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In The Blood
In southeast London, a young mother has been accused of an unthinkable crime: poisoning her own child – and then leaving him to die.
The mother, Ellie, is secretive and challenging – she's had a troubled upbringing – but does that mean she's capable of murder?
Criminal defence lawyer Sarah Kellerman is tasked with proving Ellie's innocence. But Sarah's desperate pursuit of the truth will draw her – and her five-year-old son – into unimaginable danger...
Unsettling and compulsive, In the Blood is a chilling study of class, motherhood and power from a new star in crime fiction.
The mother, Ellie, is secretive and challenging – she's had a troubled upbringing – but does that mean she's capable of murder?
Criminal defence lawyer Sarah Kellerman is tasked with proving Ellie's innocence. But Sarah's desperate pursuit of the truth will draw her – and her five-year-old son – into unimaginable danger...
Unsettling and compulsive, In the Blood is a chilling study of class, motherhood and power from a new star in crime fiction.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2018
73 people are currently reading
641 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Mancini
8 books436 followersRuth 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.
Her fifth novel, THE WOMAN ON THE LEDGE was published by Penguin (UK) and HarperCollins (US) in January 2024.
She'd love to connect with you on FB https://www.facebook.com/ruth.mancini... or Twitter https://twitter.com/RuthMancini1
Ruth was born in London and now lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and two children.
Her fifth novel, THE WOMAN ON THE LEDGE was published by Penguin (UK) and HarperCollins (US) in January 2024.
She'd love to connect with you on FB https://www.facebook.com/ruth.mancini... or Twitter https://twitter.com/RuthMancini1
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 103 reviews
September 28, 2024
So tense. I also loved how the author sets the scene, there are just the smallest details (not too many) to make you register the surroundings.
Ps: the narrator mostly did an excellent job, but she didn’t have to laugh when laughter was described.
Ps: the narrator mostly did an excellent job, but she didn’t have to laugh when laughter was described.
April 23, 2018
This one was brilliant.
I’m a fan of psychological thrillers when they are beautifully written and try and bring something new rather than follow formula. I’m also a fan of legal thriller’s and courtroom drama which I don’t find enough of these days. So “In The Blood” was an absolute perfect storm for me. On the surface a perfect storm of a read and once started, proved to be just exactly that. I was riveted.
Our main protagonist Sarah Kellerman is a realistic portrayal of working single parenthood – with added pressure due to the nature of her job and her challenging child – she walks a thin line trying to find that work/life balance and suffers for it. When she takes on the case of Ellie, attempted of murdering her own child, things are going to get very fraught indeed…
The story is beautifully twisted and explores several intriguing and thought provoking themes, class divide, rich and poor, challenging assumptions and realities, all the way through. Using her characters to show modern prejudices and privilege, Ruth Mancini takes us on an atmospheric and riveting journey towards the truth – a tangled web indeed which brings danger right to Sarah’s door. Ellie is divisive, she garnered both sympathy and exasperation in me, Sarah too for that matter, two very different women coming together towards a common goal – proving Ellie’s innocence. But is she actually as innocent as Sarah believes?
Fractured families, the vagaries of the law, some beautifully written scenes that really immerse you into the action both in and out of the courtroom and across many aspects of the characters lives. The finale is clever, in fact the whole novel is gorgeously plotted, with unexpected moments and some growing and fascinating developing relationships.
Loved it. Can I hope that Sarah will be back in future books? I hope so. She is just the type of strong female protagonist we need at the moment, realistically flawed, failing in those ways we all fail, but somehow keeping it all together. Loved her. All else that flowed from it was just the icing on the cake.
Highly Recommended.
I’m a fan of psychological thrillers when they are beautifully written and try and bring something new rather than follow formula. I’m also a fan of legal thriller’s and courtroom drama which I don’t find enough of these days. So “In The Blood” was an absolute perfect storm for me. On the surface a perfect storm of a read and once started, proved to be just exactly that. I was riveted.
Our main protagonist Sarah Kellerman is a realistic portrayal of working single parenthood – with added pressure due to the nature of her job and her challenging child – she walks a thin line trying to find that work/life balance and suffers for it. When she takes on the case of Ellie, attempted of murdering her own child, things are going to get very fraught indeed…
The story is beautifully twisted and explores several intriguing and thought provoking themes, class divide, rich and poor, challenging assumptions and realities, all the way through. Using her characters to show modern prejudices and privilege, Ruth Mancini takes us on an atmospheric and riveting journey towards the truth – a tangled web indeed which brings danger right to Sarah’s door. Ellie is divisive, she garnered both sympathy and exasperation in me, Sarah too for that matter, two very different women coming together towards a common goal – proving Ellie’s innocence. But is she actually as innocent as Sarah believes?
Fractured families, the vagaries of the law, some beautifully written scenes that really immerse you into the action both in and out of the courtroom and across many aspects of the characters lives. The finale is clever, in fact the whole novel is gorgeously plotted, with unexpected moments and some growing and fascinating developing relationships.
Loved it. Can I hope that Sarah will be back in future books? I hope so. She is just the type of strong female protagonist we need at the moment, realistically flawed, failing in those ways we all fail, but somehow keeping it all together. Loved her. All else that flowed from it was just the icing on the cake.
Highly Recommended.
November 17, 2018
ARC BOOK REVIEW
Release Date-1/5/18
This was a fabulous read that totally kept me guessing from the second I started right up until the final pages.
The story centres around single mother and criminal defence lawyer Sarah Kellerman.
Trying to juggle her work life with the care of her disabled five-year-old son.
A case that's seems very close to home for Sarah lands on her lap.
Ellie a young mother is accused of poisoning her infant son a fact she vehemently denies and Sarah upon taking the case starts to push the boundaries of professionalism as she becomes drawn into and more emotionally involved than is perhaps wise.
So this was brilliantly narrated with so many twists and turns it certainly kept me on my toes throughout.
With rich believable characters, this is one of those bite your nails to the quick books, where you are left in the dark guessing until the very end.
I did kinda suss the ending here but never mind that; it didn't actually take away from my overall enjoyment at all.
"In The Blood" was completely amped a non-stop race to the finish with the eye on the main prize and an intriguing mystery woven into its very centre.
To say I was shocked by the inner mechanics of some individuals brains is a bloody understatement.
Bloody brilliant sleuthing.
I also especially loved the underlying thread of Sarah's story on top of the main focus.
Getting a window into her everyday struggles and insecurities was quite the journey of discovery actually giving us a story within a story; nice touch.
This was such an entertaining read that I can totally recommend.
So I was provided with an ARC of "In The Blood" By Netgalley of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
November 24, 2024
I recently gave The Woman on the Ledge a five star rating and couldn’t wait to read more from author Ruth Mancini. Thankfully, I was able to find In the Blood on Hoopla audio. It features criminal defense lawyer Sarah Kellerman, who also appeared in The Woman on the Ledge. Win, win!
When Ellie is accused of poisoning her own child, Sarah Kellerman is charged with proving her innocence. Kellerman’s association to this case puts her in grave danger. Is Ellie capable of attempted murder?
This character driven legal thriller is captivating. Mancini explores themes of motherhood and class and perfectly captures the struggles that working mothers of special needs children face.
Kelly Adams’ narration of the audiobook is terrific. She flawlessly executes several British accents, making each character really shine. My only issue is that you can often hear her swallowing. I know that sounds really odd, but it was distracting for me!
Overall, I enjoyed this plot, but not as much as Woman on the Ledge. Unfortunately, I correctly predicted both of the twists very early on in the book.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Trigger warning: Child abuse
When Ellie is accused of poisoning her own child, Sarah Kellerman is charged with proving her innocence. Kellerman’s association to this case puts her in grave danger. Is Ellie capable of attempted murder?
This character driven legal thriller is captivating. Mancini explores themes of motherhood and class and perfectly captures the struggles that working mothers of special needs children face.
Kelly Adams’ narration of the audiobook is terrific. She flawlessly executes several British accents, making each character really shine. My only issue is that you can often hear her swallowing. I know that sounds really odd, but it was distracting for me!
Overall, I enjoyed this plot, but not as much as Woman on the Ledge. Unfortunately, I correctly predicted both of the twists very early on in the book.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Trigger warning: Child abuse
November 1, 2023
A young mother with a questionable past and occupation has been accused of poisoning her own child and leaving him to die.
Did she do it?
Unsettling, compulsive, and unputdownable, this book was a compelling character-driven legal drama that never missed a beat.
The book's female protagonist is an attorney and single mom with a special needs child.
A shoutout to author Ruth Mancini for capturing the angst and "love conquers all" mindsets of single working moms with special needs children.
I listened to the audiobook and narrator Kelly Adams did a brilliant job with the narration.
This is my first Ruth Mancini book and I look forward to listening to future titles by this talented author.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Did she do it?
Unsettling, compulsive, and unputdownable, this book was a compelling character-driven legal drama that never missed a beat.
The book's female protagonist is an attorney and single mom with a special needs child.
A shoutout to author Ruth Mancini for capturing the angst and "love conquers all" mindsets of single working moms with special needs children.
I listened to the audiobook and narrator Kelly Adams did a brilliant job with the narration.
This is my first Ruth Mancini book and I look forward to listening to future titles by this talented author.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
May 1, 2018
Is a mother really capable of trying to kill her own child? Ellie is accused of just this and Sarah Kellerman is call on to help defend her. Sarah herself is a single mother of a 5 year old boy with special needs and believes that Ellie is innocent. Her investigation leads her in a dangerous road, can she find the truth before it is too late.
