Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

The Family Secret by Terry Lynn Thomas is Historical Fiction full of mystery, suspense and thrills. Everyone has secrets to keep. This book is full of action, twists and turns. on every page. I felt a little lost at times with all the characters, but perhaps that is just me. The characters seemed very realistic in their time period. I found this book entertaining and well worth reading.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from netgalley.. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.

This is the second book in the Cat Carlisle series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel, but I would suggest reading the first, if only to get to know more about the main character of the books, and what makes her tick.

I felt as if there was less focus on Cat this time, which is what made The Silent Woman such a strong read. The taking hold of her life and becoming the woman she is supposed to be, despite all of the obstacles in her way. I felt that element of Cat was missing in this story.

The cosy mystery element of the series played more of a significant role this time, perhaps to the detriment of any possible secret squirrel activities ordered by Sir Reginald and delivered by Thomas.

When the narrative switches from Thomas to Phillip I had to go back and check I was still reading the same book, because the secondary characters play just as strong a part in this story I wasn’t sure if it was still the same one.

The impending war, the fear and the changes due to the impact of this threat play a secondary role. It plays along silently in the background, as lives go on in semi-normality. People still commit crimes, fall in love, betray each other and try to carry on as if life as they know it isn’t changing forever as they go about their business.

On a side note in regards to Phillip – does a leopard change his spots? Extra strong bleach perhaps?

It’s a cosy mystery series that sometimes veers into the spy genre with plenty of memorable characters. It has a comfortable feeling to it, a pleasant read with a family secrets, snide characters and people determined to find the truth.

The review will be published on 2nd March on my blog (onemoreword.uk).

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I wasn’t completely wowed by The family secret by Terry Lynn Thomas but I was entertained.

Fancy a historical whodunnit with a slight Downton Abbey feel?

It was good. It was well written. And it was an easy no effort read. It was a good mystery – something a bit lighter.

The family secret is the second book in the Cat Carlisle series. I think it can be read as a standalone. But at points, especially near the beginning, I felt I missed out on elements of the character’s back story. I felt some explanation for new readers was missing.

It did take me several chapters and a good couple of hours of reading to get swept along in the world Rivenby village. I would struggle to say who the main character of the story was, I never had the chance to spend much time with Cat or Thomas. And I think that was probably a shame. I liked Cat, I just never saw much of her feisty, strong, amateur sleuth side that was hinted at.

It had a slow start. And maybe a bit of a slow middle. The plot all unfolded at a slower pace than I would have preferred for a mystery. And I think the title gives away one of the main twists.

Although the book was set in the 1940’s I was picturing the main characters as acquaintances of the Crawley family of Downton Abbey (Downton, I believe was set in the 1920s). Something about the story, the characters or maybe the big expensive rural estates reminded me of Downton Abbey. And that is never a bad thing.

Overall, I enjoyed it. I would read more by Terry Lynn Thomas in the future.

The family secret by Terry Lynn Thomas was published on the 1st March 2019.

I received a copy of The family secret by Terry Lynn Thomas for review from the publisher via NetGalley, the review is my own opinion.

An engaging and entertaining historical mystery.
I liked the well researched historical background and the cast of characters, including the one I detested like Philip.
The female characters are strong and relatable, very modern and clever.
The mystery was good, with a taste of Golden Age era, and it's full of twists and turns.
It was a very good read and, even if it's the second book in series, it can be read as a stand-alone.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine.

When Thomas Charles returns to Cat Carlisle’s life after months without contact, Cat thinks that it is because he needs her help with a book that he plans to write. When he asks her to accompany him to Rivenby, a small town just outside of London, she assumes that it is a complete coincidence that this is actually her childhood village. What she doesn’t realize is that Thomas has been recruited to oversee an investigation into the murder of a local woman, Win Billings. Once Cat arrives, the mystery begins to unfold before her. Not only has her childhood best friend been accused of murdering Win but someone else approaches Cat with the possibility of another suspect. Before they know it, both Thomas and Cat are investigating the same murder and things really begin to spiral out of control.

