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Faith
How far can you trust a friend?
1995, Scotland. The prison of Cornton Vale.
Laura Brannigan is in jail for murder. For two years she's been battling for justic - insisting that she didn't kill her best friend, Jackie. Yet with her spirits at their lowest ebb, she receives a letter that takes her back to a different time and memory of an old love ...
Twenty years ago was a heady time for Laura: she'd escaped an abusive home and together with new best friend Jackie she'd made a fresh start. The pair had sworn to be sisters for ever. And Stuart had come into their lives - giving Laura a brilliant summer of love.
So what went wrong in the intervening years? And why is Stuart writing to Laura now? Does he have faith in her innocence? And can he help free Laura from prison - and her past?
1995, Scotland. The prison of Cornton Vale.
Laura Brannigan is in jail for murder. For two years she's been battling for justic - insisting that she didn't kill her best friend, Jackie. Yet with her spirits at their lowest ebb, she receives a letter that takes her back to a different time and memory of an old love ...
Twenty years ago was a heady time for Laura: she'd escaped an abusive home and together with new best friend Jackie she'd made a fresh start. The pair had sworn to be sisters for ever. And Stuart had come into their lives - giving Laura a brilliant summer of love.
So what went wrong in the intervening years? And why is Stuart writing to Laura now? Does he have faith in her innocence? And can he help free Laura from prison - and her past?
609 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
171 people are currently reading
1073 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Pearse
71 books2,223 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 114 reviews
May 29, 2015
A long book (610 pages) yet despite this I
Managed to read it within the space of a week. It was easy reading and I didn't get bored, which is unusual for me. There was always something going on, plot-wise and this is
No doubt why it turned out to be such a long novel. There were many sub-plots, indeed many stories tied together here and Pearse could easily have created two separate volumes from the content had she wanted to. The thing I've noticed with Pearse's writing is that there is little focus on dialogue. This is not necessarily a bad thing but to me it prevents The reader from identifying as much with the characters; because so much is written as narrative. Description is course important but this needs to be balanced by a glimpse of the personalities in action as they interact with others. Conversations were merely an alternative way of conveying key information which left me with little regard for any of the characters
Managed to read it within the space of a week. It was easy reading and I didn't get bored, which is unusual for me. There was always something going on, plot-wise and this is
No doubt why it turned out to be such a long novel. There were many sub-plots, indeed many stories tied together here and Pearse could easily have created two separate volumes from the content had she wanted to. The thing I've noticed with Pearse's writing is that there is little focus on dialogue. This is not necessarily a bad thing but to me it prevents The reader from identifying as much with the characters; because so much is written as narrative. Description is course important but this needs to be balanced by a glimpse of the personalities in action as they interact with others. Conversations were merely an alternative way of conveying key information which left me with little regard for any of the characters
Want to read
June 8, 2012I got bored 200 pages in, felt like was gonna say in 600 pages what could be said in 300 - maybe it got better later on and I should have kept reading but I just didn't feel any connection to the main characters or want to know what happened to them
February 16, 2014
One of my 1st ever Lesley Pearce books, I abs loved it, hooked from page one. You immediately find yourself immersed in the story and picturing yourself there. The plot, characters and whole storyline is flawless, a must buy. One to really sink you're teeth into.
November 16, 2013
Another masterpiece by Lesley Pearse, a few tears shed in this wonderful book
July 6, 2016
A nice long book, having said that I did get bored towards the end. Enjoyable read, with murder mystery romance and life!
September 15, 2024
This book was not what I thought it was when I first picked it up. I thought it was going to be a romance or similar. What I got was a really gripping mystery/thriller where a woman is in prison for the murder of her best friend and a man who believes she is innocent.
It certainly had me guessing right up until the killer is exposed (I got it wrong as usual!). The romance is a side plot to the main story.
I enjoyed the read and there were certainly places I had difficulties in putting it down. I would recommend it.
It certainly had me guessing right up until the killer is exposed (I got it wrong as usual!). The romance is a side plot to the main story.
I enjoyed the read and there were certainly places I had difficulties in putting it down. I would recommend it.
January 27, 2020
Good read took a few chapters to get into it but was a good light read
March 22, 2017
Really enjoyed this book and unlike other recent reads I hadn't predicted the culprit so made a refreshing change. Yes, it's a long book but it never bored me. Will be looking for another to read by Lesley Pearse.
February 2, 2021
Another great book of good triumphing over evil and so many over relationship hurdles. If you found yourself in jail for a murder you did not commit, who could you rely upon? Lesley Pearse as always never disappoints and always allows you to slip away in her stories to London, Edinburgh or anywhere else that she writes about. I just love her books and I dread the day when I finally have read them all.
November 30, 2010
Well to my suprise I really enjoyed this book. Suprised because it's one of my sisters favourite authors and she tends to read chick lit which isn't always on the top of my list to be honest.
