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Extract | Never Look Back by Lesley Pearse

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Extracts

Never Look Back by Lesley Pearse

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Till We Meet Again by Lesley Pearse

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Dead to Me by Lesley Pearse trailer

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Lesley Pearse on character inspiration and travelling the world

Charity

A beloved classic by the Sunday Times, multi-million copy bestselling author 
 
Charity Stratton is just fifteen when her world shatters. After losing her parents in a terrible fire, she’s separated from her beloved siblings and forced into servitude. 
 
Her life as a boarding school kitchen maid is backbreaking and lonely. And her brief moments of joy with a dashing student end in heartbreak when she becomes pregnant. 
 
But Charity’s spirit refuses to be broken. Escaping to London, she finds a city teeming with both opportunity and peril. Will Charity's resilience be enough to overcome the odds, reunite her family and build a better life for them all? 
 
_________________ 
 
Praise for Lesley Pearse: 
 
'I couldn’t put this book down. Although harrowing at times, Lesley’s indomitable spirit shines through. What an inspiration, what a book!' - Katie Fforde 
 
'Fabulously entertaining... a poignant and powerful story that is truly unputdownable.' - Milly Johnson 
 
'A totally gripping read, by turns tragic, mad-cap, heartbreaking and mind-blowing. And anyone who can read that final chapter without bursting into happy tears has to have a heart of stone.' - Jill Mansell 
 
'An incredible life story from a literary icon, Lesley Pearse’s truth is even more gripping than her fiction' - Veronica Henry 
 
'Inspiring, heart-warming, extraordinary' - Woman's Weekly 
 
'Humorous and heartbreaking... I was so gripped I read it twice' - Kate Furnivall 
 
'What a roller coaster of a ride. I couldn't do anything else until I'd finished this book. Gripping, heart wrenching... an amazing read' - Jo Thomas

Lesley Pearse was born in Rochester, Kent, but has lived in the West Country for over thirty years. She has three daughters and two grandsons. She is the author of twenty novels and now writes full-time.

My Autobiography

The Long and Winding Road

One of the world’s bestselling storytellers, Lesley Pearse writes brilliantly about survivors. Why? Because she is one herself . . . 
‘Inspiring and hopeful, this heartwarming memoir will have you captivated’ Woman 
‘An incredible memoir‘ Sun 
‘[Lesley] is a great storyteller, and like all good stories The Long and Winding Road concludes with one terrific twist’ Daily Mail 
--Born during the Second World War, Lesley’s innocence came to an abrupt end when a neighbour found her, aged 3, coatless in the snow. 
The mother she’d been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn’t always be trusted. 
 
As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother and baby home, and watched helplessly as her newborn was taken from her. 
 
But like so many of her generation, Lesley had to carry on. She was, after all, a true survivor. Marriage and children followed – and all the while she nurtured a dream: to be a writer. Yet it wasn’t until at the age of 48 that her stories – of women struggling in a difficult world – found a publisher, and the bestseller lists beckoned. 
 
As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Lesley’s story really is A Long and Winding Road with surprises and uplifting hope around every corner . . . 
 
-- 
‘I couldn’t put this book down. Although harrowing at times, Lesley’s indomitable spirit shines through. What an inspiration, what a book!’ Katie Fforde 
‘Searingly honest, and fabulously entertaining, Lesley's life story is a poignant and powerful story that is truly unputdownable’ Milly Johnson 
‘A totally gripping read, by turns tragic, mad-cap, heartbreaking and mind-blowing. And anyone who can read that final chapter without bursting into happy tears has to have a heart of stone’ Jill Mansell 
‘An incredible life story from a literary icon, Lesley Pearse’s truth is even more gripping than her fiction’ Veronica Henry 
‘This inspiring, heart-warming, extraordinary memoir will have you captivated’ Woman's Weekly 
‘Humorous and heartbreaking, Lesley opens up to her readers in a way that is rare and very special. I was so gripped I read it twice’ Kate Furnivall 
‘What a roller coaster of a ride. I couldn't do anything else until I'd finished this book. Gripping, heart wrenching. A true life Woman of Substance. It was an amazing read’ Jo Thomas

I couldn&rsquo;t put this book down. Although harrowing at times, Lesley&rsquo;s indomitable spirit shines through. What an inspiration, what a book!

Searingly honest, and fabulously entertaining, Lesley's life story is a poignant and powerful story that is truly unputdownable

A totally gripping read, by turns tragic, mad-cap, heartbreaking and mind-blowing. And anyone who can read that final chapter without bursting into happy tears has to have a heart of stone

An incredible life story from a literary icon, Lesley Pearse&rsquo;s truth is even more gripping than her fiction

This inspiring, heart-warming, extraordinary memoir will have you captivated

Humorous and heartbreaking, Lesley opens up to her readers in a way that is rare and very special. I was so gripped I read it twice

What a roller coaster of a ride. I couldn't do anything else until I'd finished this book. Gripping, heart wrenching. A true life Woman of Substance. It was an amazing read

Lesley is a survivor, you'll certainly want to read the extraordinary story of her life. Inspiring and hopeful, this heartwarming memoir will have you captivated

[Lesley] is a great storyteller, and like all good stories The Long and Winding Road concludes with one terrific twist

Moving and heartwarming, this is a must read . . . one of our favourite authors

Early on this book, Pearse says she doesn&rsquo;t want it to be a misery memoir, and it isn&rsquo;t. This remarkable woman has somehow succeeded in bouncing back from everything that life has thrown at her, and you can only salute her resilience and cheer at the contentment she has finally found

Evocative, compelling, told from the heart

Intriguing, heart-tugging, beautifully written

This inspiring, heart-warming memoir will have you captivated

International bestselling author Lesley Pearse has lived a life as rich with incidents, setbacks and joys as any found in her novels. By the mid-sixties she was living in London, sharing flats, partying hard and married to a trumpet player in a jazz-rock band. She has also worked as a nanny and a Playboy bunny, owned a gift shop and designed and made clothes to sell to boutiques. It was only after having one son and three daughters that Lesley began to write. She published her first book at forty-nine and has not looked back since. Lesley is still a party girl.

