During an educational learning week for students, a teacher seemingly falls off the roof of the mysterious Chidlow House. A few days later, two female students vanish without a trace. DS Karen Hart is called in to investigate fairly quickly, as one of the students who last saw the two girls is the chief constable son. When one of the girls comes back in a traumatic state and without able to tell investigators what happened, DS Hart knows she has to race against time to find the second student before any more lives are lost.

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC! While this book is part of the DS Karen Hart series, it can totally be read as a stand-alone. Though it might help to read the other books, as they mention a case throughout the book that was covered in the previous one. I was not aware that this was apart of a series, so I might go back and read the others to catch up!

Overall, I did enjoy this book. It was a pretty fast read and an enjoyable thriller. I felt like the plot was pretty predictable and I managed to guess who was the real perpetrator early on, but I still enjoyed going through the story! Now, there was one thing that bugged me and I know I am being nit-picky at this point, but I could not understand why DS Hart was super hard the kids because they smoked weed. It's 2020 and smoking weed doesn't mean that the student or students have anything to do with a disappearance. She just seemed super fixated on that and it bugged me! But, again, this is just me nit=picking!

Overall rating: 3.5 stars

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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'm enjoying this series, book 4. They tick all the boxes for me. A mystery (a death/suicide and two missing young women) realistic main character (DS Karen Hart) she doesn't always hit the nail on the head but she gets there!! I love that, how she works the case. Throw in a few false leads, I thought I knew who it was...I was wrong! You could read this as a stand alone but there is a bit of a continuing issue that I suggest you start with Book 1, Bring them home. I know I enjoy a book when I think about it when I'm not reading it. Looking forward to #5 :) Thank you NetGalley!

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

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.

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.

#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.

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.

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*

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

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.