During an educational retreat at Chidlow House in Lincolnshire, one of the teachers falls from a roof from an apparent suicide or accident. Then two of the teenagers on the course, Cressida and Natasha, go missing, and Detective Karen Hart and the rest of her team are called in to investigate. They hear numerous stories about the house being haunted and Karen starts to believe it might be true when she hears the sound of whispering and dripping water. The team speak to everyone at the estate and soon realise that several people may be hiding secrets. Karen and the rest of the team race against time to discover the truth and find the missing girls. Karen soon learns that everything may not be as it seems...

An absolutely fantastic entry to the Detective Karen Hart series. The plot is thrilling and everyone is a suspect - I was kept guessing until the very end! A captivating page-turner which is can't recommend enough. I'm a fan of the series so I loved hearing from all the team again. Can't wait for the next in the series!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the fantastic D. S. Butler for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

2 girls Cressida and Natasha disappeared! Chidlow House is suspected of being haunted! A detective is called and becomes undecisive whether this is actually supernatural phenomena or something else~ Then the race against the clock to find them! I have enjoyed the other series (DS Karen Hart #1) by D.S. Butler as well!
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book!
4 stars from me!

Another excellent book by D.S. Butler, having read all her previous ones. This is a mystery murder starring Detective Karen Hart and is set in Chidlow House in Lincolnshire where a group of students are studying. It centers on two girls, Cressida and Natasha, who disappear overnight. There are many suspects and this is a book that once started can't be put down. Enthralling.

Another fantastic book in the Karen Hart series. The usual twists turns and plots. This one though had me guessing til the very end. Can’t wait for the next instalment as the underlying issues in the books are coming into their own.
Highly recommend

A study group being held in an old house owned by the Chidlow family when two of the female students go out one night and vanish.DS Karen Hart and the team are called in to investigate amid rumours of ghosts and strange happenings,things are never what they appear to be and Karen soon gets to the bottom of matters.I love to read books by DS Butler as i am always drawn into the story and i was looking forward to finding out how Karen Hart was coping after finding out in the last book about how her family had died.Well done EXCELLENT book 5*

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
An educational retreat held at Chidlow House in Lincolnshire turns deadly when one of the teachers is killed falling from the roof. Was it an accident?
Shortly thereafter 2 female students go missing. DS Karen Hart and her team are called in immediately, not surprising, because one of the male students is the son of a high-up police officer.
There are rumors of ghostly whispers and dripping water, fueled by the fact three women of the Chidlow family died by drowning. The current owner of Chidlow House is an unpleasant character, has a reputation of lusting after young girls and is uncooperative. Then there is the surly groundsman ... all suspects as far as Karen is concerned.
This is a really good addition to the series. Definitely recommended.

#HouseOfLies #NetGalley
When two teenage girls vanish without a trace from an educational retreat at Chidlow House in Lincolnshire, the students and teachers are put on high alert.Called in to investigate, Detective Karen Hart questions everyone who came into contact with the two girls, Cressida and Natasha, in the days leading up to their disappearance.Stories of Chidlow House being haunted abound, but Hart—still coming to terms with the suspicious circumstances surrounding the tragic loss of her own family—knows that while the house might be otherworldly, the crime is grimly real.But nothing is quite as it seems at Chidlow House. When it becomes clear that someone at the estate must know more than they’re letting on, Hart faces a race against time to find the culprit and save the girls.
Thanks to NetGalley and Apun for giving me an arc.

House Of Lies by DS Butler was an easy ready and a thoroughly enjoyable thriller. Intriguing characters and a great storyline that held my interest right to the end. DS Butler is becoming a firm favourite of mine.

Strange happenings are occurring at Chidlow house an historic mansion in Lincolnshire. Rumors abound about the house being haunted and the owner agrees to host a special "learning week" for students to raise money.
First a young teacher jumps or is pushed off the roof and soon after two young girls studying at the course go missing.
D.S. Karen Hart and her team are called out immediately to investigate as one of the students is the son of a high ranking police officer. After the teachers death is ruled a murder and one of the young girls body is found in the lake pressure is on Karen and her team to catch and arrest a suspect.
Lots of suspects led to a fast paced suspenseful plot and Karen's back story of the loss of her husband and daughter keep your interest in this entry of D. S. Butlet's novels starring Karen Hart. I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in police dramas and I am looking forward to reading more of Butler's novels.

Thank you to Net Galley and Amazon Publishing for an advanced copy of "House of Lies" by D S Butler in return for an honest review.

"House of Lies" is the fourth book in the DS Karen Hart Series. Although you don't need to read the previous books to follow the main story, reading Book Three in the Series "Don't Turn Back" would be an advantage to understanding the backstory concerning police corruption that isentioned frequently throughout this book.

The main story revolves around two teenage girls who go missing during a study week in an old house for public school students. DS Karen Hart and her boss DI Scott Morgan who are excellent character are back with their team to investigate.
Unfortunately for me plot moved along slowly at first with quite a lot of repeatition which was annoying at times and the conclusion was predictable. Not my favourite in the series which I have enjoyed so far and would recommend it to fans of LJ Ross, Patricia Gibney and Angela Marsons . Despite this I am looking forward to Book 5

Cressida and Natasha are on a weeks educational retreat at Chidlow House in Lincolnshire, Despite them supposed to be studying hard, they set off to go to the pub, but only one of them comes back. And she doesn’t know what happened. DS Karen Hart is assigned to the case. As she tries to get some answers, she becomes aware of how the house is supposed to be haunted, and is spooked when she hears whispering and strange noises. But things aren’t quite what they seem, and there is a quite a list of suspects.

This is a fast paced thriller, you get the sense of urgency, a race against time, with all events happening in and around the Chidlow House Estate. There are quite a few suspects, all of whom are well rounded characters, with their own secrets. It kept me guessing right to the end. This is the 4th book starring this character. I hadn’t read the previous ones, but this is still a stand alone read, and I look forward to the next one.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is my first interaction with DS Karen Hart and what a start!

The storyline was interesting and kept me guessing up till the end, the characters were believable. I normally read police crime books based in the USA, mainly because as a Brit they seem less real and likely to happen that way - but this was a welcome change.

This was an easy read, not gory or frightening, just a solid crime mystery. Will be looking out for more from this author.

Rounded up to 4 starts from 3.5.

i so love this series always fast pace and addictive . Karen and morgan are told to go to Chidlow house two girls have gone missing .one comes back how this story folds is just brilliant you think you have worked out who it is but no . i hope next one Karen has some romance so recommend this series

During a week long study retreat at Chidlow House in Lincolnshire, one teacher falls from the roof in a suspected suicide or 'accident'. A few days later two teenage girls, Cressida and Natasha go missing. Detective Karen Hart and the rest of the team are called to investigate. There they are faced with rumours that the old house is haunted as people, including Karen, can hear the sounds of whispering and dripping water. When they start speaking to everyone at the house they soon realise that several people might be keeping secrets. While they race against time to find the missing girls, Karen learns that not everything is as it seems.

Before I read this book, I had read the first book from this series "Bring Them Home" which I didn’t like so I was a bit reluctant to start this one. But... this one got me hooked from the first chapter! It really has everything that I love mystery, a creepy old house and a thrilling story that kept me guessing until the end! I suspected everyone at one point which is always a sign of a good thriller book. I took one star off just because at the times it could have been quicker.

This book is part of a series, but it can be read on its own. Even though I would suggest reading all of them if you are interested in DS Karen's past and personal life as there is a bit of side story there. Overall, I would recommend this book, especially if you love British police dramas.

Wow, the plot and cast of characters are stunning here. A very new style of a 'Country House' murder mystery. I love a good whodunnit and this is certainly that, with lots of suspects. I will definitely be looking out for more of Karen Hart

I struggled to start the book but it was a decent read. Story was OK but not as good as the others in the series in my opinion

I really enjoy the Karen Hart series. She is a very likeable character with a sad past. The story is based upon a summer study camp where 2 girls disappear. There are a number of suspects each with skeletons in their closet. An enjoyable read which keeps you guessing and develops Karen Harts character more in the series

I enjoyed this mystery that had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing right up until the end. I was at a disadvantage coming into the series at #4 but will go back and catch up the main character's story in the earlier books. Thank you to the publisher for the advance view.

DS Karen Hart is called to investigate two missing teenage girls from an educational retreat at Chidlow House. Chidlow House is supposedly haunted and recently one of the teachers at the retreat committed suicide - or so it was claimed. Is there any connection between her death and the girls' disappearance?
As Hart uncovers the last known movements of the girls, she seems to run into dead end after dead end. Lord Chidlow who lives in the house is uncooperative. What secrets does he hide? And what about the mysterious gardener?
Answering these questions keeps the reader turning the pages. The way the mystery of the missing girls is revealed is too over the top for my liking and I couldn't get a sense of what most characters looked like. DS Hart seemed a bit slow on the uptake too. An average read for me.

