novel from Ruth Mancini.

It definitely doesn't disappoint and whilst the complex story (and timeline) did get confusing at times, it was a really well told story where you never quite knew what was going on!

I loved this book. The story is unusual and well-written, with plenty of twists. I really had no idea how it would end. I will definitely be recommending this.

The story of Sam and his parents. A totally gripping story, from start to finish. Well written. Heart breaking in places. Highly recommended. I've not read this author before but will look out for other books written by her. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy and leave this review willingly.

I really loved that this book had a foreword that really set the background and gave authenticity to the novel. This book has so many twists and turns you'll never guess whats coming next. You really have to pay attention to the details with this one. Thoroughly enjoyable read highly recommend.


📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Ruth Mancini and Random House UK, Cornerstone📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

This book appeared in my NetGalley titles even though I didn't request it! Not sure why or how or if it was a bug but it's not really my usual kind of thing (genre wise) so I won't be reviewing it. I don't want to hurt the book's ratings so will rate it 5 stars anyway.

A thought provoking read, as it's based on truefacts. Quite an emotional read which pulls at the heart strings as it involves a baby and who are its parents.

I felt this was more of a twisty domestic drama than a true thriller so will review it as such.

The plot line was interesting but I found the read quite disjointed. I don't mind differing timelines but in this instance they became confusing and led to quite a lot of repetition at times.

On the whole just not for me I'm afraid.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.

This story unravels backwards, starting with a mother and son in Spain and the police accusing her of kidnapping the boy. The story gradually unravels as we work backwards from that point with both her storyline and the parents of a missing boy who allege her son is their son.

It wasn't quite what I was expecting, it was quite a heartbreaking story rather than a psychological thriller. The ending felt a bit anti climatic after the build up to get there.

With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily

I have loved all the Sarah Kellerman books so super excited to get the chance to read this one. Ruth Mancini has a beautiful way of writing that completely draws the reader in. Her characters are all on point and the clever plot is full of twists and turns. You never know where this story is going as it is full of secrets and lies - who is telling the truth and who is not. Although the timeline is confusing and at times seems to be disjointed it does surprisingly add to the intrigue and suspense. This is an excellent book and once again Ms Mancini has delivered a solid, well thought out and compelling read

I had to really stick with this one and do a lot of annotation to try and keep track with the storyline which kind of lost the appeal for me. I do like annotation but more for reference not to actually have as notes to keep a track of what’s going on!
Overall it was a very twisty read and it was ok.

The only way to describe this book is a jigsaw puzzle where you have pieces from two separate puzzles and so nothing fits together. The story is told backwards which makes it even trickier to follow. You a drip fed information and alot of it is repeated over and over.
I thought having been written by a lawyer that part would take up more of the story but she was slotted in at the end to provide all the right pieces and all the answers.
However all the motivations didn't ring true to me and the out come seemed really odd.
I probably wouldn't read another book by this author as this book just left me frustrated and I couldn't wait to get to the end.

What a brilliant, heart wrenching book! So many twists & turns. I spent so much time trying to work out who the baby really belonged to. Very clever ending

Had to concentrate to keep tabs on everything that was happening.
Just what is it that connects the two women Hope and Lauren and their pregnancies?
Perhaps because the book starts in Spain with lauren and baby Sam, then spends much time looking back at what has been happening and from several points of view , all combines to give seemingly endless possibilities and make life confusing for the reader.
We get to know a lot about all the main characters and evrbody seems to have their faults but not being sure who is really telling the truth makes it hard to guess the truth about what connects the two women. We do find out about 4/5 of the way through the book and i did not anticipate it. Even then there is still much plotting and twists taking place before a reasonably fair resolution takes place at the end.
I enjoyed all the early guessing and i felt that the well portrayed charcters were all very believable.
look forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC

An intriguing and thought-provoking story about a missing child. It requires concentration to keep track with all the jumps in timelines and different perspectives. Some dramatic twists make this a compelling read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Hope and Drew Dunsmore-Faris are a couple who are happily married, both have satisfying careers, and a beautiful home. They are trying for a baby, and after several tragic losses, a baby boy arrives. They name him Sam, and their lives are complete until the unthinkable happens, and Sam goes missing. Meanwhile, Lauren Hopwood has had tragedy in her life, and moves to Spain with her son, Sam, for a new start. The lives of all these people converge, and become entwined in this psychological thriller with a plot that twists and turns. The story is told from the different points of view of the people involved, and in several timelines. It is an addictive and intriguing read, and I had to keep turning the pages to see what happened next, as I cold not hazard a guess, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending. 5 stars.

The Day I Lost You is a twisty novel, really keeps you guessing. One of those I thought maybe I had figured out but never did. I kept my attention but sometimes toward the end, it confused me. Maybe it was me.
I would recommend it because it isn’t the typical psychological thriller as the ending is not expected.

Ruth is one of those authors that constantly surprises me - in a good way! She is sharp and concise but wow those words hit home and hit you where it hurts. Very gripping this one. Inspired by a case that she worked on that really moved her and I can see why! Gripping plot as I say and confusing but in a good way as I didn't get the twists and thought the ' mix up' and vague ness were really well done.

Ruth Mancini’s The Day I Lost You is a suspense filled psychological thriller that delivers both tension and an emotional punch. When Lauren moves to Spain with her son, Sam, her world unravels after she’s accused of abducting him. As secrets surface, she’s forced to question everything. Inspired by a true case, the novel delves into moral dilemmas, the complexities of the legal system, and the devastating consequences of split-second decisions.

Defence lawyer Sarah Kellerman, navigates justice’s grey areas, making readers question guilt, innocence, and whether justice is ever truly served. Mancini’s taut writing keeps the tension high, and while the novel explores familiar thriller themes, they’re executed with precision. Though the shifting timelines can be disorienting, they ultimately heighten the suspense.

With sharp prose and a plot that ebbs and flows, Mancini masterfully blends psychological depth with legal drama. A thought-provoking and intriguing read perfect for thriller

I really enjoyed this book! Lauren has moved to Spain with her son, Sam, hoping to escape a traumatic loss and start fresh. Hope is a counselor with a baby son who’s gone missing. She claims that Lauren has kidnapped him, but Lauren swears Sam is her son and even has his passport to prove it. But now Lauren has to go back to the UK to answer some tough questions. The plot is full of twists, and you're never really sure what's true until almost the very end.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the preview copy!

Okay, let me just say this upfront: This book completely wrecked me—in the best possible way. I went into it expecting a gripping thriller, but what I got was so much more—a story that’s as emotionally devastating as it is suspenseful, with characters so real they feel like they could step right off the page. If you love books that mess with your head *and* your heart, this one’s an absolute must-read.

The setup alone had me hooked: Lauren is living a quiet life in Spain with her toddler, Sam, when suddenly, the police show up and drop a bombshell—someone in England has accused her of kidnapping their child. Meanwhile, back in the UK, Hope and Drew are grieving parents who claim their baby, also named Sam, was taken from them months ago. But here’s the thing—why did they wait so long to report him missing? And how are these two stories connected?

What follows is a brilliantly layered, slow-burn unraveling of secrets, lies, and heartbreaking choices. The story jumps between perspectives, peeling back the past bit by bit, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, Mancini throws in another twist that makes you question everything. The tension builds so masterfully that I found myself physically holding my breath at points, desperate to know how it would all come together.

What makes this book truly special, though, is how human it all feels. Lauren isn’t just some generic thriller protagonist—she’s flawed, vulnerable, and so fiercely loving that you can’t help but root for her, even as doubts creep in. Hope’s grief over her lost pregnancies is raw and visceral, and Drew… well, let’s just say the more you learn about him, the more unsettling he becomes. Even the side characters, like Gabe, Lauren’s kind but mysterious neighbor in Spain, add so much depth to the story.

Mancini’s background as a criminal defense lawyer shines through in the authenticity of the legal and emotional stakes. This isn’t just a twisty mystery—it’s a deep dive into how far people will go for love, how grief can distort reality, and how even good people can make unthinkable choices when pushed to the edge. There were moments that genuinely brought me to tears, not just from the suspense, but from the sheer tragedy of it all.

And that ending? No spoilers, but it’s perfect—satisfying in a way that feels earned, yet still bittersweet enough to linger in your mind long after you finish. It’s rare to find a thriller that balances heart-pounding twists with such emotional weight, but Mancini pulls it off flawlessly.

If I had any tiny complaints, it’s that the timeline jumps occasionally got a little confusing, but honestly, that’s just me nitpicking—the payoff is more than worth it. And trust me, you’ll want to reread certain chapters once everything clicks into place, just to marvel at how well-crafted the whole thing is.

So, final verdict? The Day I Lost You is a masterpiece of psychological suspense—a book that’s as thought-provoking as it is unputdownable. Clear your schedule before you start, because you won’t want to stop until you’ve devoured every last page.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC!