House of Lies

Detective Karen Hart #4

by D.S. Butler, Henrietta Meire (Narrator)

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.

While there is no shortage of suspects, Hart comes up against one dead end after another. And when she too begins hearing eerie whispers in the walls, she is forced to wonder: was she too quick to dismiss Chidlow’s supernatural reputation?

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Procedural

335 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2020

About the author

Author of the Karen Hart series. Ex-biochemist turned crime-writer. Huge Queen fan. Loves to read crime fiction.

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Romina Dimenza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost at the end

This is the forth piece into DS Hart's story. Unlike the previous 3 this one doesn't have the expected happy ending, which makes it more real, one of the attributes that I like the most about the series.
Gripping from the first page and with a plot twist that I really didn't see coming.
I'm starting to get the empty feeling of knowing that this is coming to an end soon.
Highly recommended if you like a good detective narrative!

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

DS Karen Hart #4

A teacher falls from a roof but was it suicide or something more sinister. At summer study camp two girls disappeared. Karen Hart is called in to investigate. Karen is still trying to root out corruption leading up to the deaths of her husband and daughter.

There is quite a few suspects who all have skeletons in their cupboards. I like Karen Hart, she's flawed and doesn't always get it right first time. We learn more of her backstory in each new book. The setting of Chidlow House, the school the girls went missing from, is quite creepy. The pace is fast and the storyline gripping. There is quite a lot of repetition which was a little annoying. This is a really good police procedural series.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AmazonPublishingGroupUK and the author #DSButler for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

A teacher falls from the roof but was it suicide or something more sinister. At summer study camp two girls disappeared. DS Karen Hart is called in to investigate. Karen is still trying to root out the corruption leading up to the deaths of her husband and daughter.

There is quite a few suspects who all have skeletons in their cupboards. I like Karen Hart, she's flawed and doesn't always get it right first time. We learn more of her backstory in each new book. The setting of Chidlow House, the school the girls went missing from, is quite creepy. The pace is fast and the storyline gripping. There is quite a lot of repetition which was a little annoying. This is a really good police procedural series.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AmazonPublishingGroupUK and the author #DSButler for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

House of Lies by D.S. Butler is the 4th in the Detective Karen Hunt series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DS Karen Hart lost her husband Josh and her daughter Tilly in a car accident. Years later, she can't move on, especially since she discovered that their "accident" had been covered up by the police.  She is determined to find the corruption in the force.  She works with DI Scott Morgan,  DC Sophie Jones, and DC Rick Cooper.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Two teenage girls disappear while on an educational trip to Chidlow House, a reportedly haunted mansion.  It seems odd that their teacher had just fallen to her death from the roof a few days ago.

Karen and her team search the many rooms, and the vast grounds, calling in underwater specialists to search the lake.  Meanwhile, they have a lot of people to interview.  Between the other students, the program manager, the owner and the caretaker, there are definitely some interesting characters.  They also have some interesting stories, but Karen isn't sure everyone is telling the truth.  She's also not sure the missing girls were too reliable.

Meanwhile, Karen is still rather concerned with the lack of progress being made in the corruption case against DI Freeman and associates.


My Opinions:   

These books are a fast read, and I think this was the best in the series thus far.

I like the characters surrounding Karen Hart, and wish for more information about them.  The author is slowly allowing Karen to trust her co-workers again, and the pace for this feels right.

There were a number of suspects, and although I had an early idea of the identity of the perpetrator, and even the reasons behind the crime, the method of discovery was interesting.  As well,  the pace and plot flowed smoothly, and everything was fully explained.

Although these books are not "deep", they are interesting and I find them an entertaining light read.  I am enjoying the series, and will continue to read them.


For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

House of Lies is the fourth instalment in the DS Karen Hart series, set in Lincolnshire, England. When one of the teachers, Alison King, working at a week-long intensive study retreat held at Chidlow House falls to death from a rooftop, after apparently following a shadowy figure, no one knows whether it was an accident, suicide or something even more sinister. The following day, two 17-year-old girls on the course, Cressida and Natasha, disappear, after leaving the camp to have some forbidden fun. Detective Hart and her superior, DI Scott Morgan, are called in to investigate the strange goings-on pretty rapidly as one of the last people to see the girls was the son of a senior police officer and this leads to Hart being under pressure to recover the girls alive wherever they may be. They begin to hear stories about the house being haunted as there had been a tragic drowning there, and Karen, who was sceptical at first, begins to believe it might be true when she hears mysterious voices and the sound of dripping water. As they begin to interview those present at the estate, they come to realise that there could be several suspects, as many are keeping secrets.

