Betrayal

by Lesley Pearse

Eve should never have married Don Hathaway. Yes, he gave her two beautiful children - Olly and Tabitha - but he is a bully.

Worse than that, he hurts her.

But, after one drunken rage too many, she has the courage to leave him. Eve is warned that it's a difficult path, yet she needs to give her children hope for the future.

Don, however, is bitter. And getting away entirely from him proves impossible.

Until the day, Eve tries to teach him a lesson - and it all goes horribly wrong.

Eve loves her children but now she carries a terrible burden that she dares not share. Has she betrayed her and her children's futures?

Betrayal is Lesley Pearse's brilliant new pageturner.

Praise for Lesley Pearse:


'Storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail

'Gripping and suspenseful' Daily Express

'A twisting and intense read' Woman's Own

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary

376 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 6, 2023

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

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Lesley Pearse books way back when I was pregnant with my first child and on maternity leave 40 years ago now. I also got to meet her. That was exciting.

This book didn’t disappoint me either, I do love how how this author has brought her stories and plots upto modern age. What I mean by that is, some suspense and grit into them.

Having a “happy marriage “ is all anyone wants, but that wasn’t the case for Eve who married Don.

From the loving husband turned into an abuser and hurt her.

She finally escaped but did or could she get away from him forever?

The twists in this story was excitedly sublime.

The ending was very warped but conclusive.

Loved it!

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where do I start?
Got to say I don’t think I am the target audience for this book, generally I read a lot of what is classed ‘women’s fiction’ and love it but this for me actually did feel it was correctly labelled, a bit Mills and Boon ish in large swathes of it
But then here’s the contrasting thing…the book highlighted some really difficult subjects including marital abuse, grooming and suicide, to name but a few, and didn’t shy away from them, in fact it is a brutal start to the book….which then made the other parts seem so contrasted
The main character, Eve, is well played and her teenage children are very involved in all that happens to her but then towards the end her daughter does something that for me was totally out of character and changed the whole direction of the book, I just couldn’t buy into her reaction and stance at all
Yet although it took me a few days ( that’s a lot for me ) I wanted to finish the book and see the final outcome
A very confusing book to review for me as it was like 2 books joined as one, no doubt well written but maybe not for my appreciation

6/10
3 Stars

[Vanessa Mercedes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like its title, this book has betrayed me. Who are the plenty of people giving this book 5 stars?? I’ve got about 100 pages left and I am honestly waiting for it to turn my one star into a five star.
I am literally so bored with it. The first 250 pages can be explained in 4 sentences. There is absolutely nothing happening. 1. She leaves her abusive husband and goes to a woman’s refuge for a couple of weeks with her kids.
2. Moves back to her house while he has to stay away, but sometimes spends his drunken nights in the shed having a nap. 3. She accidentally on purpose sets the shed on fire and he dies in it. 4. She moves away to a new place, having money and a growing sewing business and a couple of lovey dovey flings with 2 new men that helped her with her new house.

Wow. Kill me from boredom. These are all the 4 things you need to know and you could pick this book up on page 250 and keep reading from there.
Also the writing style is written in a way my 15 year old self wrote fan fictions. Just so simple and boring.

We will see if I changed my mind once I will finish it today.

Edit/update:

I finished the book and I can add three more sentences:
5. Turns out that one of the flings is grooming/ sleeping with her daughter, so she catches him and calls the cops.
6. She confesses to the authorities that she set the shed on fire, but doesn’t get any jail time.
7. She happily lives ever after with her second fling, who she marries, and her kids. The end.
7 sentences and you missed nothing else in this book!

I am sorry. I don’t mean to be mean at all. I am sure Lesley is a great writer, this book just wasn’t for me.

[Erica⭐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eve is a battered wife who lives in constant fear of her violent husband Don. She eventually finds the courage to leave him, taking their two children, Olly and Tabitha, with her to a refuge. In due course she gains the legal right to return to the marital home with her kids. Don now lives elsewhere with his new girlfriend. However, Eve hasn't seen the last of him. He keeps retuning to his garden shed in the dead of night to sleep off a drunken stupor. Eve finally snaps and makes a terrible decision that has repercussions for everyone.

[Fiona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but I couldn't. I'm not a writer myself (but an avid reader of fiction) so I'm struggling to put into words why I didn't like it. Perhaps because the writing style was very simplistic and I guess clumsy. It reminded me of a plodding Christmas letter from someone trying too hard. I realise this review is pretty light-on but because I was so disappointed by the book and cannot fathom how many readers have scored it four or five stars, so I have persisted with finishing this review -- just like I did with the book.

[Faathimah Bookmark My World · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betrayal
By Lesley Pearse
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Ohh.. this book!!
If the title is anything to go by, I should have been warned..but, I definitely was not prepared for the amount of Betrayal I was about to witness and live through Eve!
This book touched and covered so many tough subjects, that are relevant and happening in today's times!
(Please take not of trigger warnings before you read this book)
There were times where I just wanted to grab Eve and run away..like to hell with this world and all its downsides!
And at other times, I just wanted to scream and say to her "Do the things that make YOU happy!"
In this book, we see just how strong and resilient women can be even when things literally "beat" us down! We see that sometimes the people closest to us can hurt us the most and how total strangers can become the best of friends!
We also come to see that wealth, money, status and fame does not bring happiness!
And remember there is nothing worse than a woman scorned! 😉
A solid 4 🌟 read that is great for fans of drama and true-life situations! Must read for all the feels!

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

An uncomfortable read.

So many trigger warnings in this book from domestic abuse, gaslighting, and suicide. Eve and Don’s story will be very familiar to many readers, and it was like looking through a window with horror and incredulity. Don’s visits back to the family home and his use of the shed were incredibly creepy. The decisions, the actions and the outcomes were very realistic.

Excellent writing and storytelling.

[Beccabeccabooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I jump into this review, I must stress that Ms Pearse doesn't shy away from the distressing themes in Betrayal. Not only does domestic and physical abuse recur heavily, there are also graphic descriptions of peodophelia/grooming and suicide. So please be aware before choosing to read.

Eve Hathaway's husband Don is the worst kind of bully. For years she's put up with his beating and berating towards herself and their children Tabby and Ollie. Finally, FINALLY after one too many instances of the abuse, Eve finds the courage to walk away.

By the next evening, mum and kids are staying in a women's refuge and major plans to ensure a happier future are in motion. Of course, this doesn't sit too well with Don. One night, Eve decides to teach her husband a lesson... And it goes horribly wrong.

Despite some flaws, I found Eve to be a strong and brave protagonist in many ways. All she wants is the best for her children, even if she's weighed down with such a burden that she can't share. This also means that's she has surpressed trust issues and can't fully commit to another romance in the future.

I can't help to admire Eve, Tabby and Ollie's transformation from beginning to end. Despite all the nastiness thrown at them, they've chosen to rise above it and make a better life for themselves.

Despite the drifting plotline and a crammed conclusion of events, this is classic Lesley Pearse through and through. Betrayal is a great read, if a tough one.

4.5 🌟

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long while since I've read a book by this author, despite reading so many of her early books and loving them. In this book we meet Eve. She is a mother to Tabby and Olly and wife to Don. Don is an abusive husband who has, since they married, subjected Eve to domestic abuse. One day, after a particularly vicious beating, she decides to take her children and leave him. We follow her story after this, and right from the very first page this book had me hooked. Obviously a word of warning should be said as this book does contain some situations which might be a trigger for some, and if this is the case, you may want to avoid reading it.

