I have liked all the of Lesley Pearse books that I have read and this was no exception. At first I thought that I was reading a young teens book then it felt a bit like Lesley Pearse meets Enid Blyton but gradually the subject matter became darker and more sinister.

15 year old twins, Duncan and Maisie see their Mother dragged screaming as she was sent to an asylum. They are sent to live with their cold hearted Grandmother in the New Forest. The twins are always together until the day Duncan disappears!

Another brilliant book from Lesley Pearce, I have read her books since my late teens and they never disappoint. I loved the backdrop of the book and it being set in 1960 and how the twins come to be at their Grandmothers, as always she creates characters that you love and others that you aren't so sure of and she weaves a story that keeps you turning the pages.

A Lesley Pearce classic with emotional drama that grips you! An author where you feel you know the characters and will them to do well! Great book would def recommend!

Lesley Pearce heads in a different direction than her usual books with this shocking tale but certainly does not disappoint.
The beginning hooked me right in and as the story unfolds we follow the story of twins Maisy & Duncan, the close bond they share but the shocking horrors they go through.
Why doesn't their cold Grandmother seem to care when suddenly Duncan doesn't return one day for dinner especially when police are investigating boys bodies that have turned up in the surrounding area?. Fraught, desperate and very scared Maisy decides to get to the bottom of it and who does she decide to turn to but the woman who knows this area better than anyone, the woman that locals gossip about the woman lives all alone in the wood. At times it did make for difficult reading because of the subject matter but the writers skill shows as she quickly keeps the story moving so you can't ponder on these matters too much. The tension is built so well as I quickly read on willing for a positive conclusion.
A gripping story with sinister side which made for a compelling read. A story I enjoyed very much.
My thanks go to the author, publishers, and Netgalley in providing me with a arc in return for a honest review.

a brilliant book as ever from my favourite author....was really looking forward to this and I wasn't disappointed.

I received this free book due a read and honest review.
Not my usual read, but the back cover had my interest peaked, and I’m glad I press the button.
A well thought out and written story.
Very descriptive and I could easily find myself lost in the pages of this book. Loved it

This was a compelling but heart breaking story set in the post war period in the New Forest, about twins who had an emotionally deprived childhood caused by a mother who couldn't cope, a grandmother who couldn't communicate facts or feelings and a father who was his mothers son in all ways. The boy becomes entangled with a paedophile and whilst rescuing him, his twin sister also gets caught. Lots of tension and terror but by diligence and perseverance by both children and the woman in the woods, the family comes together again, with different parameters and a future for all.

When I began this book, I found it had quite a slow start, but I hadn't read any other Lesley Pearce, and thought perhaps this was just her style. The character were well drawn and beleivable, but the story seemed a little basic, and I wondered if the book was aimed at the young adult market. However as the plot progressed, there was a hard hitting and difficult storyline, and the plot did begin to get more exciting. This book was a perfectly good read, just not in my usual style..

Maisy and Duncan are teenage twins brought up by a cold father and are sent to live with their even colder, aloof grandmother who lives in the New Forest. Their own mother is unable to look after them as she isn’t well and has also been sent away. During their explorations they come across Grace, the woman in the wood, who is treated like an outcast and she does not welcome visitors, preferring her own company - until someone goes missing. This is a lovely, heartwarming story of friendship, loyalty, deceit, romance and menace with a great feel for the 1960’s period it is set in. A wonderful “warm the cockles of your heart” book which leaves the reader wanting more!

Another spellbinding story from Lesley Pearse. Maisy and Duncan are Two young children who are forced to live with their grandmother who doesn’t really want them there. They also have a distant Father who leaves them with her. They create their own world growing up in the country and they meet Grace who lives in the woods as the story unfolds it explains why Grace lives in the woods and also why Duncan vanishes. It is a compelling read with many twists and turns. Like all Lesley Pearse novels it leaves you wanting more. A superb story.

Great thriller by a well known author. Easy to read and very enjoyable plot. Lots of wonderful, memorable characters and plenty of drama! Enjoy!

