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Charlie
Could you find the strength to save your family?
Can young Charlie find the strength to save her family?
One glorious summer's day, sixteen-year-old Charlie Welsh has her privileged childhood brought to an abrupt and terrifying end when she witnesses her mother being brutally attacked in her own garden by two strangers.
With her father mysteriously away Charlie has to face up to sinister forces that seem intent on shattering her family and even her belief in her parents.
But she is not alone. Charlie meets kind, funny student Andrew, whose love helps her through the hard times and further unexpected tragedy. Together, can they unravel the mysteries of the past that haunt the Welsh family? And will facing up to those mysteries destroy their love for each other or make it stronger?
Can young Charlie find the strength to save her family?
One glorious summer's day, sixteen-year-old Charlie Welsh has her privileged childhood brought to an abrupt and terrifying end when she witnesses her mother being brutally attacked in her own garden by two strangers.
With her father mysteriously away Charlie has to face up to sinister forces that seem intent on shattering her family and even her belief in her parents.
But she is not alone. Charlie meets kind, funny student Andrew, whose love helps her through the hard times and further unexpected tragedy. Together, can they unravel the mysteries of the past that haunt the Welsh family? And will facing up to those mysteries destroy their love for each other or make it stronger?
689 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
181 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Pearse
71 books2,231 followersLesley Pearse is one of the UK's best-loved novelists with fans across the globe and sales of over 2 million copies of her books to date. A true storyteller and a master of gripping storylines that keep the reader hooked from beginning to end, Pearse introduces you to characters that it is impossible not to care about or forget. There is no formula to her books or easily defined genre. Whether crime as in 'Till We Meet Again', historical adventure like 'Never Look Back', or the passionately emotive 'Trust Me', based on the true-life scandal of British child migrants sent to Australia in the post war period, she engages the reader completely.
Truth is often stranger than fiction and Lesley's life has been as packed with drama as her books. She was three when her mother died under tragic circumstances. Her father was away at sea and it was only when a neighbour saw Lesley and her brother playing outside without coats on that suspicion was aroused - their mother had been dead for some time. With her father in the Royal Marines, Lesley and her older brother spent three years in grim orphanages before her father remarried - a veritable dragon of an ex army nurse - and Lesley and her older brother were brought home again, to be joined by two other children who were later adopted by her father and stepmother, and a continuing stream of foster children. The impact of constant change and uncertainty in Lesley's early years is reflected in one of the recurring themes in her books: what happens to those who are emotionally damaged as children. It was an extraordinary childhood and in all her books, Lesley has skilfully married the pain and unhappiness of her early experiences with a unique gift for storytelling.
Truth is often stranger than fiction and Lesley's life has been as packed with drama as her books. She was three when her mother died under tragic circumstances. Her father was away at sea and it was only when a neighbour saw Lesley and her brother playing outside without coats on that suspicion was aroused - their mother had been dead for some time. With her father in the Royal Marines, Lesley and her older brother spent three years in grim orphanages before her father remarried - a veritable dragon of an ex army nurse - and Lesley and her older brother were brought home again, to be joined by two other children who were later adopted by her father and stepmother, and a continuing stream of foster children. The impact of constant change and uncertainty in Lesley's early years is reflected in one of the recurring themes in her books: what happens to those who are emotionally damaged as children. It was an extraordinary childhood and in all her books, Lesley has skilfully married the pain and unhappiness of her early experiences with a unique gift for storytelling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
February 2, 2022
I love the way Lesley Pearse writes. Everything flows and its incredibly immersive.
Easy five stars.
Easy five stars.
June 10, 2017
wow! like i say over and over again, Lesley Pearse is just my all time favourite Author! A fantastic story line which keeps you hooked from start to finish, which considering the book is nearly 700 pages it would be hard to do. It definitely isn't for Lesley. I now have only one book of hers left out of 24 to read, I am gutted.
January 1, 2015
This is a re-read so my full review is on another edition.
Merged review:
I loved this a lot more when I read it the first time round but then again I was only 11/12, I like Pearse's writing and recommend her books to all who don't mind a good story stretched over a couple of hundred pages. I felt the story could have been shortened slightly to cut down on time-wastage but nevermind, this book in particular reminds me of when I first became addicted to books, although.. I don't think this book was suitable for my age group just then
Merged review:
I loved this a lot more when I read it the first time round but then again I was only 11/12, I like Pearse's writing and recommend her books to all who don't mind a good story stretched over a couple of hundred pages. I felt the story could have been shortened slightly to cut down on time-wastage but nevermind, this book in particular reminds me of when I first became addicted to books, although.. I don't think this book was suitable for my age group just then
June 10, 2018
Well, I simply loved it. When I pick one of Lesley Pearse’s book I know I won’t be disappointed. I genuinely like the author's writing, how she put her heroine through tough situation that can kill them, instead came out stronger and better character. I know that Charlie will remain with me for a long time, couldn’t help myself that fall in love with this character. Through out the novel I saw her transformed from a spoil teenager into a strong and caring woman. Charlie is a fast pace novel, of betrayal, robed innocent and true friendship.