I loved reading this. I won't say I loved the topic, or the situations some of the characters found themselves in, but I loved how it was written and found myself unable to put it down. I have mixed feelings about Eve however. I initially felt for her and her children, no woman should have to be in a violent and toxic relationship. As the book moved on though, I found myself disliking her slightly due to reasons I won't mention for fear of spoilers! There was no doubting though the lengths Eve would go to to protect her family and for that I admired her throughout.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Bestselling author Lesley Pearse weaves her writing web of magnetism and lures you in with a tale of hard times, abuse and survival.
Eve Hathaway married a man that violently abuses her.
She knows she must get away for the sake of her children and her own life.
One day after Don comes home very drunk she decides to teach him a lesson.
But it all goes wrong and she must never tell a soul what really happened.
Living with the guilt, she begins to build a new life for herself and the kids.
But the past comes with consequences and sometimes with history repeating itself.
Can Eve live and breathe a happy life with her two children?
An engaging saga from the powerhouse that has been gifting audiences for nearly three decades.
Lesley has a reputation for writing gritty, confronting stories that don’t shy away from distressing issues.
Her historical novels have a darker theme woven through and is always with lashings of intrigue.
A strong piece of writing and storytelling that has the power to transport you and invite you into the drama.
Another great read from the established writer.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit wary of reading this one as the previous few books I’ve read by Lesley Pearse I must admit to struggling with. However as I’ve loved all her other books I really wanted to give this one a chance and I’m really glad I did.
Eve is married to Don and they have two children however not everything is as it seems and after she divorced him Eve hopes she and her children can get their life back however things don’t exactly work out and Eve could be in serious trouble . It’s difficult to say any more for fear of spoilers. What I will say is that book hooked me right from the very beginning . There are some upsetting chapters that deal with underage sex, domestic abuse and suicide which may be triggers for some readers . A well written book that I really enjoyed . Great to see Lesley Pearse back on form .

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another classic from Lesley Pearse. The emotion captured in Eve’s life is so real and compelling. Every decision she makes is for the best life for her children and she have to admire her strength and tenacity in such terrible times.

[Heather Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading 4 of her books it seems her standard theme is abusive men & female victims & this book, yet another one, so I'm done with this author. Her writings have very little substance.

[Hayley Wills · Rating 1 out of 5]

For Jess: Very disappointing … I felt myself saying “oh come on” after every plot twist. Lesley Pearse should stick to historical fiction.

[Shelves_by_sim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve thought she married the love of her life. And everytime he hit her, she told herself that it would get better, he just had a bad day, it won't always be like this. But Don's abusive behaviour got worse with each day and when he started taking his anger out on her infront of the kids, and then on her kids, she knew that it was finally time to get them out.

She goes to the police and gets in touch with a social worker who helps her leave London to flee to a refuge in Sidmouth. But after the divorce goes through, she can finally return to her home. Only, Don isn't capable of moving on, instead he harrases her every night until she decides to teach him a lesson - which goes very, very wrong.

Eve decides to permanently move her family to Sidmouth, to finally start over and to work on the interior decorating career she has always wanted. But secrets have a way of following you and Eve soon learns that even in a quaint little fisherman's town like Sidmouth, there are still monsters lurking around every corner. And sometimes those monsters are the people you trust the most.

My thoughts:
This was a grueling read. Lesley Pearse is actually one of my all time favourite authors. Her books are always so real, so tragic and yet so inspiring. Lesley's characters are always so human, with flaws and real life problems. What I love the most is how her stories just grab you and draw you in. This books plot was hectic, the characters experienced so much pain and terror, with sensitive topics that were executed so well. But it also had so much growth, so much realization and most of all, so much healing. I loved this book, I cared so deeply for the characters and the ending, even though it was a good ending for the characters, it was human, not a fairytale ending but one of absolution.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lesley Pearse’s new book Betrayal tackles many difficult, hard hitting subjects and it’s a lot darker than I had expected it to be. The book centres around Eve who is married to Don who have two children Tabitha and Olly. But life with Don is not an easy or happy one and Eve lives in constant fear of what he may do next. Right from the get go it’s evident that Eve’s life is one filled with terror and brutality as Don has a bad temper with a short fuse that can explode at any moment for no reason at all. He beats her regularly and she has suffered many broken bones. She wishes desperately that she had heeded the advice from her father and many others not to marry Don. But she can’t go back and change the past now but she does have the power to alter her future. But does she have the strength to do this? Fear has made her obedient for far too long and she wonders what would the neighbours say if she left Don? How could she raise two children on her own?

