Did I like the book?

Holy moly did this book keep me on my toes! And I loved it. Close your eyes (well, not literally or won’t be able to read) and imagine: several points of view. Holes in stories. One dead woman. It may sound like a regular psychological thriller. It could have been. However, the author turned this known recipe into something more. A big soufflé.

So, did I enjoy the book? ABSOLUTELY!

Did I enjoy reading it?

Multiple points of view are tricky. You need to be able to create different voices, different background stories, give characters enough flesh to stand on their own two feet. Ruth Mancini did all of this. Her fluid writing matched the tension poured into the story and I was just caught in the middle of this crazy, insane “what’s happening” bubble. My reading has taken a hit, but when I was cocooned with this novel, there was nothing to stop me from going from one chapter to another until I reached the end.

What did I feel?

I had no idea what I was letting myself into when I decided to read The Woman on the Ledge. It was a gift, a surprise. My crime fiction-addicted heart was delighted, bursting with excitement. The more you read crime fiction, the less authors manage to surprise you. You start guessing, you see holes in the plots, you “tut” at characters for not being enough. You wish the writing was stronger. None of this happened here. The surprises kept coming. I guessed. No, actually no, I tried to. But every time I thought I’d figured something out, the author would send me in a complete new direction. I loved this. I loved the feeling of not knowing where I was, why I was there, and what on earth would be happening. Now you may notice I am not going into details at all. I am not mentioning names or places. I am not giving specifics about anything. That’s how good I thought this novel was. I can talk about it while remaining as vague as a doctor when they try explaining you something. Why? Because the books talks for itself. The plot will take you there. The characters will support you along the way. You’ll be wondering. You’ll disagree. You’ll worry. I know I did. You’ll have favorites. You’ll wonder why certain characters are here, what their role is. You’ll have questions. Why was this woman on the roof? Why is She accused of murder? What’s the connection here? My guts were telling me to race to the end of the book. I couldn’t help myself. Yet, one of the things that stayed with me was the excellent pace of the novel and the clever writing style the writer has. So you’re in for a strong thriller with everything you didn’t know you needed in this sea of millions of thrillers.

How would I describe it?

I hate using the same words over and over… Let’s see what we can come up with!

More addictive than a pack of pistachios.

More twisted and knotted than my yarn balls.

Edgy (this one was easy, I know)

This is the first book by Ruth Mancini that I've read, I've seen some early rave reviews so had to see for myself.

A woman falls to her death from a London bank's twenty-fifth floor roof terrace.

Main character Tate is arrested for her murder, she swears she's innocent but the police don't believe her, her own lawyer doesn't seem to believe her. The evidence and witness statements make it clear that someone is telling lies.

It starts with a bang, straight into the story with high tension, conflict and pace. The first third of the book had me excited and very optimistic. It's an extremely original plot though I feel it's a little convoluted in the telling. I'm all for unreliable narrators but don't really like sections of the story being repeated with variations, after I've got invested in the first version.

There are some big unexpected twists, it ended well with all the strands neatly tied off and clearly explained.

A strange one to recommend, certainly very different and I love the cover.


Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone

When Tate Kinsella talks a woman down from taking her life she cannot believe it when the same woman dies and Tate, a temp at the bank from where the woman fell, is charged with her murder. This results in a compelling psychological thriller told through the conversations between Tate and her lawyer. An excellent read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK/Cornerstone for the opportunity to read and review The Woman on the Ledge.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. It was brilliant, at the beginning you believe you know what is happening and then the twists start and they keep on coming. I literally could not put it down and I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

Tate Kinsella, 38, unsuccessful actress, office temp, and now murder suspect. Nothing is as it seems in this tightly plotted story. Tate is innocent, isn’t she? Was she having an affair with her boss? Why would she be at the office on a Saturday? Where is Helen Jones? Why is there no CCTV footage?

I really enjoyed this novel, the reveals as the threads untangled, as things really weren’t as they first appeared. I questioned Tate’s innocence as more was revealed. I was hooked from the start, and couldn’t put it down.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

A woman has fallen to her death from the roof terrace of a London bank HQ. Tate Kinsella, a temp at the bank, has been arrested for murder. She only met the victim the previous night at the office party, when she talked her down from her death.

But Tate didn’t do it… She is being framed. The police continually pick holes in her story, and even Tate’s lawyer knows something is up. What secrets is Tate keeping, and why?

This psychological thriller is an absolute rollercoaster ride! It's divided into six parts, and as the truth gets twisted and more secrets come to light, the story jumps back and forth and a new layer gets added, just like in a gripping TV drama.

You think you've got it all figured out, but then BAM! Mind blown. The plot is brilliantly crafted, with layers upon layers of suspense, drama, and revenge. I was hooked right from the start, and I can easily see this being a TV show.

We meet a wide range of characters along the way, some you'll root for and others who deserve their fair share of karma.

It’s hard to know who can be trusted at the start with so many lies and deceit; you have to work out the good blood from the bad blood. However, as their background stories are revealed, you easily know who to root for.

The Woman on the Ledge is a must-read for psychological thriller fans!

I thought this was very cleverly done - I'm not sure how the author kept track of everything while writing though! There were lots of moments where I simply didn't know what to expect so it really was a thrilling read. I thought the premise was unique, which in this genre, is hard to do. I also liked how the author handled the grooming element of the book in that it was sensitive and thoughtful.

Whip-smart, highly original and utterly compelling. Never mind The Woman on the Ledge, I was on the edge of my seat reading this gripping story. Yes, you need to keep your wits about you — I had to flip back several times to check I had all the facts to hand — but such a clever and satisfying read. Highly recommended.

A superb thriller full of twists and turns. Tate Kinsella is arrested for murder, did she push a woman off the top of a building. An thriller that's hard to put down with good characters and well plotted. Keeps you guessing till the reveal, loved it. I received this book from Random House UK/ Cornerstone/ Century and Netgalley for a review.

I raced through this book. Tate Kinsella, an out of work actor and office temp is arrested for the murder of a woman who falls to her death from a London rooftop. She insists she is innocent. We learn the story of what happened through Tate's conversations with her lawyer - and the why is as shocking as the what. Clever, fascinating and an inventive if extreme way of achieving justice. #netgalley #thewomanontheledge

Tate is an actress- not a particularly good one! She fills her days temping. Whilst working at a city bank she attends an office party. Whilst not enjoying herself much she wanders out on the terrace & sees a woman sitting on the ledge. She managed to persuade her to come away from the edge & to escape for a drink. Next thing she knows she is being arrested for the murder of this woman. Nobody seems to believe she only met her once.

It is too easy to let spoilers slip for this vey twisty tale, so I'll just say- Read it! It was amazing! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I love a book that gets stuck straight into the action, and this one certainly fits the bill on that score. The reader is introduced to Tate Kinsella as she is rudely awoken by the police who have come to arrest her for murder. She protests her innocence, but does admit that she was in the vicinity when a woman fell from the roof of the office block where she was working in London. And things get no clearer for a good chunk of the book until Tate finally confides in her lawyer, Sarah, as to what actually happened.
This story is a real page turner as the layers get peeled back far further than the initial introduction suggests. The tension between Tate and her lawyer is tangible - Tate's statement is full of holes which she seems reluctant to explain, which makes a tough job for the defence. Then, as the trust builds between the two women, facts are gradually disclosed out of the earshot of the detectives. The implications of what Sarah has been told completely change the view she has of the woman sitting in front of her. She just has to work out how she can use the law in their favour.
The knowledge the author has of the legal system shines through strongly and makes for an easy to read account of some sensitive issues, and a clever way to get justice in a case where outdated laws could have led to a very negative outcome. Only a lawyer could have plotted this book so well!

Tate Kinsella. Accused of murdering a woman who fell from the 25th floor of an office building.

Tate claims she was there, and she did see the woman. But, she never pushed or killed the woman.

Quote ‘Which means that they have to prove you killed Maddy. You don’t have to prove that you didn’t.


"The moment you get caught out in a lie, it casts doubt on everything else you say."


Loved the first half really felt in the moment, didn't have a clue what was going on. Very mysterious and lots of wwwww what the heck moments.

But, as the reveal of who, what and why I kind of fizzled out with my interest. I don't know why as the whole premise of why was good. But, maybe I was expecting something more out there and dramatic.

There was a lot of repetition and going over the same plot, which was a bit tedious at times.

However, that aside I did like how it all panned out and how the characters all fitted in. The plot was very clever and well plotted out. Obviously a lot of research went into the How's and whys. And the different timelines.

This is a fabulous thriller that had me hooked and I loved the numerous twists in it. As the synopsis tells you, an out-of-work actress is doing temping work at a bank when she is implicated in the death of a woman. The woman is identified as the wife of one of the bank's workers. Why is Tate implicated, well she admitted to seeing the woman before she died!

The role of Tate was so good, that she was being blamed for something that was a coincidence of her being at the scene at around the same time as the death. The police believe that they have their woman and are looking to change Tate but she is adamant that she is innocent. Her life is thrown into turmoil as the police investigate.

As the story progresses as other voices are added into the story. The story also goes back and forth in time filling in the gaps, indicating other things happening in others' lives. In the normal world, life still goes on, people still go to work and argue within their family units but Tate is not getting any of that. She is waiting on the investigation.

This back and forth does give more to the story than you first realise. When this starts to become apparent then things change. The whole idea I had around what the story was going to be was turned upside down and was brilliantly turned into something much more devious and twisted.

This is a brilliant book to read and it is one that starts off well and then the suspense just builds and builds. IT mean that it became a book I really didn't want to put down because the more I read the more I needed to know. So addictive and completely took me by surprise several times.

This is ideal for those who like a deeply twisted thriller and one that I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This was a great read with a clever twist. Really enjoyed it.

A clever and original book that had twists galore that threaded together to make complete sense of the narrative. Tate is a temp at the offices of an international bank and while she is at an office party, she goes onto the roof and is horrified to find a woman about to commit suicide there. Proud of her ability to talk her down she finds herself befriending her and wanting to help. The following day, a woman does throw herself from the roof. What went wrong? How did she not realise what was happening? Without spoilers it is almost impossible to say anything further but be assured this is a cracking read that will take you down so many routes, you will have trouble believing anything. However, as the full picture emerges, you will be assured by this ultimately satisfying book.

This book has an exceptionally clever plot and disregarding everything else the author deserves a medal for keeping it all straight in her head! I’m not usually a fan of unreliable narrators because very often they cover a lazy story but in this case it’s totally necessary and believable.
It’s a tale that needs you to pay attention to and on the whole I think I did. There is one point that I think doesn’t get addressed but without giving a spoiler I can’t say what but in my view it’s quite important to the plot so did annoy me. However I was completely mesmerised by how the story unfolded and will be recommending this book to everyone I know who enjoys a good suspense.

‘A tragic accident? Or murder? - cover tagline

My thanks to Random House U.K. Cornerstone Century for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Woman on the Ledge’ by Ruth Mancini.

Like many thrillers I would suggest that it is best to read this novel cold, as I did. So just some details for context.

Tate Kinsella is attending a Christmas party at the bank where she works as a temp. Going to the roof terrace she meets Helen, who is threatening to jump from the roof. Tate talks her down and ensures that she gets home. The next evening Helen calls distraught over the loss of her diamond earring. She talks Tate into going back to the building. Things get confusing and Tate finds that Helen isn’t where she was supposed to be.

When Tate returns to the roof terrace looking for her, she sees a crumpled body far below. Tate is arrested for murder yet she is convinced that she is being framed. A few odd remarks in Tate’s first person account indicates that Tate is keeping secrets. Lots of them. Then Tate reveals all to Sarah, her lawyer. No further details to avoid spoilers.

What a fantastic thriller this was. So very, very twisty. Given its complexity it does require a close reading. Still, I so needed to know what had happened I ended up glued to my e-reader until I reached its final page.

Overall, I found ‘The Woman on the Ledge’ one of the best thrillers that I’ve read and given the number of mysteries and thrillers I read, that’s quite an accolade. This was my first experience of Ruth Mancini’s writing though after this it certainly won’t be my last.

Wow. I read a lot of thrillers and am rarely genuinely surprised, without feeling manipulated - Woman on the Ledge did just that. I read it in two sittings over the course of a day, I could not put it down!

The woman on the ledge was a rollercoaster ride of a thriller. I couldn’t put it down and had to force myself to stop reading.