Wow, I enjoyed this book so much, I'm sorry that I only got around to it now! The book was really a good solid read, and I can't wait to read some more by Ms Mancini. Highly recommended.
TB

One Dark, Two Light is the second book to feature lawyer Sarah Kellerman and I loved In The Blood (book 1).
ANother really enjoyable legal thriller which i would recommend.

A good read, which kept my attention throughout. I would recommend this as a good holiday reading book. Very enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this book and found it incredibly gripping. Looking forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Fabulous plot which I could not put down. Brilliant characters, and twists and turns. Highly recommend to other fans of this genre!!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters engaged me from the start very believable. Lots of twists and turns, good plot, the ending was rather unexpected. A good read. recommended.

While this is my first time reading Ruth Mancini, ONE DARK, TWO LIGHT is the second book to feature solicitor Sarah Kellerman. I wasn't aware this was a series but having read this book I will be interested to check out the first one "In the Blood" .

It's New Year's Eve and a man walks drunkenly home from the Hope and Glory pub. But just a couple of minutes after midnight he becomes the victim of a vicious attack then brutally run over and left for dead. Barely alive, he is taken to the hospital but no one knows who he is as he has no ID. He is a mystery.

But one morning three months later solicitor Sarah Kellerman walks into the hospital to visit her boyfriend Nick, a barrister, and passes the mystery man's room. A flicker of a memory and she recognises him instantly. Mark Felding was a custody sergeant based at one of the police stations in London that she frequented for clients. But he suddenly disappeared and no one really knew what happened to him. So what happened to him? Why did no one know who he was? And why wasn't he reported missing?

Sarah begins to dig into the mystery behind Mark's disappearance in an effort to learn what truly happened to him and in the process one of her clients, a young Jamaican 15 year old boy Jerome, is brought in for questioning over the theft of a 4x4 not far from the estate on which he lives. Although Jerome's form is for stealing cars, Sarah believes him when he says he didn't steal this one. In his eyes, a black 4x4 with blacked out windows on an estate like his belongs to drug dealers and he steers clear of those. But the police who question him are adamant - a black teen wearing a hoodie was seen in the vicinity.

Then Sarah is approached by DCI John Sinclair at court one day who informs her that Mark has been working undercover for the past two years infiltrating a drug gang. But Mark had turned rogue and started dealing himself, his life thus spiraling. But none of this struck Sarah as being true. She believes she was being warned off. But she continues to look into Mark's attack. But when Jerome is picked up once again - this time for the attempted murder of a police officer - Sarah knows something deeper is going on.

Meanwhile, Sarah's personal life is somewhat in disarray. Her partner, Will, is in hospital with a life threatening condition that could result in the amputation of his leg. Will is somewhat cagey about what happened and is reluctant to discuss it that when Sarah pushes him she doesn't believe his explanation. And now her ex husband Andy, who walked out on her and her autistic son Ben two years before, has returned wanting to start again. Sarah doesn't have time to deal with Andy but he proves to be an eager babysitter as he learns to bond with his non-verbal son. Despite walking out on them two years ago because he couldn't deal with his son's disability, Andy steps up and proves to be an eager and competent carer for Ben in Sarah's absence.

A slow burn thriller, ONE DARK, TWO LIGHT is a cleverly written, complex and twist-filled read. As secret after secret is exposed, Sarah is determined to get to the truth about what happened to Mark. She lets nothing stand in her way, not even when the risk becomes greater and her client's life is at stake.

I'm not sure what I think about Sarah, although if I was ever in trouble I'd certainly want her in my corner. And I found it hard connecting with the story around her son. I know he is autistic and non-verbal but I didn't find him real because he didn't connect with anyone...though for someone like him I know that is completely normal. He just seemed like something on the edge of dream...it's hard to explain. But in Sarah's place, I don't know how she managed to hold down a full time legal career and be a full time carer to Ben. Andy's re-entrance couldn't have come at a better time, as he could start to share some of the responsibility with caring for him when Sarah is called away.