Eve, when we first meet her, was timid and shy but through no fault of her own as Don’s actions made her feel worthless, powerless and useless. She is naturally reserved having being brought up not to tell tales but finally she garners enough courage to go to the police and report what has been happening to her. She knows she needs to get away from Don, for her children not to grow up in a home where domestic violence is common place. Eve is to be admired for having the strength to do the right thing and soon herself and the children are placed in a women's refuge run by Marianne.

Marianne goes on to be a role model/mother figure for Eve always offering good advice and being there for her when she needs it. Spending weeks in the refuge means Eve starts to change and for the better. Gone is the scared women who was afraid of change, meeting new people or even trying to do things for herself as in indulging her passion of curtain making and interior design. When they divorce comes through Eve feels confident enough that she can return to the family home and start afresh but the threat of Don still lingers on.

Eve takes things into her own hands with disastrous consequences. The details of which I will not go into as it would ruin the book. But needless to say, I saw a different side of Eve emerge and this continued for a good chunk of the book. It was as if once she threw the shackles of Don and his reign of terror from her that she took on a new persona and she just went for what she always wanted to do in life. But still she harbours a secret that if it came out it would ruin her and certainly later her new found friends opinion of her. Eve decides to sell the family home and buy a new property which needs extensive renovation but Tom the builder is on hand to help with that and she forms a good and solid friendship with him.

I did find from this point on that given the dramatic first quarter of the book that things levelled out and it all became very nice and happy and things were going well and smooth sailing for Eve and the children. Time passed and it felt as if the chapters were just detailing the normal/usual events in their lives and how they were adapting to their new situation as well as detailing building progress with the new house. Eve embarks on setting up her own interior design business and it goes from strength to strength. But honestly, it all just felt a little repetitive and that there was nothing exciting or intriguing happening. Yes, I was quickly turning the pages but that’s because I was able to read through the chapters quickly as if I was constantly searching for something to grab my attention. After a strong start, I was slightly disappointed.

But then the last quarter or so of the book, things really picked up and god did the book veer off in a direction that I hadn’t seen coming but really looking back on it the clues were there for the reader to see if they had looked hard enough. I was completely surprised by what occurred and found the storyline that unfolded to be creepy and sinister. One scene in particular, although the event is told only in one paragraph had a deep and lasting effect on me and it made the overall tone of the book change. Gone were the chapters where I was growing a bit bored (I hate saying that but that was the way the book was making me feel) and bam here we have an unpredicted twist that really shook things up. Characters are forced to revaluate everything, and secrets are brought to the fore and the subject matter is hard hitting and in your face. The reader is forced to sit up and start forming their own judgements and it was fascinating to see how things were unfolding. I only wish we would have had more of this much earlier on in the book instead of what I would term the lull that did occur.

I’ve read everything that Lesley Pearse has written and for as long as I can remember I look forward each year to the publication of a new book. Betrayal wasn’t my favourite book as I found it too similar in vein to her most recent books. I loved the big epic reads of Never Look Back and Trust Me and would love to read something like that again in the future from Lesley. But it’s Lesley Pearse and I will always read anything that she publishes and the beginning and end of Betrayal made up for a lacklustre middle. If you are looking for a decent read to take away on your summer holidays this year then this is the book for you.

[Nigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

What seems to begin in thriller territory soon changes tack into a family drama that becomes increasingly hysterical as the put-upon heroine suffers a mounting pile of challenges and setbacks. It’s a bit by-the-numbers but it rubs along nicely and keeps you engaged.

[Julie Devonald-Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve is married to Don and he treats her appallingly. Battered and Bruise she she runs to a woman refuge with her children. This book is one of Lesley Pearse best

[Sally Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook which kept me company on my long bus journey home and I finished today.
It covers domestic physical abuse, paediphile grooming, suicide and miscarriage so not exactly a jolly listen. I am finding it hard to review as the abuse and grooming are extremely distressing however the suicide and miscarriage are ‘convenient’ to enable a tidy ending.

[Taylor Roussel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I accidentally got the large print version and that was throwing me off. Good book, but little stale in the middle and I didn’t like the ending lol. Wish it was maybe written from Eve’s inner thoughts. Not for me, but probably for someone.

[Sue Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed this book, I found the storyline was so good I didn’t want to put the book down!

[Mandy]

DNF. Had to stop after 80 pages. The anxiety was so high and took a few hours for it to dissipate. Couldn’t deal with it as I felt it was only going to heighten the further I got. That surprised me. Usually a frustration happens but never have I had this severe reaction.

[Sarah Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest novel from Lesley Pearse opens with the confronting and brutal issue of domestic violence. Eve Hathaway has been living in an abusive marriage with husband Don for years. Finally she finds the courage to take her two children and leave her husband but it is not an easy path to take.

Betrayal wasn’t my favourite book by Pearse but it boldly deals with some controversial and confronting issues.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve married Don Hathaway despite some small reservations. These reservations come to fruition when Don starts to physically abuse her. It starts off with small but still inexcusable harm which soon escalates to Eve needing medical attention for broken bones and other injuries. After one punch too many, Eve plucks up the courage to leave Don, taking their two children with her. They arrive in the seaside town of Sidmouth with little money and scant possessions.

Don is angry at his family’s departure and this anger compounds when Eve and the children are granted access to the family home. Don starts to make Eve’s life a nightmare and refuses to let her go quietly, using intimidating behaviour to frighten her. Eve snaps and decides to take revenge on Don, endeavouring to teach him a lesson which doesn’t go to plan. Eve tries to pick up the pieces of the family’s life and move on, but the past is never far behind.

Yet again a brilliant book from one of my favourite authors who never fails to disappoint. Such engaging characters right from the start. A gripping story with lots of unforeseen twists. Kept me riveted to my seat. A very easy 5-star rating!

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good story which dealt with some difficult issues, (abuse and grooming )…but I found it so predictable.. like many of this authors books

[Davina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I battled initially to understand why I didn’t like the book and couldn’t connect with the main character when the essence of the book was so real. Eventually I felt that it was the writing style and that the author felt disconnected from her characters instead of writing as if she was Eve. The story has a lot going for it but I felt there was very little time given to the emotions Eve and her family would have gone through which makes it hard for the reader to have the right level of empathy and connect to the characters.

[Nicky Dawson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my first Lesley Pearce book and it will be my last. It was an okay read but the writing was very simplistic. I felt like my teenage self could have written it. She covered some gritty tough topics but there was just no substance to do them justice. The writing was so plain and simple that you couldn’t really get into the characters and feel their emotions. I’ll stick to my faves Kristin Hannah or Colleen Hoover thanks.

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is very good.so enjoyed. Eve is married to Don. they have a son and daughter.to the outside world. they look the perfect couple. But Don is a bully and an abuser. After his last attack on Eve, she decides to leave him. And she and her children go to a women's refuge. She eventually gets divorced and gets the house back. But she still not safe from him won't say no more. But a very good read

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. Couldn’t finish.

[Kevin M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betrayal by Lesley Price is a highly engaging, emotional, and suspenseful read that had me hooked from the first chapter. The pacing is spot on—just enough detail to build atmosphere and tension, but never dragging. It’s the kind of book you can easily devour in a couple of sittings because you just need to know what happens next.

The characters are one of the strongest aspects of the novel. They feel authentic and relatable, each with their own flaws and strengths. I found myself genuinely caring about their choices and wanting the best for them, which made the unfolding drama even more compelling. The relationships feel layered, and the emotional stakes are high, which added depth to what could have been just another standard thriller.

Plot-wise, Price delivers plenty of intrigue and keeps the reader guessing. There are secrets, shifting loyalties, and moments of tension that land effectively. That said, one of the central twists—particularly involving the boyfriend—was a little too easy to predict. While it didn’t ruin the experience, it did take some of the shock factor out of the reveal. Fortunately, the strength of the writing and the characters kept me invested all the way through, even if I saw the turn coming.

Overall, this is a very satisfying read: dramatic without being over the top, suspenseful without feeling gimmicky, and emotional without tipping into melodrama. It’s a story about trust, deception, and the messy complications of love and loyalty, and Lesley Price delivers it with a confident hand. While the predictability of one twist kept me from giving it a full five stars, I would still highly recommend Betrayal to anyone who enjoys character-driven thrillers with an emotional core.