Number 4 in this fast paced and riveting series

During a weeks study retreat in Lincolnshire DS Karen Hart and her team are called in when strange occurences happen, a teacher falls from the roof was it suucide,an accident or something more sinister, 2 girls fail to return from a night out although 1 does return later to tell her tale

This feels slightly different from the other reads but is just as good

Apologies, I wrote a review for the the wrong book!!
EDIT
Having now this book I can provide a review!
While this is a well written and tightly plotted read it is difficult to like or feel empathy for any of the characters. The book is also incredibly serious without a hint of humour.
I recommend reading the previous books in this series

When Cressida and Natasha go missing from an educational retreat in Lincolnshire DS Karen Hart and the team must work out just what's gone on. It's not made easy when there appears to be no clues as to their whereabouts. Can they uncover what happened on that fateful night and save the girls?

This is a great book but everytime you think you have worked things out there's another twist in the story. It certainly keeps you guessing that's for sure and I enjoyed every page of it. If you're looking for a gripping thriller then look no further. It's a book I would recommend and gets 4 stars from me.
Many thanks to Netgalley for my ARC copy.

Absolutely love all this authors books.
Kept me in suspense to the very end.
Never ever would of guessed who it was xx

House of Lies by D.S. Butler is the latest DS Karen Hart Mystery. The story is set in a historic mansion called Chidlow House located in Lincolnshire. Some people believe the house is haunted due to the three wives who have died in the lake because of the misery in their lives.
There are some teenage students staying at Chidlow House as they participate in some advance classes. One of their instructors dies in a fall from the rooftop balcony. Then two students, Cressida and Natasha go missing on a rainy evening after they slip away from the property. DS Hart has a house filled with suspects, strange whispering in the hall, and the sounds of dripping water. As the investigation starts no one wants to be questioned and the house owner acts as if he is above being included with the suspects.
Cressida is found in a traumatic state but says she can not remember anything about the evening or what has happened to Natasha. I was surprised that DS Hart was not allowed to continue to question Cressida. It seemed as if the investigation went slowly, as far as achieving results. I won't post spoilers, but I do enjoy reading the DS Hart series. In House of Lies DS Hart continues to pursue the corruption of the department in regard to the death of her husband and child.
Publication Date: September 29, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Police procedural,two girls disappear from a study course in a haunted mansion. Lots of strands to untangle. Good characters and lots of twists.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of House of Lies, the fourth novel to feature DS Karen Hart of the Lincolnshire Police.

When two teenage girls disappear from an intensive study course at Chidlow House Karen and her boss, DI Scott Morrison, are asked to investigate. The house is creepy and supposedly haunted and Karen is sure she can hear voices whispering but that won’t stop her hunting for Natasha and Cressida, a task made more difficult by the secrets and lies everyone seems to harbour.

I thoroughly enjoyed House of Lies which has an interesting plot and several twists and turns. It is told from the investigative point of view so the reader gets to guess along with Karen. I got a few of the lesser details correct but generally it was surprise after surprise as the secrets were uncovered. Mostly it works well with a gradual build up to the denouement but some parts, notably the attempted frame, were clunky and it was hard to believe that the savvy Karen would fall for it, especially after her success in rooting out the cause of the voices, that, I thought, was one of the stand out moments in the novel being clever, believable and amusing.

I like the new Karen Hart. She is no longer obsessed with investigating the death of her husband and child, but is now concerned with gettIng justice. Fortunately this rumbles in the background, allowing her to unleash her attention and formidable investigative skills on her cases. I really liked the way she goes about her work with both feet planted firmly on the ground.

House of Lies is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

First encounter with D S Karen Hart and the other members of her team, a gripping storyline, keeps the reader engrossed, lots of twists and turns throughout, keeping the reader guessing leading to a totally unexpected outcome. Looking forward to more from this author.

This is #4 the DS Karen Hart series. I had not read the first three so wasn’t sure how much I missed.
Story is described as a police drama and starts with a study session at Chidhow House (a historic mansion that is rumored to be haunted) when a teacher mysteriously falls from the roof ~ suicide or accident? Soon afterwards two young girls who were part of the study group go missing.
Detective Karen hart and a team is sent to investigate. Soon Karen is hearing whispers and water dripping ~ Hmmm is this mansion really haunted?
I actually like boarding school mysteries so this kept my attention. Not a pager turner but, of course, the tile title kept me curious. I liked it … didn’t love it … but will read another Butler ~ D.S. Hart story!

