Without a Trace

by Lesley Pearse

The compelling new novel from the international number 1 bestselling author.

Coronation Day, 1953.

Molly Heywood has always been a pillar of strength for her local community, so when her friend Cassie fails to attend the Coronation Day party in the village, it is Molly who heads out in the rain to look for her.

But nothing can prepare Molly for what she is going to discover.

Now with Cassie gone and her six-year-old daughter Petal missing, it is up to Molly to head to London to uncover the past Cassie kept so well hidden.

But will Molly discover the truth before it's too late? Or has Petal disappeared forever?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Drama, Romance, Crime

409 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2015

About the author

Lesley 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.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pulled into this story really fast and enjoyed the journey so much.

Set just after the war with interesting, well developed characters and a very good story line I was gripped.

The language used in this book felt appropriate to the time period. Well researched and a pleasure to read.

Four stars.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was quickly pulled into this story, and I identified strongly with the lead character, Molly. At the beginning of the book, she discovers her friend Cassie's dead body. Cassie daughter Petal is missing, and when it appears that the police have little interest in finding her, Molly decides to try and track down Cassie's family, hoping they will put pressure on the police to launch a proper search.

Molly (who has family difficulties of her own, that were wonderfully) begins a new life in London, making friends and finding out she is far more capable than she had realised, all the while trying to find links to Cassie's past, which is far from easy when she has next to nothing to go on.

I got completely caught up in this, and there were a few unexpected twists along the way. This my second Lesley Pearse book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more of her work. 😊

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I instantly fall in love with a Lesley Pearce book as soon as I read the very first page. I have read most of her powerful, poignant and emotional dramas and find them a delight to read. As always the author covers every emotion possible in her professionally written novels. "Without a Trace" pulled me in instantly and made it impossible to put down.
Lesley always has parts in her books that have your heart fluttering with joy or your breath gasping in trepidation and this one was no exception. I loved the premise of the story set in 1953 on Coronation Day. Young Molly Heywood finds her best friend Cassie murdered and her six year old mixed race daughter Petal missing. This takes Molly on a journey to London and beyond to try to find Cassie's family. Her tale of survival in the capital city was a very entertaining read and as usual every character is well developed and a delight to engage with.
Although not the best Lesley Pearse has written, as she really has produced some first class family dramas, this was still a five star read and I will continue to follow this talented, best selling author in the future.

5 stars for the book on it's own but 4 in comparison to the author's other novels.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down Lesley Pearse is my favourite author ever. I own everything she has written and as soon as I finish her latest release I am left bereft wondering how on earth can I wait a year for my next fix? Lesley is an author you can trust to take you away from the stresses and strains of everyday life and provide you with a spellbinding tale that leaves you captivated for several hours. Without a Trace is amazingly Lesley's 23rd novel which is testament to what a spectacular author she is and the loyal fan base she has earned who like me are eager for any new writing from this wonderful author. If you are new to this author's work with this new release oh how I envy you. For you do not know what brilliant stories you will discover between the pages of all her back catalogue. I say back catalogue because once you have read Without a Trace you will be hooked and just want to read more.

Right from the opening chapter set on a wet Coronation Day in 1953, the pace of this book does not let up as we read of one girls search to expose the facts behind the death of her best friend. In the Somerset village of Sawbridge Molly Heywood is busy organising a street party to celebrate the Queen's arrival to the throne. Bad weather forces the party inside but that is not what worries Molly. Her best friend Cassie March and her daughter Petal have failed to show up for the celebrations. Molly is distressed and cycles to Cassie's isolated cottage only to discover everyone's worst nightmare. Petal is missing and Cassie has been left dead in the sitting room. So begins a journey that will take Molly to London, Rye and full circle until she finds the answers to many questions. Disillusioned with the police's effort to locate Cassie's killer, Molly finds a letter tucked away in a book from a woman called Constance in London. This provides Molly with the perfect excuse to break free from the severe constraints placed upon such a young woman.

