A great start to a new series to me. Great characters and loved the overall storyline. Look forward to reading more books if his series. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. My thanks also to TBConFB for the opportunity too.

The Silent Woman is the first in the Cat Carlisle series set between the two World Wars this story sets the scene for the further books to follow. I gave this story a 4 stars or 8/10.

Cat (Catherine) Carlisle is trapped, her marriage is floundering. Living in a house that her husband's single sister Isobel runs isn't an ideal situation, in fact it's hell on earth.

Cat is aware that her husband is embroiled in something, but what he's actually involved in she's not completely sure. When an old family friend recruits Cat to inadvertently spy on her husband and swap some of his paperwork to out manoeuvre other people, namely the Germans.

Can Cat act in such a way, only she knows the answer to this question and armed with a plan of sorts she finds herself embroiled in situations that she hadn't accounted for. When the finger of blame is pointed at her, she finds herself in deep water that she has to fight her way out of in any way she can.

This is a well written story that deals with family secrets, espionage, love and so much more. It's a great read and setting the scene well for further books in this series, this character driven story is well worth grabbing a copy of if you've not already read it.

I requested this boo in error however read and enjoyed it. An excellent start to a series - I'm already looking forward to reading more about Cat Carlisle and her spying adventures in WW2 London. Espionage isn't normally my thing however I liked the writing style, it flows beautifully and is easy to read. There is a whole cast of interesting and likeable characters, my favourites being the leading lady, Cat Carlisle, and her trusty maid, Annie. Of course, there is the odd villain to add a bit of spice! I had fun trying to unravel the plot to find out just who the miscreant was. The period setting of pre-war London was really well done and although Cat and her aunt are unconventional and interesting, they are still women of their day.

What a wonderful book, this is what I would call a serious ‘Girl Power’ book. Not only have we got a fabulous lead heroine but the villain is a woman too. It’s about time that we had a book with a strong female led cast of characters. This is the first I have read by this author and it most certainly will no be the last, I have fallen in love with her clever and articulated writing style. This book is fresh and ridiculously addictive to read, this is only book one in the Cat Carlise series but I am hooked, I can’t wait to see if there will be more.

This is a pre-ww2 set historical fiction with a mystery/thriller twist to it that will capture the readers imagination and attention from off. I love a good old fashioned spy thriller, come one who doesn’t? And this has to be one of the best I’ve read, what really makes this book so engaging is that the story is very character led, Catherine the heroine is just brilliant. She finds herself in a loveless, unhappy marriage while her husband is off with the Air Ministry poor Catherine is stuck with her awful sister-in-law. She is desperate to escape, then out of the blue she finds a way. Without giving too much away, she finds herself in the middle of a dangerous spy game, with an added murder – you know just to keep everyone on their toes 😉

I really liked Catherine, she may at first come across as a meek little wife trying to out some excitement into her life but there is more to this young woman then that. I really admire her, she is brave, loyal and has real inner strength that you see come out as the story moves along. The secondary characters are brilliant, I particularly like the villain, such a great baddie and a woman to boot – it’s about time we had a good female baddie.

The story takes the reader on a fast and furious game of cat and mouse, it’s stylish, clever and completely engaging. You will be at the edge of your seat as the story moves towards its brilliant ending, I cannot recommend this enough. It has high intensity thrills, spy’s, great characters and a great atmospheric plot. If you love the likes of Pam Jenoff or Steve Berry then this is the book for you, I cannot wait to see what comes next.

The setting for this book was a little different from the usual darkness of wartime, and refreshingly so – 1937, life going on much as usual, the threat of war barely visible but steadily escalating in the background. The prologue is an absolute cracker, so well done, setting the context and scene for one of the characters – with clues aplenty around later twists and turns of the story for those who choose to look for them. But red herrings abound in this book, and when the publishers called it “gripping historical fiction” they really did get it absolutely right.

The household where the story is primarily set feels more late Victorian than pre-WW2, but is absolutely perfectly drawn for the tangled web of lies and secrets in this well-told story with a gothic edge that had me absolutely engrossed throughout. Cat Carlisle is a wonderful focus for the story – brave, feisty and independent, passionate about what she believes in, fierce when defending others and righting wrongs. There are though so many excellent characters – the obnoxious sister-in-law with her charitable works and bitterness, her subservient companion, Cat’s cold husband, the brandy-drinking lodger and the rather wonderful bohemian aunt. And everyone’s favourite – other than Cat – will surely be little Annie, fleeing from her home only to land in the middle of a world considerably more dangerous.

The world of espionage isn’t my natural milieu, but maybe I need to try it more often – I really loved this world of cryptic phrases, secret missions, potential assassins and the passing of papers on park benches. As well as being a great read, this book is real fun, edge of seat drama lightened by wonderfully sassy exchanges, and a surprise around every corner. I have only one – very minor – criticism, and that’s the occasional use of “gotten” in a book that’s otherwise as English as cream scones and tea. But I can easily forgive it – I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and absolutely raced through it. More, please…!

