
The Stranger on the Stairs
Ruth Mancini(Author)
Penguin (Cornerstone) (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 5. November 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-1-80495-820-9 (ISBN)
Description
THE GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM RUTH MANCINI, THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE WOMAN ON THE LEDGE.
'Lisa Jewell meets the Secret Barrister' Imran Mahmood
'Brilliantly smart, unsettlingly human and impossible to put down' Rob Rinder
'A propulsive, heart-thumping read' Gill Perdue
'A cleverly crafted chilling psychological thriller' Louise Minchin
___________
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 and The Stranger on the Stairs:
'I absolutely raced through this compulsive page-turner ... Well drawn characters - proper plot and great writing. What more could you want?' Imran Mahmood
'It's gripping and propulsive, but also moving and quiet in all the right places. Bravo!' Sabine Durrant
'Kept me guessing (and biting my nails) throughout' Anna Mazzola
'Ruth Mancini is fast becoming a master of the thriller genre' Laura Pearson
'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
'Ruth Mancini is like a British Jodi Picoult' Jennie Godfrey
'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
'Exciting and addictive' 5-star reader review
'I WAS HOOKED!' 5-star reader review
'A super-readable, brilliantly clever domestic thriller' Fabulous Magazine
'A fantastic story that had me gripped from the start' 5-star reader review
'Lisa Jewell meets the Secret Barrister' Imran Mahmood
'Brilliantly smart, unsettlingly human and impossible to put down' Rob Rinder
'A propulsive, heart-thumping read' Gill Perdue
'A cleverly crafted chilling psychological thriller' Louise Minchin
___________
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 and The Stranger on the Stairs:
'I absolutely raced through this compulsive page-turner ... Well drawn characters - proper plot and great writing. What more could you want?' Imran Mahmood
'It's gripping and propulsive, but also moving and quiet in all the right places. Bravo!' Sabine Durrant
'Kept me guessing (and biting my nails) throughout' Anna Mazzola
'Ruth Mancini is fast becoming a master of the thriller genre' Laura Pearson
'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
'Ruth Mancini is like a British Jodi Picoult' Jennie Godfrey
'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
'Exciting and addictive' 5-star reader review
'I WAS HOOKED!' 5-star reader review
'A super-readable, brilliantly clever domestic thriller' Fabulous Magazine
'A fantastic story that had me gripped from the start' 5-star reader review
Reviews / Votes
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 * Ruth Mancini is definitely a thriller writer to watch, tense, clever plots whilst also exploring big issues, in this case police corruption * Prima * Deeply felt, moving story about the complexities of justice * Daily Mail * A super readable, brilliantly clever domestic thriller * The Sun *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Cornerstone
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
281 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80495-820-9 (9781804958209)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions


Ruth Mancini
The Stranger on the Stairs
The gripping new thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Woman on the Ledge
E-Book
04/2026
Cornerstone Digital
€12.99
Available for download
Person
Ruth Mancini is an author and criminal defence lawyer. Her background as a solicitor adds authenticity to her crime and psychological fiction. She has spent two decades representing those accused of crimes, navigating courtrooms and police stations. Her storytelling prowess and legal background combine to create thrilling reads that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Ruth was born in London and now lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and two children.
Ruth was born in London and now lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and two children.