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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
So, Lesley Pearse is my favourite author - ever. I got to a stage where I would read one of hers, and then two others in between, purely so I didn't finish hers too soon, so am now very excited when a new one comes out!
The woman in the woods was very different to Pearse's other books, it was missing a lot of the bits that I love about her novels, but I still really enjoyed the book.
Maisy and Duncan are twins, who for the majority of their lives, have only really had each other. The woman in the woods is rumoured to be a witch that the locals avoid. Their lives come together, and when Duncan comes together, it becomes clear how much love everyone has to offer, despite their upbringings.
The woman in the woods was different, in that it didn't follow just one character through many many years, or note any historical background. It was a really good read, which I massively recommend! Sometimes different, is good! (but not better)
So, Lesley Pearse is my favourite author - ever. I got to a stage where I would read one of hers, and then two others in between, purely so I didn't finish hers too soon, so am now very excited when a new one comes out!
The woman in the woods was very different to Pearse's other books, it was missing a lot of the bits that I love about her novels, but I still really enjoyed the book.
Maisy and Duncan are twins, who for the majority of their lives, have only really had each other. The woman in the woods is rumoured to be a witch that the locals avoid. Their lives come together, and when Duncan comes together, it becomes clear how much love everyone has to offer, despite their upbringings.
The woman in the woods was different, in that it didn't follow just one character through many many years, or note any historical background. It was a really good read, which I massively recommend! Sometimes different, is good! (but not better)
I have always thought that Lesley Pearse writes ‘women’s fiction’ (even though I hate that term). I was completely mistaken on reading The Woman in the Wood – it’s a kind of mystery/thriller combination that is sometimes pretty blunt about what has happened to the characters. Don’t be put off by the given – the woman in the wood (Grace) is a key character but this story is ultimately about twins Maisy and Duncan.
The twins are in their teens, living what they think to be a fairly average life in 1960s London. Their father is cold and hardly ever home. Their mother lives in her bed and is confused most of the time. But one night her father organises for the twins’ mother to move to an asylum. The twins are shocked but ultimately can’t do anything. Their father then announces that they will be moving to the country to live with their grandmother, who the twins don’t like (she’s a cold character too). But living at Nightingales allows them much more freedom – the ability to be tutored by the kind Mr Dove and housekeeper Janice is their surrogate mother. They can explore the woods on their bikes and make new friends. Grace is one of those people, but she’s not too keen on making friends. She’s reclusive with her own history to deal with. Somehow, Duncan penetrates her icy façade. Meanwhile, Maisy is busy making friends and falling in love. But then Duncan goes missing…could he have fallen victim to the serial killer taking boys on England’s south coast?
I would say that this book is divided into two halves – the twins’ life up until Duncan goes missing and what happens after. The first half is more coming of age story, the second is a mystery/thriller which doesn’t end when you expect it. There are plenty of surprises and twists in the second half that I didn’t expect! Sometimes Pearse goes into detail of the killer and his torture which I found mildly uncomfortable (he’s one sick weirdo). What I did like is the exploration of what happened and the feelings around it, guided by Grace and Mr Dove who are much wiser than others think. Both scarred by their own experiences, they help the twins make sense of what has happened. Grace is also quite the heroine at times, despite what the local people in the village think!
One thing that did take me out of the world the novel created was the dialogue. At times, it’s very stilted and proper. I found it hard to believe that teenage twins would speak in such a proper fashion, especially when impassioned by anger! The twins’ father Alastair also spoke about feelings in such a proper way that I found it hard to believe he was truly becoming warmer and more forthcoming, rather than spinning a line. I do think that the action in the second half made up for it though. There were times when I couldn’t stop reading. I just felt that I couldn’t leave the twins and Grace hanging!
The characterisation was well done. Maisy is a little fireball, while Janice, Grace and Mr Dove are the kind ones. The twins’ grandmother was the perfect cold woman who occasionally melted – she was harsh but unintentionally amusing. Both Grace and Mr Dove had fascinating backstories that I would have liked to read some more of. (Plus I want to know if Janice and Mr Dove ever got together!)
Next time I read a Lesley Pearse novel I’ll go into it with no preconceptions whatsoever and enjoy the wild ride.
Thank you to Penguin Australia for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The twins are in their teens, living what they think to be a fairly average life in 1960s London. Their father is cold and hardly ever home. Their mother lives in her bed and is confused most of the time. But one night her father organises for the twins’ mother to move to an asylum. The twins are shocked but ultimately can’t do anything. Their father then announces that they will be moving to the country to live with their grandmother, who the twins don’t like (she’s a cold character too). But living at Nightingales allows them much more freedom – the ability to be tutored by the kind Mr Dove and housekeeper Janice is their surrogate mother. They can explore the woods on their bikes and make new friends. Grace is one of those people, but she’s not too keen on making friends. She’s reclusive with her own history to deal with. Somehow, Duncan penetrates her icy façade. Meanwhile, Maisy is busy making friends and falling in love. But then Duncan goes missing…could he have fallen victim to the serial killer taking boys on England’s south coast?
I would say that this book is divided into two halves – the twins’ life up until Duncan goes missing and what happens after. The first half is more coming of age story, the second is a mystery/thriller which doesn’t end when you expect it. There are plenty of surprises and twists in the second half that I didn’t expect! Sometimes Pearse goes into detail of the killer and his torture which I found mildly uncomfortable (he’s one sick weirdo). What I did like is the exploration of what happened and the feelings around it, guided by Grace and Mr Dove who are much wiser than others think. Both scarred by their own experiences, they help the twins make sense of what has happened. Grace is also quite the heroine at times, despite what the local people in the village think!
