I have been a fan of Lesley Pearse’s writing for years but I can’t believe it’s almost two years since I last featured her on Linda’s Book Bag here when we were celebrating 25 of her books in 25 years! That’s too big a gap and I’m delighted to be part of this blog tour for Lesley’s latest book Liar by sharing my review today. My thanks to Megan at EDPR for inviting me to participate.

Published by Michael Joseph on 26th June 2020, Liar is available for purchase through the links here.

Liar

In a Shepherd’s Bush bedsit, Amelia White dreams of being a reporter. The closest she’s come is selling advertising in the local paper.

Until the fateful day she stumbles on a truly shocking scoop.

Round the corner from her home, she discovers the body of a murder victim, dumped among the rubbish. When the police and reporters descend, Amelia is horrified at the assumptions made and lies soon to be spread about this poor young woman.

Determined to protect the victim from these smears and help her grieving family, she convinces her paper’s editor to allow her to take up her pen and tell the true story.

But when another body is found and the police investigation stalls, Amelia – uncovering new witnesses and suspects in her search for clues – discovers that she may be the only one with any chance of learning the truth and stopping more killings.

If only she can work out who the liar is . . .

My Review of Liar

Amelia’s life is about to take an exciting turn!

Picking up a book by Lesley Pearse is always a pleasure because I know I’m going to have an entertaining story with interesting characters. Liar is another of those books and I enjoyed it.

There’s a good, twisting plot to Liar that begins in dramatic fashion to hook the reader straight away. I did have to suspend belief a little when following Amelia’s exploits as she investigates murders in her locality, but I think that probably says more about my own lack of bravery in comparison and it certainly didn’t spoil my engagement with the narrative. Indeed, I think Liar would make an excellent Sunday night television series because there are carefully placed dramatic points balanced well by the romantic element of the story, making something for any reader in Lesley Pearse’s customary accessible style.

One aspect that I found incredibly evocative was the sense of the era Lesley Pearse creates. Through reference to real events, the music, clothes and especially the social attitudes there is a definite sense of the time in Liar. I found this aspect surprisingly thought-provoking too as it made me wonder just how much attitudes and lives have really changed.

I thought Amelia was a super heroine. She’s feisty as well as vulnerable and can hold her own even when events conspire against her. She has a level of humanity that is a pleasure to read and yet she isn’t too good to be true. In fact I was occasionally surprised at some of her language! It’s tricky to say too much about the other characters because they are so tightly bound into the plot and I don’t want to spoil the story but let’s just say there is an engaging and compelling cast to get to know.

However, for me, although I was entertained by the narrative it was the themes of Liar that I enjoyed most. Love and relationships, social attitudes and upbringing, policing and wealth and so on, mingle through the prose so that Liar is almost a social study. Reading Liar made me think carefully about what home and safety really mean.

I thought Liar was a great beach style read. I was delighted to lose myself between its pages and very much enjoyed it.

About Lesley Pearse

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 many jobs – from corsetry sales in Cooks of St. Pauls (featured in Dead to Me), to bunny girl to nanny; from gift shop owner to dressmaker – finally finding her true vocation when she became a published author age 49. Since then Lesley has become an internationally bestselling author, with over 10 million copies of her books sold worldwide.

A true storyteller and a master of gripping storylines, there is no set formula for a Lesley Pearse novel although strong heroines and difficult circumstances are pervasive. Whether historical adventures such as Gypsy or Never Look Back or the passionately emotive Trust Me, Lesley is inspired by stories of courage and adversity and often gives voice to women lost in history. She is passionate about her research and her stories have taken her far and wide; from Alaska to the Crimea. Lesley now lives just outside Torquay in Devon where she loves to spend time walking on the beach with her grandchildren and dogs.

A fantastic speaker and committed and passionate fundraiser for the NSPCC, Lesley is a much sought after guest at literary lunches, library events and festivals up and down the country. Lesley was also selected as the first Ambassador for National Libraries Day in 2014.

You can follow Lesley on Twitter @LesleyPearse, and find her on Facebook.

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