It's been a while since I’ve read a classic whodunit, especially one that is set in 1940. I was pleasantly surprised by the building of suspense between the characters in “The Family Secret” by Terry Lynn Thomas. With every new introduction of a character, I looked for clues as to who could have been the one to kill Win Billings- believe me the list is long. I was also taken by surprise as to the additional twist in the story so early on. Eagerly, I kept reading looking for more clues.

The setting for this story was masterfully told in such a way that it seemed as if the village of Rivenby was appearing before me. The historical context that was given regarding the impending German attack was interesting to me as many novels written during this time focus solely on bringing up facts about the war as frequently as they can. But, that wasn’t the case with this novel; Terry Lynn Thomas told the story of Cat and Thomas while adding bits and pieces of information about what was going on with the war. I loved the way that the author incorporated phrases, cars, clothes and other pieces that were specific to that era.

I also would like to point out that the author did a subperb job of creating the town scoundrel, Phillip Billings. I detested him and dreaded when his character would be discussed or the chapter would be told focused on him. It takes skill to create a character that is so easily detested.

The only problem that I ran in to was that I wish I had read “The Silent Woman”, which is the first Cat Carlisle novel by Terry Lynn Thomas. I think that I likely missed out on the character development of Cat and Thomas. The first page really hit the ground running and left me thinking “wait, what? I need to know more about these two.” Fear not, I plan on picking up a copy of that novel tomorrow!

Thank you to Terry Lynn Thomas, Harper Collins Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of “The Family Secret”.

The Family Secret by Terry Lynn Thomas is a fabulous historical thriller set in 1940. It is a time of suspicion and mistrust, of spies and agents, of greed and power.
The backdrop to the action is Cumbria. The peaceful village location contrasts with the thrilling action.
When money and power dominate, people are corrupted. “Never underestimate the corruptive power of money.” Pound signs mean little else can be seen. People will do just about anything to achieve their monetary goal.
Teens on the brink of adulthood feature. It is a tense time as young girls try to break into the grown up world.
The females are the dominant characters in the book. On the whole they have the brains and strength of character to do the right thing. There are some very modern women trying to break out of their traditional roles.
Amateur sleuthing is the order of the day. The rumour mill means a small village hides no secrets – or does it?
The Family Secret was a fabulous and gripping novel that gave the reader a glimpse into a bygone age as well as entertaining them with crimes to be solved.
A fantastic read set against the backdrop of war.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

From the publisher: “After a sudden unexplained disappearance, Thomas Charles comes back into Cat Carlisle’s life with the suggestion she leave London – and the threat of bombs – to move to back her childhood village in Cumberland.
Back in her hometown Cat discovers her childhood friend, Beth Hargreaves, is suspected of murder. As Cat tries to prove Beth’s innocence, she discovers a scheme of deception that affects the whole village. Can she uncover the family truths behind the murder and expose the enemy hiding in plain sight?”

I haven’t read the first book in the series, The Silent Woman, but the author provides enough references to past events that it isn’t hard to catch up.
I enjoyed the book overall and would classify it a cozy mystery: the kind of book to read on a rainy day with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
The main characters, Cat, Thomas, Carmona, and Edythe, are well-written, and I could visualize the small town where the story is set. However, some of the supporting characters lack punch, and Phillip is so cliché, which is the point, I know, but it did cause a few eye-rolls.
Overall, I liked the book and would recommend it to someone on the search for a mystery without a lot of gore but with lots of small town and family drama. 3.5 stars

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was set in the 1940's during World War 11 in a small town. This was a perfect dark night read and once I started could not put it down.

Took a couple of chapters to get into this book but I enjoyed it thoroughly! A nice simple ‘whodunnit’, however I prefer a bit more meat to a murder so to speak, but this was a nice easy read.

A very interesting domestic mystery, set during WWII - and one I enjoyed getting my teeth into!

Thomas Charles turns up once more in the life of Cat Carlisle; with German bombs dropping nightly on the capital, he offers a move to Cumberland - in the village Cat was raised. When she arrives, Cat quickly gets re-acquainted with her childhood friend, Beth, who seems to be suspected of having a hand in a recent murder. Not without experience in such things, Cat vows to do all she can to help.

This is the second in series; I did not read the first but throughout this book there is enough information to fill in events then, but without continually harping back. This is a complete mystery with several strands to follow, and makes for a good read. There are few war details, but events are connected to that conflict; the British spirit shines through, however, with village life continuing as near to normal as it can.

A well-plotted novel with each separate story intertwined with the others, there are enough ups and downs to easily keep the readers attention and by the final page every problem is answered, but I suspect we haven't seen the last of this duo. I shall look forward to another instalment in the lives of Cat Carlisle and Thomas Charles with great anticipation!

The newest installment in the Cat Carlisle mysteries follows Cat and Thomas to the English village of Rivenby, where Cat lived before her parents passed and her aunt whisked her away to London. Thomas is covertly investigating the murder of a local resident, Win Billings — and when Cat’s childhood best friend, Beth Hargreaves, becomes a suspect, Cat becomes involved in the investigation as well, much to Thomas’s chagrin. As the investigation gets closer to the culprit, danger surrounds not only the life of Cat but also the lives of people they’ve come to know in Rivenby, and the truth that is threatening to break free will change everything.

Terry Lynn Thomas delivers a compelling mystery with twists and turns that even the most experienced mystery reader will be surprised by. The setting, during the evacuations from London to the English countryside during the heyday of World War II, makes for high stakes as Cat and Thomas look into the murder of Win Billings, and get involved with the personal and family drama of the locals of Rivenby. The POV switches between characters, given the reader a well rounded but incomplete view of what’s going on, making for very interesting reading. There are characters that you’ll enjoy, that you’ll dislike, that you’ll get frustrated by, but they all push the narrative along in unique ways.

The Family Secret not only deals with the war, but also themes much closer to home — growing up, betrayal, greed, falling in love, being used, forgiveness, fraught family dynamics — meaning that there’s always something going on. There’s truly never a dull moment in this book, and Terry Lynn Thomas once again delivers a riveting, multifaceted mystery that fans of historical fiction, spy thrillers, and murder mysteries will find a fascinating read.

The Family Secret is set to be released on March 1, 2019.

Will she find the truth?
England, 1940

After a sudden unexplained disappearance, Thomas Charles comes back into Cat Carlisle’s life with the suggestion she leave London – and the threat of bombs – to move to back her childhood village in Cumberland.

Back in her hometown Cat discovers her childhood friend, Beth Hargreaves, is suspected of murder. As Cat tries to prove Beth’s innocence, she discovers a scheme of deception that affects the whole village. Can she uncover the family truths behind the murder and expose the enemy hiding in plain sight?

I thought this book was ok. It had the story to be great, but sometimes the characters felt too flat for me. It had a group of supporting characters that we're introduced with a lot of background, but then those characters weren't seen through the second half of the book. Overall I give it 3 stars because it did have a good story.

This is a fast paced, enjoyable historical mystery set in Cumberland in the early days of World War II. Thomas Charles and Cat Carlyle are in the beginnings of a relationship. He convinces her to move herself and her ward, Annie, from London back to Cat's hometown of Rivenby to get away from the bombing that everyone knows is coming. He doesn't tell her he is also doing some investigating for Sir Reginald into the death of a former WWI operative. Here is where I wish I had read the first book in the series so that I was better able to understand the back story but I was able to catch up and enjoy the story.
I loved Cat...she's not afraid to jump in and help a friend in need of her help. She's also strong enough to stand up for herself and not back down when things get tense. Thomas worries about her and tries to convince her not to be so impetuous, this naturally causes a bit of conflict between them for a time. I also enjoyed meeting all the secondary characters and spending time in the small town of Rivenby. Full of historical detail there's alot going on in this book, and there are a lot of fun interesting twists and turns while the author leads us to the satisfying end.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are a lot of secrets in Rivenby, where Cat has taken refuge from WWII. Many of them start to trickle out when there's a murder. Cat's convinced her friend Beth was not the villain but who is? And, is she safe? I didn't read the first book, which detailed Cat's escape from her husband and her initial relationship with Thomas Charles but Thomas (the author) provides enough info up front to make you comfortable hopping in. This is very much a historical cozy, with WWII around the corner but not as much a player as the villagers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This was first book in the Cat Carlisle series and I have to admit for the first couple of chapters I was confused and struggled to follow what was happening. However after a couple of chapters I was engrossed in the story line and was eager to figure out who was the killer. The author has created a very well thought out plot that moves at a great pace and never becomes inconceivable. The main characters of Cat and Thomas are very likeable and easy to support in their quest for justice for the victim. I look forward to reading the previous book in the series.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC.

