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The Stranger on the Stairs

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM RUTH MANCINI, THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE WOMAN ON THE LEDGE.

You were only seven years old when you witnessed your mother's murder.

Although you did not see her attacker clearly, you are pretty sure who it was.

Thanks to you, he went to prison for twenty years.

Now he's out.

And you are no longer certain that the man you identified that terrifying evening really was the killer.

But if it wasn’t him, who was the stranger on the stairs?

And can he now be coming for you?

Inspired by a shocking real-life case, a gripping psychological thriller by a criminal defence lawyer who has seen it all.

Praise for Ruth Mancini:

‘A thriller you won’t be able to put down’ Sun

‘Ruth Mancini is fast becoming a master of the thriller genre' Laura Pearson

'If you thought Ruth Mancini couldn't top The Woman on the Ledge think again…' Sabine Durrant

‘Ruth Mancini has done it again. Smart, twisty and propulsive' Harriet Tyce

'Ruth Mancini is like a British Jodi Picoult' Jennie Godfrey

© Ruth Mancini 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Critics Review

I absolutely raced through this compulsive page-turner. It is the kind of crime novel that lawyers love - because its got so much authentic detail that you know it has to have been written by a criminal lawyer who knows their criminal law and is a talented writer. Well drawn characters- proper plot and great writing. What more could you want? Lisa Jewell meets the Secret Barrister
Imran Mahmood
Ruth Mancini writes thrillers with the certainty of someone who’s seen the law in action and knows exactly how to unpick it. Brilliantly smart, unsettlingly human and impossible to put down.
Rob Rinder
Wow! Everything you’d expect from the brilliant Ruth Mancini – a propulsive, heart-thumping read, complex characters you really care about, multiple layers of thought-provoking insights, taut plotting, and an absolutely nail-shredding finish. Fantastic! If Ruth Mancini’s writing it, I’m reading it!
Gill Perdue
Brilliant. My favourite Ruth Mancini yet. A taut, haunting and thought-provoking story of fractured memories, complex relationships and coverups. Kept me guessing (and biting my nails) throughout.
Anna Mazzola
Only Ruth Mancini can deliver such brilliant twists that keep you turning the pages. Her legal expertise shines through, providing a sense of veracity and immediacy that is uniquely addictive.
Kelly Mullen
It’s gripping and propulsive, but also moving and quiet in all the right places. Bravo Ruth!
Sabine Durrant
A cleverly crafted chilling psychological thriller which intricately intertwines past and present with a constant shadow of menace
Louise Minchin

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