Author:Lesley Pearse
THE GRIPPING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER JULY 2022
What happens when the person closest to you has led a life of deception?
'Full of suspense and intriguing characters' MY WEEKLY
'A gritty, gripping drama' WOMAN'S WEEKLY
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No one wants to believe their mother is a liar . . .
After her mother's funeral, Alice Kent is approached by a man who insists he's her real father. Initially upset and disbelieving, Alice soon discovers that tugging at this loose thread unravels the expertly woven tapestry of lies which was her mother Sally's life.
Faced with this staggering deception, Alice decides she must learn the whole, terrible truth about her mother.
But is she prepared for the dark journey back to Sally's traumatic childhood and the evil forces which came to shape the woman who claimed to love her?
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'Brilliantly builds intrigue' WOMAN & HOME
'A raw, truthful and moving account, building intrigue as Alice gradually uncovers her mother's life of deception, lies - and love' WOMAN'S WEEKLY
'Written with Pearse's typically engaging and effortless style of storytelling, Deception is an intriguing book of highs, lows, struggles and perseverance' CULTUREFLY
Praise for Lesley Pearse
'Storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail
'Gripping and suspenseful' Daily Express
'A twisting and intense read' Woman's Own
This is a heart-wrenching journey as dark secrets are exposed and we understand the decisions Sally was forced to make
—— CandisA complex and gripping relationship drama
—— Devon LifeUnpredictable and full of unexpected twists, this is a compelling read
—— My Weekly SpecialThis book brilliantly builds intrigue as Alice uncovers her mum's life of deception, lies and love
—— Woman & HomeFull of suspense and intriguing characters
—— My WeeklyA twisting, turning and utterly addictive tale of mystery, hardship and self-survival
—— Lancashire Evening PostWritten with Pearse's typically engaging and effortless style of storytelling, Deception is an intriguing book of highs, lows, struggles and perseverance
—— CultureflyA gritty, gripping drama . . . A raw, truthful and moving account, building intrigue as Alice gradually uncovers her mother's life of deception, lies - and love
—— Woman's WeeklyPraise for Lesley Pearse
Storytelling at its very best
—— Daily MailEvocative, compelling, told from the heart
—— Sunday ExpressGlorious, heartwarming
—— Woman & HomeIntriguing, heart-tugging, beautifully written
—— CloserWhat July Knew is a compelling story about growing up and grief told in the fresh and innocent voice of a child. I was gripped.
—— Jane ShemiltCome for the 90s nostalgia and stay for the warm and unforgettable protagonist. I rooted so hard for July and will always remember her.
—— Laura PearsonWhat July Knew is a winning blend of sweet, nostalgic, compelling, shocking and heartbreaking. I defy readers not to root for July as she searches for the truth about her mother
—— Gilly MacmillanWhat a wonderful story. Full of vivid characters, but mostly of course, July.
—— Amanda ReynoldsHeartbreaking, joyous and deeply compelling, What July Knew is a beautifully-told tale of great loss and great hope. I loved it.
—— Rosie WalshThe plot is full of extremely satisfying twists and turns. Koch has written other thrillers, but this is destined to be her big breakout.
—— BookBrunch[What July Knew is] touchingly effective in conveying the oppressiveness of a childhood lived in fear
—— Sunday TimesCompelling plot, this is an emotional read
—— HeatFans of Joanna Cannon's The Trouble with Goats and Sheep will devour this
—— Woman & HomeTotally heartbreaking, but also uplifting, this is a real gem of a read
—— The SunExtraordinary and Sinister. The mystery overlaps with blackmail and revenge in a dark and convoluted plot that takes the breath away.
—— Daily MailA stunning, clever and ingeniously plotted thriller with jaw-dropping gasp out loud twists
—— The Sunday Express'Be careful who you root for, as no character is safe in Sarah Pearse's new novel The Retreat. In the spirit of a true thriller, the tension is taut and the suspense is real as the pace builds to a heart stopping finale. A triumphant second novel, which is no mean feat.'
—— Sandie Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Woman'Sarah Pearse is an expert at building tension and then holding us suspended until we're on our last nerve. The Retreat is utterly thrilling and destined to be yet another must-read from the queen of the murderous holiday read.'
—— Jo Spain, bestselling author of Dirty Little SecretsWonderfully atmospheric, frequently surprising and cleverly plotted. If you loved The Sanatorium, you'll never want to leave The Retreat.'
—— B. P. Walter, author of The Dinner GuestA story as unsettling as the island that serves as its setting. Don't trust anyone at The Retreat.
—— Stacy Willingham, New York Times bestselling author of A Flicker in the DarkDeliciously paced with rich worldbuilding, The Retreat teems with questionable motives, unspoken frustrations, and hair-raising cliffhangers. I absolutely could not put this book down!
—— Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary'Dazzling and inventive, like an Agatha Christie mystery split open by a heatwave. The Retreat is transporting, with an unforgettable setting and a complex web of secrets. I didn't want it to end.'
—— Flynn Berry, New York Times bestselling author of Northern Spy'The Retreat is a delightfully creepy thriller set in a fantastic gothic location. I loved it!'
—— G. R. Halliday, author of From The ShadowsWhat Harris does here is nothing short of masterful.
—— Irish TimesHarris displays an impressive grasp of the historical context without taxing his readers by showing his 'workings'.
—— Church TimesBased on real and fascinating history, this is Robert Harris's best since An Officer and a Spy
—— The TimesPacy and tense, and the pungently evoked past offers up some shrewd present-day parallels
—— Mail on SundayAn absolutely stunning historical novel and a ripping crime thriller at the same time. I've been recommending it far and wide and buying it for people for Christmas!
—— Dead GoodThe best historical fiction combines a gripping plot with meticulous research - leaving the reader inspired to learn more about the real-life protagonists. And the latest release from Robert Harris once more proves his mastery of the genre
—— SoldierI loved Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris, which achieves the astonishing feat of taking 17th-century events and people and telling their stories in 21st-century language without a single seam showing
—— Ben Macintyre , The TimesThrilling
—— Gregory Doran , The TimesThis is a novel that asks big historical questions. You could read it as a pure thriller, and it is one of Harris's most compellingly paced to date. You could read it as a piece of intelligent historical immersion. I think it is more; I think it is his best novel since Fatherland.
—— Sunday TimesIt's a belter.
—— The TimesIf only all historical thrillers could be this entertaining.
—— ObserverIn this tense and beautifully written account of the ensuing manhunt, Harris brings sympathy to characters on either side of the civil war that divided a nation.
—— Daily MailA brainy, compulsive page-turner.
—— Daily TelegraphA violent, gripping, globetrotting chase thriller
—— Daily MirrorHe’s my go-to person that I know will keep me entertained
—— Jane Garvey[A] rich, propulsive novel
—— Sunday Times