I loved this book and read it in 2 sittings. I really did feel the struggles that Sarah was going through and her kind heart. Ellie was a different story altogether! A great book, highly recommended.
Thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read and enjoy in exchange for my honest opinions
I loved this book and read it in 2 sittings. I really did feel the struggles that Sarah was going through and her kind heart. Ellie was a different story altogether! A great book, highly recommended.
Thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read and enjoy in exchange for my honest opinions
May 11, 2018
A brilliant legal thriller by Ruth Mancini where we are introduced to the overworked, empathetic lawyer Sarah, who is given the case of the young mother Ellie accused of harming her child. I loved the way the author has developed Sarah's character, working in a male dominated firm, looking after her child, and trying to build up a case for Ellie's defense. I had all respect for such working mothers, as it is difficult to manage everything, and Sarah does it well.
The fast paced thriller is well written with tension filled scenes and though slightly predictable, still is a fun read. I hope to read more of Sarah and Ruth Mancini.
The fast paced thriller is well written with tension filled scenes and though slightly predictable, still is a fun read. I hope to read more of Sarah and Ruth Mancini.
August 18, 2018
I remember being a fan of the Granada TV series Crown Court that was broadcast in the afternoons in the 1970s and 1980s. It was a treat for days off sick or during school holidays and, yes, I’m aware that dates me. So I found the details of the court proceedings in In The Blood especially fascinating. There was a real sense of authenticity, no doubt informed by the author’s own experience as a criminal defence lawyer in real life.
The same sense of authenticity was evident in the depiction of single mother, Sarah, as she struggles to hold down an important and stressful job whilst coping with a young child with special needs. I found her an immediately sympathetic figure and, sadly, the pressure she encounters from her boss and some of her co-workers seemed only too believable. Sarah’s made to feel she’s not ‘pulling her weight’ because her caring commitments and lack of any family support system means she can’t drop everything at short notice or work unsocial hours in the way her colleagues can. On the other hand, when she takes on Ellie’s case, whose circumstances in a lot of ways mirror Sarah’s own, the reader is forced to wonder if it’s possible for Sarah to retain the correct degree of professional detachment.
If you’re anything like me, from the start, you’ll find Ellie an unsympathetic figure who seems deliberately designed to raise the reader’s suspicion about her involvement in the harming of her son, Finn. She comes across as shifty, evasive and unwilling or unable to accept the seriousness of the position in which she finds herself. You’ll probably also find yourself wondering if you’re being deliberately manipulated by the author into believing Ellie guilty. But surely that’s the part of fun of a book like this, isn’t it?
And if someone seems too bad to be true perhaps it’s equally possible for someone to be too good to be true as well. Unfortunately manipulators come in all guises and, as the author skilfully shows, seem able to home in instinctively on a person’s weakness. And in Sarah’s case, her weakness is definitely her son.
The author kept me guessing throughout the book, peopled as it is with a host of characters whose motives and credibility seemed questionable. My one reservation is that I wasn’t completely convinced by the motivation of the person finally revealed to be responsible for the poisoning of little Finn. Their preoccupations and belief system did seem like something out of an earlier age.
In The Blood is a compelling, accomplished thriller sure to delight fans of courtroom dramas but is also a book which explores some contemporary social issues with insight and acute observation. Oh, and it would have made some terrific episodes of Crown Court…
I received a review copy courtesy of publishers, Head of Zeus, in return for an honest and unbiased review.
The same sense of authenticity was evident in the depiction of single mother, Sarah, as she struggles to hold down an important and stressful job whilst coping with a young child with special needs. I found her an immediately sympathetic figure and, sadly, the pressure she encounters from her boss and some of her co-workers seemed only too believable. Sarah’s made to feel she’s not ‘pulling her weight’ because her caring commitments and lack of any family support system means she can’t drop everything at short notice or work unsocial hours in the way her colleagues can. On the other hand, when she takes on Ellie’s case, whose circumstances in a lot of ways mirror Sarah’s own, the reader is forced to wonder if it’s possible for Sarah to retain the correct degree of professional detachment.
If you’re anything like me, from the start, you’ll find Ellie an unsympathetic figure who seems deliberately designed to raise the reader’s suspicion about her involvement in the harming of her son, Finn. She comes across as shifty, evasive and unwilling or unable to accept the seriousness of the position in which she finds herself. You’ll probably also find yourself wondering if you’re being deliberately manipulated by the author into believing Ellie guilty. But surely that’s the part of fun of a book like this, isn’t it?
And if someone seems too bad to be true perhaps it’s equally possible for someone to be too good to be true as well. Unfortunately manipulators come in all guises and, as the author skilfully shows, seem able to home in instinctively on a person’s weakness. And in Sarah’s case, her weakness is definitely her son.
The author kept me guessing throughout the book, peopled as it is with a host of characters whose motives and credibility seemed questionable. My one reservation is that I wasn’t completely convinced by the motivation of the person finally revealed to be responsible for the poisoning of little Finn. Their preoccupations and belief system did seem like something out of an earlier age.