On a summer day, Charlie saw her mother being attacked by two men, which left her invalid. At first, Charlie thought that it was an attempt burglary but when her mother told her not to tell the police Charlie sense something wasn’t right. Things got worse when her father hadn’t return from a business trip. The police thought that her father might be responsible for Charlie’s mother attack. But Charlie can’t believe this, she adores her father and knows that he won’t be capable of such a thing. Charlie vowed to find out where her father is. Would Charlie be able to find the truth? And more importantly would she put herself in danger?
On a summer day, Charlie saw her mother being attacked by two men, which left her invalid. At first, Charlie thought that it was an attempt burglary but when her mother told her not to tell the police Charlie sense something wasn’t right. Things got worse when her father hadn’t return from a business trip. The police thought that her father might be responsible for Charlie’s mother attack. But Charlie can’t believe this, she adores her father and knows that he won’t be capable of such a thing. Charlie vowed to find out where her father is. Would Charlie be able to find the truth? And more importantly would she put herself in danger?
October 25, 2014
not one of her better books
Read
December 15, 2015Stopped half way... Don't know why I could not finish this book. Will give it another try some day...
August 28, 2019
I don't think LP is capable of writing anything less than a 5 star read!
Tonnes of history, intrigue and epic, epic storytelling in a long saga that'll keeping drawn in for days...
Tonnes of history, intrigue and epic, epic storytelling in a long saga that'll keeping drawn in for days...
May 8, 2024
Another great book by Lesley Pearse! Such a great storyline, really enjoyed it!
February 17, 2025
Another easy and enjoyable read by Lesley Pearce. Loved the characters in this story.
February 2, 2015
One of the heart breaking fictions from Lesley. As usual her graphical diction is very superb. Ofcourse , I have seen so many similarities in her book like putting her character in different kinds of ordeals. In this I liked every single character from Charlie to Miss Dexters. Andrew blake to Ivor. In every one of them write showed their circumstances. Charlie never faced so many trouble as other characters did in this book. Rita one of the ex-tripper’s plight in unimaginable. All the girls expect security and identification. To have that these people innocently slipped into clutches of this world.
One of the other things I saw in this book is A man could do anything to save his own skin. Bestexample is Dexter’s brothers. Little dexter’s raped by her drunkard father, yet she did not runaway. She looked after her twin brothers, begged for them, prostituted herself for them just out of her loyalty for them. But when these brothers knew they are going to be arrested. They escaped. Thats what the men do.
As for slyvia wish, she is innoncent wife faithful to his husaband,who happened to be mumsy when she thought her hubby run out on her. Yet she cared chalie. She commits suicide just to give freedom for her daughter. I liked it somuch and I just wanna read her books as early as possible atleast to know the writing style of her….
One of the other things I saw in this book is A man could do anything to save his own skin. Bestexample is Dexter’s brothers. Little dexter’s raped by her drunkard father, yet she did not runaway. She looked after her twin brothers, begged for them, prostituted herself for them just out of her loyalty for them. But when these brothers knew they are going to be arrested. They escaped. Thats what the men do.
As for slyvia wish, she is innoncent wife faithful to his husaband,who happened to be mumsy when she thought her hubby run out on her. Yet she cared chalie. She commits suicide just to give freedom for her daughter. I liked it somuch and I just wanna read her books as early as possible atleast to know the writing style of her….
February 11, 2011
I loved this book! Don't be deceived by the cover - it's not fluffy at all, lots of gritty gangland style stuff going on!
I found the story very interesting, however I wasn't properly convinced at the believability of meeting someone else 'connected' (don't want to spoil for others) at work!
Would recommend this to others, and has confirmed that Lesley Pearse is an author I like!
I found the story very interesting, however I wasn't properly convinced at the believability of meeting someone else 'connected' (don't want to spoil for others) at work!
Would recommend this to others, and has confirmed that Lesley Pearse is an author I like!
August 31, 2008
a nice story and a fat book too. i like the story of charlie. one can read this book without being too lazy because the story is a real page turner
January 31, 2013
A bit of a mammoth read at almost 700 pages but once I was into it I had to keep reading to find out what happened to Charlie next. It did get a bit silly towards the end but a real page turner.
December 11, 2013
This is a great book and even tho' it was a 600 plus page book I enjoyed it to the end.
December 27, 2017
I started reading this, but had to put it down for a bit. Restarted again and finished the book. Was a great read. Lesley Pearse is one of my favourite authors.
September 17, 2024
Great story, couldn't put it down. Lovely characters and settings
Could you find the strength to save your family?
Can young Charlie find the strength to save her family?
One glorious summer's day, sixteen-year-old Charlie Welsh has her privileged childhood brought to an abrupt and terrifying end when she witnesses her mother being brutally attacked in her own garden by two strangers.
With her father mysteriously away Charlie has to face up to sinister forces that seem intent on shattering her family and even her belief in her parents.
But she is not alone. Charlie meets kind, funny student Andrew, whose love helps her through the hard times and further unexpected tragedy. Together, can they unravel the mysteries of the past that haunt the Welsh family? And will facing up to those mysteries destroy their love for each other or make it stronger?
Could you find the strength to save your family?
Can young Charlie find the strength to save her family?
One glorious summer's day, sixteen-year-old Charlie Welsh has her privileged childhood brought to an abrupt and terrifying end when she witnesses her mother being brutally attacked in her own garden by two strangers.
With her father mysteriously away Charlie has to face up to sinister forces that seem intent on shattering her family and even her belief in her parents.
But she is not alone. Charlie meets kind, funny student Andrew, whose love helps her through the hard times and further unexpected tragedy. Together, can they unravel the mysteries of the past that haunt the Welsh family? And will facing up to those mysteries destroy their love for each other or make it stronger?
October 25, 2025
I liked this book as I do most of Pearces stories but I did not love it.
It talks of mixed race relationships, the murky underworld of crime, prostitutes and gangs all of which are still relevant.
It was too long but I liked the character developments of Charlie but the plot was a bit too contrived for me. In a city the size of London the chances of Charlie working for the same company as someone who had links to her parents and the world they lived in seemed a bit unrealistic as did the fact she managed to find Dee Dees property out in the middle of nowhere with very little to go on.
It was a nice enough story though.
It talks of mixed race relationships, the murky underworld of crime, prostitutes and gangs all of which are still relevant.
It was too long but I liked the character developments of Charlie but the plot was a bit too contrived for me. In a city the size of London the chances of Charlie working for the same company as someone who had links to her parents and the world they lived in seemed a bit unrealistic as did the fact she managed to find Dee Dees property out in the middle of nowhere with very little to go on.
It was a nice enough story though.
April 3, 2019
I absolutely love Lesley Pearse she is one of my favorite authors but unfortunately this book was not for me. I have always given her books a top 5star rating but could only give 'Charlie' a 3. I found myself skimming over quite a lot of the book towards the end! Oh well you can't live them all I suppose.
July 29, 2025
An absorbing and well written story, even if some of the meetings in the book are a bit too coincidental.
All the way through I was going to give this 4 stars, but by the time I reached the end I decided it deserves 5. Lesley Pearse is one of my favourite authors. I’ve read 13 of her books and I want to read them all.
All the way through I was going to give this 4 stars, but by the time I reached the end I decided it deserves 5. Lesley Pearse is one of my favourite authors. I’ve read 13 of her books and I want to read them all.
July 1, 2018
Another goodie from Lesley Pearse .She hooks you from the first page. Set from 1970. Sixteen year old Charlie has a great life until she sees her mother being attacked in their garden. Life becomes hard for Charlie after that and her father has disappeared too.
December 8, 2020
Good chick lit. Maybe a tad too long but otherwise good. My one sticking point was that Charlie changed at a realistically impossible rate. I know that necessity forges rapid change, but this stretched things a bit. This didn’t spoil the story though.
December 19, 2020
I like the way Lesley Pearse writes. Any easy flow to it. Got involved with the main character, Liked the plot. A big book, but was such an easy read and likeable story, I got through it pretty quick.
July 31, 2023
Exciting and grips you from the beginning.
I read this book over 20 years ago and just found it again after looking for years as I couldn't remember the Author. It was as good as I remember.
I read this book over 20 years ago and just found it again after looking for years as I couldn't remember the Author. It was as good as I remember.
September 24, 2018
A real page turner!!!! Still not one moment of disappointment in my Leasley Pearse marathon.
November 3, 2018
Nothing really stands out about this book. It was an ok story. It was kind of annoying how many times it made reference to Charlie or Jin acting a certain way because they are Chinese.
July 30, 2019
This took me longer to read than many of her other books, but it was worth persevering. I felt genuinely invested in the characters and satisfied by the way the story played out.
December 1, 2019
Amazing book,
January 2, 2020
Loved it.. 😁 Lesley Pearse never disappoints, was such a fantastic storyline with amazing characters & it had me hooked from start to finish.. 😁
June 2, 2020
Really good
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews