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 .

House of Lies is book number four in the Detective Karen Hart series by D S Butler and one I found to be average read

After reading the previous books I found House of Lies a bit of a letdown with the storyline feeling messy and the main supporting characters being fairly formulaic in their behaviours and actions.  Also the way the two main police officers went about their investigation was not by the book with gaping holes in their procedures. 

The main storyline though was a good one with a number of twists and turns

Overall and whilst the underlying arc of police corruption was also progressed the book did not hit the heights of previous ones which I hope is an exception in the series

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

What bloody hell is this that I just read?
Holy smoke, these two girls may have vanished but the drama doesn't stop there.
As we learn there's more to this Chidlow House as it could be haunted and anyone with contact to these two missing teens is now suspect.
However, Cressida and Natasha could also have perished and the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
So, with Detective Karen Hart on the case I'm sure the answers will start flowing like a river -RIGHT?
The only thing I want to say at this point in this story is that this plot will blow you away as it did me.
There's so much truth to the idea about being careful who your friends are...
Keep your friends close but your enemies closer as it holds so much weight.
Thank you to DS Butler, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A murder mystery with a touch of the paranormal. Two girls are missing from their boarding school and it is upto DS Karen Hart and her team to find them, and the clock is ticking. Deep Dark secrets, lies and so many twists and turns. This read had me constantly holding my breath and changing my mind. A really good whodunnit. 
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

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.

An excellent fast paced, gripping novel that had me asking myself again and again - “who dunnit?”.

Cleverly written, this is part of a series featuring DS Karen Hart. I have not read any of the others- this works well as a stand alone novel - I will definitely go back to the beginning now!

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