The Family Secret by Terry Lynn Thomas is a fabulous historical thriller set in 1940. It is a time of suspicion and mistrust, of spies and agents, of greed and power.
The backdrop to the action is Cumbria. The peaceful village location contrasts with the thrilling action.
When money and power dominate, people are corrupted. “Never underestimate the corruptive power of money.” Pound signs mean little else can be seen. People will do just about anything to achieve their monetary goal.
Teens on the brink of adulthood feature. It is a tense time as young girls try to break into the grown up world.
The females are the dominant characters in the book. On the whole they have the brains and strength of character to do the right thing. There are some very modern women trying to break out of their traditional roles.
Amateur sleuthing is the order of the day. The rumour mill means a small village hides no secrets – or does it?
The Family Secret was a fabulous and gripping novel that gave the reader a glimpse into a bygone age as well as entertaining them with crimes to be solved.
A fantastic read set against the backdrop of war.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

From the publisher: “After a sudden unexplained disappearance, Thomas Charles comes back into Cat Carlisle’s life with the suggestion she leave London – and the threat of bombs – to move to back her childhood village in Cumberland.
Back in her hometown Cat discovers her childhood friend, Beth Hargreaves, is suspected of murder. As Cat tries to prove Beth’s innocence, she discovers a scheme of deception that affects the whole village. Can she uncover the family truths behind the murder and expose the enemy hiding in plain sight?”

I haven’t read the first book in the series, The Silent Woman, but the author provides enough references to past events that it isn’t hard to catch up.
I enjoyed the book overall and would classify it a cozy mystery: the kind of book to read on a rainy day with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
The main characters, Cat, Thomas, Carmona, and Edythe, are well-written, and I could visualize the small town where the story is set. However, some of the supporting characters lack punch, and Phillip is so cliché, which is the point, I know, but it did cause a few eye-rolls.
Overall, I liked the book and would recommend it to someone on the search for a mystery without a lot of gore but with lots of small town and family drama. 3.5 stars

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was set in the 1940's during World War 11 in a small town. This was a perfect dark night read and once I started could not put it down.

Took a couple of chapters to get into this book but I enjoyed it thoroughly! A nice simple ‘whodunnit’, however I prefer a bit more meat to a murder so to speak, but this was a nice easy read.

A very interesting domestic mystery, set during WWII - and one I enjoyed getting my teeth into!

Thomas Charles turns up once more in the life of Cat Carlisle; with German bombs dropping nightly on the capital, he offers a move to Cumberland - in the village Cat was raised. When she arrives, Cat quickly gets re-acquainted with her childhood friend, Beth, who seems to be suspected of having a hand in a recent murder. Not without experience in such things, Cat vows to do all she can to help.

This is the second in series; I did not read the first but throughout this book there is enough information to fill in events then, but without continually harping back. This is a complete mystery with several strands to follow, and makes for a good read. There are few war details, but events are connected to that conflict; the British spirit shines through, however, with village life continuing as near to normal as it can.

A well-plotted novel with each separate story intertwined with the others, there are enough ups and downs to easily keep the readers attention and by the final page every problem is answered, but I suspect we haven't seen the last of this duo. I shall look forward to another instalment in the lives of Cat Carlisle and Thomas Charles with great anticipation!

The newest installment in the Cat Carlisle mysteries follows Cat and Thomas to the English village of Rivenby, where Cat lived before her parents passed and her aunt whisked her away to London. Thomas is covertly investigating the murder of a local resident, Win Billings — and when Cat’s childhood best friend, Beth Hargreaves, becomes a suspect, Cat becomes involved in the investigation as well, much to Thomas’s chagrin. As the investigation gets closer to the culprit, danger surrounds not only the life of Cat but also the lives of people they’ve come to know in Rivenby, and the truth that is threatening to break free will change everything.

Terry Lynn Thomas delivers a compelling mystery with twists and turns that even the most experienced mystery reader will be surprised by. The setting, during the evacuations from London to the English countryside during the heyday of World War II, makes for high stakes as Cat and Thomas look into the murder of Win Billings, and get involved with the personal and family drama of the locals of Rivenby. The POV switches between characters, given the reader a well rounded but incomplete view of what’s going on, making for very interesting reading. There are characters that you’ll enjoy, that you’ll dislike, that you’ll get frustrated by, but they all push the narrative along in unique ways.