Ive read a lot of books by Lesley Pearse so was excited to be given an advanced copy through Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

The story centres on teenage twins, Duncan and Maisy, whose mother has to be sectioned due to severe mental health problems by their father. Soon after they are sent to live with their wealthy, but unmaternal grandmother at her stately home.

The twins explore their surroundings and become curious about an unfriendly woman that chooses to live in a shack in the forest and who is subject to much local gossip.

The events take a turn for the worst when Duncan disappears without trace and the family's lives become entwined with the woman in the woods.

The subject matter of the book is dark but does not go into massive detail but leaves enough to the reader's imagination. Whilst I enjoyed the book and recommend it highly I still don't think it compares to Ms Pearse earlier work.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers.

I chose this because of the author, have read and enjoyed all of her books, Thas was easy reading and even though it covers a very sensitive subject it doesn't offend in any way, it manages to include kidnapping, child sexual abuse, murder and threats of a dubious nature but wraps it all up without bad language or being to descriptive, I felt like it was the famous five for adults. But don't think that takes anything away from a pleasant read it makes a change for an author to manage to include these subjects without being offensive. I enjoyed the book even if it was a bit Enid Blyton and it would be a good holiday read but not one of her best.

On the whole I enjoyed the story and characters, although I thought the brother and sister spoke in a rather strange way, like characters in a Famous 5 book.

When I started this book I was unclear as to who the intended audience was as the writing reminded me of Enid Blyton's Famous Five and other books. The main characters are 15 year old twins, Maisy and Duncan, who seem remarkably naive and do not behave like the usual 15 year old of the time (1960). This is only partially explained by the period and the twins' dependence on each other. When the narrative turned from this naivety, some time after the disappearance of Duncan, it became clear this is an adult novel and I have some concerns that the unpleasant themes of the book are not made clearer in publicity.
I am not sure why the title of the book is The Woman in the Wood as, although Grace is an important and interesting character, the book is not about her.
I do not wish to give any spoilers but I found the ending somewhat improbable.

I really can’t understand the 4/5 stars reviews for this book. For starters, this author must have bunked the lecture on show and tell, because there was no showing at all. This made for a one-dimensional plot and flat cardboard characters. There was a good deal of head-hopping and some glaring grammatical errors. The writing came over as a tad immature and had the subject matter not been quite so disturbing, it could easily have been written for a pre-adult audience.

The story is set in the early 1960s, but you’d never have guessed. The attitudes and dialogue were more Victorian than mid-twentieth century.

Fifteen-year-old twins, Duncan and Maisy, are sent to their cold and unfeeling grandmother after their equally cold and unfeeling father commits their unwell mother to an asylum. With no help from Grandmother, they have to settle into their new surroundings and find new friends. One of these is Grace Deville, a woman who lives alone in the woods and about whom some unkind things are said.

One day, Duncan goes missing…the prospect of his return is diminished when boys of his age are found dead in the area. With the police not being exactly proactive, it falls on Maisy to stay strong and believe her brother will be found.

I was extremely irritated by Pearse’s constant reference to Duncan and Maisy as ‘the twins’. ‘The twins’ are not an entity, they are two people…they are Duncan and Maisy. Pearse wouldn’t have referred to two different aged siblings as ‘brother and sister’ all the time. Twins aren’t a unit (I have twins and twin grandchildren), they are two separate people and like to be known as such. Pearse obviously has no experience of twins or she wouldn’t have made this dreadfully annoying faux pas.

The plot concept is sound enough, but Pearse doesn’t handle it very well and it all became a bit silly.

My first read by this author and I’m afraid to say, my last.

another good read from this amazing writer. For me, it just missed its 'epic-ness' as it was shorter and not as detail rich as her other work. However, I still love the stories she creates!

I throughly enjoyed this book lots of twists and turns to keep your interest. A story about a disfunctional family with lots of hidden history. Serious moments but lots of humour too. I recommend it .

Such an easy read with brilliant characters.
Another great story from Lesley Pearse.

I enjoyed reading this book, it was gentle but exciting with very diverse characters but the setting felt older than the 1950's. The characters had a feeling of Agatha Christie meets Enid Blyton. The twins were very middle class in their attitudes and opinions, but the hidden storyline was very down to earth.