Want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 29, 2020

Book 4 in the Detective Karen Hart series, but don't worry, if you haven't read any of the previous ones you will easily engage with the characters and enjoy the flow of how the book is written. Very clever plot, putting several players in the mix and revealing an unexpected guilty party. Very enjoyable.

My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for allowing me to read and review honestly.

I love a good Detective series and this did not disappoint! DS Karen Hart is back with her team to investigate the disappearance of two teen girls on a study course at the spooky Chidlaw House. The storyline was catchy and kept me guessing, there were so many suspects, just as you begin to think you knew who the suspect was, another twist! More evidence to lead onto someone else. The ending was a surprise that I would never have guessed! Can't wait for the next one!

I enjoyed this book so much, I can't even describe it! Two girls disappear and their disappearance is investigated. Chidlow House is haunted, or is it, and it sets the tone for a very entertaining read! I did not see the plot twist at the ending!
Highly recommended.
TB

A solid police procedural that follows DS Karen Hart. In an ongoing story arc from previous books, Karen is trying to root out the corruption that led to the deaths of her husband and daughter while maintaining an active case load. Interesting main character and a complicated mystery combine to make an engaging read that was difficult to put down.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK for access to a digital arc via NetGalley.

This fourth book in the Hart series brings back feelings of a good Agatha Christie novel; you have characters that may not be likeable, you have all your potential suspects and victims in one house, you have a Gothic exterior, and you have a lot of secrets. As of secrets start coming out, more understanding of what could have happened to the two girls evolves. Then one comes back, and things are not as they should be. This is a page-turner that will keep you reading long until the night, and a good entry to keep the series evolving. it is definitely a standalone read, and a good introduction to the series, don't miss this one!

This is apparently a book in series but that wasn't made clear by the title or synopsis, so I felt at a little bit of a disadvantage not having the history, but the characters were easy to get to know. This story centers on 2 teenage girls who disappear while on a week-long study trip at an old mansion. It's a police procedural with Karen as the primary detective working on the case.

This was a good and fast paced mystery, with a number of suspects. Though there were many people involved, they were easy to keep straight and I could easily picture/believe their characters based on the author's description. The story itself was a good one with a couple of twists, and though I had an inkling of who the villain was, I wasn't sure, and when it did come out there were much deeper reasons for what happened than I had pictured. Karen's focus on doing the right thing and her easy banter with her boss and fellow offices made her a likable and believable character.

Where I got a little lost was in the backstory from previous books that I had not read. There was a decent amount of time spent on Karen seeking justice for a police corruption situation that apparently killed her husband and daughter (no spoilers- this is revealed in the first couple of pages) and I still do not understand what happened, who was responsible, or why it wasn't being handled. I could have done without the entire storyline but am sure it would have been much more engaging if you had read the previous books.

All in all, a good police procedural and mystery, and I may just have to go back and figure out Karen's backstory in the previous books! Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

D.S. Butler delivers another harrowing story to the Detective Karen Hart series.
Emotions are running high for Detective Karen Hart and her colleagues has they tackled an interesting case involving two teenage girls. But things are not always what they seem. The characters in the book where quite intense, the social issues tackled in the book, were a little unnerving. Being that they hit close to home. An intense read, that will have you enthralled in no time.
Waiting anxiousness for the nest installment.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
#netgalley
#houseoflies

Loved this book. Love the karen heart series. I found it quite eery. ,and fantastic storyline. If you have never read a book by d.s. butler Why not? She is fab. There are twists and turns everywhere in this storline. Couldnt put it down.

When two girls, Natasha and Cressida, go missing whilst on a study retreat at Chidlow House, it falls to D S Karen Hart and her team to find the girls. There are plenty of suspects, Lord Chidlow, whose stately home is hosting the study retreat, Mr Doyle who arranged the retreat, the surly groundsman, Mr Harrington and Ethan who has a major crush on Natasha. This is a stunning read and unputdownable. Lots of twists and turns. The characters are brilliant and believable. My first book by D S Butler and I will be reading the earlier novels featuring D S Karen Hart. Recommended.

Another great read from this author in a thrilling crime investigated by DC Karen Hurst who some readers may know from a previous read (although perfect to read as a stand alone as the story is different). Really believable characters and as you get to know DC Karen Hurst you really get to feel supportive of her. Unexpected twist to the conclusion and although you will have a few guesses as you read as to who did it you will most probably be wrong. Loved reading this one.