In The Blood is a compelling, accomplished thriller sure to delight fans of courtroom dramas but is also a book which explores some contemporary social issues with insight and acute observation. Oh, and it would have made some terrific episodes of Crown Court…
I received a review copy courtesy of publishers, Head of Zeus, in return for an honest and unbiased review.
October 30, 2018
IN THE BLOOD
Written by Ruth Mancini
MAY 1st, 2018; Head of Zeus (400 Pages)
Genre: fiction, mystery, domestic suspense, law
RATING: 3 STARS
I liked this book, but there seemed to be something missing. It might have been the suspense. At times I was more interested in Sarah's life than the mystery. Mancini reveals little clues so that you can guess who is behind the little boy's poisoning. I liked how it comes together, but found some parts of the ending a bit too much. I did find Jay Barrington-Brown's character a bit confusing. I assumed he was younger, like in his twenties, and only later found out he was a lot older. This changed some of my thoughts of the case. You can tell that Mancini did a lot of research in Ben's condition and what is must be like for a parent to deal with this on a every day basis.
***I received an eARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
Written by Ruth Mancini
MAY 1st, 2018; Head of Zeus (400 Pages)
Genre: fiction, mystery, domestic suspense, law
RATING: 3 STARS
I liked this book, but there seemed to be something missing. It might have been the suspense. At times I was more interested in Sarah's life than the mystery. Mancini reveals little clues so that you can guess who is behind the little boy's poisoning. I liked how it comes together, but found some parts of the ending a bit too much. I did find Jay Barrington-Brown's character a bit confusing. I assumed he was younger, like in his twenties, and only later found out he was a lot older. This changed some of my thoughts of the case. You can tell that Mancini did a lot of research in Ben's condition and what is must be like for a parent to deal with this on a every day basis.
***I received an eARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
October 17, 2024
Firstly, I have to praise the incredible narrator of this audiobook - she not only reads the book well, but the different characters' voices are outstanding. She definitely hugely elevated my enjoyment.
The plot concerns the case of a mother accused of poisoning her baby with salt.
The solicitor who is working on the case has a young son, which is hard enough for a working single mother, however, he also has many and very complex needs. It is always interesting when such characters are explored, and I really felt how incredibly difficult it was to care for him, whilst holding down a job, and generally managing a household. The main thing, though, that always resonated loud and clear in all of this chaos was her fierce and unconditional love for her child.
I loved this book in so many ways, and I highly recommend it. The five stars are a reflection of everything, narrator, characters and plot.
The plot concerns the case of a mother accused of poisoning her baby with salt.
The solicitor who is working on the case has a young son, which is hard enough for a working single mother, however, he also has many and very complex needs. It is always interesting when such characters are explored, and I really felt how incredibly difficult it was to care for him, whilst holding down a job, and generally managing a household. The main thing, though, that always resonated loud and clear in all of this chaos was her fierce and unconditional love for her child.
I loved this book in so many ways, and I highly recommend it. The five stars are a reflection of everything, narrator, characters and plot.
May 14, 2018
The synopsis of this book really did intrigue me and I just knew that this was one book I had to read as a matter of urgency. I have never read anything written by Ruth Mancini before and so I opened the front cover with some excitement. I was not to be disappointed and I really, really enjoyed reading it but more about that in a bit.
Sarah Kellermen is one of those characters that on the surface seems to have everything- she has a job, she has a career, she is successful and she has a child. However underneath Sarah is barely holding it together. She is having issues at work with people complaining that she isn't taking an equal share of the workload, she is constantly on the phone to her son's nursery and that she turns up when she feels like it. Sarah's son is disabled although the nature of his disability is not immediately apparent. Sarah does develop a certain amount of paranoia and thinks that people have it in for her. Sarah is given a case that she gets her teeth into. A baby has been poisoned and has had a medical tube taken out and both hospital staff and police think that the baby's mother is the culprit as she was the only one anywhere seen going into the room. As soon as Sarah gets the case, her mind begins to whirr and she immediately seems to believe in her client's innocence. I think that Sarah becomes obsessed with the case because the mother and baby are in a similar situation to herself and they are both parents of an ill baby and they often feel that they are struggling or swimming against the tide. Sarah is determined to get to the truth. Sarah's son falls ill and Sarah realises that she has been drawn into a dangerous game. Just what is the truth? Who tampered with the baby's medical equipment? Will Sarah manage to solve the case and save her job? Will Sarah's son recover? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
As soon as I picked up the book, I was hooked. The storyline appealed to me on so many levels and especially regarding the safeguarding aspect. I used to work in safeguarding and I regularly came across cases where children were injured and the parents were suspected. All the way through the book, I found myself looking for clues, reassessing the evidence and thinking up other possible explanations. I ended up in knots at times. I loved all the legal aspects of the book too. The author is a criminal lawyer and she has drawn on her many years of experience, which makes the book even more authentic. I became seriously addicted to this book and I just had to keep reading on and on and on because I needed to know what had really happened. This is one of those books that certainly kept me guessing. On more than one occasion I smugly thought that I had fathomed out what had really happened only to be sent down another path entirely. Reading 'In The Blood' was one heck of a rollercoaster ride with many twists and turns and moments where you just want to stick your hands over your eyes because you genuinely fear what is going to happen or what is on the next page.
