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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
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 am a massive fan of Lesley Pearse thanks to my Gran who absolutely adores her. Lesley Pearse has a unique writing style that sucks me in every time, she creates tension and drama and all of the elements she's renowned for; romance, friendship and crime.
We met fifteen year-old twins Maisy and Duncan Mitcham who's mother has gone into an asylum, are thrust into the countryside with their grandmother who is cold and distant towards the twins and leaves them to their own devices. One day Duncan goes into the woods and doesn't return. The Woman in the Wood is set in the 1960s postwar England, which added to its charm and interest for me.
Grace Deville who is known locally as 'The Woman In The Wood' is a recluse and very much suspicious of others. When Maisie makes friends with a local girl called Linda. Duncan who is left to his own devices eventually befriends Grace and begins to visit her regularly in the woods. With Duncan's disappearance we learn that its linked to other boys in the area who have also been reported missing, and some have been murdered. Grace is automatically suspected but could this recluse woman who is wary of other people commit such a crime?
I was taken aback by how dark this book got, and there are some serious issues brought up and a couple of horror scenes that I wasn't anticipating since for me at first it appeared quite like a fairy-tale- Hansel and Gretel comes to mind and is even mentioned in the book. A very emotional read.
After writing this amount you would think Lesley would be running out of ideas and characters, but oh no her brilliance continues to be original and addictive to read. I would definitely say that The Woman In The Wood is the darkest book due to the subject matter, but its definitely in my top five. I simply couldn't put it down!
We met fifteen year-old twins Maisy and Duncan Mitcham who's mother has gone into an asylum, are thrust into the countryside with their grandmother who is cold and distant towards the twins and leaves them to their own devices. One day Duncan goes into the woods and doesn't return. The Woman in the Wood is set in the 1960s postwar England, which added to its charm and interest for me.
Grace Deville who is known locally as 'The Woman In The Wood' is a recluse and very much suspicious of others. When Maisie makes friends with a local girl called Linda. Duncan who is left to his own devices eventually befriends Grace and begins to visit her regularly in the woods. With Duncan's disappearance we learn that its linked to other boys in the area who have also been reported missing, and some have been murdered. Grace is automatically suspected but could this recluse woman who is wary of other people commit such a crime?
I was taken aback by how dark this book got, and there are some serious issues brought up and a couple of horror scenes that I wasn't anticipating since for me at first it appeared quite like a fairy-tale- Hansel and Gretel comes to mind and is even mentioned in the book. A very emotional read.
After writing this amount you would think Lesley would be running out of ideas and characters, but oh no her brilliance continues to be original and addictive to read. I would definitely say that The Woman In The Wood is the darkest book due to the subject matter, but its definitely in my top five. I simply couldn't put it down!
A mother in an asylum, a cold and distance grandmother, a missing child, a strange woman living alone in the wood – Pearse certainly knows the right ingredients for a historical mystery novel! As if that wasn’t enough, Pearse throws a little emotion into the story as well, while still maintaining the dark themes the blurb promises.
Interestingly, The Woman in the Wood features some very dark themes but I’d still recommend it to readers who tend to avoid novels with sinister themes/content. I say that because Pearse is clearly a skilled writer, she allows you to feel the darkness and allows it to cloud certain parts of the story without throwing you head first into it. I’d say this book is in equally parts, character-driven and plot-driven and this opens the book up to a wider reading audience. The mystery itself is very cleverly constructed and until Pearse was ready to tell, I had no clue what had befallen Duncan.
Not only is this a mystery novel centred around a missing child, Pearse delves into the realm of family ties and friendship. She delivers this theme through some brilliant characters – Maisy and Duncan are likeable children and develop a warm and loving relationship with their grandmother’s housekeeper, in comparison to their cold grandmother and their father who struggles to show affection, this book has a nice contrast of characters. When Duncan goes missing, it’s interesting to see the reaction of the different characters. While the twins may not feel especially close to their family, I didn’t dislike their gran or their dad but don’t worry, Pearse delivers on unlikeable characters too. I also liked that the novel opened with some information about the twin’s mother and how her being in an asylum featured throughout the story as it affected the twin’s actions, without Pearse needing to detail cold and disturbing accounts of their mother in an asylum, as a nearly abstract character, she played vital role in the novel.
Before I conclude this review, I thought I’d say something about the woman in the wood – easily my favourite character! That’s all you’re getting on that!
After reading this book, it is clear Pearse has incredible talent – The Woman in the Wood is a wonderful mystery that is strong enough to engage you fully in the read without needing a lightening pace, it features some strong characters and character development with a firm conclusion to the novel. I highly recommended it!
*My thanks to the publisher (Michael Joseph) for granting me access to a digital copy of this book via Netgalley*
Interestingly, The Woman in the Wood features some very dark themes but I’d still recommend it to readers who tend to avoid novels with sinister themes/content. I say that because Pearse is clearly a skilled writer, she allows you to feel the darkness and allows it to cloud certain parts of the story without throwing you head first into it. I’d say this book is in equally parts, character-driven and plot-driven and this opens the book up to a wider reading audience. The mystery itself is very cleverly constructed and until Pearse was ready to tell, I had no clue what had befallen Duncan.
Not only is this a mystery novel centred around a missing child, Pearse delves into the realm of family ties and friendship. She delivers this theme through some brilliant characters – Maisy and Duncan are likeable children and develop a warm and loving relationship with their grandmother’s housekeeper, in comparison to their cold grandmother and their father who struggles to show affection, this book has a nice contrast of characters. When Duncan goes missing, it’s interesting to see the reaction of the different characters. While the twins may not feel especially close to their family, I didn’t dislike their gran or their dad but don’t worry, Pearse delivers on unlikeable characters too. I also liked that the novel opened with some information about the twin’s mother and how her being in an asylum featured throughout the story as it affected the twin’s actions, without Pearse needing to detail cold and disturbing accounts of their mother in an asylum, as a nearly abstract character, she played vital role in the novel.
Before I conclude this review, I thought I’d say something about the woman in the wood – easily my favourite character! That’s all you’re getting on that!
After reading this book, it is clear Pearse has incredible talent – The Woman in the Wood is a wonderful mystery that is strong enough to engage you fully in the read without needing a lightening pace, it features some strong characters and character development with a firm conclusion to the novel. I highly recommended it!
*My thanks to the publisher (Michael Joseph) for granting me access to a digital copy of this book via Netgalley*
Thanks to Net Galley & Penguin UK for this book in exchange for a review.
The beginning of the story was a little bit slow for me but I kept reading. I sensed there is a lot going to happen and everything said in the first chapters has a meaning.
The story is about fifteen-year-old Maisy Mitcham and her twin brother Duncan who 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. Their father rarely sees them. But one day Duncan doesn't come home from the woods. Not everyone treats his disappearance seriously. The police investigation seems to be insufficient. The only person who is convinced something really bad happened to Duncan is his twin sister Maisy.
I don’t to want to reveal too much but there is real family drama, untold secrets, crime and a little bit of romance. Everything nicely packed in a beautiful story. So good that when the last sentence came I was surprised it was the end. I was convinced my kindle is not working when the next page didn’t turn on. Another interesting thing: the way all characters are presented, we see how the time changed since 1960s. The whole story told as of today, would have completely different repercussion. I wanted to shout at one of the characters “oh, it would help if you had had a mobile” but she couldn’t have had it….not in the 1960s….I am happy that the author placed the story fifty years ago. Brilliantly told, not a moment of boredom.
It is my first book by Lesley Pearse but not the last one.
The beginning of the story was a little bit slow for me but I kept reading. I sensed there is a lot going to happen and everything said in the first chapters has a meaning.
The story is about fifteen-year-old Maisy Mitcham and her twin brother Duncan who 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. Their father rarely sees them. But one day Duncan doesn't come home from the woods. Not everyone treats his disappearance seriously. The police investigation seems to be insufficient. The only person who is convinced something really bad happened to Duncan is his twin sister Maisy.
I don’t to want to reveal too much but there is real family drama, untold secrets, crime and a little bit of romance. Everything nicely packed in a beautiful story. So good that when the last sentence came I was surprised it was the end. I was convinced my kindle is not working when the next page didn’t turn on. Another interesting thing: the way all characters are presented, we see how the time changed since 1960s. The whole story told as of today, would have completely different repercussion. I wanted to shout at one of the characters “oh, it would help if you had had a mobile” but she couldn’t have had it….not in the 1960s….I am happy that the author placed the story fifty years ago. Brilliantly told, not a moment of boredom.
It is my first book by Lesley Pearse but not the last one.
Mostly very well written but the final section is too long.