Lesley Pearce never fails to delight her readers, and this is no exception. Twins, whose mother is unwell, are sent to live with their very forbidding grandmother in Hampshire. Always having lacked a close loving family relationship they soon feel comfortable with their Grandmother's housekeeper and end up loving their new life despite seeing very little of the matriarch. Disaster strikes when twin, Duncan, fails to return home. Maisey is convinced he has been abducted, but the police seem to be slacking and days turn into months and years. The woman in the wood, a recluse with a past that she keeps well concealed, turns out to be a loyal friend. To say more would risk ruining the story! Please enjoy reading it - I devoured it very rapidly.

Well this is the very first book by this author that I have ever read and it was completely and thoroughly enjoyable. By the cover I rather assumed it would be a nice little story to sit and read with a cuppa and a biscuit. But it was actually quite dark in places with some thrills and shocks.
I would recommend this book and I have ordered it as a gift for my sister to read. I shall read some more Lesley Pearse for sure!
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The year is 1960. When their mother is committed to an asylum Masie and Duncan Mitcham are sent to live with their Grandmother. This is because their father works for the government and is frequently away, sometimes abroad. They find their grandmother a strict woman, unused to children. However, they are able to get away from the house, cycling into the nearby woods. There they meet Grace Deville known locally as The Woman in the Wood.
Grace is a recluse who is suspicious of people. When Masie makes friends with local girl Linda, left to his own devices, Duncan eventually befriends Grace and begins visit regularly. But one day he doesn’t return. Duncan’s disappearance is linked to that of other boys in the area, some of whom have been discovered murdered. Grace is automatically suspected but is she capable of such a terrible thing?
This sometimes dark story is wrapped around many other issues including prejudice, first love and family problems. Although I did not enjoy this as much as I have many other of Lesley’s novels, it’s a compelling page turning read.

Lesley's books always draw you in, the characters are believable and the settings are very well written. I thought the book was readable but weak plot and typical girl meets boy, fall out but get together in the end. Overall I enjoyed the book but it's not one that I will particularly recall as brilliant.

Excellent book. Great storyline and wonderful main characters. I would recommend this book.

Another winner from Lesley Pearse. The story revolves around twins Maisy and Duncan when they move from London to the New Forest to stay with their paternal grandmother. Their mother has been sent away to a hospital as she has mental health issues and their father is away working. Exploring the countryside they meet Grace 'The Woman In The Wood', known locally as 'mad'. She does not want visitors but as the story unfolds she becomes very integral to their young lives. When Duncan disappears all their lives are dramatically affected....Set on the south coast, near to where I live, this book was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

I'm reviewing The Woman in the Wood by Lesley Pearse. Here are my thoughts:

^^ When Maisy Mitcham and her twin brother Duncan get sent away to live with their grandmother, after their mother is sent to an asylum, Duncan goes missing. What follows is a nightmare search to uncover Duncan's last steps - all of which point to Grace Deville; the grumpy old woman in the wood of whom they befriended before Duncan's disappearance. But is everything as it seems? What if the murderous stories about the woman in the wood are true? Could she know more than she lets on?

^^ Okay, I'll hold my hands up and admit it, I've never read any of this author's work and after reading up about her I've discovered she has a whole range of books out that do not easily fit to a defined genre. This is totally new to me!

^^ The Woman in the Wood is set in the 1960s postwar England, which added to its charm. Especially when you hear how the twins were neglected as they were growing up and their mother is just shipped off to an asylum.

^^ Because of the time period and the English postwar setting, the plot had a quaint, old-fashioned feel to it. Initially, I felt this lead to a slow start, but after the first third of the way in things really picked up and Maisy's search for her missing brother moved the story forward at a much quicker pace.

^^ Lesley Pearse has an intriguing way of delving into her characters and pulling out their secrets. Hidden within I discovered lots of family drama with many layers (including romance), and an equally intriguing and thought-provoking mystery surrounding the woman in the wood.

^^ I must add their is some serious issues brought up in this book and a couple of brutal horror scenes that I didn't expect, since the book was written so eloquently, almost like a fairy-tale. In fact, Hansel and Gretel are actually mentioned. So when these disturbing things were told it really packed a punch, I can tell you. Emotional!