In conclusion, I really did enjoy reading 'In The Blood' and I can't wait to read what comes next from this fab author. Whilst I wait for her next book I will content myself with reading her previous books. I would recommend this book to others. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.
Sarah Kellermen is one of those characters that on the surface seems to have everything- she has a job, she has a career, she is successful and she has a child. However underneath Sarah is barely holding it together. She is having issues at work with people complaining that she isn't taking an equal share of the workload, she is constantly on the phone to her son's nursery and that she turns up when she feels like it. Sarah's son is disabled although the nature of his disability is not immediately apparent. Sarah does develop a certain amount of paranoia and thinks that people have it in for her. Sarah is given a case that she gets her teeth into. A baby has been poisoned and has had a medical tube taken out and both hospital staff and police think that the baby's mother is the culprit as she was the only one anywhere seen going into the room. As soon as Sarah gets the case, her mind begins to whirr and she immediately seems to believe in her client's innocence. I think that Sarah becomes obsessed with the case because the mother and baby are in a similar situation to herself and they are both parents of an ill baby and they often feel that they are struggling or swimming against the tide. Sarah is determined to get to the truth. Sarah's son falls ill and Sarah realises that she has been drawn into a dangerous game. Just what is the truth? Who tampered with the baby's medical equipment? Will Sarah manage to solve the case and save her job? Will Sarah's son recover? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
As soon as I picked up the book, I was hooked. The storyline appealed to me on so many levels and especially regarding the safeguarding aspect. I used to work in safeguarding and I regularly came across cases where children were injured and the parents were suspected. All the way through the book, I found myself looking for clues, reassessing the evidence and thinking up other possible explanations. I ended up in knots at times. I loved all the legal aspects of the book too. The author is a criminal lawyer and she has drawn on her many years of experience, which makes the book even more authentic. I became seriously addicted to this book and I just had to keep reading on and on and on because I needed to know what had really happened. This is one of those books that certainly kept me guessing. On more than one occasion I smugly thought that I had fathomed out what had really happened only to be sent down another path entirely. Reading 'In The Blood' was one heck of a rollercoaster ride with many twists and turns and moments where you just want to stick your hands over your eyes because you genuinely fear what is going to happen or what is on the next page.
In conclusion, I really did enjoy reading 'In The Blood' and I can't wait to read what comes next from this fab author. Whilst I wait for her next book I will content myself with reading her previous books. I would recommend this book to others. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.
April 12, 2018
FANTASTIC read!
This book was incredibly well researched and informative. Both about what a defense lawyer's job is like in London, and what it feels like to be a single working parent of a disabled child.
I wanted to cry for her so many times, also feeling relieved that I could close my eyes and fall asleep, not being in her shoes (sleep deprived, little money, no self-time at all).
The action of the case feels a bit stretched, and I actually found myself caring and rooting so much more for Sarah than Ellie. The case seemed soooo predictable - it took me the Prologue and the first few chapters to know exactly who and what had been done. But Sarah's everyday life with all of its hurdles felt so realistically described that for me that felt like the real story of this book.
Even though I'm never into any mysteries that are told from the system's perspective (cops, PI, detectives, even lawyers) this was a very personal account and I really enjoyed it.
Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book was incredibly well researched and informative. Both about what a defense lawyer's job is like in London, and what it feels like to be a single working parent of a disabled child.
I wanted to cry for her so many times, also feeling relieved that I could close my eyes and fall asleep, not being in her shoes (sleep deprived, little money, no self-time at all).
The action of the case feels a bit stretched, and I actually found myself caring and rooting so much more for Sarah than Ellie. The case seemed soooo predictable - it took me the Prologue and the first few chapters to know exactly who and what had been done. But Sarah's everyday life with all of its hurdles felt so realistically described that for me that felt like the real story of this book.
Even though I'm never into any mysteries that are told from the system's perspective (cops, PI, detectives, even lawyers) this was a very personal account and I really enjoyed it.
Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 19, 2024
Very intriguing at the start but became a bit predictable and melodramatic towards the end and I found it hard to relate to the main character's decision making, considering she is a successful attorney.
September 2, 2019
In the Blood is an outstanding legal thriller and Ruth Mancini has created an incredible female lead character Sarah Kellerman. Sarah is a single mother of a 5 year old boy with severe special needs and with a challenging job as a defence lawyer she is trying to balance both roles to the best of her ability.