One thing that did take me out of the world the novel created was the dialogue. At times, it’s very stilted and proper. I found it hard to believe that teenage twins would speak in such a proper fashion, especially when impassioned by anger! The twins’ father Alastair also spoke about feelings in such a proper way that I found it hard to believe he was truly becoming warmer and more forthcoming, rather than spinning a line. I do think that the action in the second half made up for it though. There were times when I couldn’t stop reading. I just felt that I couldn’t leave the twins and Grace hanging!
The characterisation was well done. Maisy is a little fireball, while Janice, Grace and Mr Dove are the kind ones. The twins’ grandmother was the perfect cold woman who occasionally melted – she was harsh but unintentionally amusing. Both Grace and Mr Dove had fascinating backstories that I would have liked to read some more of. (Plus I want to know if Janice and Mr Dove ever got together!)
Next time I read a Lesley Pearse novel I’ll go into it with no preconceptions whatsoever and enjoy the wild ride.
Thank you to Penguin Australia for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
I've never read any of this authors books before, but will seek to read more in the future if they're as excellent as this one. A fantastic book that I found hard to put down.
I liked the story, I just didn't like the way it was written. It felt forced and stilted and, honestly I didn't feel like people would speak the way she portrayed them as doing so. It grated me when characters made speeches or stated the obvious just for the sake of it as well.
Thank you to Lesley Pearse, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Fifteen-year-old twins Maisy and Duncan Mitcham have always had each other. Until the fateful day in the wood . . .
One night in 1960, the twins awake to find their father pulling their screaming mother from the house. She is to be committed to an asylum. It is, so their father insists, for her own good.
It's not long before they, too, are removed from their London home and sent to Nightingales - a large house deep in the New Forest countryside - to be watched over by their cold-hearted grandmother, Mrs Mitcham. Though they feel abandoned and unloved, at least here they have something they never had before - freedom.
The twins are left to their own devices, to explore, find new friends and first romances. That is until the day that Duncan doesn't come back for dinner. Nor does he return the next day. Or the one after that.
When the bodies of other young boys are discovered in the surrounding area the police appear to give up hope of finding Duncan alive. With Mrs Mitcham showing little interest in her grandson's disappearance, it is up to Maisy to discover the truth. And she knows just where to start. The woman who lives alone in the wood about whom so many rumours abound. A woman named Grace Deville.
I am a fan of Lesley Pearse and love her unique story-telling style which seems to suck you in from the very beginning. In this case, the opening scene revolves around the committal of Maisy and Duncan's mother to an asylum and as their father is quite cold and distant from them, they are left confused as to why she is being taken, and we're left with a sense of mystery behind it. The book is based in the 1960s and covers many different areas:- mental health, crime, abuse, kidnappings, friendship and family relationships in a very different world than today. There is a lot of very strong characters, some likeable and some not so much. I don't want to say too much more as it will take away from the story-line other than, I highly recommend this book.
To read this and other reviews like and follow me at
https://crimeandmysterybookreview.wordpress.com/
www.twitter.com/crimemysteryboo
www.facebook.com/crimeandmysterybooksreview
Fifteen-year-old twins Maisy and Duncan Mitcham have always had each other. Until the fateful day in the wood . . .
One night in 1960, the twins awake to find their father pulling their screaming mother from the house. She is to be committed to an asylum. It is, so their father insists, for her own good.
It's not long before they, too, are removed from their London home and sent to Nightingales - a large house deep in the New Forest countryside - to be watched over by their cold-hearted grandmother, Mrs Mitcham. Though they feel abandoned and unloved, at least here they have something they never had before - freedom.
The twins are left to their own devices, to explore, find new friends and first romances. That is until the day that Duncan doesn't come back for dinner. Nor does he return the next day. Or the one after that.
When the bodies of other young boys are discovered in the surrounding area the police appear to give up hope of finding Duncan alive. With Mrs Mitcham showing little interest in her grandson's disappearance, it is up to Maisy to discover the truth. And she knows just where to start. The woman who lives alone in the wood about whom so many rumours abound. A woman named Grace Deville.
I am a fan of Lesley Pearse and love her unique story-telling style which seems to suck you in from the very beginning. In this case, the opening scene revolves around the committal of Maisy and Duncan's mother to an asylum and as their father is quite cold and distant from them, they are left confused as to why she is being taken, and we're left with a sense of mystery behind it. The book is based in the 1960s and covers many different areas:- mental health, crime, abuse, kidnappings, friendship and family relationships in a very different world than today. There is a lot of very strong characters, some likeable and some not so much. I don't want to say too much more as it will take away from the story-line other than, I highly recommend this book.
To read this and other reviews like and follow me at
https://crimeandmysterybookreview.wordpress.com/
www.twitter.com/crimemysteryboo
www.facebook.com/crimeandmysterybooksreview
mysterious
medium-paced
***TRIGGER WARNING*** (Suicide, Torture, Abuse, S/A)
Not a read for everyone.
Lesley was recommended to me by a friend. good story, fast paced. I enjoyed most of this read until I got about half way when it started to go into detail about certain topics some would find very triggering, for that reason only it gets 3 out of 5 stars.
Not a read for everyone.
Lesley was recommended to me by a friend. good story, fast paced. I enjoyed most of this read until I got about half way when it started to go into detail about certain topics some would find very triggering, for that reason only it gets 3 out of 5 stars.
a compelling roller coaster of a story about Britain int he 1960's, family drama and child abduction. Not for the faint hearted!
K there were some terrible themes in this book eg rape, kidnapping, abuse, mental illness.
BUT LESLEY PEARSE YOU DID NOT NEED TO KILL THE DOG
BUT LESLEY PEARSE YOU DID NOT NEED TO KILL THE DOG