Stolen

By Lesley Pearse (Penguin, RRP $39)

When a beautiful blond girl is washed up on a Sussex beach with insomnia, Brighton beautician Dale thinks she knows her.

It so turns out that the girls worked together on a cruise ship through South America but had lost contact when Lotte fell under the influence of a strange religious American couple.

A lot of the story is told in flashback as Lotte gradually regains her memory. However, the danger is not over because there are plenty of secrets waiting to be revealed and someone is trying to silence her.

Will Dale also be drawn into the intrigue and danger?

This is a romantic thriller, probably top-of-the-line chick-lit. Lesley Pearse is a celebrated UK novelist and her own turbulent childhood has given her material for her work.

I would compare the style of this novel to the better-known American novelist Mary Higgins Clark. Pearse's novels contain heroines who have shown great courage.

- © Fairfax NZ News