Molly is the daughter of a local shop owner, forced to work for mere pocket money, she has been under her father's thumb from an early age. Her sister Emily left when she could not take the put downs and offensiveness any longer and so Molly and her mother face daily verbal and physical abuse while attempting to maintain a brave front to the people of the village. Obviously associating with Cassie did nothing to help Molly's situation with her overpowering father. Cassie was seen as an outsider for having a mixed race child and for the range of men she has apparently on the go at any one time. The villagers showed their prejudice towards Cassie but Molly senses a kindred spirit in her. They both have been through so much and forge a deep friendship. Throughout the book the author does an excellent job of building up an overall picture of Cassie. We never get to meet her but I felt as if I knew her just as well as Molly through her diary entries and from the people who had become friends with her. Yes her death was an awful tragic event but Molly's journey to find Petal and the real reason behind the murder is one of revelations, growth and discovery. This would never have begun had Cassie survived and awful though it may be the compulsion Molly feels would lay dormant only for shocking discovery she had made. This journey will ultimately lead her to becoming a changed person all for the better.

It was evident Molly needed to make the break from her father and become independent even if it had to be under such tragic circumstances. She leaves behind her mother and local PC George Walsh who had been her ally and hopefully will continue to be so in the future. The book takes on even more of a leap in the pace when Molly reaches London as she meets Constance and is employed in her first job. I literally couldn't put the book down as I was reading as fast as I could desperate to know what each turn of the page would bring. What I liked the most about this book was it was not solely focused on uncovering the killer equally as enthralling were the changes we see Molly go through as she realises London is not all it is cracked up to be and we can not all fall on our feet and expect everything to work out perfectly immediately. The transformation of Molly is well written, I loved her courage and tenacity and unwillingness to give up with her search for Cassie or for her own ambitions and dreams to be fulfilled. We see her blossom before our very eyes all innocence and trust is forgotten as she finds her way in the world to the place where she is meant to be. I was with her every step of the way, angry at some events that transpire in London and elated as she may be finding love but all the time rooting for a happy ending both for her and for Petal.

This is really a just one more chapter kind of book, my eyes were closing as I read late into the night but I had to find out what happened to Cassie and would Petal be discovered either alive or dead. There was so much happening and lots that I never saw coming at all. I like to be kept guessing as to the outcome of a story and Lesley dropped a few hints but when the reveal came I was sat there open mouthed with how cleverly and unexpectedly everything came into play. It was nail biting stuff as the tangled web began to unravel. Even right up to the last few pages Lesley packed in as much as she possibly could and my emotions went from happiness, to anger and sadness and back again. Really a kaleidoscope of feelings that only reaffirmed for me what an amazing author Lesley Pearse truly is. With a wide ranging cast of supporting characters that all added that special something this book has all the ingredients you need for a blissful few hours spent lost in the world of Molly as we see her transform from a meek young girl to an empowered woman through her daring, ambitious, valiant efforts. With this new book Lesley Pearse has proven she can turn her hand to a wide range of subjects and deal with each in a unique and epic way.

For me Lesley Pearse is the queen of the compelling story that has you emotionally invested in the characters right from the beginning. You really feel as if you are there alongside Molly as she battles through life to find her happy ending and to uncover the truth surrounding Cassie's death. This is a novel of mystery, romance and also of a journey. We see Molly's full transformation from a young girl longing for independence but yet unwillingly to break free from her father's grip for the sake of her mother's suffering to a strong woman who through sheer self determination achieves her fulfilment for herself and justice for her friend. Without a Trace is simply an unmissable book, chock full of depth and emotion that only this author can achieve, I loved every minute of the stunning story and all it's twists and turns. This should be on every person's summer holiday reading list this year a guaranteed exciting, engaging read that you will gain many new fans for Lesley and will leave old fans deeply satisfied.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the 1950s and beginning on Coronation Day in 1953, Without A Trace is a story populated by colourful characters who the reader will really care about.

Molly Heywood lives in a small Somerset village. Molly is a kind, warm and loving girl despite living with her brutish, violent and critical father and her timid, nervous mother. Molly's sister Emily fled the family home as soon as she turned sixteen, and Molly longs to escape too, but would never leave her mother alone with that awful man.

Molly has befriended Cassie and her small daughter Petal. Cassie is a newcomer to the village, and is something of a mystery and is also the subject of village gossip. An unmarried mother with a mixed race child she dresses in tight skirts, dyes her hair bright red and holds her head high; Cassie is a breath of fresh air to Molly, despite her reluctance to reveal any personal details about her background.

When Molly finds Cassie dead in her small cottage, and little Petal missing, her world changes completely. The Police do not seem to be interested in finding Petal, or the murderer. Molly is determined that she will find Cassie's family, surely they will want to find Petal, to make sure that she is safe?