This is a thoroughly riveting, action-packed and absorbing thriller/procedural and from the opening pages, it had me hook, line and sinker. I must admit I was on the edge of my seat, despite it being cliche, but I really found it tense and brilliantly twisty. It moves at a rapid-fire pace as DS Hart and DI Morgan try to work out who is telling them the truth and who is spinning them a line. It's an impeccably crafted story with an engaging cast and protagonist in central figure Karen who is an intelligent, tenacious and justice-driven Detective. The fact that the girls came from money and the police feeling under pressure to find them because of that really rung true as I've seen that happen a lot in true crime cases. Just about everyone is a suspect and this kept me guessing right until the end. An immensely gripping and highly entertaining police procedural with an engrossing high stakes race against time. Strap yourself in and enjoy the nail-biting ride. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Amazon Publishing for an ARC.

[Kexx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Number 4, and it shows. Plot becoming more contrived and personal life spinning. All too unrealistic which made the first 3 so good. Will I do the 5th? Doubtful.

[Kay-marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Can't get enough of Karen ,down to earth no nonsense type of a person. Love all the characters .The gritty stories keep you gripped , but so does the thread running through the series . pre orderd the next installment. Can't wait x

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

While DS Karen Hart is trying to figure out why the case against DI Freeman has stalled, she lands a new case. Not long after a teacher falls to her death from the roof, 2 students on a week long intensive study week at Chidlow House go missing. Her team must piece together what happened to the girls.

While this isn’t the first in the series, the main story is stand alone. I highly recommend this novel for the crime lover.

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 5 out of 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

[Laura Friars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well written book in the series, the only thing that let it down for me is that I figures out the plot really quick and it annoyed me that the evidence was staring them clear in the face but the were not putting 2 & 2 together. Found myself frustrated with Karen and Scott.

[Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

House of Lies by D.S. Butler was a fabulous read that had me totally gripped from the start.

This is the 4th book in the series featuring DS Karen Hart, set in Lincolnshire and I picked up the series with Don't Turn Back (book 3) which I also thoroughly enjoyed. The fantastic plot-line and brilliant characters made House of Lies a superb and compelling tale that held me captive throughout.

With innumerable twists and turns, there was a barrage of suspects to select from which satisfied my armchair detective propensities and the swift pacing meant there was no room for boredom or tedium. It was an impeccably crafted story and the absence of possible motives at the beginning of the story when the hunt for the missing girls, school friends Cressida and Natasha started, helped to create the tense atmosphere. Complete with a high-stakes ending, this compulsive and highly entertaining police procedural should not be missed!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Tiffany nixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was really hard to get into in the beginning. I don’t know if it was the names or what but the start of this book dragged really bad for me. I was so thankful that it picked up halfway through ! I’m totally invested in this series and can’t wait to read the next one .

This story starts out at The Chidlow house where it’s been know to be haunted by the previous relatives of the Chidlows. After almost a week of a study course in this house with A-level teenagers two girls end up missing! Who’s the culprit ? Is it the groundskeeper, maybe the houses owner? Maybe even the constables son? Who would’ve thought it ends up being her best friend because she found out she was having an affair with her father. Cressida may also have been the one to push the teacher off the roof but the ending doesn’t give all the information.

As I said about the previous books in this series I highly recommend reading this one as well .

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! Great police procedural thriller! This one will keep you entertained from beginning to end. 2 rich kids disappear during a summer study program. Everybody is a suspect. There are so many red herrings and different directions the book takes. I loved it and will definitely be reading more from this author.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natasha e Cressida, due ragazze diciassettenni, stanno trascorrendo una settimana di studio intenso, in preparazione degli esami, in un’antica dimora nel Lincolnshire, Chidlow House. Si tratta di un programma di studio esclusivo a cui partecipano ragazzi appartenenti a famiglie agiate o nobili e Chidlow House è un’antica dimora con i pregi e i difetti che questo comporta.
Un’antica leggenda vuole, infatti, che la casa sia infestata dallo spirito di un’antenata dei Chidlow, annegata nel lago. Si racconta che le persone di animo sensibile possano udirne i lamenti e che questo sia presagio di sciagure per il malcapitato. Come era successo ad Alison King, un’insegnante morta suicida dopo aver raccontato di aver sentito strani lamenti nella casa.
L’improvvisa scomparsa delle due ragazze getta nel panico l’organizzatore del programma, Graham Doyle, che si vede costretto a chiedere l’intervento della Polizia. La detective Karen Hart e il suo capo, l’ispettore Scott Morgan, vengono inviati sul posto per indagare.
Tra i ragazzi impegnati nella settimana di studio è presente anche Ethan Grayson, il figlio del capo della polizia, che Karen stava cercando di contattare da diverso tempo per parlargli dele indagini sulla corruzione tra gli agenti.
Anche con queto libro D.S. Butler tiene incollati alle pagine grazie a una trama avvincente, con colpi di scena ben studiati e con un tocco di mistery che rende la storia ancora più appassionante.
Karen Hart è decisa a scoprire quali segreti nasconda Chidlow House nella corsa contro il tempo per salvare Natasha. E se anche lei inizierà a sentire i sussurri tra le antiche mura della dimora, dovrà davvero preoccuparsi per la propria incolumità?