Lesley Pearse didn't publish her first novel until she was 48. Now she has sold over ten million books around the world and is a constant presence on the bestseller chart. 
 
A writer of heart-stopping stories, Lesley's books are filled with heroines struggling to make it in a difficult world. 
 
Yet this description could apply to Lesley herself. In this, her first ever autobiography, she tells of growing up in an orphanage after her mother's death, her racy twenties in London during the swinging sixties and working as a bunny girl and dressmaker. 
 
Packed full of Lesley's signature warmth, wit and poignancy, this is the story of a woman and a writer fighting against the odds to achieve her dreams.

Betrayal

Discover the story of a good woman with a terrible, haunting secret 
Eve should never have married Don Hathaway . . . The man is a bully – but, after one drunken rage too many, Eve takes their children and leaves him. Don, however, is bitter. And getting away from him entirely proves impossible. Until the day Eve decides to teach Don a lesson – and it all goes horribly, hideously wrong. And this poor mother fears she’s lost everything. Eve loves her children so much, but now she bears a terrible burden that she cannot ever share. And she knows it won’t be long before her past catches up with her. Eve desperately wants to hide from the truth. 
 But is she risking everything? PRAISE FOR LESLEY PEARSE: 
 
 'Storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 
 
 'Gripping and suspenseful' Daily Express

Gritty, painful and packed with surprises, but also brimming with the sensitivity and empathy that have made Pearse a readers' favourite, this is a story that grips from first page to last

With her trademark insight into relationships, Lesley Pearse thrills and entertains in this exploration of being a strong woman

Eve should never have married Don Hathaway. He is a bully. Worse than that, he hurts her. 
But, after one drunken rage too many, she has the courage to leave him. It's a difficult path, yet she needs to give her children hope for the future. 
Don, however, is bitter. And getting away entirely from him proves impossible. 
Until the day, Eve tries to teach him a lesson - and it all goes horribly wrong. 
Eve loves her children but now she carries a terrible burden that she dares not share. Has she betrayed her and her children's futures?

Deception

THE GRIPPING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
 
What happens when the person closest to you has led a life of deception? 
 
'Full of suspense and intriguing characters' MY WEEKLY 
'A gritty, gripping drama' WOMAN'S WEEKLY 
_______ 
 
No one wants to believe their mother is a liar . . . 
 
After her mother's funeral, Alice Kent is approached by a man who insists he's her real father. Initially upset and disbelieving, Alice soon discovers that tugging at this loose thread unravels the expertly woven tapestry of lies which was her mother Sally's life. 
 
Faced with this staggering deception, Alice decides she must learn the whole, terrible truth about her mother. 
 
But is she prepared for the dark journey back to Sally's traumatic childhood and the evil forces which came to shape the woman who claimed to love her? 
_______ 
 
'Brilliantly builds intrigue' WOMAN & HOME 
 
'A raw, truthful and moving account, building intrigue as Alice gradually uncovers her mother's life of deception, lies - and love' WOMAN'S WEEKLY 
 
'Written with Pearse's typically engaging and effortless style of storytelling, Deception is an intriguing book of highs, lows, struggles and perseverance' CULTUREFLY 
 
Praise for Lesley Pearse 
 
'Storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 
 
'Gripping and suspenseful' Daily Express 
 
'A twisting and intense read' Woman's Own 
 
 
Lesley Pearse, Sunday Times bestseller, March 2024

This is a heart-wrenching journey as dark secrets are exposed and we understand the decisions Sally was forced to make

A complex and gripping relationship drama

Unpredictable and full of unexpected twists, this is a compelling read

This book brilliantly builds intrigue as Alice uncovers her mum's life of deception, lies and love

Full of suspense and intriguing characters

A twisting, turning and utterly addictive tale of mystery, hardship and self-survival

Written with Pearse's typically engaging and effortless style of storytelling, Deception is an intriguing book of highs, lows, struggles and perseverance

A gritty, gripping drama . . . A raw, truthful and moving account, building intrigue as Alice gradually uncovers her mother's life of deception, lies - and love

Praise for Lesley Pearse

The emotionally gripping Sunday Times bestseller from Britain’s favourite storyteller

Suspects

What do you do when your dream home becomes your worst nightmare? . . . THE GRIPPING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM LESLEY PEARSE 
 
'A riveting page-turner' Woman's Weekly 
'A real page turner from beginning to end' 5***** Reader Review 
'Sensational storytelling' My Weekly 
________ 
 
In Willow Close, everyone is a suspect . . . 
 
Nina and Conrad thought they'd discovered their dream home. 
 
But on the day they move in, a body is found - the victim attacked and killed in the woods. 
 
As police interview witnesses, they soon discover each resident hiding their own secrets. Because few in the Close are exactly who they seem . . . 
 
Nina and Conrad thought they'd found their dream home. 
 
Now, it might just be their worst nightmare . . . 
________ 
 
READERS ARE GRIPPED BY SUSPECTS: 
 
'Kept me reading late in to the night . . . a great story with twists and turns' 5***** Reader Review 
'Gripping with lots of twists' 5***** Reader Review 
'Lesley Pearse knows how to bring her characters alive' 5***** Reader Review 
'A gripping storyline. Lesley at her best' 5***** Reader Review 
'A master storyteller' 5***** Reader Review 
'A suspenseful domestic drama' 5***** Reader Review

A compelling yet heartwarming novel which shows storytelling at its very best

A gripping tale packed with twists and turns

A riveting page-turner full of suspense and suspicion. Gripping!

Suspects is a suspenseful and intriguing mystery that will keep you guessing

Thrilling and suspense-packed . . . With an enthralling plot, a cast of fascinating characters, and Pearse's addictive storytelling, Suspects will grip from start to finish

A fast-paced, psychological drama . . . with an enthralling plot, a cast of fascinating characters, and Pearse's addictive storytelling, Suspects will grip from start to finish

This is a book to talk about, to drill down into the story and really think about it

On the day Nina and Conrad Best move into their new home in picture-perfect Willow Close, a body is discovered. 
 
The residents gather around a police cordon - one of their neighbours has been brutally killed in the woods. 
 
As police interview witnesses, they soon discover each resident hiding their own secrets. Because few in the Close are exactly who they seem. 
 
Nina and Conrad thought they'd found their dream home. 
 
But have they moved into a nightmare?

A missing teenager. An outcast woman. And a girl determined to find the truth . . . From the Sunday Times bestselling author

The Woman in the Wood

Discover the addictive and gripping novel from the bestselling author of You'll Never See Me Again, Lesley Pearse 
 
'A gripping novel' HELLO! Magazine 
_______________ 
 
London, 1960. 
 
The lives of teenage twins Maisy and Duncan change for ever the night their mother is sent away. 
 
Sent to live in the New Forest with their cold-hearted grandmother, Mrs Mitcham, they feel unloved and abandoned. 
 
And when one day Duncan doesn't come home from exploring in the forest, no one - least of all his grandmother - appears to care about his disappearance. The police, who've found the bodies of other missing boys, offer little hope of finding Duncan alive. 
 
Yet Maisy refuses to give up. 
 
Though she doesn't know the woods well, she knows someone who does. The strange old woman who lives at their heart . . . 
 
Dare Maisy enlist the help of the woman in the wood? 
 
And what will she find if she does? 
 
-- 
 
'A real page-turner, a family story that is multi-layered just as you'd expect from Lesley Pearse, who is deservedly one of the world's favourite story tellers' My Weekly 
 
'Characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail

Fifteen-year-old twins Maisy and Duncan Mitcham have always had each other. Until the fateful day in the wood . . .

A real page-turner, a family story that is multi-layered just as you'd expect from Lesley Pearse, who is deservedly one of the world's favourite story tellers

Heart-warming and evocative, a real delight to read

A narrative that gallops along, this is quintessential Pearse that will delight her army of readers

Fifteen-year-old Maisy Mitcham and her twin brother Duncan lose their mother to an asylum one night in 1960. 
 
The twins are sent to their grandmother's country house, Nightingales. Cold and distant, she leaves them to their own devices, to explore and to grow. That is, until the day Duncan doesn't come home from the woods. 
 
With their grandmother seeming to have little interest in her grandson's disappearance, and the police soon giving up hope, it is left to Maisy to discover the truth. And she will start with Grace Deville. A woman who lives alone in the wood, about whom rumours abound . . .

Liar

The enthralling Sunday Times bestselling story of a young female journalist exposing murder and lies in her search for the truth, from the international bestseller Lesley Pearse 
 
THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP 5 BESTSELLER AND WINNER OF THE WOMAN & HOME BOOK CHOICE AWARD 2020 
 
'A compelling page-turner' DAILY MAIL 
______ 
 
Find the liar. Find the killer . . . 
 
Amelia White didn't expect her career as a reporter to start like this: by finding a young woman's body, just around the corner from her Shepherd's Bush bedsit. 
 
With rumours already spreading about this poor murder victim, she seizes her chance to write the true story. 
 
But when more bodies are found, the police are baffled. 
 
Reporting on the story, Amelia meets witnesses as well as suspects. If she can only work out who the liar among them is, she may be able to stop the murders. 
 
Or might she turn herself into the next victim? . . . 
 
