Good read, good story. I found it easy to read but didn't grip me

It's quite a while since I read anything by Lesley Pearse, but I remembered enjoying her books in the past so I was quite pleased to get my hands on this one.

In 1960 the country is getting back in its feet after the Second World War. Old habits of the stiff upper lip, trying to pretend nasty things are not happening, expecting young people to stand back and do as they are told and being unable to accept people whose lifestyle does not fit into what 'nice' people expect. Lesley Pearse does a really good of capturing this era and the reader feels very grounded in both the time and place of this story.

Maisy and Duncan are twins. It is a good thing they have each other as their father is a cold emotionless man and their mother never stirs from her room. When they are fifteen their mother is taken away to a mental asylum and they are sent to the New Forest to live with their equally cold grandmother -but mercifully with a kindly housekeeper! Here they roam their new surroundings and meet the interesting but far from friendly Grace- the woman in the wood. When Duncan disappears one afternoon Maisy refuses to give up on him and persuades Grace to help find out what had become of him.

This story moves at a steady pace. It deals with a lot of unpleasant subjects in a straightforward manner and is full of interesting characters. At one stage I did wonder if perhaps the story continued after a point where it might have logically have ended, but I realised that there was more of the story to be told.

This is an enjoyable read that might appeal to readers of a number genres. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read & review this one.

When I started reading this book I was reminded of the Enid Blyton books I used to love as a child! Set in the 1950's, twins Duncan and Maisy are sent to live with their cold, uncaring grandmother in the New Forest. Despite their mother being in an asylum and their father being as cold and unfeeling as their grandmother, for a while they live an idyllic life of picnics and bike rides in the forest and share adventures that would make The Famous Five proud. However, when Duncan goes missing the story becomes darker and covers subjects that Enid Blyton definitely never touched on! A strange tale of innocence and sexual abuse, but a tale worth reading!

This book has everything, human interest, crime, swinging sixties ( who remember Chinese checkers?) and family secrets. A smashing read.

One of my most favourite authors.
Another book that I couldn't put down. Lesley Pearse never disappoints.

A well written interesting story, a book you could not put down, great interest.

Set in 1960- the story follows the lives of twins: Maisy & Duncan who are sent from their home to live with their cold hearted Grandmother when their own mother is sent to a mental hospital.
When Duncan goes missing Maisy turns detective to find out what happened to him when it seems every one else is determined to let him not be found.
The woman in the wood is an outcast- a stranger who is considered dangerous and strange. Yet it is her resolve and strength that helps Maisy in her quest.
I found the book to be engaging and interesting. The twists in the book were a surprise and I found I couldn't put it down. I was not convinced by the change of character to both the grandmother and the father.
People don't change that easily- especially ones that have these emotions very deep rooted so I think the author went a little too far with this- but the book itself was very good overall.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a heartbreaking read, this author is one of my favourites and this book will not disappoint all her loyal followers.

I didn’t enjoy this book one little bit. The plot was unbelievable, the characterisation was flat and stereotypical, the language used was more suited to the 1930s than the late 50s, early 60s. The novel starts like something Enid Blyton would write for 10 year olds and then veers into gratuitous sexual imagery.

I have no idea who the author thought the audience was for this book but it certainly wasn’t me.

ARC received from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

Not my normal kind of book so was unsure. I was pleasantly surprised and will now look for more Lesley Pearce books to read. I mentioned this to my mum and it even convinced her to buy a kindle and start reading electronic books

Nothin to say really except - gutted I've finished it! Love every one of Lesley Pearse's books and this is yet another great one.

Lesley Pearse is one of my favourite authors so no hardship to read this latest book. I must admit that this is a book that I kept picking up and putting down again as I found it quite difficult to get into. Once it grabbed me though I couldn't put it down. Just hooked! The story is very different to her usual style of writing but I got totally immersed in the twins story. I love their relationship and how they look after each other. Highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley

Another wonderful story by Lesley Pierce, she grabs your interest straight away and throughout the book the twist and turns the young twins take is like a rollercoaster
She even writes about some very sensitive subjects with enormous care, they are integral to the story.
I would recommend this for anyone who likes family based books with a good twist, thanks to the writer again

This book was amazing. Kept me gripped from the first page
The storyline was very fluent and many twists and turns
Highly recommended book

Another great book from Lesley - Maisie and Duncan are twins who's mother has mental health problems and is often locked away in her room, a father who is cold and distant and works away. When their mother is committed to an asylum when the twins are 15 they go to live with their paternal grandmother. She is a cold hard woman who leaves them with her housekeeper. Luckily they love her and enjoy living there. One day Duncan goes missing and Maisie is lost without him. Has the woman in the wood got something to do with it? Or is it something more sinister? I took a while to get into the story but once I did I enjoyed it. One slight negative is it was slightly unbelievable which I struggle with.

The Woman in the Wood is an entertaining novel: it's easy to read, with well-rounded characters and an entertaining story. It's a little clunky in places, particularly the way dialogue is used to communicate characters' inner thoughts - that felt a little 'on the nose'. Similarly the modern attitudes held by many characters about mental illness and sexuality seemed a little jarring considering the book's 1960s setting.

Having said that, I did enjoy the book and would recommend it as an entertaining holiday read for someone who enjoys period drama and mystery.

I was disappointed by this book. I have read many by Lesley Pearse in the past and enjoyed them all, particularly 'Stolen' and I had high hopes for this one.

Although the premise of the story was good and the storyline proved excellent, I found it read like an Enid Blyton. Speech was stilted and unnatural - people said things that they just wouldn't say, solely for the purpose of getting part of the story over and I expected more of this author.

I found there was little tension and far more could have been made of several situations. The overall story was good and I did enjoy reading it, but there were many occasions where I thought I was reading an Enid Blyton mystery with some gratuitous pedophilia thrown in to turn it into and adult read!

I love Lesley Pearse's books - she is one of my favourite authors and I have devoured all of her books. It was with great anticipation I began The Woman in the Wood and this book didn't disappoint. It was heartbreaking and emotional, horrific in places I couldn't put it down - as always with Lesley's books I needed to have a weekend free to read it.

I was hooked from the start when twins Maisie and Duncan's mother is suffering from a mental illness and taken into an asylum in the middle of the night they are sent by their father to live with their cold, stern grandmother in the New Forest. It takes time for Maisie and Duncan to adjust to their new life. Then Duncan suddenly and unexpectedly vanishes. I don't want to say much more as I wouldn't wish to spoil the story.

A really powerful and compelling story which draws the reader in - a real page turner. Well written, a must read book.

Highly recommended - I would give it more than 5 stars if I could!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely brilliant! A good plot and very plausible characters.

I have loved all your books. II was really enjoying the book until you killed the dog off. I have a Border Collie