We’re delighted to be sharing Laura’s thoughts about The Girl with the Suitcase.
“I am always excited to read a new Lesley Pearse. Her writing is consistently descriptive, thought-provoking, and engaging, and The Girl with the Suitcase is no exception.”
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Here’s more info about the book:
- Category : Historical Fiction
- Publisher : Penguin
- Publication date : 26 Feb. 2026
- Language : English
- Print length : 416 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1405962224
- ISBN-13 : 978-1405962223
London, 1941
When Mary meets a glamorous stranger named Elizabeth she realises their lives couldn’t be more different. Elizbeth is beautiful and charming, about to set off on a dazzling adventure to Ireland where she’s inherited a grand house. Mary, shy and meek, has nothing to look forward to but the dreary life of a maid in Hampstead.
But when an air raid forces them to take shelter underground Mary’s life is suddenly changed forever. After waking up in hospital, injured but alive, the nurse mistakes her for Elizabeth and hands over her suitcase with Elizabeth’s money and tickets to Ireland inside.
This is Mary’s chance to escape the hardship of her life and start afresh.
Will she take it and what could go wrong?
Review The Girl with the Suitcase
Set during the Second World War, the novel opens with two women meeting shortly before a bomb raid. Elizabeth is vibrant and eager for adventure, while Mary, a maid, is weary and clearly carrying a story of her own. When Elizabeth reveals that she has inherited a house in Ireland, she casually invites Mary to accompany her — an invitation that feels impulsive, yet full of possibility.
That same evening, disaster strikes. This pivotal moment not only changes everything but also gives Mary the chance to escape a life she has only ever dreamed of leaving behind.
As always, this is another beautifully written story from Lesley Pearse.
The characters are well developed, and I found myself truly rooting for Mary to succeed. Her journey is filled with moments of happiness, heartbreak, and real terror, making it both emotional and compelling.
I particularly enjoyed the two women who support Mary at different stages of her life — one in childhood and one in adulthood — each playing a vital role in shaping who she becomes.
An excellent and deeply satisfying read.
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Author Info
International bestselling author Lesley Pearse has lived a life as rich with incidents, setbacks and joys as any found in her novels.
By the mid sixties she was living in London, sharing flats, partying hard and married to a trumpet player in a jazz-rock band. She has also worked as a nanny and a Playboy bunny, and designed and made clothes to sell to boutiques.
It was only after having three daughters that Lesley began to write. She published her first book at forty-nine and has not looked back since.
Lesley is still a party girl.
Keep up to date with Lesley Pearse on the Penguin website.