Gripping, suspenseful and completely unputdownable, Liar will have you on the very edge of your seat. 
______ 
 
'Gripping and suspenseful, a fast-paced murder mystery, love story and a young woman's journey of self-discovery' Daily Express 
 
'This latest book from master storyteller Lesley Pearse is gripping and full of twists. With an addictive and pacy plot, this will keep you guessing until the end' My Weekly 
 
'A page turner full of suspense, compelling and heartwarming, Liar is a brilliant read. I couldn't put it down' Woman's Way 
 
'Gripping and suspenseful - a murder mystery, love story and journey of self discovery' S Magazine 
 
Praise for Lesley Pearse 
 
'Storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 
 
'Evocative, compelling, told from the heart' Sunday Express 
 
'Intriguing, heart-tugging, beautifully written' Closer 
 
 
Lesley Pearse, Sunday Times bestseller, March 2024

Gripping and suspenseful, a fast-paced murder mystery, love story and a young woman's journey of self discovery too

A tale of love, friendship, murder and intrigue, this latest book from master storyteller Lesley Pearse is gripping and full of twists. With an addictive and pacy plot, this will keep you guessing until the end

A page turner full of suspense, compelling and heartwarming, Liar is a brilliant read. I couldn't put it down and it is a must for all crime lovers

From the first page this heartfelt, atmospheric novel sizzles with suspense and tension . . . Surprising twists and turns leave you guessing until the end . . . gripping story: ideal summertime reading

Liar has all the elements that make this author so popular

Gripping and suspenseful - a murder mystery, love story and journey of self discovery

Lesley Pearse brings together a nostalgic Seventies backdrop with an edge-of-your-seat story of suspense

Like a twisty and suspenseful TV drama, Liar keeps you firmly on the edge of your seat

One of the most thrilling book club books

Included in 'Best new titles out this month'

Amelia White always dreamed of being a reporter . . . 
And it might never have happened if she hadn't stumbled on a young woman's body. Horrified at the lies being spread about this murder victim, Amelia talks a newspaper editor into letting her tell the true story.Yet when more bodies turn up, it's clear the police are baffled. 
Uncovering new witnesses as well as suspects in her search for clues, Amelia realises that the only way to stop the murders is to find the liar among them. 
But will doing so make her the killer's next victim?

You'll Never See Me Again

Betty is running for her life . . . The gripping Sunday Times bestseller about one woman doing whatever it takes to survive 
 
'You are in the story within minutes of opening the book . . . A brilliant story full of twists and turns' 5***** Reader Review 
'Compelling, rich in detail and vividly told. Storytelling at its best' Daily Express 
'A gripping read. It kept me hooked from the start' 5***** Reader Review 
 
FROM THE MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR LESLEY PEARSE 
_________ 
 
 When her husband returns from the war broken and haunted, Betty knows her marriage is doomed. 
 
 So she escapes. 
 
 On the run and armed with a new identity, Betty becomes penniless and alone, quickly realising that starting again is much harder than she thought. 
 
 And she never imagined it could end in murder . . . 
 
 But sometimes you have to keep running if you want to survive. 
 _________ 
 
 
'A pacy page-turner' Woman &amp; Home 
 
'Don't miss this suspenseful and emotional read' My Weekly 
 
 Praise for Lesley Pearse: 
 
 'Gripping and suspenseful' Daily Express 
 
 'Evocative, compelling, told from the heart' Sunday Express 
 
 'Gripping and full of twists' My Weekly

Compelling, rich in detail and vividly told . . . Storytelling at its best

A suspenseful read that warms the heart

We loved this take of one woman's fight to escape her past

Fans of Poldark and Daphne du Maurier should enjoy this gripping historical novel . . . both hauntingly sad and darkly funny, this beautifully written novel sizzles with drama and suspense

Don't miss this suspenseful and emotional read

Betty Wellows is running for her life . . . 
 
Young Betty dreams of settling down to an ordinary life in Hallsands with her fisherman husband. But when he returns broken and haunted from the Great War, she finds herself persecuted by his distraught mother - and yearns to escape. 
 
It is only when a storm devastates the village that Betty sees her chance. Fleeing to Bristol and changing her name to Mabel Brook, she seeks a new life - only to discover destiny has other plans. 
 
Penniless and alone, Mabel suffers a brutal attack before being rescued by a psychic named Nora Nightingale. She gets her first taste of those who receive messages from the dead and realizes she may have this power herself. 
 
But Mabel fears her gift may be a terrible curse as it becomes ever harder to hide from the truth about who she once was - and the tragic life she left behind. 
 
Soon Mabel receives her own message and is forced back to the very place she has escaped. A place of heartbreak and perhaps even murder - but to secure her future Mabel must confront her past one last time. 
 
Heart-pounding, exhilarating and ever suspenseful, Lesley Pearse's You'll Never See Me Again is a tale of one woman's fight to find her destiny.

The House Across the Street

DISCOVER THE CAPTIVATING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF YOU'LL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN, LESLEY PEARSE 
 
Is there a murderer across the street? 
 
1964. 
 
Twenty-three-year-old Katy Speed is fascinated by glamorous Gloria and the goings-on at her house over the road. 
 
Who are the mysterious women that keep coming and going in the strange black car? 
 
Then one night, Gloria's house burns to the ground. Bodies are found in the wreckage. 
 
And Katy's horror turns to disbelief when her own father is arrested and charged with murder. 
 
Determined to prove his innocence, Katy sets out to uncover the truth about the mysterious house across the street and find the real murderer. 
 
But that means risking her own life . . . 
_________ 
 
* * * * * - Heat 
 
'Must read' Saturday Express 
 
'Heart-warming and evocative, a real delight to read' Sun 
 
'A narrative that gallops along, this is quintessential Pearse that will delight her army of readers' Daily Mail 
 
'Glorious, heartwarming' Woman &amp; Home 
 
'Evocative, compelling, told from the heart' Sunday Express 
 
'Gripping' Hello

A gripping novel . . . will have you up all night guessing what happens next

Pearse has written another pacy novel, steeped in 1960s authenticity and driven by lovable - and love to hate - characters. But at the heart of the book lies a powerful message which stays with you long after you've finished reading

Lesley Pearse brilliantly captures the era . . . Emotional and moving, The House Across The Street is storytelling at its best, filled with characters you will care passionately about

5 * * * * * A gripping read set in the 1960s. The story becomes a full-blown mystery that will leave Katy's life in danger, and the search for answers drives this engaging combination of thriller and drama

Lesley Pearse is on top form with her latest novel The House Across The Street

A heartbreaking and intensely human story that twists, turns and grips from first page to last . . .

An evocative and nostalgic novel from one of the UK's most prolific, best-selling authors

You'll be up all night trying to guess what comes next

Praise for Lesley Pearse

Deservedly one of the world's favourite story tellers . . . You simply have to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next

Evocative, compelling, told from the heart

Deservedly one of the world's favourite story tellers . . . You simply have to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next.

Evocative, multi-faceted and sometimes disturbing, a story that grips from first page to last.

Is there a murderer across the street? 
 
It's 1964 and twenty-three-year-old Katy Speed is fascinated by Gloria and the goings-on at the house over the road. Who are the mysterious women arriving in a black car most Saturdays? 
 
Then one night, Gloria's house burns to the ground. In the wreckage, bodies are found. And Katy's horror turns to disbelief when her father is arrested and charged with murder. 
 
Determined to prove his innocence, Katy sets out to uncover the truth about the mysterious house across the street. But that means uncovering the real murderer - and risking her own life . . .

The Promise

A heartbreaking, enduring and masterfully told story set in the battlefields of the First World War from the international number one bestselling author Lesley Pearse 
 
War threatens to take all she has loved and lived for . . . 
 
On the outbreak of war, Belle Reilly's husband Jimmy enlists and heads for the deadly trenches of northern France. But Belle knows she cannot stand idly by when so many are sacrificing their lives. 
 
Volunteering to help battlefield wounded, Belle is posted to France as a Red Cross ambulance driver. There, a tragic accident brings her face to face with Etienne - a man from her past she's never quite forgotten. 
 
Torn between forbidden passion, loyalty and love, Belle is caught in an impossible situation. 
 
Will she succumb to the dark forces of this most brutal of wars? 
 
Or will fate intervene and finally lead her to lasting happiness? 
_________ 
 
'Pearse will pull your heartstrings' Sun 
 
'Characters it is impossible not to care about' Daily Mail 
 
'An addictive tear-jerker with characters you'll adore, laugh with and cry for' Bella 
 
'Full of love, passion and heartbreak' Best 
 
'Glorious, heartwarming' Woman &amp; Home

An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry

War threatens to take all she has loved and lived for . . . 
 
When Belle Reilly's husband Jimmy enlists and heads for the trenches of Northern France, she knows she cannot stand idly by awaiting his return. Volunteering to help the wounded, Belle is posted to France as a Red Cross ambulance driver. There, tragedy brings her face to face with Etienne, a man from her past who she'd never quite forgotten. 
 
Torn between forbidden passion, loyalty and love, Belle is caught in an impossible situation. Will the brutality and carnage of war make the honorable path the hardest one to take? Or will fate intervene and finally lead her to lasting happiness?

Belle

Be transported from London to New Orleans and beyond in this powerful, moving historical novel from the international bestseller Lesley Pearse 
 
She witnessed a murder - and now her life is in danger . . . 
 
Fifteen year-old Belle, though raised in a London brothel, is an innocent young girl. But when she witnesses one of the girls brutally strangled by a client, she is cast into a cruel, heartless world. 
 
Snatched from the streets and sold into prostitution, she is made a courtesan in New Orleans. At the mercy of desperate men who crave her beauty and will do anything to keep her, Belle's dreams of home, family and freedom appear futile. 
 
Are Belle's courage and spirit strong enough to help her escape? 
 
And what will await her at the end of the long, dangerous journey home? 
 
Praise for Lesley Pearse 
 
'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 
 
'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella 
 
'Glorious, heartwarming' Woman &amp; Home 
 
'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

The international number one bestselling author tells the story of a strong woman trying to be good in a world gone bad, taking us from London to New Orleans and beyond in this powerful, moving historical novel. 
 
She witnessed a murder - and now her life is in danger . . .

An atmospheric cracker with lots of twists

She witnessed a murder - and now her life is in danger . . . 
 
Fifteen year-old Belle, though raised in a London brothel, is an innocent. But when she witnesses one of the girls brutally strangled by a client, she is cast into a cruel, heartless world. Snatched from the streets and sold into prostitution, she is made a courtesan in New Orleans. At the mercy of desperate men who crave her beauty and will do anything to keep her, Belle's dreams of home, family and freedom appear futile. 
 
Are Belle's courage and spirit strong enough to help her escape? And what will await her at the end of the long, dangerous journey home? 
 
Lesley Pearse, author of Number One bestseller Stolen, has done it again with Belle - a heroine for our times: a strong woman trying to be good in a world gone bad.

Trust Me

Lose yourself in this powerful historical novel based on a real life tragedy from the internationally bestselling author Lesley Pearse 
 
For one girl, betrayal goes hand in hand with trust . . . 
 
When their father tragically kills their mother, Dulcie and her sister are sent to an orphanage. Told that a 'better life' awaits them in another country, they are shipped off to Australia. 
 
But the promises made turn out to be lies. 
 
And it seems to Dulcie that everyone who ever said 'trust me' somehow betrayed that trust. So when she finds a kindred spirit in Ross, another orphanage survivor, hope swells in her heart. 
 
