Everyone has a genre to get out of that reading slump. Mine is cozy mysteries. House of Lies by Terry Lynn Thomas is a historical fiction mystery set during WWII.
Cat runs a house for abused wives giving them education and a chance at a new life. When the body of one of the boarders is found behind the house, Cat has to find out if it is the violent husband or a secret lover. Cat and her fiancé Thomas have secrets of their own. Thomas is hiding a golden chalice from the Nazis.

House of Lies is a fast paced mystery filled with secrets, lies, suspense and romance. It is the third book in the series but can be read as a stand alone. I tried to figure out who killed the boarder but boy was I wrong. There is a twist that made for a great ending. Thank you to Terry Lynn Thomas, HQ Books and Netgalley for an ebook and this is my honest review.

This is not the sort of book that I would usually read but I was intrigued by the summary so thought i'd give it a whirl and i'm really glad that I did.

I believe that this is book three of a series but that made no difference to me with following the story.

A historical crime mystery which reminded me of Miss Marple and Poirot by the great Agatha Christie.

I found it very heart warming and easy to read and highly engaging story with some wonderful characters to boot!

Cat runs a shelter for battered women, a cause that is near and dear to her heart. Charles is hiding a priceless chalice from the Nazis and works for the constable. When a murder occurs in the woods behind Cat’s house Charles becomes increasingly concerned for her safety and is determined to find the murderer.

Cat and Charles are both very interesting characters and I love them together. Cat’s passion for helping women in need is clear, regardless of her personal safety. Their success in their personal, as well as their professional lives is very important to her. No doubt that this stems from the years she spent with an abusive husband herself. Charles is smitten with Cat. He is her protector and will do anything to keep her safe.

I do not ordinarily read books out of order in their series, but this one caught my attention, so I threw caution to the wind. Jumping into the middle of the series did not affect my overall enjoyment of the book. I was intrigued with Cat and her past and I plan on starting from the beginning of the series to learn a bit more about her.

This book is a quick and easy read with many puzzle pieces that I enjoyed watching come together!

I enjoy reading English mysteries set during World War II. Although this isn’t the first book in the series, it is readable as a stand alone and makes me want to go back and read the first two in the Cat Carlisle series. Cat is a wealthy English woman who has turned her home into a shelter for abused women. I found the issued raised about social rigidity and mental health as interesting as the mystery, and that says a lot. The mystery will keep you reading, but I love when authors give me other things to ponder.

I read this book not realizing it is actually the third book in a series. But it works as a stand alone and I can go back and read the first two. I like the main character Cat, she’s a strong woman who is trying to help battered women in England during WW2. She and her fiancé get involved in a complicated messy blood that ends up with several dead bodies, and then their wedding. Interesting story and characters

Liked the character. Good story line. Will be reading the other books in this series. Will also recommend it to others.

This is my first book by Terry Lynn Thomas. I did not realize that House of Lies was the third book featuring Cat Carlisle. I think the book “stands alone,” but I wish I had read the first two to get to know Cat. I really liked this book. historical fiction is my favorite genre and this book fit this category and so much more. It also combines murder, mystery and romance. This was a quick read, entertaining, and held my attention. Thank you NetGalley and HQ Digital for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.


House of Lies, by Terry Lynn Thomas is the third installment in the Cat Carlisle mystery series.
It can be enjoyed as a stand alone or within the series.


Terry Lynn Thomas has written an intriguing historical mystery. The third book in the Cat Carlisle mystery series does not disappoint.


Rivenby, England 1942, Cat and Charles are engaged. Cat Carlisle, a wealthy widow, uses much of her inheritance to run a women's refuge for abused women. Some of the husbands of the women that are staying in the house of refuge are enraged and are seeking vengeance.
Thomas Charles serious war injury has left him sidelined. Doing what he can, has agreed to help Stephen Templeton, an historian who has devoted his whole life to smuggling artefacts out the destructive reach of the long arm of the Third Reich. Charles is working for the constabulary, and has agreed to store one of these artefacts, a chalice covered in precious gems that belonged to a church.⠀

In a series of events, a lady that is in residence at Cat’s charity house is murdered things start to become dangerous and everything is not what it seems. The complexity of betrayals and suspense makes for one thrilling read.
Terry Lynn Thomas, House of Lies is wonderful historical mystery, with danger and intrigue. Well developed fleshed out characters and fluid writing adds to this delightful book. The unexpected twists keeps you glued to pages from start to finish.


The Cat Carlisle SERIES is one highly recommend.

1 The Silent Woman

2. The Family Secret

3. HOUSE OF LIES.

What a brilliant book crime true to life. Lived how the womans refugee helped all the vulnerable women. Brilliant author

This is a great addition to the Cat Carlisle series, along with being a great historical fiction read. I thought that premise of Cat running a refuge for abused women during WWII to be a different concept. The mystery of finding out who kills one of the women provided a great storyline. This was a great read

This book is the 3rd instalment in the Cat Carlisle SERIES and can be read as a StAnDaLoNe.

1. The Silent Woman
2. The Family Secret
3. HOUSE OF LIES.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Suspense.

Checkout the #blurb in the comments.

MY TAKE:
The story begins in a remote village in Northern England during the World War-II.
Cat and Thomas are engaged.. Thomas's book writing service is a guise for the real undercover work he did.
During the raging war, safety and communication becomes difficult to manage.
It's a time, where one lives with the worry of bombs, rationing and curfew.
Thomas feels guilty at his inability to do much for the war effort.
He assists Stephen Templeton- a historian who had devoted his life to smuggling artefacts out of the destructive reach of the Reich- by safekeeping various religious relics, documents and other items.
Cat and Thomas are keeping a secret, hiding a precious golden Chalice, a rare artifact from the plundering Nazis..until the war is over.
Cat runs a women's refuse.
Lucy's murder(a woman from the shelter) leaves many questions unanswered...

who is the killer❓

Is it revenge by a violent husband❓
Is it a secret lover❓or
Is it something more dangerous ❓❓

Read the book to know more!!

✍️A riveting read which throws light on social issues, the scenario during war time and is full of mystery and suspense. The book also tenders to the beautiful love between Cat and Thomas, in these testing times. It ends beautifully and gives the reader the feeling of having read and experienced, a well written script.

House of Lies by Terry Lynn Thomas
War time is tough. For Cat Carlisle, who runs a women’s refuge home for beaten women, it is extremely turbulent. It seems nowhere is safe.

Cat and her fiancé, Thomas, also have a dangerous secret. They are helping to hide a golden chalice from the Nazis. But someone wants the chalice. A woman is murdered behind Cat’s house. Is it a jealous husband or lover? Is someone seeking revenge? Is it related to the chalice?

Delve into this mystery and see how the story unfolds. There are so many elements at play that you will want to stay up all night reading to figure it out.

This was my first book by this author and I really loved it! The 3rd book in the Cat Carlisle series, but can be read as a standalone! It’s a historical fiction novel that takes place during WWII. There were a lot of characters that took me a little bit to figure out, but I really enjoyed each one of them! A book with a great mix of history, love, and suspense!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All views and opinions expressed are my own.

This is, apparently, the 3rd book in a series. I haven't read the first two books, but this book reads well as a standalone.

Cat runs a shelter for battered women, whilst WWII rages on. With the help of her trusted friend, Bede, she tries hard to give women a home and to also ensure they have employable skills, before she sends them on their way again. Not everyone who knocks on her door is telling the truth, however.

Thomas works for the police and he happens to be in love with Cat. He has a hard time watching her put herself in danger for others.....but he is in danger too.

I found this book interesting reading, however, I did find it a little confusing at times and it was a bit of a slow coming-to-the-boil kind of read which got a bit frustrating. Nevertheless, I liked the characters in this novel and I enjoyed the read.

4 stars from me.

In “House of Lies" @terrylynnthomasbooks has written a captivating and intriguing historical fiction suspenseful mystery set during WWII. A third in the series, that read great as a stand-alone and I really enjoyed this one! Fantastic!