The story is about the life of Laura Brannigan who is in Cornton Vale womans prison for the murder of her best friend. Laura has always claimed she is innocent but noone believes her. After two years in jail and giving up all hope an old flame comes back into her life believing her innocence and vowing to prove it.
This book gripped me from the beginning, what will he find out? Was she innocent or did she do it, if not her then who and why was always in my mind (making me almost unable to put it down). There are quite a few suprises and shocks throughout the book which makes for me a page turner.
Very well written and has made me put a space on my massive tbr pile for more of LP books.
The story is about the life of Laura Brannigan who is in Cornton Vale womans prison for the murder of her best friend. Laura has always claimed she is innocent but noone believes her. After two years in jail and giving up all hope an old flame comes back into her life believing her innocence and vowing to prove it.
This book gripped me from the beginning, what will he find out? Was she innocent or did she do it, if not her then who and why was always in my mind (making me almost unable to put it down). There are quite a few suprises and shocks throughout the book which makes for me a page turner.
Very well written and has made me put a space on my massive tbr pile for more of LP books.
August 4, 2019
I found the book easy to read for about three quarters of the way, and enjoyable too. But I found it dragged on unnecessarily and could have been wrapped up much sooner. I kept reading, hoping for something extra, but was disappointed, hence only three stars
September 30, 2012
Been a long time since I've given up on a book halfway in... Not the usual Lesley pearse style unfortunately :-(
December 17, 2017
How far can you trust a friend?
Laura had a tough childhood in London. She had a broken home, lived in poverty, had no friends and desperately wanted a different life. She met Jackie when she was 16 and they vowed to be sisters forever. Meeting Jackie was one of the best things that ever happened to Laura. With Jackie by her side, Laura managed to turn her life around. She found a house for herself, got a job, and maybe even found love….
But, if you fast forward 20 years later, you’d be surprised to hear that Jackie was killed and Laura was jailed for her murder. Laura claims that she is innocent but no one believes her. Her old love Stuart starts writing to her at the prison and starts asking questions. He believes that she is innocent and vows to help her out. But with Laura’s dark past, his quest of proving her innocence proves to be quite difficult. Can he help clear her name? Can he help to free her from prison? And can he help free Laura from her past?
This is another good book from Lesley Pearse. Enjoy! *-*
Laura had a tough childhood in London. She had a broken home, lived in poverty, had no friends and desperately wanted a different life. She met Jackie when she was 16 and they vowed to be sisters forever. Meeting Jackie was one of the best things that ever happened to Laura. With Jackie by her side, Laura managed to turn her life around. She found a house for herself, got a job, and maybe even found love….
But, if you fast forward 20 years later, you’d be surprised to hear that Jackie was killed and Laura was jailed for her murder. Laura claims that she is innocent but no one believes her. Her old love Stuart starts writing to her at the prison and starts asking questions. He believes that she is innocent and vows to help her out. But with Laura’s dark past, his quest of proving her innocence proves to be quite difficult. Can he help clear her name? Can he help to free her from prison? And can he help free Laura from her past?
This is another good book from Lesley Pearse. Enjoy! *-*
March 24, 2018
I loved, loved, loved this book. If you are looking for an author to challenge your perceptions of certain types of people then this is definitely a book you should read.
The amount of time that Lesley must have spent researching into this book and the exporing of the minds of the characters really shows the depth that she is willing to go to get into their heads and understand their perspectives.
I love the way that Lesley writes, the story flows and even though the point of view changes you are able to follow the storyline with ease. She is still one of my favourite writers.
The amount of time that Lesley must have spent researching into this book and the exporing of the minds of the characters really shows the depth that she is willing to go to get into their heads and understand their perspectives.
I love the way that Lesley writes, the story flows and even though the point of view changes you are able to follow the storyline with ease. She is still one of my favourite writers.
March 21, 2019
This book gave me mixed feelings. I found that I loved yet hated the main character. As the book goes through her life leading up to her time in prison, you see so many sides to her and at times you want to tell her she deserves her time in prison but then you can't help but sympathise with her becasue she is a good person. I would rate this book with more stars but halfway through I figured out who the killer was and the ending was meh for me. I just really enjoyed the telling of her lide story so I stayed to read it.
August 6, 2019
It took me 100 pages to get into this... but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This kind of book is something I might have read 20 years ago, just as a reader... but now as I am in 3 book clubs and read a massive range literature, I wrote this author off... I thought it would bore me.
However, the characters were fab, strong females, good makes, and pearse really drew me in to love or hate them accordingly... I sort of guessed the ending because it became obvious, but there were still some surprises...
Perhaps I will read more Lesley Pearce now xx
However, the characters were fab, strong females, good makes, and pearse really drew me in to love or hate them accordingly... I sort of guessed the ending because it became obvious, but there were still some surprises...
Perhaps I will read more Lesley Pearce now xx
March 26, 2020
Questo libro racconta la disastrosa ma avvincente vita di Laura.