This is the 4th book in the Detective Karen Hart series by author D.S. Butler. I have done it again started a new series from book 4 but to be honest it didn't spoil the read one bit. An instant hit for me, good characters, good plot and generally an excellent police procedural series.

A teacher is killed falling from a roof at an educational retreat in Lincolnshire. The verdict is out, murder, suicide or accident. Not long after two female students go missing from the same retreat at Chidlow House.
One of the students is the son of a senior police officer so it is not long before DS Karen Hart and her team are under pressure to get results. Rumours of ghosts etc are common surrounding Chidlow House due members of the Chidlow family drowning in the past. There are plenty of suspects and motives for DS Hart and her team to figure out in this twisty crime.

Book Review: House of Lies (DS Karen Hart #4) by D.S. Butler
(Published by Amazon Publishing UK, September 29, 2020)

4.0 Stars.

In "House of Lies", DS Karen Hart #4, how times have changed!

Downton Abbey is let to an off-campus coed program by the Earl of Grantham, now living alone with a single servant, to help with the upkeep of the estate.

Two coeds disappear and Detective Sergeant Karen Hart and team are called in to find the missing teens. The death of an assistant program director, who "fell" off the roof a week earlier is somehow considered an aside.

Except Downton Abbey is Chidlow House, a few notches off, and the Earl is one Edward Chidlow, not nearly as affable as Sir Robert Crawley, far more arrogant and, as it turns out, quite dastardly.

In parallel, DS Hart, bereaved, fortyish, is struggling to find justice for the untimely deaths of her husband and child detailed in a prior installment of the series, and, so we gather, caused by a fellow policeman on account of his corruption, or so it seems.

Noblesse Oblige forsaken. A presentation of British mystery writing at its finest, the novel is a fine display of some residuals of the so-called British upper class longing for the bygone Edwardian Era, "La Belle Epoque" of privilege of the early 20th century.

And so are DS Hart and the local detectives expected to oblige snottiness, to handle the despicable haughtiness with deference and kids' gloves. Only the team's sleuthing extraordinaire saves the day.

So whodunnit? Take a wild guess, or two - or three. Lots to go around!

Quite an enjoyable, though not exactly compelling, read.

Review based on an ARC from Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley.

I liked it. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't realize that this was part of a series. I think it might have been beneficial to read the previous books, but it wasn't necessary. There were references to overarching storylines/previous events, but not a lot, and they were made in a way that made sense for readers picking up the story in the middle, as I did. For the most part, the story was self-contained.
The police characters had very little personality, but that isn't a criticism or complaint. I kind of prefer it that way, old school Law & Order style, you could say. The focus was on the mystery, and it worked, because it was a good one.
The supporting characters who appeared on more than a page or two were ALL valid suspects. And achingly awful people. Like, some of the things they said made my jaw clench. Entitled, selfish jerks. I rrally struggled to figure out who the killer was, and my first pick was wrong. The big reveal made me go "d'oh! Of course! I should have seen it coming a mile away!" but I definitely didn't. Lots of bad people doing lots of bad things, but only one truly amoral killer. And oh boy, were they creepy. I found myself hoping that the author would not write that they escaped justice in the next book!
The writing was solid and the plotting was great. It was a good read.

Who is lying and who is telling the truth? The author teases us with this the way through this murder mystery. A group of teenagers is spending a week on an intensive study course in a creepy old house when things start going horribly wrong. Did one of their popular teachers fall off the roof? Or was she pushed? Or did she kill herself? And what happened to seventeen-year-old Natasha? She and her friend Cressida sneak out one evening, but only one of them comes home. Detective Karen Hart investigates, and she, too, is unnerved by the ominous old house, with its mournful paintings , odd noises and disturbing past. I enjoyed catching up with her again. She’s still coming to terms with her painful past, and the fact that corrupt police officers have not yet been brought to book for her tragedy. In fact, I felt kind of sad for her in House of Lies, as she seems lonely with nowhere to turn. But this doesn’t deter her in her quest to get at the truth about what happened to Natasha. Straight down the line, trustworthy and straight as a dye, Karen does her best to solve the case - I’d like her on my side if I ever need the police. House of Lies is a great story with all the twists and turns you’d expect from a satisfying crime thriller.