ONE DARK, TWO LIGHT is a solid and compelling read. Its story content is not normally something I am enamoured with - council estates, drug dealing - but this one was different. And with so many secrets to uncover, I was still able to figure out who was responsible...one on count...while still being surprised at the end.

An explosive read, ONE DARK, TWO LIGHT is thrilling and compelling with an incredibly complex plot. Recommended for thriller fans.

I would like to thank #RuthMancini, #NetGalley and #HeadOfZeus for an ARC of #OneDarkTwoLight in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! A fantastic #2 in the series following up the debut In the Blood (although it can be read as a stand-alone! The plot is complex and engaging with woven well-nuanced storylines, frustrating and deeply flawed characters, and astounding social and moral issues. I was fully invested and couldn’t put it down as the story unfolded and I am already looking forward to #3. I highly recommend this wonderful courtroom style thriller to EVERYONE!

I really enjoyed this crime thriller, especially as I had no idea of what had really happened before Sarah herself... I found it a bit of a stretch when she finally joined the dots but the resolution was just about credible. There were interesting themes around parenting and responsibility and although I found the story-line with Will a little tedious at times it did add more depth to Sarah's character and circumstances. A solid read for genre fans.

Favorite Quote:

I’m not asking you for a favour, here, Andy. I’m asking you to be a father. It’s unconditional. There are no rewards, no prizes, no strings attached. We’re parents because we chose to be parents… I am not going to thank you for looking after your own son. If you truly believe that fathers are important enough to fuck up our lives, then stick around this time and be one!

My Review:

This was a confounding and complex plot with several complicated and well-nuanced storylines, frustrating and deeply flawed characters, and fatally compelling social issues. I was incensed and fully invested as the tale was ingeniously plotted, thrummed with tension, was maddeningly paced, and had me grinding my teeth and pulling at my ragged cuticles - yet I couldn’t put it down and huffed and hissed at any interruption to my reading. I wanted to give every character a smack to the head with my kindle at some point as no one was fully trustworthy and everyone was tainted and to blame for something, just like in real life. Except for me of course, as I have lived an exemplary life and have been a total delight to everyone I’ve ever met. ;)

I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters engaging, if a little frustrating (but isn't that part of the fun of reading a book?) and the storyline kept my attention. I'll be looking out more from this author.

What a gripping, enthralling read. Tense and taught in the way a thrill ride or a read should be! Unputdownable and fast paced, because it’s written so well and so full of tension you’ll race to finish! Grab your copy today, clear your schedules, and prepare for a thrill ride of chills, twists, and shocks!
Will make sure to buzz it up on all the different platforms!

One Dark, Two Light is my first but definitely not my last read by this author as this was a great read.

Sarah is a single mum to Ben who is autistic. While visiting her boyfriend Will in hospital she sees an old colleague in a nearby bed. He was beaten up and left to die. With being told to not get involved and wondering what Will is hiding from her Sarah finds herself wanting to know the truth.

A really well written story with a great storyline. I’ll certainly be recommending this to my friends.

A tightly plotted and intelligent thriller that is as nail-biting as it is thought-provoking, One Dark, Two Light is a dark, gritty and gripping tale that will appeal to fans of Frances Fyfield and C L Taylor from fast rising star Ruth Mancini.

New Year’s Eve is a time for celebration, fun, laughter and hope for whatever the coming twelve months may bring. But an undercurrent of menace and darkness can pervade and intrude upon even the lightest and most jubilant of occasions as criminal defence lawyer Sarah Kellerman discovers when walking on to a hospital ward she finds herself coming face to face with a man she knows whom she now barely recognises. Sarah cannot believe that her former kind and honourable former colleague had been left battered and bruised outside of a London pub on the last day of the year. Who would want to do something like this to a man who wouldn’t hurt a fly? Was it a random and senseless attack? Or is there something far more sinister and menacing going on?

With the victim unable to speak or walk, it is up to Sarah to uncover the truth and get to the bottom of this baffling mystery. But even somebody as tough as Sarah will be surprised by what she is about to discover. As scandalous shocks and dark secrets come to light, Sarah finds herself caught up in a tangled and twisted web that makes her wonder how well one truly knows anyone in a world where most people present different versions of themselves at different moments in their life.

As Sarah finds herself wondering whether there is anyone she can ever really know and trust, she begins to wonder whether she will ever get to the truth about this shocking case she has found herself tangled up in – or whether she is better off not knowing.

Tense, taut and terrifying, One Dark, Two Light top-notch thriller will leave readers guessing and desperate to find out what is going to happen next. Ruth Mancini deftly blends suspense, danger and intrigue in a sharply written, wholly mesmerizing and simply unputdownable page-turner. As always, her heroine criminal defence lawyer Sarah Kellerman is an absolute delight and new readers and devoted fans are sure going to love this intelligent, courageous and meticulous heroine.

A gripping page-turner with plenty of twists and turns, One Dark, Two Light is an outstanding thriller from the gifted pen of Ruth Mancini.

It seems that lately I am discovering more and more new series to be addicted, so please don’t hate me if your pile of books increases drastically!
One Dark, Two Light is the story of the criminal defense lawyer Sarah Kellerman, she is visiting a “friend” at the hospital when she recognizes a John Doe patient at the UCI and this will be the moment her life will turn upside down… ready?
I am sure you’ll be wondering what makes this book different from the others, starting that it’s not really a case Sarah is trying to defend or has a client, she simply tries to help the family in a difficult situation, the husband has been missing for 3 months, no one has answers and it seems that no one has been asking for questions. Weird isn’t it? If I tell you that the John Doe is a police officer and no one is looking for him? Then you’ll suspect that someone knows more than they are saying, am I right? Yes, as you can imagine this will be a complicated and twisted case, but told in a plain way, there are detectives but Sarah is not, so she will start “investigating” the same way you or me would do. So, the case is interesting but the perspective from the reader is like you see the story as it were a movie; the characters feel real and the situation too, sad and unlucky, but possible.
We’ll have an insight of Sarah’s life too; her work, her son and the two man in her life. I’ll say that I didn’t like much Andy, but I don’t think anyone would like him… and I’ll have to read another book to have a clear opinion about Nick, for now he seems a good man, we’ll see…
After this book, I really can’t wait to know how Sarah’s life will continue, the case is solved, but there are a few questions at the end of the story that I can’t wait to discover the answers!
If you are looking for an interesting case with real characters this is your book, ready?

I read the synopsis for 'One Dark, Two Light' and it certainly sounded like just the kind of legal thriller that I have a particular fondness for. My addiction to legal thrillers is partly down to my addiction to 'Law & Order' and a soft spot for Jack McCoy. Anyway enough about me so back to the book review I must go. I was eager to start reading and so without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my cup of tea and settled down to read. Oh boy, did I enjoy reading 'One Dark, Two Light' or what? In other words, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'One Dark, Two Light' but more about that in a bit.
It didn't take me long at all to get into this book. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first couple of chapters I knew that I was definitely going to enjoy this book. I made the fatal mistake of starting to read the book shortly before I went to bed. When will I learn? Let's just say that sleep was delayed for a good couple of hours and I had a sleep hangover the following morning. I started reading the book as soon as I got up the following morning. I wasn't able to read the book over the course of 24 or even 48 hours because boring things like life got in the way but I did manage to finish reading the book over the course of 4 days. As soon as I picked the book up, that was it I completely immersed myself in the story. The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out how the story concluded grew and grew. All too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say goodbye to Sarah Kellerman.
'One Dark, Two Light' is extremely well written. The author grabbed my attention from the synopsis alone and then the story inside the book just sealed the deal as it were. Ruth has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Whilst reading this book I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and that I was a legal eagle myself and that's all down to Ruth's fantastic writing style and her use of extremely vivid and realistic descriptions. Ruth is a lawyer by trade, which only adds extra authenticity to the story.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'One Dark, Two Light' and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Ruth's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

A brilliant book by author Ruth Mancini. An edge of the seat thriller which kept me completely engrossed in the darkness of the night of New Year's Eve.