Lesley Pearse takes Molly and her readers to the riches of London's Oxford Street, and to the poverty of the the East End. Molly's trusting nature gets her into situations with people she never thought that she would meet, in places that are alien and so different to life in a sleepy village. Through all her troubles and sadness, Molly remains determined and strong. Her experiences with her abusive father have strengthened her character far more than she could ever have imagined.

Lesley Pearse deals with emotive issues within the story of Without A Trace. The 1950s were hard times despite the end of the War and people were still nervous of change and suspicious of anyone who may be different. Laws were still in place that actively encouraged prejudice and discrimination, and the author cleverly weaves these into Molly's story.

Twenty two books by Lesley Pearse have delighted me over the years, and I'm thrilled that Without A Trace is just as enjoyable as her previous books. Molly is another of this author's trademark strong women, the whole story is gripping, and compelling from the very first page.

Lesley Pearse is one of the greatest storytellers out there. Without A Trace is unforgettable, it is told from the heart and is really very very good.

[Kylie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

This was my first book by this author, and I don't think that I will bother reading any more. It was just ok. I liked the idea of the story - a young woman kept under the thumb by an abusive father, discovers the body of her friend - but - stranger, and her friend's daughter missing. It could have been a stunning tale of suspense. Instead it seemed a series of events only sort of linked together, a lot of conveniently timed things (deus ex machina really), and that style of writing which reads (in my mind) with the voice going up at the end of each sentence.

It frustrated me, because there was enough in it to make me care about Molly, but the situations she found herself in were either poorly executed, ridiculous, or rendered meaningless because of sudden unexplained changes in other characters or situations.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Lesley Pearse. Review to follow.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Lesley Pearce books but found this one slow,molly is a good character but it was okay story for me.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted in full http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2015...

Without a Trace is Lesley Pearse’s 23rd novel, which is a fantastic achievement. Without a Trace is also the first book of Lesley’s I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading and if her other books are anywhere near as strong as this one, which I’m pretty convinced they are, I’m in for such a treat when I go back and read them. Without a Trace was an incredibly captivating read and I mean it when I say I don’t think another book has gripped me this much probably all year. I was hooked from chapter one and as the storytelling starts off at an even pace, the tension quickly begins to build, with secrets bubbling to the surface and I found myself reading at breakneck speed, eager for more to unfold. Despite its 400+ pages, I read Without a Trace in one go and I kept willing it to last that little bit longer because I really didn’t want to see the story come to an end.

It’s Coronation Day, 1953. Somerset. It’s raining relentlessly and the village of Sawbridge is bustling in preparation for the street party celebrations, which are forced to take place inside instead. The scene was set quickly and with ease by Lesley, and straight away I could imagine the scene in front of me with the lively atmosphere and the chaos brewing. In Molly Heywood’s case, there’s far more than the party on her mind. Her friend, Cassie, and Cassie’s daughter, Petal, haven’t showed up. Molly knows how unusual this is, especially because of how excited Petal was about showing off her costume. As Molly goes to investigate, she’s faced with the brutal scene of Cassie’s dead body sprawled on the floor. And Petal is nowhere to be found.

The book starts off quickly and brilliantly. I was shocked at the state Cassie was in, even though the reader knows she’s going to be found dead. It was a horrific scene for Molly to arrive at but she’s brave and decides to confront reality, to find out what happened to Cassie and even more importantly, find out if Petal can still be found and saved herself. Molly seeks help from George, her friend and policeman. He’s caring and professional, working hard to discover the truth about the events on Coronation Day. I was so intrigued by what had happened. How did Cassie die? Was Petal alive? Would Molly be able to play a part in getting to the bottom of the mystery? I had so many questions and Lesley answered each one spectacularly.

Without a Trace tackles so many brutal, upsetting themes. Seeking comfort in her own home was not something Molly was able to do. At 25, she lives with her parents but she does not lead an easy family life. Her father is violent and abusive, verbally and physically. He lashes out at Molly and her mother, not to mention his other daughter who already found her lucky escape. Molly’s mum appeared too weak to stand up for herself. I was urging her to leave him, because her husband was vile and only caused damage, never showing affection, but she was stubborn in sticking to her wedding vows. She was married to him, for better or worse, and despite all the attacks on herself and the people she loved, she didn’t see leaving him as an option. I was hugely fascinated by Molly’s father and his choices and characteristics. Mentally, he was messed up and I really wanted to see if it would be possible to learn of, and if so understand, any of his motives for being so abusive. As well as wanting to know why he was violent, I wanted to see if he would ever feel regret, or sadness, if he would ever go even further than I thought possible. Lesley’s writing of the Heywood family was so startlingly honest and they were very powerfully told and explored as a family. I felt such sadness for Molly and her mother and how frightened they were.

