I found this a thrilling read from start to finish, it's the sort of thriller that I love, I had no idea what was going on, from the start there were no clues where the storyline was going. It was only in the second half where all the threads started intermingling to become the whole story. This was my first Ruth Mancini book but certainly won't be my last if this novel is anything to ho by.
I was gifted this copy by Netgalley and Random House UK with no obligation to leave my review

This book hooked me from the prologue. The writing is accessible and you instantly feel as if the characters are real. I was invested in Tate from the start. The plotting is so incredibly clever and it’s the uniqueness of this thriller that made me devour it in one sitting. It was pacy, compulsive and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Thank you to PRH and NetGalley for my arc.

Thanks to Ruth and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Woman on the Ledge before the publication date.
This is the first of Ruth’s books which I have read.
I found it slow to start but as the pace picked up, the reader is led to think they know what has happened, only to be totally wrong.
It is an enjoyable read although the plot is very convoluted and a bit far fetched.

When Tate discovers an old friend about to jump off a roof, it opens up 25-year-old memories of sexual assaults when they were fourteen. The roof is on the top of the office block where Tate, a “resting” actress, works as a Temp. She has gone up for a smoke while the rest of the office are having a big Christmas party but her friend, Helen, is in the building illegally for the sole purpose of killing herself. Tate talks her friend down, and they go back to their homes, but next evening they have to return because the friend, Helen, has lost an earring. Tate sneaks them both into the building, then loses track of Helen. She is still looking for her when a woman falls from the roof. That appears to be the situation when Tate is arrested for murder, but things aren’t always what they seem.
The story is told entirely by Tate, a quintessential Unreliable Narrator, so we get alternative versions of events, with some parts of the original testimony recast within different scenarios. There is a sound piece of advice for those who wish to lie convincingly, especially to the police: Keep it as close to the truth as possible, so there are fewer points where you can be caught out. Tate appears to be using this technique. The result is that the other characters in the story are wrong-footed or bamboozled, but that also means that the reader is in the same boat. Is her original version of the events true, or partly true, or a total fabrication? Are subsequent versions truer or less true? This is a significant mental exercise for the reader. Ultimately, it must resolve to our satisfaction, and from about half-way we can see the likely outcome, but the route towards it is redrawn at least twice more. Reviewers often mention that there are twists in a tale, but this is better described as a twisted tale.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

A clever thriller which keeps you guessing. Told from different viewpoints it adds new information making you rethink how the storyline is unfolding. Easy reading with plenty of twists and turns.

Told from different points of view this was a proper page turner keeping me hooked until the very well written ending.A very good read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

What a fabulous read, I enjoyed it so much ,tense gripping exciting, all the things you want in a thriller .The story is told going back and forth with different points if view ,so clever everything fits in place with a very satisfying ending .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

"The Woman on the Ledge" by Ruth Mancini is a suspense thriller that explores themes of obsession, intrigue, and revenge. The story revolves around Tate Kinsella, who finds herself arrested for murder after a mysterious woman falls from the roof of an office building in London. As the plot unfolds, the reader is taken on a journey to uncover the true motives behind each character's actions.

Overall, I found "The Woman on the Ledge" to be an enjoyable read. The author's writing style is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end. The suspense and intrigue presented throughout the book were well-executed, making it difficult to put the book down.

However, one aspect that I found slightly lacking was the lack of jeopardy. While the story did have its fair share of suspenseful moments, I felt that the resolution of certain plot points was a bit too conveniently tied up. This inevitably reduced the level of tension and anticipation that I was expecting from a suspense thriller.

That being said, the book still had its merits. Mancini's writing is compelling, drawing the reader into the minds of the characters and their motivations. The character development was well-handled, with each persona having their own unique voice and role in the story.

On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, I would rate "The Woman on the Ledge" a solid 3 stars. While it did have its strengths, such as the engaging writing style and intriguing plot, the lack of sustained jeopardy prevented it from reaching its full potential as a gripping suspense thriller.

I would recommend "The Woman on the Ledge" to readers who enjoy psychological dramas with a touch of mystery and revenge. Those looking for a fast-paced page-turner with unexpected twists and turns may find this book to be a satisfying choice.

Ruth Mancini books never fail to shock me and The Woman on the Ledge kept that trend going. I am not going to say too much about the plot as to do so would be to enter spoiler territory. You want to go into this as blind as possible to fully enjoy it.

All you need to know is that a woman falls from a building in London. Another woman is arrested, but claims her innocence. You might think you have heard this story before but believe me you haven’t. Going back and forth in time and points of view, this a clever page turning thriller that you will just need to keep reading. It will keep you guessing right until the very end.

Just brilliant. Thank you Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century for my advanced copy to read. Publishes on January 4th.

I thought this was absolutely brilliant, I've been in a bit of a reading slump but this brought me right out of it.

The story was fresh and exciting - I haven't read anything similar before. Too many of the books I've read recently have saved all of the reveals for the last 20% of the book, meaning you have to slog through a lot of nothing for a pay off, but this book flipped the script every few chapters and really kept me engaged.