But can she ever get over the past betrayals and learn to trust again? 
 
And can she fight not only for herself, but also for her sister? 
 
Praise for Lesley Pearse: 
 
'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 
 
'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella 
 
'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

Trust Me is a powerful historical novel based on a real life tragedy. For one girl betrayal goes hand in hand with trust . . . 
 
This is just one of many captivating novels from the international NO.1 BESTSELLING author Lesley Pearse.

With characters it is impossible not to care about, this is storytelling at its very best

Two young sisters sent far, far from home ... 
 
When tragedy deprives little Dulcie Taylor and her sister May of their parents, they are sent first to an orphanage and then shipped off to begin a new life in Australia. But the 'better life' the sisters are promised in this new and exciting country turns out to be a lie. 
 
It seems everyone who ever stood up for them, who ever said 'trust me', somehow betrays that trust: their parents, teachers and the sisters at the convent. But then Dulcie meets Ross, another orphanage survivor, and finds a kindred spirit. Can Dulcie ever get over the pain of the past and learn to trust again? And does she have the strength to fight for her own happiness as well as that of her sister?

Rosie

Rosie is a compelling novel by the bestselling author Lesley Pearse. 
 
Her brutal, violent family will be the death of her . . . 
Without a mother, Rosie is at the mercy of her father and thuggish brothers. Then one day a friend comes to the farm in the form of cockney housekeeper Heather Farley. 
 
But soon enough Heather vanishes, abandoning Rosie to her fate. Only when Thomas Farley comes to find his sister several years later, does Rosie learn the terrible truth about Heather - and her family. 
Running away from home, she finds herself pursued by the man who brought ruin on her family. Is he out to get her too? Or could he have some other reason for chasing her? 
 
Lesley Pearse, author of the UK and international best-sellers Stolen and Belle, tells a captivating and powerful story of family and secrets in her compelling novel Rosie. If you like Susan Lewis, you'll love Lesley Pearse. 
 
Praise for Lesley Pearse: 
'With characters it is impossible not to care about ... this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 
 
'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella 
 
'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

Will Rosie ever escape from her brutal brothers? 
 
As a child Rosie Parker spent the war years battling her brutish half-brothers Seth and Norman on the farm under the less-than-watchful eye of her father Cole. But when housekeeper Heather Farley arrives, Rosie finds a mother - and a friend - to look after her. 
 
Several years later, Thomas Farley comes to find his sister. Rosie can only tell him that she disappeared in mysterious circumstances, abandoning her small son Alan. Determined to get young Alan and Rosie out of the clutches of Cole and his sons, Thomas helps unearth a terrible truth about the family. A truth that forces Rosie away from the farm and out into a cruel world where she must somehow come to terms with her shocking past. Is it possible that the man who brought ruin on her family might also bring happiness to Rosie?

One mother's hidden past. Her daughter's life changed forever . . .

Forgive Me

Discover the intense and gripping story of a daughter uncovering her mother's secret past from the international bestseller Lesley Pearse 
 
Eva's life was secure, until the death of her mother changed everything. 
 
For when Flora leaves Eva a London artist's studio in her will, she finds her mother had a secret past. 
 
In the studio's attic are Flora's paintings and diaries, and Eva learns her mother was a popular artist in the swinging sixties. Eva's hunt for answers uncovers clues to a shocking crime which led Flora to hide her past. 
 
But will discovering the truth destroy Eva's belief in everything she holds dear? 
 
And will this journey lead her and those she loves into danger? 
___________ 
 
'Engrossing and emotional, it's another winner from Lesley Pearse' Woman's Own 
 
'I absolutely loved this book. The characters are likeable and the writing is always brilliant' Sun 
 
'Intriguing, heart-tugging, beautifully written' Closer

Lesley Pearse, No. 1 UK bestselling author of Dead to Me and The Woman in the Wood, brings Forgive Me, a compelling story of a daughter uncovering her mother's secret past. 
 
Eva Patterson's life is forever altered by the devastating discovery of her mother, Flora, dead in the bath leaving only a note: 'Forgive Me'.

I absolutely loved it. The characters are likeable and the writing is always brilliant

Engrossing and emotional, it's another winner from Lesley Pearse

An addictive tear-jerker with characters you'll adore, laugh with and cry for

Cheltenham, 1991 
 
When Eva Patterson returns home from work one day, a devastating scene awaits her. Her mother, Flora, lies dead in the bath. Beside her is a note saying only: 'Forgive Me'. 
 
Eva is shocked to find out that her mother was once a successful artist back in the 1960s. When she visits her mother's old studio, she finds a collection of Flora's paintings and diaries. Searching for answers, Eva encounters a psychic who mysteriously warns her to beware of a 'sleeping serpent', which she soon discovers refers to a shocking crime in Flora's past. 
 
Will discovering the truth destroy Eva's belief in everything she holds dear?

A gripping and emotional story from the bestselling author of Stolen

Survivor

Discover the captivating story of courage, daring and love from the No. 1 international bestseller Lesley Pearse 
 
'Evocative, compelling, told from the heart' Sunday Express 
 
With her reputation in tatters, 17-year-old Mari needs to get away from the gossip of her small town. 
 
So the chance to leave for London seems like the perfect fresh start. 
 
But war is brewing . . . 
 
And when London is overwhelmed by the Blitz, Mari's glamorous new life is blown apart. 
 