As air raids threaten London's people, evacuations become inevitable ... almost inevitable as whispers and a mysterious death in a small English village.

I have not yet read the first book of the series, but it seemed like book two could mostly rest on its own. I dropped in on Thomas and Cat in The Family Secret. Thomas shows up in London after disappearing for a bit and convinces Cat Carlisle, the woman he met and worked with in book one, to leave the city for her home village. After all, London won't be spared bombings during the war, that is for certain, and he wants to be sure she's safe. Just ... safe ...

Upon arriving in Rivenby, the gossip about a local woman's death is already afoot. Cat hears it from her childhood friend Beth, who is suspected in the murder. There are plenty of underhanded dealings, eavesdroppings, and 'secret' liaisons that twist along the way, weaving a story of deception that Cat and Thomas must try to solve.

The plot had the little hallmarks of a cosy English village mystery, with a bit of spy and war thriller tossed in. With the concern over the woman's murder, Thomas must figure out who did it and why, ultimately to make sure others with similar talents and backgrounds are not targeted. However, the mystery goes deeper than that, and Thomas finds he needs Cat's help. After all, there's a war on, and Britain must be kept safe from all threats.

I had a few hang-ups with Thomas and Cat's preoccupation with each other. The romantic tension that was meant to be there fell flat at times. Also, many characters seemed to gain sudden and intense insight into their own selves and the goings-on around them too quickly - some slow burn of revelation would make me keep on turning the pages to find out more. Will they figure it out? When will they figure it out? - those kinds of questions would become more urgent to answer. Plot advancement depended a great deal on the same scenario several times. With a little mixing up of the action, the WWII tie-in could be worked in more strongly and make it more exciting - and a little less predictable earlier on.

I actually wish Cat had featured more prominently throughout, as she seemed to take a backseat to other characters - though, of course, she wasn't far from the action! I found Cat likable, very charitable, fiery, and strong-willed, and I would love to see her unique character stand out more as the featured namesake. Overall, a pleasant, light mystery read for curling up with. Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for access to this advance copy to review.

I was first introduced to Cat Carlisle in Terry Lynn Thomas' previous book "The Silent Woman" about a year ago. And from the very first pages, I was charmed by her courageous and sassy character.

In "The Family Secret", Cat leaves London for a quiet village she grew up in. Cat's friends Annie and Thomas are joining her on the trip. Once in Rivenby, Cat is finding herself in a middle of yet another murder investigation. And this time around the suspect is her childhood friend. Mrs. Carlisle is determined to clear her friend's name, and while doing so she uncovers even more dangerous secrets that place her and people she cares about in danger.

I was quite disappointed by the story. The suspense element was pretty predictable, and it didn't capture my attention at all, as it did in the first book. There are also way too many characters to mingle with. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to learning about Cat Carlisle's next adventure. Thank you, NetGalley and HQ Digital publisher for a free and advanced copy of the book.

Book 2 of the Cat Carlisle series was just as enjoyable as book one. I love these characters and really enjoyed meeting some news as the series moved out of the city and into the countryside. Lots of twists and turns made for a very exciting read. 5 stars.

Another great book from Terry Lynn Thomas which continues with the story of Cat Carlisle.
I loved the move to the north of England and could easily picture the village where the story is set.
An exciting mystery that keeps twisting and turning until the end.
The writer has a method of writing which is a pleasure to read.
Looking forward to another installment.
Kindly given a copy from NetGalley for an honest review.