The Day I Lost You: The gripping new thriller from the bestselling author of The Woman on the Ledge - Softcover

Mancini, Ruth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1804945218 ISBN 13: 9781804945216

Publisher: Penguin, 2026

Synopsis

One child, two mothers and a past that won't let them go. A second brilliantly twisty thriller novel by Sunday Times bestselling author of The Woman on the Ledge.

'Fresh, original, utterly intriguing and so, so clever' ANDREA MARA, bestselling author of No One Saw A Thing

'A clever, compelling rollercoaster ride of a book, never letting up until its final resolution' JENNIE GODFREY, Sunday Times bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things

'Ruth Mancini has done it again. Smart, twisty and propulsive' HARRIET TYCE, bestselling author of Blood Orange

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All Lauren wants is a new life in Spain. She’s suffered an unimaginable loss, but at last she has found a home in the pretty seaside town of Mantilla de Mar. Everyone deserves a new start, and Lauren needs to put her past firmly behind her.

Hope has everything: an interesting career as a therapist, an attractive husband, a dream home in the countryside - and, finally, the baby she always longed for. Sam. Her beautiful boy.

But Sam has gone missing.

So when the police tell her that a woman has been found in Spain with a child matching Sam’s description, Hope thinks that her nightmare might be coming to an end.

But Lauren is insisting Sam is her baby. She even has his passport and birth certificate to prove it.

So what really happened to Baby Sam? And who still has secrets to hide?

One child. Two mothers. And a past that won’t let them go.

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More love for The Day I Lost You . . .

'A propulsive, emotional thriller about love and loss. I flew through it changing my mind every few pages about whose side I was on. A hugely satisfying read!' C.L. TAYLOR


'Thought-provoking, compelling and, at times, heart-breaking. Really kept me guessing, right up until the end.' ANNA MAZZOLA

'Ruth Mancini is fast becoming a master of the thriller genre . . . so clever and engaging' LAURA PEARSON

'If you thought Ruth Mancini couldn't top The Woman on the Ledge think again . . . utterly gripping' SABINE DURRANT

Readers are loving The Day I Lost You . . .

‘So many twists and turns’ 5-star reader review

‘Absolutely brilliant’ 5-star reader review

‘I devoured this book! So well-written’ 5-star reader review

‘A beautifully written book about how good people struggle and end up doing bad things’ 5-star reader review

‘Such a gripping read’ 5-star reader review

‘Beautiful prose. Fantastic plot. Amazing characters who I fell in love with’ 5-star reader review

About this title

About the Author

Ruth Mancini is an author and criminal defence lawyer. Her background as a solicitor adds authenticity to her crime and psychological fiction. She has spent two decades representing those accused of crimes, navigating courtrooms and police stations. Her storytelling prowess and legal background combine to create thrilling reads that will keep you guessing until the very end.


Ruth was born in London and now lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and two children.

Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1804945218
• ISBN 13: 9781804945216
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352