In a desperate bid to escape from her father and try and further uncover the truth of what happened to Cassie and Petal, Molly makes the tough choice to leave home, leave behind her mother, and head to London. One single letter has led her to believe that she could find out more about her friend Cassie in the capital city, and maybe she’ll be able to find her precious, sweet daughter Petal too. I thought the author’s description of London was great – a very realistic portrayal of the darker, grimmer side to the city which isn’t explored enough in fiction, I don’t feel. Some of the people Molly meets, the situations she encounters, the things she has to face are the stuff nightmares are made of but in a way, I couldn’t help but feel like if Molly could get herself to safety, the experience of London could help her strengthen as character, believe in herself more and feel more courageous and ready to face the world. She does seem to have inherited a bit of that fearful side her mother has and so as this book goes on, I was hoping to see Molly come out of her shell a bit more and turn from that scared young woman into someone extremely capable of standing up for themselves and getting through a life set in the time of such prejudice and judgment.

I thought character development in Without a Trace was thorough and wonderfully done. Other than just Molly, we meet several characters, all different and all adding to the plot. Some, you think you can trust and are proved wrong with. Others, you’re hoping will be honest and loyal and a help to the main course of the story. Mostly, I discovered that people are changeable and you can never quite know what to expect from them, but you know, I still bought into every single one of them.

I was also surprised by just how much I was moved by Cassie’s story. She felt like such a tough, spirited character to me. Whilst so many others felt she should be ashamed at having a mixed-race daughter, when that wasn’t the ‘done thing’, we learn the Cassie would never let them hold her back or give her grief. Cassie felt like an inspiration and I was left wondering whether the course of the story was going to make me change my mind over her. I was never sure quite what we were going to find out.

More than just having strongly built characters, the entire story in this book was multi-layered and full of depth. I expected this book to be almost entirely about the search for Petal but that does not give credit to Lesley’s writing at all. There are so many stunning strands to this novel and though the main theme is an emotional one, I was thrilled to see that Molly does get to grow and experience some happiness along the way. Making friends, working some place where she isn’t being controlled by her father, being distracted by men and being knocked down but getting back up are all the kinds of things I wanted Molly to go through, to build her as a character and introduce her to an actual life outside the walls of an abusive family home. That’s not to say the mystery of Cassie and Petal was not compelling enough on its own. It seriously was. Without a Trace had breaktakingly good storytelling with extraordinary secrets revealed and highly unpredictable twists throughout that were still making my jaw drop, even right at the very end. What an amazing novel.

(review copy)

[Jean Overbeck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Am I the only person who hated this book? It is a ridiculous, unbelievable story full of one-dimensional characters. We are reminded constantly that the heroine, Molly, is loved by everyone, is kind, generous and can do no wrong. When she is fired from her job it is because her supervisor is jealous that she is loved by everyone!! It seems unlikely that someone who grew up with a violent father and timid mother would have turned out so well. All the other characters in the book are either good or bad - no grey areas for Ms Pearse. And doesn't the poor lovely get into some terrible scrapes but it all turns out alright in the end.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fan of Lesley's books, she is now an automatic buy for me. I didn't find this as compelling as her older books but after a slow start, the book did grab me thankfully. If you are after a good, easy read you will enjoy. Probably a three and a half for me but will round it up to 4!!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and light-hearted (serious issues dealt with in a kindly manner!). A bit of family drama and a bit of mystery. This is a good story but nothing spectacular.

[Telma Oliveira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dos sete livros que já li da autora este é aquele que menos gosto.

A autora divaga bastante na historia do desaparecimento da criança centrando-se na vida de Molly e nas suas dificuldades, isto mais ou menos até a página 200.

Na página 300 já sabemos o que aconteceu a esta criança, o problema é que depois ainda temos mais 100 páginas onde nos é descrito o que se passou e o que levou aquelas pessoas a fazerem isto a esta criança e é feita uma descoberta que achei um pouco descabida e no final ocorre uma tragédia que achei completamente desnecessária.

São abordados alguns assuntos no livro como a homossexualidade, a violência domestica e o racismo que acho que foram pouco trabalhados e que podiam ter enriquecido a historia.