Cat is caught in a loveless marriage. She soon finds herself caught in a web of murder and espionage. It was a light quick read. The author gave us vivid details of Germany in WWII. However, it had a slow buildup and took a while it for the plot to start going.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me engaged the entire time. I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I would highly recommend to all my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would highly recommend this book to my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!!!!

Review I really enjoyed reading this historical mystery. The setting is in Pre-World War 2 England which really works well with the spy/mystery aspect of the story. My favorite character was the main character, Catherine. I love that she has the strength and courage to go against society rules to seek out happiness. I also like the supporting characters of Annie, Aunt Lydia, and Thomas all of which have strong likable personalities. This is a well-written book with well-paced suspense interwoven into the lives of these characters. This is a great start to a new series, the only thing I had a problem with was the prologue (I just kept getting distracted but the info it supplies comes into play later in the book) after I got past it I couldn’t put the book down. I really enjoyed the spy aspect of the mystery. I would recommend this book to historical and cozy mystery lovers alike.

I received this book from Netgallery. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.

The Silent Woman by Terry Lynn Thomas is a seamless mix of historical fiction and mystery. It opens in pre WW2 Berlin as Hitler’s power is rising and suspicion is part of everyday life, before switching to London where we meet Catherine Carlisle, desperate to escape the constrictions of a withered marriage. Part espionage thriller, part domestic noir, the two story lines thread together with themes of mistrust and threat. World events are inevitably propelling Britain and Germany towards war, whilst inside the Carlisle household dark secrets risk placing family members in danger.

It was interesting to be reminded of the many expectations placed on women at the time, during a period still within living memory. However, Catherine, known as Cat, inspired by her independent spirited Aunt Lydia, refuses to be cowed by the norms and sets off on a career path that forces the Carlisle household to change in ways no-one could have foreseen. The first in a series, The Silent Woman sets the scene, with Thomas melding history and mystery with ease.

I read this book in one sitting as it kept me engrossed from the beginning to the end. It is a very well written historical novel set in 1937 London and I hope it is the first of a new series of spy novels featuring Cat, and Annie too, as I liked both characters enormously.

I want to thank the author and publisher for sharing a digital copy of this book with me via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have never read anything by Terry Lynn Thomas before, but was drawn in by the striking cover and interesting description. I am quite grateful I had the opportunity to read this title. I thought it was a well written historical non-fiction. Set during World War II with historical background and setting, but that wasn't the main plot of the story. I liked the espionage, the mystery around who was stealing information and who committed the murder. I had guesses as I read, but was pleased to find I was wrong at the end as it wasn't obvious. There were good characters and, interesting plot, in a clean and well written story. I would happily recommend this to friends and family as well as gathering more by this author for myself.

I was engrossed in this book from the beginning, and why wouldn't you be. With good characters, added with mystery, murder, espionage, double dealings, spies and intrigue, this a perfect combination for a fabulous debut.
Looking forward to book 2.

Thank you netgalley, HQ Digital and Terry Lynn Thomas for allowing me to read and review this book.

Oh My where to start, The Silent Woman by Terry Lynn Thomas, wow. I did not want to put it down and when I did I felt so guilty and desperately wanted to get back to it. Do not try to adult while reading this book. I promise you are going to want to sit and read this in one sitting. You are going to want to shut the world off while you devour this spy mystery. Set in England, just before the second world war there is so much historial intrigue and mystery in this one, that it reads like a more serious version of a Rhys Bowen novel. I found that while this story was not technically a cozy it made me feel quite cozy in the end. I found that the main character "Cat" was completely relatable, her unassuming nature and the feelings of being stuck because of her place in society was palpable. Her heartache and loss struck a chord with me and endeared her to me almost immediately. There are some truly great twists in this book, historical hierarchy and great questions raised about British and German society. I absolutely loved this book. The imagery that the words written by Terry Lynn Thomas wrote will stay with me for a long time to come. If you are a cozy mystery fan, a historical mystery fan this is a great read for you. Mystery, intrigue and a must read. This book is out now and I love the cover!

I am a great reader of historical fiction and was looking forward to reading this after reading such good reviews. I did not enjoy it that much as I found the storyline predictable which made me soon lose interest.

Thank you Terry Lyn Thomas and Netgalley for a copy of this book.
Wow what a great History Mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Cat, Lydia and Annie and I cannot wait for their next adventure.
Thank you Terry Lyn, you are definitely now on my watch list.

As a big fan of historical fiction, I knew right away that I will love this book. However, I was very surprised by Catherine's courage and fearfulness.