This is the fourth book in the DS Karen Hart series and it’s a good solid story that I really enjoyed. So Karen is sent to investigate the disappearance of two teenage girls on a course at the very creepy Chidlow House and there are quite a number of suspects right from the start, added to that one of the course tutors has fallen to her death from the roof and Karen is not sure that this was an accident or could the two incidents be connected?
I like the character of Karen Hart and enjoy the continuing back story of the death of her husband and child. The book is well written and my only complaint was that I did feel at times is seemed to drag a little but maybe that was just me and I look forward to the next in the series.
My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC.

This is Book #4 of the DS Karen Hart series, with her back-story of continuing to find answers about the death of her family. Set in Lincolnshire, she and her team are called to the Earl of Grantham's estate which is hosting an educational retreat at Chidlow House.. Two students, Natasha and Cressida, are missing and the day before one of the teachers fell to her death from the roof of the house. Chidlow has a reputation for being haunted by a female ancestor who drowned in the lake; the walls of the dark corridors appear to whisper when someone walks through. Even with a search warrant the Earl is reluctant to let the team into his private rooms in the house. The course director, Graham Doyle, just wants nothing to do with the investigation. The investigation isn't going well. They have loads of suspects; the students, the grounds-man Mike Harrington, even the parents of the missing girls are not above suspicion.
And why, Karen wonders, is the Chief Constable taking a personal interest in this case?

I think this particular book was rather 'slow'. There seemed to be lots of toing and froing leading the investigation around in circles until, one by one, the suspects give up their secrets. Just who do they believe?

Not a 'great' crime story for me but it did have a couple of twists.

This 4th book in this series is overall a good book but I have to say is not as good as the previous ones. This felt a bit slow and dragged out as compared to the others. But the writing was fluid and the story was interesting. Overall a good book and I look forward to the next book in the series. And a big thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me this book in exchange of my honest review.

Chidlow House is not a friendly looking place and in the dark Lincolnshire countryside with high winds and teeming rain it becomes a creepy, scary building with secrets to hide. A small group of privileged sixth formers are staying there for a private study week to help them prepare for university. No one is supposed to leave the grounds but some do including school friends Cressida and Natasha, the problems start when they fail to return.

This is the fourth book in the DS Karen Hart series and is another enjoyable instalment. The main protagonists are all present but this time they are joined by other characters caught up in both sides of the investigation in many different ways.

Unfortunately, although there were no shortage of suspects available, some of them seemed a little stereotypical. Obviously there is a reason stereotyping occurs but the story could have been lifted by a surprise or two along the way. Without any spoilers a few of the outcomes were ones which are well used in the crime genre. However, the lack of possible motives when the hunt for the missing girls began created a tense atmosphere which worked well alongside the previously mentioned inclement weather.

There is a back story running throughout these books related to the tragedy which colours every aspect of Karen Hart's life. There is a big step forward hinted at here and I am looking forward to finding out what will happen to her next.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who is already enjoying this series or who doesn't mind dropping in mid arc.

Two girls disappear whilst on an educational retreat in a creepy old house.
No one seems to know what happened to them, until Karen Hart comes along and starts asking questions.
Interesting characters in the book and teenagers described well.
Whilst this is is all happening, Karen is still pressing for the investigation into corrupt Police Officers she feels are responsible for her families death.
Twists and turns in this book all the way through.
Enjoyed reading this and the continuing characters in this series of books

Just O.K. The storyline wasn't too exciting for me. Skimmed some of the book, but the ending was pretty good. First time reading this author, don't think I will read any more of hers' when there are so many great authors out there. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer & NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I was an okay read. I usually don't like historical fiction. But I must say that this book was very well written. I didn't read the first two in the series but I thought it was good. Would recommend .

I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘House Of Lies’, the fourth in the Detective Karen Hart series written by D S Butler, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

An intensive study group for teenagers is being held at the haunted Chidlow House and when one of the teachers, Alison King, sees a figure go on to the roof she follows and falls to her death. The following day two of the students attending the course, Natasha and Cressida, sneak off for the evening to have some fun but when they haven’t returned by the following morning DS Karen Hart and DI Scott Morgan are called in to investigate.

I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed the previous three books in the series but for some reason I couldn’t get involved in the ‘House Of Lies’ which I didn’t think was as good, perhaps due to the mention of Chidlow House being haunted by the ‘Drowned Lady’ which made me lose interest. Although I like the character of Karen Hart who’s striving to prove police corruption involving the death of her husband and daughter, I found the story too slow for my liking and I struggled to get to the end.