Lost and alone, she must learn what it means to survive . . . 
____________ 
 
'Utterly riveting, brilliant' Closer 
 
'Characters it is impossible not to care about' Daily Mail 
 
'Full of love, passion and heartbreak' Best 
 
'Glorious, heartwarming' Woman &amp; Home

Lesley Pearse, No.1 bestselling author of The Promise and Belle is back with Survivor, the story of Mariette, a born fighter.

London, 1939 
 
Eighteen-year-old Mari is defiant, strong-willed and selfish. 
 
She has craved independence her entire life and now, with the world on the brink of war, Mari has finally escaped the sleepy fishing village of her childhood in New Zealand. After passionately falling for Morgan, the Cockney steward aboard ship on her voyage to England, she hastily dismisses him in favour of being taken out by handsome young pilots in the glamorous West End. 
 
But, without warning, the Blitz blows her new life apart. Now Mari has the chance to make a difference but can she learn from her mistakes in time?

Charlie

From the internationally bestselling author Lesley Pearse comes the compulsive page-turner about a girl searching for the truth, which may be a little too close to home . . . 
 
Her family is threatened and only she can save it. 
 
When sixteen-year-old Charlie witnesses a brutal attack on her mother by two strangers she is shocked and terrified. 
 
But after talking to the police, she realises that her father's business dealings can't be so innocent . . . 
 
With her father away, it is left to Charlie to protect her mother. And somehow she must find out who wants to hurt her family - and why - without losing faith in her beloved parents. 
 
Can she unravel the mysteries of the past that haunt her family? 
 
Or will the truth wreck everything she loves? 
___________ 
 
'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 
 
'Evocative, compelling' Sunday Express 
 
'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella 
 
'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

From the international No.1 bestselling author Lesley Pearse, comes Charlie the compulsive page-turner. She has to protect her parents . . . even if they are keeping secrets. 
 
Her family is threatened and only she can save it . . .

A heartwarming tale of the triumph of the human spirit

When sixteen-year-old Charlie witnesses a brutal attack on her mother by two strangers she is terrified. And after talking to the police she realises that her father's business dealings can't as innocent as she always believed. 
 
With her father away it is left to Charlie to protect her mother. And somehow she must find out who wants to hurt her family - and why - without losing faith in her beloved parents. 
 
Can she unravel the mysteries of the past that haunt her family? Or will the truth wreck everything she loves?

Gypsy

Be whisked away in the moving story of a girl travelling far and wide for a better life, from the internationally bestselling author Lesley Pearse 
 
Tragedy sent her on a journey far from home . . . 
 
Fifteen-year-old Beth's life is shattered when she and her brother Sam are orphaned. 
 
Believing that only in America can they make a fresh start, brother and sister leave Liverpool and embark on the greatest adventure of their lives. 
 
In New York, Beth's talent with the fiddle earns her the friendship of gamblers, chancers and other rogues. Dodging trouble across America, Beth and her friends head for the Klondike river in search of gold. 
 
But how far must Beth go to find happiness? 
 
And will her travels lead this gypsy to a place she can ever call home? 
 
Praise for Lesley Pearse: 
 
'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 
 
'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella 
 
'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

Gypsy is a compelling historical novel of survival from international number one bestselling author Lesley Pearse. 
 
Tragedy sent her on a journey far from home . . .

With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best

An emotional and moving epic that you won't forget in a hurry

Liverpool, 1893, and tragedy sends Beth Bolton on a journey far from home ... 
 
Fifteen-year-old Beth's dreams are shattered when she, her brother Sam and baby sister Molly are orphaned. Sam believes that only in America can they make their fortunes so, reluctantly leaving Molly with adoptive parents, brother and sister embark on the greatest adventure of their lives. 
 
Onboard the steamer to New York there are rogues aplenty. But Beth's talent with the fiddle earns her the nickname Gypsy - and the friendship of charismatic gambler Theo and sharp-witted Londoner, Jack. And after dodging trouble across America, finally the foursome head for the dangerous mountains of Canada and the Klondike river in search of gold. 
 
How far must Beth go to find happiness? And will her travels lead this gypsy to a place she can call home?

Faith

Uncover a web of thrilling secrets and injustices in this gripping novel from international bestselling author Lesley Pearse 
 
She was convicted of killing her best friend . . . 
 
Scotland, 1995. 
 
Laura Brannigan has been put away for murder. 
 
She insists that she didn't kill Jackie. But her search for true justice seems futile. Then she receives a letter that takes her back to her youth and the memory of an old love, Stuart . . . 
 
Twenty years ago was a heady time for Laura: she'd escaped an abusive home, and together with Jackie they had made a fresh start. They had sworn to be sisters forever. 
 
What could have possibly gone so wrong? 
 
And why is Stuart writing to her now? 
 
Does he believe Laura's innocence and can he help free her from prison . . . and her past? 
 
Praise for Lesley Pearse: 
 
'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 
 
'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella 
 
'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

Scotland, 1995. On the hills of Cornton Vale Prison. 
 
She was convicted of killing her best friend . . . 
 
Laura Brannigan has been put away for murder. She insists that she didn't kill Jackie. But her search for true justice seems futile. Then she receives a letter that takes her back to her youth and the memory of an old love, Stuart . . .

1995, Scotland. The prison of Cornton Vale. 
 