The Family Secret not only deals with the war, but also themes much closer to home — growing up, betrayal, greed, falling in love, being used, forgiveness, fraught family dynamics — meaning that there’s always something going on. There’s truly never a dull moment in this book, and Terry Lynn Thomas once again delivers a riveting, multifaceted mystery that fans of historical fiction, spy thrillers, and murder mysteries will find a fascinating read.

The Family Secret is set to be released on March 1, 2019.

Will she find the truth?
England, 1940

After a sudden unexplained disappearance, Thomas Charles comes back into Cat Carlisle’s life with the suggestion she leave London – and the threat of bombs – to move to back her childhood village in Cumberland.

Back in her hometown Cat discovers her childhood friend, Beth Hargreaves, is suspected of murder. As Cat tries to prove Beth’s innocence, she discovers a scheme of deception that affects the whole village. Can she uncover the family truths behind the murder and expose the enemy hiding in plain sight?

I thought this book was ok. It had the story to be great, but sometimes the characters felt too flat for me. It had a group of supporting characters that we're introduced with a lot of background, but then those characters weren't seen through the second half of the book. Overall I give it 3 stars because it did have a good story.

This is a fast paced, enjoyable historical mystery set in Cumberland in the early days of World War II. Thomas Charles and Cat Carlyle are in the beginnings of a relationship. He convinces her to move herself and her ward, Annie, from London back to Cat's hometown of Rivenby to get away from the bombing that everyone knows is coming. He doesn't tell her he is also doing some investigating for Sir Reginald into the death of a former WWI operative. Here is where I wish I had read the first book in the series so that I was better able to understand the back story but I was able to catch up and enjoy the story.
I loved Cat...she's not afraid to jump in and help a friend in need of her help. She's also strong enough to stand up for herself and not back down when things get tense. Thomas worries about her and tries to convince her not to be so impetuous, this naturally causes a bit of conflict between them for a time. I also enjoyed meeting all the secondary characters and spending time in the small town of Rivenby. Full of historical detail there's alot going on in this book, and there are a lot of fun interesting twists and turns while the author leads us to the satisfying end.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are a lot of secrets in Rivenby, where Cat has taken refuge from WWII. Many of them start to trickle out when there's a murder. Cat's convinced her friend Beth was not the villain but who is? And, is she safe? I didn't read the first book, which detailed Cat's escape from her husband and her initial relationship with Thomas Charles but Thomas (the author) provides enough info up front to make you comfortable hopping in. This is very much a historical cozy, with WWII around the corner but not as much a player as the villagers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This was first book in the Cat Carlisle series and I have to admit for the first couple of chapters I was confused and struggled to follow what was happening. However after a couple of chapters I was engrossed in the story line and was eager to figure out who was the killer. The author has created a very well thought out plot that moves at a great pace and never becomes inconceivable. The main characters of Cat and Thomas are very likeable and easy to support in their quest for justice for the victim. I look forward to reading the previous book in the series.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC.

As air raids threaten London's people, evacuations become inevitable ... almost inevitable as whispers and a mysterious death in a small English village.

I have not yet read the first book of the series, but it seemed like book two could mostly rest on its own. I dropped in on Thomas and Cat in The Family Secret. Thomas shows up in London after disappearing for a bit and convinces Cat Carlisle, the woman he met and worked with in book one, to leave the city for her home village. After all, London won't be spared bombings during the war, that is for certain, and he wants to be sure she's safe. Just ... safe ...

Upon arriving in Rivenby, the gossip about a local woman's death is already afoot. Cat hears it from her childhood friend Beth, who is suspected in the murder. There are plenty of underhanded dealings, eavesdroppings, and 'secret' liaisons that twist along the way, weaving a story of deception that Cat and Thomas must try to solve.

The plot had the little hallmarks of a cosy English village mystery, with a bit of spy and war thriller tossed in. With the concern over the woman's murder, Thomas must figure out who did it and why, ultimately to make sure others with similar talents and backgrounds are not targeted. However, the mystery goes deeper than that, and Thomas finds he needs Cat's help. After all, there's a war on, and Britain must be kept safe from all threats.