Além de ser uma das minhas autoras favoritas achei que este livro é a junção de partes de outros que a autora já escreveu e que acabou por ser um livro "sem um assunto definido".

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I really expected this book to be a very slow moving and a simple tale of love but I was very pleasantly surprised at the depth of the story. It did have some obvious goodies and baddies but had some unexpected twists and turns to keep you guessing and so I found that I had to keep going and even started reading for longer each day because I needed to know just how it all ended. I did get confused at one point on page 102 because it stated that Molly had been given a map by George to help her when she got to London. Then on page 111 it says that Simon’s map had been easy to follow! I reread that section a couple of times to make sure that I had read it correctly, but hey ho, whoever gave her the map, and I suspect that it was actually George, it helped her on her trip to London and wasn’t crucial in any other way. A great read and I have already bought ‘Rosie’ to try another of Lesley’s books.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book and will read more by the same author in the very near future.
What I loved most about this book is that the story isn't only about Molly's quest to find little Petal, it's also a story about her freeing herself from the influence of her brutish father and resigned mother. Molly's character is amazing, she's loving and ready to help at any time, but she's by no means powerless. Sometimes naive, but Molly faces any challenges thrown at her with a vicious strength, which is why I was so impressed with her character. There's too many female characters that just sit and cry at the injustice of life.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 22 amazing books, once again my favourite author Lesley Pearse does not disappoint with her latest book Without a Trace, superb writing I loved it!

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 Stars

Another enjoyable read from Lesley Pearse. Kept me guessing who did it and it certainly wasn't one without it's fair share of drama's.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

She sure knows how to keep you page turning. Such a heart warming story woven with sadness and intrigue. A young girl with an abusive father and a loving but weak mother goes against all odds to solve a mystery and find love.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is Coronation day 1953 and in the Somerset village of Sawbridge, grocer’s daughter Molly Heywood notices that her friend’s daughter, Petal, is not at the children’s party that she has organised. Molly slips out and cycles up into the wood where Cassie and 6 year old Petal live.
What greets Molly is shocking – her friend is lying dead on the hearth whilst Petal is missing. Disappointed in the police investigation in her friend’s death and the search for missing Petal, Molly decides to take matters into her own hands.
Molly’s investigation takes her to London and beyond to search for the identity of Cassie’s killer. However, as she gets closer her investigation gets more and more dangerous. Could Molly be in danger of sacrificing her own life in her desperate search for Petal?
“Without a Trace “is a compelling and heart-warming story from one of the best story tellers around. What makes this book so enjoyable is that it has a bit of everything in it – family saga, romance but also mystery and intrigue which made me want to keep turning to pages until the very end.

[K.M. Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lesley Pearse... Well, well, well... I'm not going to explain the story, because it will give it sway for anyone that hasn't read it yet. Crime, murder, abduction, poverty and yet Molly still manages to get a happy ending. I never in a month of Sunday's expected any of the outcomes in this book. I really loved the Belle trilogy by Lesley, but this to me was the best I've read by her. I can't wait to figure out what books I'm still to read by her, because they're all fab reads. My bookshelf is full of Lesley's books. Keep up the good work! :-)

[Angela Free · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Lesley Pearse has such a talent for taking me away from everyday drudgery. I loved Molly in this story, and George the policeman. I could just picture everything all the way along. It's an easy book to read but it's not slow by any means. At one particular point, I was reading this book in my lunch break at work, I almost shouted out "Oh no! Please don't hurt her! Molly, quick! Get away!" I won't tell you what happened but you'll know the bit I mean.

[Heather Manerakis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty amateur in its style. At some points it was just boring and other times I was really into it. Still, the random dropping of characters without decent explanation really irritated me and the mystery was juvenile and predictable. Don't think I'll pick up another one of this authors books but can't say I didn't like this one either. Decent beach read

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow start with this book but I soon got drawn into the story of Molly - the murder of Cassie and Petal disappearance - with a tanled love story along the way. A classic saga.

[Liz Balaam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately not my favourite by Lesley Pearse. I also found a number of editing issues and the heroine was a bit of a drip.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent read from one of my favourite authors.

[Brenda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great read.hooked from the start.

[Deborah O'Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book by a great author Lesley Pearse never fails to deliver...

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

i did't think it was one of her best

[Ms Rachel Bolsover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Again a wonderful story from one of my favourite authors. The story of Molly and her struggles throughout the book. I didn't want to put the book down.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still one of my favourite authors always comes up with a good story and a little bit of a twist. Recommend