 Laura Brannigan is in jail for murder. For two years she's been battling for justice - insisting that she didn't kill her best friend, Jackie. Then, with her spirits at their lowest ebb, she receives a letter . . . 
 
 Twenty years ago, having escaped an abusive past, Laura and Jackie made a promise to be sisters for ever. And Stuart had come into their lives - giving Laura a brilliant summer of love. 
 
But what went wrong? Why is Stuart writing to Laura now? And can he help free Laura from prison - and her past?

Secrets

From the internationally bestselling author Lesley Pearse comes the compelling tale of one girl caught in a family mystery, a struggle against cruelty and a quest for love 
 
Without her mother she is alone in the world . . . 
 
1930. 
 
Twelve-year-old Adele is placed in a bleak, cruel children's home after a family tragedy drives her mother to madness. But when trust is betrayed Adele has no choice but to run away . . . 
 
Alone and friendless, she heads for Sussex, to seek out the grandmother she has never known. However, the journey, without food or shelter, leaves her desperately ill. 
 
Surrounded by the beautiful Rye Marshes, Adele is finally nursed back to health. 
 
Can she now dream of a new life? 
 
And what will happen when her mother reappears, bearing shocking family secrets? 
 
Praise for Lesley Pearse: 
 
'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 
 
'Utterly riveting, brilliant' Closer 
 
'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella 
 
'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

It's 1930, and Secrets tells the tale of one girl caught in family mystery, a struggle against cruelty, and a quest for love . . .

Set in the 1930s, the classic novel from bestselling author Lesley Pearse tells the story of one girl's struggle against cruelty and, her quest for love. 
 
Twelve-year-old Adele Talbot's unhappy mother Rose succumbs to madness after a family tragedy and Adele is placed in a bleak children's home. But when her trust is betrayed she runs away - hoping to find her grandmother in Sussex. 
 
By the time she does so, Adele is desperately ill and has to be nursed back to health among the beautiful Rye Marshes. And then she meets the wonderful Michael Bailey. 
 
As friendship blossoms into love and they come of age together - Adele becoming a nurse and Michael joining the RAF - she believes she can put her troubled past behind her. But with the outbreak of war and the sudden appearance of Rose, bearing shocking family secrets, suddenly all of Adele's hopes appear impossibly fragile ...

Never Look Back

Take a journey across America with a poor Victorian flower girl in her epic journey to a better life, from the internationally bestselling author Lesley Pearse 
 
As voted by readers as their favourite Lesley Pearse novel 
___________ 
 
One good deed takes her into another world . . . 
 
Sixteen-year-old Matilda is a poor Covent Garden flower girl until the day she saves the life of Tabitha, a minister's daughter. Welcomed into Tabitha's family, Matilda is offered the chance of a lifetime. 
 
She leaves behind London's slums and enters the darkest corners of New York. Traveling across the vast plains to the Wild West, she finds herself in San Francisco, a city in the grip of the gold rush. 
 
Streetwise and strong-willed, Matilda forges a new life for herself and Tabitha among pioneers like Captain James Russell - a man to whom she is deeply attracted. 
 
Yet a civil war will soon rip apart this new nation . . . 
 
Can Matilda and those she loves brave separation and carry on, never looking back? 
___________ 
 
'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 
 
'Heart-warming and evocative . . . a real delight to read' Sun 
 
'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella 
 
'Utterly riveting, brilliant' Closer 
 
'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

The courageous tale of a poor Victorian flower girl, who makes an epic journey from London across a vast and wild America . . . 
 
As voted by readers as their favourite Lesley Pearse novel, Never Look Back is by the international NO.1 BESTSELLING author.

From the slums of Victorian London to a New World ... 
 
Matilda Jennings was a poor flower girl in Covent Garden until the day she saved the life of a minister's daughter called Tabitha. Drawn into the bosom of little Tabitha's family, she little realises it will soon mean uprooting her own life. 
 
For Matilda leaves Victorian London's slums and heads first for the darkest corners of New York, then beyond into the plains of the Wild West and San Francisco's gold rush. With only her beauty, intelligence and the strong will she forged on London's streets to guide her, Matilda must create a new life for herself and Tabitha. Between the sweat and tears, heartbreak and passion, she encounters Captain James Russell, a man in whom she might find true love. A love that must withstand separation, war and the birth pangs of a new nation. But through it all, Matilda knows she must never look back . . .

Lesley Pearse

London 1941When Mary meets a glamorous stranger named Elizabeth she realises their lives couldn’t be more different.But when an air raid forces them to take shelter underground Mary’s life is set in change forever.After waking up in hospital, injured but alive, the nurse mistakes her for Elizabeth and hands over her suitcase with Elizabeth’s money and tickets to Ireland inside.This is Mary’s chance to escape the hardship of her life and start afresh.What could go wrong?

Lesley Pearse

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Lesley Pearse on character inspiration and travelling the world

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Praise for The Girl with the Suitcase

Captivating

PRAISE FOR LESLEY PEARSE:

Storytelling at its very best

Captivating

PRAISE FOR LESLEY PEARSE:

Storytelling at its very best

Captivating

PRAISE FOR LESLEY PEARSE:

Storytelling at its very best

Books by Lesley Pearse

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Series by Lesley Pearse

Belle

Articles featuring Lesley Pearse

New historical fiction books to read in 2025

Never Look Back by Lesley Pearse

Till We Meet Again by Lesley Pearse

Dead to Me by Lesley Pearse trailer

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