New chapter for Torquay’s bestselling author

Torquay’s most successful living author, Lesley Pearse, is set to publish her 33rd novel tomorrow, 3 July – and she’s marking the occasion with a nod to the town’s rich literary heritage.

Seen posing beside the Agatha Christie statue on Torquay’s harbourfront – with her dog Barney beside Christie’s own literary canine, Peter – Pearse is celebrating two generations of female storytellers who have brought Torbay to the world stage.

Her latest novel, The Girl with the Suitcase, is another gripping historical drama from the bestselling author, whose books have sold over 10 million copies worldwide – or, as it's often noted, one is sold every four minutes in the UK. Quite how that’s calculated is anyone’s guess, but the results speak for themselves!

Set between London, Ireland and Bristol in 1941, the novel follows Mary, a shy young maid whose life changes overnight after an air raid forces her into an underground shelter with a glamorous stranger. A case of mistaken identity sets her on a journey of self-discovery, deception, and the pursuit of a second chance.

Described as “unputdownable” and “a masterclass in storytelling,” the book continues Pearse’s tradition of strong heroines overcoming extraordinary odds.

Pearse’s own life has been no less remarkable. Raised in and out of orphanages before settling in Devon, she held jobs ranging from nanny to bunny girl, from a musicians muse to a dressmaker, before becoming a bestselling author at the age of 49. Now living in Torquay, she’s a familiar face at literary festivals, a proud grandmother, and a passionate fundraiser for the NSPCC.

Pearse’s previous titles include Belle, Suspects, Trust Me and her memoir The Long and Winding Road, which is out now in hardback and due in paperback this August.