I had a few hang-ups with Thomas and Cat's preoccupation with each other. The romantic tension that was meant to be there fell flat at times. Also, many characters seemed to gain sudden and intense insight into their own selves and the goings-on around them too quickly - some slow burn of revelation would make me keep on turning the pages to find out more. Will they figure it out? When will they figure it out? - those kinds of questions would become more urgent to answer. Plot advancement depended a great deal on the same scenario several times. With a little mixing up of the action, the WWII tie-in could be worked in more strongly and make it more exciting - and a little less predictable earlier on.

I actually wish Cat had featured more prominently throughout, as she seemed to take a backseat to other characters - though, of course, she wasn't far from the action! I found Cat likable, very charitable, fiery, and strong-willed, and I would love to see her unique character stand out more as the featured namesake. Overall, a pleasant, light mystery read for curling up with. Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for access to this advance copy to review.

I was first introduced to Cat Carlisle in Terry Lynn Thomas' previous book "The Silent Woman" about a year ago. And from the very first pages, I was charmed by her courageous and sassy character.

In "The Family Secret", Cat leaves London for a quiet village she grew up in. Cat's friends Annie and Thomas are joining her on the trip. Once in Rivenby, Cat is finding herself in a middle of yet another murder investigation. And this time around the suspect is her childhood friend. Mrs. Carlisle is determined to clear her friend's name, and while doing so she uncovers even more dangerous secrets that place her and people she cares about in danger.

I was quite disappointed by the story. The suspense element was pretty predictable, and it didn't capture my attention at all, as it did in the first book. There are also way too many characters to mingle with. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to learning about Cat Carlisle's next adventure. Thank you, NetGalley and HQ Digital publisher for a free and advanced copy of the book.

Book 2 of the Cat Carlisle series was just as enjoyable as book one. I love these characters and really enjoyed meeting some news as the series moved out of the city and into the countryside. Lots of twists and turns made for a very exciting read. 5 stars.

I 4/5⭐️Today I’m posting a book that has several Gal Pal relationships. Cat returns to her home town to help her childhood friend Beth prove that she did not murder her aunt for a large inheritance. Will she find the truth?

This is the second Cat Carlisle book and I must admit I did not read the first book. I was dropped in on page one to a world I was not familiar with and as a result I was confused for the first 2 chapters. Soon though I was sucked in to this quick read.

This was fun and would be great to take with you on upcoming beach trips or spring break.

The Family Secret is made to be a winter-time read. With a solid bit of history, many varied and intriguing characters, and a brooding writing style that accentuates the environment of mystery, this book is one that will see you through a cold evening at home. This is not a beach read, or light romance. I enjoyed this book because every page brought something surprising or puzzling. Once you start, you won’t want to put this book down-it is that well-written.

The story begins with us getting to know, or if you have read the first book in the the Cat Carlisle series, getting reacquainted with Cat, her friend Thomas Charles, and Thomas’s boss, Sir Reginald. London is holding its breath, waiting for a German attack that will surely come now that the Second World War has started. Thomas convinces Cat to move back to Rivenby, a village in Cumberland that will be safer for Cat and her ward, young Annie.

Cat and Thomas are in the beginnings of a relationship, so she agrees to move back to the village where she grew up, to a village where everybody knows everything about everyone. And this is how Cat finds herself in the midst of solving one murder, and then, two violent deaths.

The villagers are great people to read about, and each one has a secret and enough problems to warrant suspicion. Phillip, is a scoundrel and too handsome for his own good. Friends Edythe and Carmona were two of my favorite characters, and each one does her best to get to the bottom of the problems in the village and each grows up as they deal with the past and the present. And what is going on with the Broadbent family? Many townsfolk think they know the answers.

There are some lovely parts to this book. Here is one of my favorite quotes. “The Rowan Tree. All you have to do is touch the tree and ask your question. If you ask with love in your heart, the tree will guide you.”

You will be rewarded with a satisfying conclusion when you see how history and family secrets collide. Although Cat and Thomas are introduced in the first book in the series, and it is probably interesting to have learned more about them, I had no trouble reading the second book as a stand-alone. Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Rachel’s Random Resource for a review copy. This is my honest review.

Mystery in the countryside of London during WWII is the premise of the 2nd in series. Can be read independently, but gives more meaning to the main characters if you have read the first. Enjoyable characters and setting with a lightheaded mystery. Easy read!