Overall: I liked this book a lot and feel Lesley Pearse has a real talent for words. I'll definitely look out for more of her books and maybe check out her backlist, too.

Brilliant storyline. Loved it. Could not read it fast enough.

Lesley Pearse succeeds to pull me into the story about the twins, Duncan and Maisy, right from the start. And the mix of mystery and historical ficton is amazing. The need to keep reading, not wanting to put the book down held me awake almost all night. I just had to know why Alastair put the twins’ mum into an asylum and would their grandmother become more friendly over time? Will Duncan and Maisy find friends, love, happiness? And the biggest question: Who kidnapped Duncan and is he still alive? Amazing story, with believable characters and the charming 1960’s in England made this book an unforgettable read. Highly recommended. I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK!

I had heard about this book and was looking forward to reading it. I enjoyed the first half,despite finding the dialogue a bit disjointed at times which took me out of the story a bit.However,although the subject matter was very emotive,I just didn't really get attached to any of the characters.Some of the subject matter was very dark and I felt the characters didn't really react with the emotion they would have.The second half had a lot going on,but just felt a bit unrealistic.Overall,I quite enjoyed it,but not one of my favourites.I am obviously in the minority as there are some excellent reviews on goodreads,but the writing style just wasn't for me.

One night in 1960 twins Maisy and Duncan have their lives changed forever. They hear their Mother screaming as their Dad has her taken away to an asylum. Their Mother had always suffered with her health, but they think their Dad has done this to be rid of her to carry on with his life without the inconvenience of looking after their Mother or them, as they are sent from London where they live to their Grandmother in the New Forest. It seems they aren't wanted by their Grandmother who stays I her room, and hardly speaks to them. Fortunately Janice the housekeeper is a lot more welcoming, and gives them the Motherly love they have missed out on. Out on a bike ride one day they come across a house deep in the woods, and a grumpy old lady and her dog who lives there. Duncan isn't put off and goes back eventually making friends with her. Maisy makes a good friend and at last the twins have other people to share their time with instead of just each other. Duncan goes missing and Maisy worry's that people aren't taking it seriously enough, she knows he wouldn't just go off without talking to her. There are extensive searches and the town folk think the woman in the woods Grace is mad and a witch who they blame for his disappearance. I don't want to give any spoilers but I really recommend this book. It's a definitely page turner with so much going on to keep you drawn in right to the end.

The woman in the wood is another fantastic Lesley Pearse book. The book tells the story of twins Maisy and Duncan who are sent to live with their Grandmother after their Morher is taken to hospital. Grandmother is a cold bitter woman but they find warmth and comfort in the house keeper Janice. When Duncan goes missing the whole families lives are turned upside down. Maisy never gives up hope of finding her brother alive. A really fabulous book written perfectly you really feel that you know the characters personally.

The year is 1960. Twins Duncan and Maisy are awoken in the middle of the night when their father decides to have their mother placed in an asylum. Soon after, they are both sent to live with their grandmother at her country house, Nightingales. Grandmother isn't exactly the wonderfully caring kind and leaves the twins' care to the capable hands of her housemaid. Duncan and Maisy are left to explore and grow, until one day Duncan doesn't return home. Could he have been taken by the mysterious woman in the wood?

The Woman in the Wood is Lesley Pearse's 25th book and her experience truly shows. If you think the author may have exhausted topics to write about and deliver anything less than fresh, you'd be awfully mistaken. I've only read one book by her so far and while this one is decidedly darker than the one I read previously, it offers everything you could possibly hope for. From crime and family drama to a little dash of quite innocent romance, the author manages to blend everything together seamlessly. 

Obviously, there's a mystery to solve and the tension is palpable throughout as Maisy edges ever closer to danger in a desperate attempt to try and figure out what happened to her brother. This is a bit of a slow starter but the author carefully builds up the action until you find yourself trying to flip the pages faster and faster.

Lesley Pearse delivers some excellent characterisation. Each and every one of these characters came across as utterly realistic and believable, from the stiff upper lip of the grandmother to the mysterious woman in the wood. The story itself takes a dark and twisted turn and may make for some uncomfortable reading to some readers. I was hooked from start to finish and couldn't put it down.

