The Day I Lost You - two women claim to be a young boy's mother in this twisty thriller.

Lauren is living in Spain with her young son, Sam. Although she is dealing with a loss, she is content. Her life in Mantilla de Mar takes a turn when the police knock on her door. A woman in England named Hope has reported her son Sam as missing, and he matches the description of Lauren's child. When Lauren presents Sam's passport and birth certificate, the mystery begins. There is only one boy named Sam, and there are two mothers. The story goes back in time, revealing the back stories of Lauren, Hope and Hope's husband Drew, through multiple POVs. Just when you think you've figured it all out, it is clear that nothing is as it appears in this twisty tale.

Author Ruth Mancini's The Woman on the Ledge (2024) was such an original and tense psychological thriller that I knew to expect the unexpected in The Day I Lost You. There were moments I threw my hands up as I was completely baffled, so be sure to keep track of the timing of the flashbacks. Mancini, who is also a lawyer, used a real-life court case she worked on as her inspiration for this story where there is a blurred line between victim and villain. I'm glad I went on this wild ride.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Mystery Thriller.

Publication Date: December 2, 2025.

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