[Christine Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and a great twist to end never suspected the murderer which is good a must read

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A teacher falls from the roof of Chidlow House an educational retreat in Lincolnshire, did he jump, did he fall or was he pushed? Then two teenage girls vanish from the same retreat. One is the daughter of a policeman so Detective Karen Hart is called in to investigate. Stories of Chidlow House being haunted abound.
This is the fourth book in the series & it could be read as a stand alone. This is another well written paging turning read with plenty of twists & turns before things are solved. Strong characters add to the enjoyment. I really like Karen & the banter between her & her team she seems to be moving on from tragic earlier events, I also like that the reader has to guess who the killer is alongside Karen. I look forward to many more books in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Karschtl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Stars

Two teenage girls disappear while on study week, and no one has seen them on the night in question. Can that really be, or is someone lying?
It was basically a good story plot, but at some point D.S. Butler (and detective Karen Hart as well) reached a point where there was nothing new, the story was not moving forward at all but only repeated itself. But thankfully the case picked up again and came to a surprising end, at least for me.

For me this was not the best book in the Karen Hart series, maybe also because there is not so much going on outside of the case. No development on Harts personal backstory or any of the other members of her crime force. But I will definitely go back to this series for the 5th part.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 4 in the Detective Karen Hart series.

When a call comes in that 2 girls have disappeared Karen gets flashbacks to an earlier case when 2 ten year old girls went missing. But this time it's 2 seventeen year olds who've disappeared from a study retreat at a local grand house. With everyone seemingly keeping secrets and not telling the whole truth Karen and the team face a race against time to find the girls.

I've been loving this series so far but this one just didn't grab me in the same way as the earlier one's. I'm not sure if it was because some of the characters were unlikable and some downright obnoxious.

[Sid · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[haze_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one my favourite of this series so far 😍 so unpredictable and brilliant suspects. I really thought I had solved it but I was so wrong. This is book 4 but I highly recommend all the books in this series I'm completely obsessed with it

[Kerry Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favourite book in the series so far.
Each book you read, you dont think anything can top it but you read the next book and thats even better.

Everyone was a suspect to me EXCEPT the person whodunnit.
This was an edge of the seat read and I was hooked on every word.

I love how the main characters lives follow on in each book so you feel very involved.
Brilliant book!

[Bookish_B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lies, secrets, and a detective you can't help but root for! "House of Lies" is D.S. Butler at her best. This installment in the Karen Hart series throws her into a particularly twisty case where nothing is as it seems. If you love a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat, grab this one!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

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*

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite one in the series so far

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sort of guessed who did it at the start. 3.5⭐️

[Heather Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love DS Karen Hart and her team, this is the fourth book in this series and it most certainly did not disappoint. Gripped from the beginning to the end. Loved it.

Butler’s series is fast paced and addictive and the plots have a thread running through them that keeps you guessing and waiting for the next book. Hart’s family was killed in an accident, which haunts her every day and there’s corruption in the police force. All of this is happening in the background whilst the team carries out its detective work to solve crimes.

As well as this, she also adds a personal element, sharing the private lives of each team member, building their characters, which draws in the reader who will find themselves involved and wanting to know more.

In book four Butler introduces a spooky element, are there ghosts at the educational retreat, Chidlow House?

A teacher falls to her death from the roof. Is it murder, suicide or an accident?

‘’What are you doing up here?’ she asked as her thumping heart slowly returned to its normal rhythm. But the only response to her question was a hard and definite shove. Two hands pushed against her chest and Alison King tumbled backwards into the darkness.’

Sounds like murder to me!

And two students go missing too! Where are they, have they been murdered? Loads of plot twists dotted about here and there.

This is a superb police procedural series. Loads of twists and turns and again an excellent who dunnit at the end?

Brilliant character development all within a plausible and well crafted story line.

Thank you Amazon Publishing UK, NetGalley and D S Butler for this ARC provided in exchange for my unbiased review.