Laura è una donna che per metà della sua vita si ritrova ad affrontare veramente delle situazioni pesanti, fin da quando era bambina.
La più importante è sicuramente la morte di suo figlio in un incidente d'auto e la morte della sua migliore amica Jackie che la porterà ad essere accusata di omicidio e di conseguenza, ad essere arrestata per questo pur essendo innocente.
È un libro veramente bello anche se a metà storia diventa un pochino lento, ma ne è sicuramente valsa la pena.
Lo consiglio.
Laura è una donna che per metà della sua vita si ritrova ad affrontare veramente delle situazioni pesanti, fin da quando era bambina.
La più importante è sicuramente la morte di suo figlio in un incidente d'auto e la morte della sua migliore amica Jackie che la porterà ad essere accusata di omicidio e di conseguenza, ad essere arrestata per questo pur essendo innocente.
È un libro veramente bello anche se a metà storia diventa un pochino lento, ma ne è sicuramente valsa la pena.
Lo consiglio.
October 21, 2020
It was rather a long drawn out saga, but it did keep me interested enough to read to the end. I think it was a bit too long, probably could have been 200 pages shorter. Laura left her abusive home life at 15, and she was doing it tough until she met Jackie and her family. Jackie was Laura’s best friend, but in 1995 Laura is in jail for Jackie’s murder. A former lover, Stuart returns to her life and is determined to prove her innocence.
June 18, 2025
I was gripped the whole way through the book. The author has you fall in love with the character and their flaws, and the level of drama she brought in was perfect and the twists and turns! Not too much drama that you're overwhelmed but not too little you lose interest, just teasing it out of her characters. I was a big fan of the denouement, it was everything I wanted, a beautiful happy wholesome conclusion, tying up all the loose ends leaving the reader thoroughly satisfied with the result.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2025
A great plot and insight into many aspects of life, and there is a wonderful ring of truth throughout. - The horror of being innocent of a crime but in jail, the description of deprived childhoods, the indomitable human spirit, the wide variety of characters and environments, the development of the action to a satisfying end. The pace is a little slow, or this would have rated 5. Will read other titles by this author, an engrossing read despite its length.
February 4, 2022
another of Lesley’s wonderful stories
Every time I read one of Lesley Pearse books I cannot put it down. She has me hooked from the first chapter. Loved this one just as much as all the others I’ve read so far. Plenty more to look forward to and I’m sure I will get just as much pleasure from the next book I read of hers.
Every time I read one of Lesley Pearse books I cannot put it down. She has me hooked from the first chapter. Loved this one just as much as all the others I’ve read so far. Plenty more to look forward to and I’m sure I will get just as much pleasure from the next book I read of hers.
January 12, 2023
First one I've read by this author and have found it a very good read.a good insight into the lives of deprived childhood and trauma they find themselves in . And how they develop in later life. Sad and disturbing at times not really my style of book and some chapters were very explicit in detail. But still enjoyed the book.
May 11, 2023
I read this book a few years a go and really enjoyed it then. I decided to reread it again and enjoyed it even more this time round. The journey Laura went on to become a better person was amazing and although she was wrong to do a lot of the things she did she was a person with a good heart. This was a lovely story full of warmth and growth.
April 3, 2018
Into an inescapable world.
Amazing storyline, couldn't put the book down. Characters seemed so real and locations described to a point that I was there smelling the air and living along side everything that was happening. Looking forward to reading the next book.
Amazing storyline, couldn't put the book down. Characters seemed so real and locations described to a point that I was there smelling the air and living along side everything that was happening. Looking forward to reading the next book.
June 21, 2019
It's a while since I've read this, but in my mind, this stands out as the best Pearse I have read and demonstrates her abilities as a skilful story teller, not just a purveyor of historical romantic sagas.
December 10, 2023
Although this is a long book it kept me turning pages throughout. Following Laura in prison who has been charged with killing her best friend Jackie. Going back to her childhood and friendship with Jackie, entwined with family and other tales.
Lesley Pearse never disappoints me with her writing.
Lesley Pearse never disappoints me with her writing.
January 4, 2024
This book was okay, but so so so long and kind of slow. I liked some of the twists and mystery, but I think I would have liked it more in 400 pages. Also, Laura is truly a miserable person.
tw: murder, fatal car accident, child death, prostitution, drug use, more
tw: murder, fatal car accident, child death, prostitution, drug use, more
April 2, 2024
This was very long and boring in parts. I think the premise of the main protagonist being imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit and the hero saving her by proving her innocence is a bit too predictable to make this story original and the characters are all very bland. An ok read but not great.
June 26, 2024
3 1/2 stars - it just didn’t flow quite as quickly as what I expect from a LP book, but it was definitely good still. A whole lifespan is packed into this one, so it was long and took time to unravel.
January 11, 2025
3.5 stars for me. It's easy to pick up and hard to put down. The let down for me was some of the inconsistencies in the storyline and the things about some characters that just didn't quite add up. Overall, an enjoyable read though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews