I devoured this book! Not often I read one as quickly as this but it was so well written, the characters well drawn and I couldn’t quite figure out what had happened with the babies!
The legal intricacies didn’t come into play until the very end. The story was all about the characters and you find out how things all link together near the end,
Highly recommended.

A baby was abducted, or was he?

Lauren, Drew and Hope are entangled in way that seems impossible to unravel. Love and loss, heartbreak and joy, this is a beautifully written book about how good people struggle and end up doing bad things without considering the consequences. Tragedy and grief are the root cause of many a mistake.

A slow reveal that is told from several POV. Great characters and a twisty plot. As the back story is filled in and the circumstances behind every action unveiled, the suspense builds. The story is convoluted, but well worth the brain ache!! Never assume anything with this book 😉

A good happy ever after ending, though not without its sadness.

A book that stays with you and really makes you think.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK.

I really enjoyed this I loved everything about it the characters the fast pace and how well written the book was. The book was definitely a gripping read which I found difficult to put down. I will definitely be recommending this fantastic book to everyone and can’t wait to read more from this author thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this great book,

I loved this book from the beginning. Lauren, Hope and Drew are all entangled with a missing child. The story is slowly revealed and I was desperate to know who did what and how it would all come together.
The best book I’ve read in ages.

The Day I Lost You

I thoroughly enjoyed The Woman on the Ledge, so was eager to read Ruth Mancini’s latest novel, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. From the foreword, we are made aware that the story is based on an actual case with which the author dealt during her career as a solicitor, and the premise that sometimes fundamentally good people are capable of doing bad things.

It becomes apparent very early in the narrative that Lauren has fled the UK with toddler, Sam, and has been living in Spain for several months. A visit from the Spanish police bearing the news that someone back in England has accused her of stealing their child sends Lauren into hiding, with the help of her new neighbour and friend, the kindly Gabe. But having spoken to Anna, her friend back at home, who says she knows of a good lawyer who will represent her, Lauren decides that the best course of action is to face the music, hoping for the best possible outcome for herself, but moreover for Sam. Leaving the little boy still hidden from the authorities but in the safe care of Gabe’s family, she flies home to begin helping the British police with their inquiries.

Meanwhile, we are introduced to Hope and Drew, the couple who have accused Lauren of taking their baby. But when it is revealed that it took several months for them to report the alleged abduction, we realise that there is much more to this than meets the eye.

What ensues is a gradual filling-in of the backstory of Lauren and her husband Charlie, and of that of Hope and Drew, the childless couple who, after several traumatic miscarriages, have pinned all their hopes of having a family on little Sam, whom, it would seem, has been stolen from them.
I read this book quite quickly, anxious to find out exactly what had happened to make the likeable, seemingly sensible Lauren apparently snatch a child away from its parents and how the lives of the protagonists were actually intertwined. As the pieces of the jigsaw finally slot into place, what is revealed is shocking and heart-breaking, and made me shed a few tears.

The ending is satisfying in some ways, but still the tragedy of the situation outweighed everything for me. This is a beautifully written book that will stay with me for a long time. Five well deserved stars.

My thanks to the author, Random House UK (Cornerstone), and Netgalley for the ARC.

This is a really easy to read absolutely thrilling book. It will have you on the edge of your seat. So many twists!

The foreword by the author who is a solicitor and criminal defence lawyer, is well worth reading as it sets the scene for her latest novel. Her background adds layers of authenticity to the storytelling and supports the old adage of truth being stranger than fiction.

What has really happened to baby Sam? There’s Lauren Hopwood in Spain, there for a quiet life with Sam and she has a birth certificate and a passport to prove he is hers. However, in England Hope and Drew Dunsmore-Faris claim their son, also called Sam, has gone missing and the story they tell is far from a straightforward one. Is it a case of one child and two mothers? How is that even possible? One thing is certain, this is a complex situation to try to unpick. Can a way be found through the Everest scale of secrets and lies that lurk at the heart of this? The story is told from several perspectives which works well as readers try to sift through the enigmatic puzzle to figure the mystery out.

I really enjoy much of this Hampton Court maze of aread, which takes you up blind alleys and back again, as it’s fair to say everyone involved is behaving very suspiciously making it hard for those Spidey senses to focus in the right direction. Who is delusional and who is truthful becomes the million dollar question.

The first half is very strong as there’s everything from strange obsessive behaviour or at the very least behaviour that is odd or off kilter. At times, it’s puzzling and even creepy with some behaviours making me cringe with embarrassment. The characters, who are all well portrayed, tell so many lies they almost trip themselves up their situation is so desperate. I like the way it plays out and there’s a justice of sorts.

However, there are a few lulls in the storytelling and because it’s told in a backwards way on, it does get a bit convoluted which is perhaps unsurprising given what the characters are doing. On the other hand, it is probably the only way the author could possibly tell this tale as there’d be no element of surprise. So, it’s a case of go with the flow.

Overall, despite the head spinning with all the lies, it’s a good intelligent novel with a definite need to pay attention which is no bad thing!

With thanks to Nick Galley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the early reader copy in return for an honest review.

I read Ruth's first novel and loved the writing style and the believable characters and I was so glad to see Sarah back in this latest one - such a great character! I loved everything about "The day I Lost You.' from the brilliant Spanish backdrop to the deep delve into the characters and their problems and the huge intricacies of the legal issue around missing children (no spoilers here). The plot was great and believable.

But I think what sets Ruth apart from other books in this genre, is that this book is not purely a plot driven book..Yes, its in that thriller space but this is a character driven book that is sublimely written with a great plot and that makes SUCH a difference. The sense of place is off the scale, I can smell the lemons, the trees, picture it all so clearly. This writer knows how to plot, yes but not at the expense of fabulously crafted writing.

These characters get under your skin and stay there and your problems become theirs and I found myself switching allegiance between them constantly which kept the book on my mind whilst I was driving or walking the dog. Oh and the ending just made it all worthwhile.

Beautiful prose. Fantastic plot. Amazing characters who I fell in love with.

Oh, and little Sam of course!

More of this please. I cannot wait for book 3!

Thank you so much to the publisher and to the writer for the early arc!

OH! this is good.

Set in the Spanish sunshine there is a missing child. This is an emotional read and really intriguing and I for one did not guess the outcome.

I loved how the characters connected and how the story unfolded, it really played out like a real life drama.
It is pacy and thrilling and I am happy to recommend

For me, this felt as if it took a little to long to get to the motivation behind each of the characters strange behaviour.
The story as it unfolded was intriguing, but I was left with too many questions before I got any answers. It was a little frustrating.
By the end, it was all good.

The Day I Lost You is a thrilling and suspenseful ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Lauren has escaped to Spain, hoping for a fresh start after an unimaginable loss. She’s found a new life in the picturesque town of Mantilla de Mar, but when the police inform her that a child matching her son Sam’s description has been found, her world is turned upside down. The problem? Lauren insists that the child is hers—and she has the passport and birth certificate to prove it.

Meanwhile, in England, Hope and Drew’s baby, Sam, has gone missing. Hope is desperately clinging to the hope that her son will return, but the case takes a dark turn when Lauren's story becomes part of the investigation.

The novel, told from multiple perspectives and running in reverse timelines, expertly keeps the reader in suspense, constantly questioning the truth. Each chapter reveals new details and keeps you guessing—what happened to Baby Sam?

The ending delivers a few jaw-dropping revelations that tie everything together, and the motives behind each character’s actions become chillingly clear. The Day I Lost You is an intricately plotted psychological thriller that will make you second-guess everything you think you know about the characters.

If you enjoy thrillers that challenge your assumptions and keep you guessing, this is the book for you!

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔, 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎--𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅.

From the author of THE WOMAN ON THE LEDGE comes a tense, unsettling psychological thriller that will leave the reader absolutely disconcerted.

After suffering a major loss, Lauren moves to Spain with her young son Sam in an attempt to start over. She keeps to herself and has made friends with a neighbor who senses she is running from something but respects her reticence.

Meanwhile, in England, Hope has a fulfilling career as a therapist, an attractive husband, a beautiful home in the idyllic English countryside, and finally, after many losses, the baby boy she always longed for.

The lives of these two women will converge in the most explosive way possible. Told from multiple points of view and making use of several timelines, there are several scenarios created that seem plausible. But nothing seems quite right, and you will feel as if you're missing something, like you dozed off while watching a show and missed a crucial piece of dialogue; something small yet so very necessary to understand. Pay attention.

This was a true psychological thriller in every sense of the word. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thank Random House UK for the early copy. This title is expected to publish July 31, 2025.

The story had me gripped from the word go.
The storyline goes back and forth and i must admit i did get a little confused as to who was who.
Well written characters and overall an enjoyable read.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

The Day I Lost You is an intriguing psychological thriller that never quite settles, leaving the reader on edge. It begins with Lauren moving to Spain with young Sam. She's suffered major loss and is looking to build a new life. But something isn't quite right here.

Meanwhile, back in England, Hope and Drew's baby son has gone missing.

The novel is told from multiple points of view and on several timelines, running in reverse, so the true story of how Lauren and Sam ended up in Spain is always in doubt. There are hints of various possible explanations, but nothing quite seems to fit the facts as we know them.

The ending ties things up with a few revelations and the motivations eventually become clear. This is a clever novel, always making the reader question what they think they know about the characters.

Written from several points of view this is a satisfying read. Lauren is living in Spain with her son Sam when the police turn up and start asking questions about her son. She has been accused of abducting him but then why is she able to produce his passport and birth certificate? Meanwhile in the UK a couple are facing questions about why they waited several months before reporting the abduction of their son. I very much enjoyed the first part of the book and trying to work out what had happened but I felt slightly let down by the ending. Nonetheless if you like this genre you will like this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Amazing!! Lauren is raising her son in Spain when the police show up stating she was reported as a kidnapper. This book takes us through different time periods. We meet Lauren. Then the author takes us to meet Hope and Drew, the ones allegedly Lauren kidnapped their baby. This book kept me guessing nonstop about who the real mother of baby Sam was and how these people were all intertwined. I did not have it right at all but that makes it even better! Highly recommend anything by Ruth. I cannot get enough.

This had me gripped from the start when the Spanish police question Lauren as they believe her son Sam is not hers but the mussing child of Hope and Drew. The story keeps rewinding to gradually reveal more and more about the situation that lead Lauren to take Sam and the different threads that led up to one pivotal moment. I really enjoyed the mystery behind this however I have to confess that once the reason had been revealed I just didn’t feel it was enough to explain the situation and why it had continued as long as it had. Although Lauren was grieving she didn’t strike me as irrational and I wasn’t convinced that Hope had really done much wrong given the specifics of the situation she was in at the critical moment. This did conclude in a satisfactory way but after being glued to this in the main I did feel a little bit let down by the end, that said it’s thought provoking and in the main I loved it.