Is there a murderer across the street?It's 1964 and twenty-three-year-old Katy Speed is fascinated by Gloria and the goings-on at the house over the road. Who are the mysterious women that arrive in a black car most Saturdays?Then one night, Gloria's house burns to the ground. Bodies are found in the wreckage.And Katy's horror turns to disbelief when her own father is arrested and charged with murder.Determined to prove his innocence, Katy sets out to uncover the truth about the mysterious house across the street and find the real murderer. But that means risking her own life . . .
The House Across the Street by Lesley Pearse is published in paperback by Michael Joseph on 2 May 2019
I originally reviewed the hardback edition of this book; my review was printed in the Daily Express, and can also be found below.
I have one paperback copy of The House Across the Street to giveaway
Entry is simple, just fill out the competition widget at the end of this post
UK Entries only. GOOD LUCK!
Lesley
Pearse’s The House Across the Street is set in the small town of Bexhill in the
early 1960s. Katy Speed is twenty-three and lives in the town with her parents,
her younger brother Rob is away at University.
Although
Katy comes from what is considered a ‘good’ home, her relationship with her
mother is strained. Her father Albert is her biggest ally; loving and
supportive in all ways, whilst her mother Hilda can only be described as cold
and bitter.
Katy is
fascinated by the house across the street. The house is occupied by the
glamorous dress shop owner Gloria; a woman who always encourages Katy to move
away, to go to London, to make more of her life.
Katy is
intrigued by the regular visitors to Gloria’s house; they arrive in a sleek black car, always women, and often
with children in tow. Hilda disapproves of Gloria and tries her best to make
Katy stay away from her.
When
Gloria’s house burns to the ground, and her body and that of her daughter are
discovered inside, the police are convinced it is arson. The community is
shocked to the core. Katy has finally taken Gloria’s advice and gone to London
to seek work and a flat with her best friend Jilly and it is whilst she is
there that she finds out that her wonderful father has been arrested on
suspicion of arson and murder.
What
follows is a tense and thrilling story. Lesley Pearse depicts the 60s era so
very well, and Katy is an incredible character. Her strength and determination
to prove her father’s innocence lands her in troubles that she could never have
imagined. This author deals with the serious theme of domestic violence very
well, giving great insight into how the police, and the wider community viewed
abused women in the past.
Emotional
and moving, this is story-telling at its best, filled with characters that it’s
impossible not to care about.
Praise for The House Across the Street
'Heart-warming and evocative, a real delight to read' Sun
'A narrative that gallops along, this is quintessential Pearse that will delight her army of readers' Daily Mail
'Glorious, heartwarming' Woman & Home
'Evocative, compelling, told from the heart' Sunday Express
'Gripping' Hello
Lesley Pearse was told as a child that she had too much imagination for her own good. When she grew up she worked her way through a number of jobs, including nanny, bunny girl, dressmaker and full-time mother, before, at the age of forty-nine, settling upon a career that would allow her gifts to blossom: she became a published writer. Lesley lives in Devon and has three daughters and three grandchildren.
Find out more about Lesley and keep up to date with what she's been doing:
Follow her on Twitter @LesleyPearse
Follow her on Facebook @LesleyPearseAuthor
Sign up for her newsletter www.lesleypearse.com
No comments:
Post a Comment