The characters were well developed and felt like real people. I really enjoyed the writing style and felt immersed in the world of the characters. The plot itself was so clever and had me constantly questioning what was going on and how it was all going to end.

I would 100% recommend this.

An enjoyable book but too much repetition. Without giving any spoilers, Tate Kinsella is arrested for murder and we hear her story. There are developments and she tells a different story. A significant amount is repeated verbatim especially relating to Maddy. I kept thinking my kindle had gone to the wrong place.
Although I did not connect with the book as much as many of the reviewers, I will certainly read more of Mancini's books in the future.
Thanks to the publishers for complementary ARC.

Loved this. A very twisty and well plotted novel that kept me guessing fr0m the start. The way the key pieces of information were dropped in was perfect. The characterisation was excellent with the reveals coming at precisely the right point.
A very relevant and exciting story

This book starts with one of the main characters, Tate Kinsella, being arrested in her apartment for the murder of a woman who has been found dead on the pavement next to the office block where she is working as a temp while she hasn’t got an acting job. A lawyer is appointed to her and right from the start Tate seems confused about the facts surrounding her part in the death of this woman. The police don’t believe what she’s told them, her lawyer senses she’s not being truthful and as the reader, it’s also obvious she’s hiding something………………and therein lies the story…………….
It’s a unique, well thought out, complex plot and not easy to review without spoilers, as with each chapter the real truth is revealed piece by piece and nothing is as it initially seems to the reader. I was initially as confused and cynical as the police and the lawyer, then bit by bit there are, ‘Ah, I see!’ moments as the story unfurls.

It’s a clever, quite unique, story involving childhood trauma/abuse, friendship, revenge, terminal illness and how far a mother will go to protect her child.

My thanks go to the other, the publishers and to NetGalley for an advanced e.reader copy of this book, however, my review is entirely voluntary and is my honest opinion.

Wow! What a page turner! A woman falls from the roof of a city bank. Another woman says she was responsible. Seems cut and dried? The story is told in flashback and by different characters. The story unfolding begins twenty five years ago, is history repeating itself? I really liked this book. Once the scene is set in the first few chapters, we are off on a rollercoaster of a ride. Who do we believe, who is telling lies? A great story about revenge, sisterhood, justice and family ties. I finished it in one day! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a prepublication ebook in return for an honest review

Published 4 January 2024. This is a thriller that gives you a twist that you never even guess at - well, I didn't. Not only that there is a very unsettling feel about it as the revelations come to light. Tate Kinsella finds herself arrested for the murder of a woman whose body is found at the foot of the 25th floor building where she works. She tells the police again and again that she had talked the woman down from the ledge at an office party the previous night, she had taken her for a drink and then dropped her home. She proclaims her innocence - but - witnesses from the party tell a very different story and as the police pick apart her story, Tate is not even convinced that her lawyer believes her. Even we do not believe her as she seems to be a very unreliable narrator. In fact it is very obvious that Tate is keeping secrets. This is a thriller about stolen childhoods, about obsession, revenge. It is about love and difficult decisions. It goes into dark and grim places. Divided into parts, each part repeats events, conversations from the previous part which can seem strange but then it goes further as the twist is revealed and you think - ah! I'm not saying more - I don't want to spoil the twist, don't want to take the thrill away as each revelation sees the light. An very good read.

A dark and twisty tale that leaves you guessing until the very end. A very unique plot that draws you in from the start and you never know who to believe.
Thank you to NetGalley and for the advance copy of this book.

Wow just absolutely wow. I was hooked from the first page. Never have I read a story that had me so gripped. I couldn't put it down.
A masterful story full of twists that you never expect or even dream of coming up.
I almost wish it hadn't ended and I will be rereading it again as I am sure that I missed things in my haste to find out what will happen next.
My book of the year and I will be recommending it to friends and family

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

This book had me gripped from the start. I thought the plot was original and was full of twists, and kept my interest right til the end.

I have already recommended this book to friends.

I really loved this gripping book that had more than a touch of a Hitchcock feel to it! Just when you thought you knew where the plot was going, the author managed to flip everything around with a very clever and convincing twist making you doubt all that came before or afterwards! I’ve read this authors books before so knew what to expect but this definitely blew me away with its addictive plotting and cleverly crafted characters. Definitely one I will be recommending.

THE WOMAN ON THE LEDGE

Thanks #NetGalley for my e-arc copy of #TheWomanOnTheLedge in exchange for my honest review.

I found The Woman on the Ledge to be a well constructed novel, with a gripping start, delving into themes of obsession and revenge, keeping you on the edge of your seat and encouraging you to turn the pages through intrigue.

Unfortunately though this starts to slowly trail off as the story becomes repetitive and predictable, disconnecting my desire to carry on.

Saying this I still found the majority of this book to be an engaging and captivating read, with its dark and compelling storyline enveloping the reader in this suspenseful narrative, I would still recommend it.

Published: 04/01/24