When she is asked to defend Ellie, a young, beautiful but troubled girl who is accused of trying to poison her 11 month old son, Sarah find herself crossing the line determined to prove Ellie’s innocence.
The author’s in depth knowledge and experience as a solicitor shine through every page of this book which adds that layer of authenticity to the story, however it’s Sarah’s everyday struggles with coping and caring for a disabled child that brought this story to life for me. Heartbreaking and beautifully written, I can see why this book was a Sunday Times Crime Club pick.
I was absolutely gripped by this book from the opening chapter to the final page. Full of fascinating and flawed characters, In the Blood is a book that I would definitely recommend to fans of both psychological thrillers and legal/courtroom thrillers.
When she is asked to defend Ellie, a young, beautiful but troubled girl who is accused of trying to poison her 11 month old son, Sarah find herself crossing the line determined to prove Ellie’s innocence.
The author’s in depth knowledge and experience as a solicitor shine through every page of this book which adds that layer of authenticity to the story, however it’s Sarah’s everyday struggles with coping and caring for a disabled child that brought this story to life for me. Heartbreaking and beautifully written, I can see why this book was a Sunday Times Crime Club pick.
I was absolutely gripped by this book from the opening chapter to the final page. Full of fascinating and flawed characters, In the Blood is a book that I would definitely recommend to fans of both psychological thrillers and legal/courtroom thrillers.
June 11, 2018
An enthralling plot and courtroom drama
Sarah Kellerman has a high-powered job as a defence lawyer but is also a single parent with a 5-year-old son with special needs who when she is not working needs constant care and attention. At the at the start of this book, she is struggling to hold everything together, she is having issues with her work colleagues who are complaining that she is not taking her fair share of the workload due to her childcare demands. Ben cannot walk or talk and hardly sleeps so Sarah is constantly tired.
She is offered a new client, a young single mother, Ellie Stephens, who is being accused of trying to kill her young son Finn. He has already been taken into care once due to bruising on his body. Ellie finally retrieves access to him only for him to be rushed into hospital with sodium poisoning and then she is accused of removing his tube whilst he is in her hospital bed. All the odds are stacked against Ellie especially when Sarah finds out that the father of her baby is the son of wealthy, well-connected parents the Barrington-Browns.
However, from the moment Sarah meets Ellie, she believes in her innocence and responds to her as a fellow single parent struggling to provide a good life for her son. As she begins to dig deeper into Ellie’s life she discovers that although the odds appear to be stacked against her there are anomalies in the evidence against her.
Sarah encounters a man in the supermarket who helps her out when Ben is having a particularly loud tantrum and slowly starts on a new relationship. Alex is brilliant with Ben and she begins to find happiness with him. However then her son starts having seizures and is rushed to hospital by Alex. Is everything as it should be with this new man in her life, is he too good to be true?
The plot of this book is so good that I really did not guess what was going to happen. The author is a criminal lawyer so all the court scenes were very authentic and believable. It would be unfair to reveal anything else about the storyline but I would recommend it to anyone who has enough time to read it because once you start you will not be able to stop until you know the ending.
I hope the author is planning another book based around Sarah Kellerman and if she is I want to be one of the first people to read it!
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
Sarah Kellerman has a high-powered job as a defence lawyer but is also a single parent with a 5-year-old son with special needs who when she is not working needs constant care and attention. At the at the start of this book, she is struggling to hold everything together, she is having issues with her work colleagues who are complaining that she is not taking her fair share of the workload due to her childcare demands. Ben cannot walk or talk and hardly sleeps so Sarah is constantly tired.
She is offered a new client, a young single mother, Ellie Stephens, who is being accused of trying to kill her young son Finn. He has already been taken into care once due to bruising on his body. Ellie finally retrieves access to him only for him to be rushed into hospital with sodium poisoning and then she is accused of removing his tube whilst he is in her hospital bed. All the odds are stacked against Ellie especially when Sarah finds out that the father of her baby is the son of wealthy, well-connected parents the Barrington-Browns.
However, from the moment Sarah meets Ellie, she believes in her innocence and responds to her as a fellow single parent struggling to provide a good life for her son. As she begins to dig deeper into Ellie’s life she discovers that although the odds appear to be stacked against her there are anomalies in the evidence against her.
Sarah encounters a man in the supermarket who helps her out when Ben is having a particularly loud tantrum and slowly starts on a new relationship. Alex is brilliant with Ben and she begins to find happiness with him. However then her son starts having seizures and is rushed to hospital by Alex. Is everything as it should be with this new man in her life, is he too good to be true?
The plot of this book is so good that I really did not guess what was going to happen. The author is a criminal lawyer so all the court scenes were very authentic and believable. It would be unfair to reveal anything else about the storyline but I would recommend it to anyone who has enough time to read it because once you start you will not be able to stop until you know the ending.
I hope the author is planning another book based around Sarah Kellerman and if she is I want to be one of the first people to read it!
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
April 27, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
Sarah is a very stressed overworked solicitor who also has the sole care of her developmentally delayed young child. She is assigned the case of Ellie a young mother who has been charged with harming her baby. As Sarah tries to build her case for her client's defence she is trying desperately to care for her son whilst appeasing her bosses and colleagues at the law firm who think she isn't pulling her weight.
This is a very well researched legal drama. The characters are fully developed and the story line is taut and thrilling. Although as a reader Ellie drew different emotions from me my most empathy and enjoyment came from Sarah. A strong woman fighting her corner not only in the male dominated law firm but showing remarkable grit and determination to do the best for her little boy.
I hope we will see more of Sarah in a sequel as she is a strong female protagonist and someone I would want on my side.
Sarah is a very stressed overworked solicitor who also has the sole care of her developmentally delayed young child. She is assigned the case of Ellie a young mother who has been charged with harming her baby. As Sarah tries to build her case for her client's defence she is trying desperately to care for her son whilst appeasing her bosses and colleagues at the law firm who think she isn't pulling her weight.
This is a very well researched legal drama. The characters are fully developed and the story line is taut and thrilling. Although as a reader Ellie drew different emotions from me my most empathy and enjoyment came from Sarah. A strong woman fighting her corner not only in the male dominated law firm but showing remarkable grit and determination to do the best for her little boy.
I hope we will see more of Sarah in a sequel as she is a strong female protagonist and someone I would want on my side.
May 8, 2022
This was an addictive read that I finished in 1.5 days, 250 of those pages being in one sitting! I really needed a book like this after a couple of slow reads!
This book is about a mother accused of attempting to poison her own child (read the trigger warnings as references to child abuse, however not in depth or “main” focal point meaning not detailed events of this and more one / two episodes again, not detailed).
I really enjoyed the pace of this book and the constant guessing. This was a new author I found and I’m looking forward to reading another one of hers featuring the same character, solicitor Sarah Kellerman.
Good read!
This book is about a mother accused of attempting to poison her own child (read the trigger warnings as references to child abuse, however not in depth or “main” focal point meaning not detailed events of this and more one / two episodes again, not detailed).
I really enjoyed the pace of this book and the constant guessing. This was a new author I found and I’m looking forward to reading another one of hers featuring the same character, solicitor Sarah Kellerman.
Good read!
July 31, 2021
I read this in an evening. Really liked that there was a globally delayed boy at the centre of things, but some of the other characters were a bit unlikely. And the plot went absolutely mental in the final quarter.
June 18, 2018
A really good read and kept my attention throughout..4+ stars
October 15, 2023
Wow what a fantastic thriller!! So many twists & turns, unpredictable and exciting!! I really enjoyed Ruth’s writing style, the way she kept you on the edge of your seat, really gripping!!
Can’t wait to read more of Ruth Mancini! Keep up the great storytelling 😊
Can’t wait to read more of Ruth Mancini! Keep up the great storytelling 😊
May 24, 2018
This is my first read from this author and I really enjoyed this book . Full of suspense and twists the story of a young mother accused of trying to kill her baby son and the lovely lawyer Sarah defending her and determined to get to the truth ! A great read highlighting stigmas that still life on in our world . I look forward to reading more from this author 4.5 stars
April 24, 2018
Courtroom drama at its best!
I normally find courtroom books somewhat long and boring however after reading the blurb I just had to pick it up and read.
Sarah is representing a young girl called Ellie in court, Ellie has been accused of trying to murder her one year old boy.
Sarah is a character you can't help but like, she is clever, brave and a single mum to her disable son Ben. Ellie is less than easy to like in the start of the book, however the way the author developed the character was fantastic, you go from thinking, what a brat, to yet another failed young girl who warms up in a very big way.
The plot was brilliant, I loved how not only was it based in a courtroom written by an author who clearly knows her stuff, but it also showed a side to working mums and what they have to deal with alone.
Well deserved 5* as this book totally gripped me.
I normally find courtroom books somewhat long and boring however after reading the blurb I just had to pick it up and read.
Sarah is representing a young girl called Ellie in court, Ellie has been accused of trying to murder her one year old boy.
Sarah is a character you can't help but like, she is clever, brave and a single mum to her disable son Ben. Ellie is less than easy to like in the start of the book, however the way the author developed the character was fantastic, you go from thinking, what a brat, to yet another failed young girl who warms up in a very big way.
The plot was brilliant, I loved how not only was it based in a courtroom written by an author who clearly knows her stuff, but it also showed a side to working mums and what they have to deal with alone.
Well deserved 5* as this book totally gripped me.
November 18, 2024
I think I spent way too much of this book rolling my eyes at the foolishness of our main character... who meets a man in a shop,invites him into her home,gives him keys,leaves him in charge of her disabled son.....
Just No!!!