After fifteen years and loveless and childless marriage, Catherine decided to leave her husband and moved out of Carlisle's mansion that she is sharing with her husband, his sister Isobel and her secretary Marie. But in order to move out, Cat needs to save money first, and that's when her late father's friend comes in. Reginald asks her to deliver sealed envelopes in certain locations in exchange for a generous fee. Next, she is asked to switch the documents that are in her husband possession. All the tasks seem to be harmless until her husband is found dead in his study. Now, that Reginald is out of reach, Catherine needs to find the way to clear her name without revealing her little spy secret.

The Silent Woman is alluring and delightful read that I couldn’t put down. Gripped from the start, Catherine's life is captivating, that you won’t want to miss. However, her's is not the only story that needs your attention. Every character, Isobel, Annie, Marie, Blackie, Thomas and Marlena X, have little secrets that worth finding out. I hope this is the beginning of a long-running series as Catherine is a very well crafted character and the mystery worked well with lots of twists and turns. My thanks to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Terry Lynn Thomas is definitely on my radar for future reads.

I really enjoyed this fascinating historical thriller. I Iove historical fiction especially when it is set around WW2 and features spies or the resistance. It always helps add to the tension and atmosphere as you realise that some people might have actually done the things described in the book. I always wonder if I would have had the courage to stand up to Hitler and try and make a difference.

This story drew me in from the very intriguing prologue regarding a tense situation. I immediately wanted to read more to discover what happens to the characters involved and if they survived.

My favourite character was Catherine. I really admired her strength, courage and determination. It would have been very easy for her to toe the line and do as society and her family expected but the fact she doesn’t really shows her character. It was quite startling reading about what rights a woman had at this time, which wasn’t actually that long ago, and how much control men had. Cat really pushes against this and refuses to conform. Her arguments with her sister in law were brilliant and helped add to some comic moments in the book.

The gradual unraveling of the mystery of what happened and who the spy was is brilliantly done and had me guessing until the end. The pace of the book is perfect being neither too fast or slow and ensured that the book was quite hard to put down.

This is the first book by Terry Lynn Thomas that I have read and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thank you to HQ Digital for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.

If you like thrilling historical fiction with some fabulous female characters you’ll love this book!

Set in a fascinating historical period, where Nazi Germany's nationalistic aims created unspeakable dark times for many. In stark contrast, the British establishment turned a blind eye to the interwar years' atrocities, until powerful, forward-thinking people forced them to act. The Carlisle family is wealthy and influential, but the glossy exterior hides emotional cruelty, festering anger and secrets that would rock the society they live in.
Easy to read this is an absorbing novel, the historical detail gives depth to a simple plot, but I would have liked more, to let me feel what living at that time was like. The first chapter set in Germany is pivotal and underscored with menace. What follows is well written, but the danger Cat the heroine faces is narrated rather than demonstrated by the protagonist through actions and emotions. Espionage is a dangerous world, but I didn't feel the threat, just knew that it existed.
The characters lack vibrancy. Much of Cat's motivation is as a result of her crumbling marriage, and yet the reader knows little about her husband and the two rarely interact. Isobel and Cat's relationship is toxic; you can feel the anger and envy. The other character interactions also need strong emotional depth to make them believable.
A good story but for me, it lacks authentic, believable characters.
I received a copy of this book from HQ Digital via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This novel was set in 1937 and followed the perspective of three characters in order to portray all angles of the story. I enjoyed the historical aspects of society and the patriarchal views and the immense class divide was felt prominently throughout the book.

I found it interesting to read a book set in the year before WWII broke out. It also gave some context as to what was happening in Germany at the same time and how contrasting the circumstances were in England. I think this aspect could have been developed more though. 

The main character, Catherine, was in a loveless marriage after fifteen years and also had a volatile relationship with her sister-in-law who lived in the same house with them. When Catherine married her husband, she was madly in love according to her memory. The fact that we are introduced to the couple after fifteen years and are told that the marriage is now completely devoid of love, made it feel somewhat forced. There was hardly any interaction between them and her husband had hardly any presence in the book. I think it would have added more substance to it, if the reader could actually witness at least a more detailed memory of how the relationship actually reached where it was.

The fact that Catherine suddenly and urgently wanted to find a way out of her trapped marriage felt like a reach. I couldn't see it because I couldn't see the development. 
Other than that the plot was interesting and it kept me reading... In a bid to earn some of her own money, Catherine starts doing some very simple and easy courier work. She soon realises, it is more complicated that it first appeared.

Catherine finds herself entangled in a series of events which unfold beyond her imagination. She also becomes a part of a world which she has had no dealings or experience of (yet she miraculously develops natural skills for it).

The plot was somewhat predictable at times and I could see where it was going fairly early on. There were one or two minor twists which I hadn't thought of and I was intrigued to find out all of the answers in the end.

Overall it was a fairly interesting novel. An easy read of what could be a very serious and in depth topic. The plot was paced well and fitted together like a puzzle in the end. For me, the characters could have been more developed though.