Our main character, Catherine ‘Cat’ Carlisle, a wealthy widow who uses her inheritance running a safe house for abused women, and who is also engaged to Thomas Charles, a local detective. Cat is in a very dangerous situation harboring these women from their abusive relationship. So dangerous that one of the ladies was found dead behind the house.
Thomas was also in a precarious situation where he was hiding a valuable and precious golden chalice until after the war to prevent the Nazis from stealing it.

Was the killer a violent husband seeking revenge? A secret lover? Or is something more dangerous at play?

Overall I found this read highly entertaining with lots of guessing on whodunnit with complex characters full of intrigue, danger, murder and betrayal - a real high drama for historical fiction thriller fans! Well done Terry Lynn Thomas! Everyone get this it’s such an amazing read!

Special thanks to Suzy Book Tours & HQ Digital for providing our copy of House of Lies by Terry Lynn Thomas in exchange for an honest & fair review.

House of Lies by Terry Lynn Thomas

Cat is a strong-willed determined and resourceful woman.

This is book three in the Cat Carlisle mystery series. Without having read the previous two books, I did just fine with the characters and plot.

Standalone vs. Series

That being said, there’s a lot of characters, relationships and backstory to keep track of. So, while this can be read as a stand-alone, it may be a more enjoyable read to start from book 1. There’s a lot of loose strings but everything comes together and is woven into a beautiful story.

THE VERDICT

Any BBC fan, Anglophile or history buff will eat up House of Lies by Terry Lynn Thomas. Even though this story takes place during WW II there’s a hint of the Me Too move my which I quite enjoy. Without giving anything else away, this is an imaginative, engrossing and fulfilling read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

Terry Lynn Thomas, author of "House of Lies" has written a captivating and intriguing suspenseful mystery. This is the third in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. The Genres for this novel are Mystery, Suspense, and Fiction. The story takes place in England, during World War Two. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. There are betrayals, danger, and murder. 

Cat Carlisle, a wealthy widow, uses much of her inheritance to run a women's refuge for abused women. Many of the husbands are angry and vengeful men. One of the ladies is found dead behind the house.  Cat and her fiance, Thomas find themselves in a very dangerous situation. 

Thomas has hidden a very expensive chalice to keep it safe from the Nazis' clutches. Could the murder have anything to do with the chalice? Or is there something else sinister going on?

Some of the characters are unbalanced and quirky and could be suspect to the murder. Just helping abused women puts Cat at terrible danger and risk.  It seems that not all the women who come for help, are not who they really say they are. I would recommend this exciting and thought-provoking story for those readers who enjoy a good mystery.

I love this historical mystery series and was looking forward to reading this book.
I wasn't disappointed and I loved the plot, the solid mystery and was happy to meet again the great characters.
An entertaining and engrossing read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

House of Lies (Cat Carlisle #3) by Terry Lynn Thomas is my first book that I have read by this author. I loved it because it was exciting and thrilling .....with a bit of romance. It was easy to read as a standalone, but I definitely prefer to start a series with the 1st book to pick up on reoccurring characters, story lines and the authors writing style. I would definitely recommend House of Lies for all fans of Terry Lynn Thomas and readers of historical fiction.

A bit about the book - based in the 1940s British countryside, during the Nazi WWII invasion. I must say that it doesn't focus too much on historical details which means it focuses a lot on the story itself in my opinion. Cat Carlisle who is a wealthy widow, runs a safe house for abused & battered women. Her fiance is Thomas Charles, a local detective who fears for her safety. Together during this war-ravaged time, they are trying to keep a golden chalice hidden - in the Detective's home. However someone knows about it and won't stop until they have it! When a woman from the refuge is found dead, the story and many side stories seem to develop and the writing style to have them all woven together is a delight to read! Without giving away too much, Terry Lynn Thomas weaves a grand story of drama, suspense, thrill, romance and of course nail-biting, page-turning interest! I would highly recommend this story.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced ebook ARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. I am incredibly grateful.