Of course it was going to be he wasn't the good guy he thought... and the book threw several twists and turns,but non of them felt lime a surprise.
This passed a long train journey... but I'm not going to be recommending it to anyone unfortunately.
Just No!!!
Of course it was going to be he wasn't the good guy he thought... and the book threw several twists and turns,but non of them felt lime a surprise.
This passed a long train journey... but I'm not going to be recommending it to anyone unfortunately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2018
This was a very compelling crime thriller. Totally unputdownable.
Sarah Kellerman, a criminal defence lawyer, is to defend, Ellie, accused of abuse and attempted murder of her young baby. All the evidence points to her guilt, but Sarah has trouble joining the dots in the case and is determined to find out what really happened, despite having to juggle the needs of raising her mentally disabled five-year-old son and the demands of a job that she desperately needs to provide for her and her son.
Despite my enjoyment of this book…and I really did enjoy it…I felt that the present tense narrative didn’t work. I also felt the first-person POV didn’t work: there were a couple of complex characters who needed their own POV, I thought.
But, this was an extremely competently written novel, and Sarah was brilliantly portrayed, with passion and conviction by the author. I didn’t find it hard to guess the role of two of the major players quite early on, but wow, it was a gripping roller coaster of ups, downs, twists and turns before we got to the end.
A thoroughly satisfying, well-written thriller. I’m very definitely going to read more by this author.
Sarah Kellerman, a criminal defence lawyer, is to defend, Ellie, accused of abuse and attempted murder of her young baby. All the evidence points to her guilt, but Sarah has trouble joining the dots in the case and is determined to find out what really happened, despite having to juggle the needs of raising her mentally disabled five-year-old son and the demands of a job that she desperately needs to provide for her and her son.
Despite my enjoyment of this book…and I really did enjoy it…I felt that the present tense narrative didn’t work. I also felt the first-person POV didn’t work: there were a couple of complex characters who needed their own POV, I thought.
But, this was an extremely competently written novel, and Sarah was brilliantly portrayed, with passion and conviction by the author. I didn’t find it hard to guess the role of two of the major players quite early on, but wow, it was a gripping roller coaster of ups, downs, twists and turns before we got to the end.
A thoroughly satisfying, well-written thriller. I’m very definitely going to read more by this author.
December 6, 2024
Very engrossing story! I forgot how much I love stories with some courtroom drama and a trial. I knew where part of the story was going, so that eliminated part of the shock factor for me, but even so, I really like this. This author is good!
March 3, 2019
Sarah, a single mum of a disabled boy, is called in to defend a young woman accused of harming her baby. It's a tad predictable and rather melodramatic at the end. Not a bad book but nothing special.
May 14, 2018
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I loved this book, the plot is great and I read it in a few hours - I was completely hooked!!
The characters in the book are great - Ellie and Sarah are fascinating characters and they work so well within the plot. I was guessing at several points in the book about where the plot was going to take me.
I loved the ending and it really had me thinking when I'd finished the book, it was an unsettling but gripping story - five stars from me - a gritty, gripping read!!
I loved this book, the plot is great and I read it in a few hours - I was completely hooked!!
The characters in the book are great - Ellie and Sarah are fascinating characters and they work so well within the plot. I was guessing at several points in the book about where the plot was going to take me.
I loved the ending and it really had me thinking when I'd finished the book, it was an unsettling but gripping story - five stars from me - a gritty, gripping read!!
May 13, 2018
A truly stunning novel. Seeing the action from inside Sarah's head, the reader watches her thought processes as she struggles to unravel the truth around the abuse of a child and juggle her responsibilities towards her own son. I was so gripped, I stayed up half the night to finish it. Highly recommended.
April 29, 2018
This is a fantastic read with some great characters. If you love thrillers and/or court room dramas you will love this.
Sarah, a single parent solicitor, is asked to work on a case where a mother is accused or deliberately harming her child and trying to murder him. I really loved Sarah, she is such a strong character. As well as dealing with the task of juggling parenthood with a full time job she is also having to cope with the difficulties that arise with a child with disabilities.
The plot takes many twists and turns before the truth is finally revealed. Sarah takes it upon herself to find the truth as she is convinced of the mother’s innocence, but is she right ?
This book is a great page turner and I really do hope that Sarah returns for more investigations in the future !!
A must read especially if you love courtroom dramas.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Sarah, a single parent solicitor, is asked to work on a case where a mother is accused or deliberately harming her child and trying to murder him. I really loved Sarah, she is such a strong character. As well as dealing with the task of juggling parenthood with a full time job she is also having to cope with the difficulties that arise with a child with disabilities.
The plot takes many twists and turns before the truth is finally revealed. Sarah takes it upon herself to find the truth as she is convinced of the mother’s innocence, but is she right ?
This book is a great page turner and I really do hope that Sarah returns for more investigations in the future !!
A must read especially if you love courtroom dramas.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
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