Sarah Kellerman a solicitor went to meet her friend Will at the hospital where she saw a man on the next bed whom she knew from work. A hit and run victim. Mark. A cop who had wife and kids who were never notified about the accident. Sarah took over.

My first book by this author, and the main character grew on me as I kept reading. She was as tenacious as a bull dog and her bite was as strong as her bark. The writing invited me to enter the dark tunnel of the story where I could see no light. It was smooth and compuslive.

Sarah kept my interest focused on her. There were times when I wanted to tap a warning on her shoulder, but nothing could sway her. The character was quite foolhardy but I couldn't fault her sense of justice. The book was swift paced as it moved on. Twin lights could be seen when Sarah received help from unexpected quarters.

And the ending... Oh damn... It was explosive. I suspected one aspect of it and I was blown away by what the author revealed right at the end.

An explosive, thrilling read.

You’re invested in this story from the first page. The relatable characters are easy to empathise. Drama, twists and intensity keep you absorbed and turning the pages, right until the end. Cleverly written the story, unfolds like a Pandora’s box of betrayal and lies. There are three main plot lines, two of which converge as the story progresses. The world-building is authentic, underscored by obvious knowledge, and research of the criminal and legal world and how they interact.

Character-driven, the main protagonist Sarah, a dedicated defence lawyer becomes personally involved in a case, which is prejudiced by a chance encounter. Sarah is easy to like, she’s emotional, impulsive and tenacious, good news for her clients but she often risks her safety. Her home life is complex when her ex returns and her boyfriend is gravely ill. She is someone you want in your corner if you need help.

Fast-paced the story has disturbing, sinister undertones. The ending brings the plot strands to a believable, if unexpected conclusion, which is perfect for this addictive read.

I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was the first book that I had read by Ruth Mancini.
The character of Sarah Kellerman was excellent. She was likeable and so well developed. There was lots of twists and turns in both her personal life and her work life.
This book was such a page turner and I couldn’t put it down. There was so much going on but it was incredibly easy to follow.
It was written so well and filled with twists, turns and suspense.
I would highly recommend this excellent page turner.

One Dark, Two Light is the second book to feature lawyer Sarah Kellerman and boy is it an exciting and excellent legal thriller. Whilst it would help to read the opening instalment in the series before this there is enough backstory to help you follow along. Sarah Kellerman is a criminal defence lawyer and mother to autistic son, Ben. Her husband Andy left as he claimed he simply couldn't handle his son's disability and now lives in Australia; Sarah amazingly manages to juggle caring for Ben and her time-consuming and intense legal career. Now Andy is back in the UK and wants to resume seeing his son. Sarah is also in a new relationship with Will but he's been strangely silent recently. Then she learns he has been admitted to hospital and may need his infected leg amputated but his explanation as to what happened seems shady and Sarah doesn't believe him.

Whilst there she spots a patient she recognises; he has life-threatening injuries and has spent three months in hospital without them knowing his identity. He is custody sergeant Mark Fielding who on New Year's Eve was mugged and brutally run over with a vehicle. She is warned not to get involved by Chief Superintendent John Sinclair as Mark had been working as an undercover officer infiltrating a drugs gang. Sarah isn't entirely convinced what she's being told. One of the aspects I love about the book is that it strikes the perfect balance between Sarah’s complicated personal life and the cases and actually connects the two in a believable manner. This is a compelling, engrossing and fascinating read and Sarah is a beautifully developed and realistic character. It's refreshingly original and down to earth with a cleverly written and twisty plot.

From start to finish this is an addictive read with plenty of mystery and deception. It is an entertaining and authentic page-turner. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Head of Zeus for an ARC.