All in all, a well executed mystery with quite the satisfying ending.

When fifteen-year-old twins, Maisy and Duncan Mitcham's mother has to go into an asylum, the twins have to go to their Grandmothers house in the country. Their Grandmother is cold and distant and leaves the twins alone to their own devices. Then one day Duncan does not come home from the woods.

I am a huge fan of Lesley Pearse and her unique style in writing. This book covers all bases:- tension, romance, friendship, drama and crime. There is a fantastic character list of which some are likeable, others not so likeable but all are believable. There is not much more I can say about this book as I would give away too many spoilers. This is the 25th book by the author and I can honestly say I have thoroughly enjoyed them all. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Lesley Pearse for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for my arc of this book. A slightly different but very enjoyable tale. As usual Lesley Pearse does not disappoint with her imagination and ability to tale a good story. This book had me gripped from beginning to end and I would highly recommend it.

Lesley Pearce is a new author to me. I loved The Woman in the Wood. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. It stirred so many emotions. How the events as they unfolded changed the characters, in a good way. I loved how they all came together, it's a pity it took such a dreadful event to make it happen but it made for great reading. I didn't want the book to end. Great read and brilliant writing.

Again, an excellent tale from this author who keeps you immersed right through the book.

Lesley Pearce never disappoints and this book is no exception.
A stunning read which is both a thriller and a love story though not in the romantic style..
Grace a reclusive lady lives in the woods shunning all forms of society until twins Duncan and Maisy come into her life and change it for ever.
The twins have come to stay with their cold hearted grandmother whilst their mother is in hospital.
Devoid of any information as to what is wrong with their mother and sent away by their equally distant father the twins at the age of fifteen only have themselves. The only bright spot for them is Janice the housekeeper who has known them all their lives and feels sorry for them and spoils and mothers them.
Left mainly to their own devices the children forge a life for themselves and especially Dubcan who befriends Grace the women in the woods.
One day after going out on his own apparently to visit Grace Duncan disappears. At first the police do not take it seriously but on Maisy's insistence results in a man hunt which appears fruitless.
Not giving up Maisy's and Grace are determined that Duncan is alive held captive and will do what ever they can to find him.
A story full of love and determination .

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this review copy.

15 year old Maisie and her twin brother, Duncan, are sent to live with their grandmother following the admission of their mother to a psychiatric hospital one night in 1960. They quickly settle to life in the country, finding themselves allowed much more freedom to explore. They hear tales of The Woman in the Wood, Grace Deville – a mysterious woman whom local people avoid. When they find themselves near her home, Grace threatens them never to come back. One day, Duncan doesn’t return home…..

Was so excited to be approved for this book, I love Lesley Pearse!! I have read so many of her previous books and it seems that she can write just about any story in any timeline, with this one being set in the sixties. The story begins well with Maisie and Duncan’s mother being taken in the dead of night to an asylum. She appears to have some sort of mental illness, but in the years that this book is set it is obvious how people with mental health problems were treated and view compared to today. Maisie and Duncan were never allowed to see her and were sent, by their father, to live with their paternal grandmother. They weren’t keen to go but once there realised that grandmother didn’t really want anything much to do with them and they were left to their own devices, with much more freedom being in the countryside than living in London. As weeks turn in months, Maisie and Duncan begin to distance themselves from each other, with both finding new and different friends. One night, Duncan doesn’t return home. Nobody has seen him or know where he might be. There are rumours that the Woman in the Wood, Grace Deville, is a bad lady and people start to look in her direction, thinking that perhaps she may have done something bad to Duncan. Duncan’s grandmother believes that he has simply run away, but Maisie can feel that something bad has happened to him. One day a body is found….is is Duncan?

This was a mix between a crime story and a family saga! The story gets you from the beginning and keeps you going on a rollercoaster of emotions. Lesley is a great storyteller and you don’t want the story to end! A chilling mystery with great characters! Well recommended – five stars!

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and the publisher for allowing me to read this. How could I not love a Lesley Pearse book!! I adore all her books!! And this one did not disappoint!! Another one to definitely recommend and one to tell people to please read.