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House of Lies
Not yet published
Expected 27 Aug 26How well do you really know the person you are sharing your life with?
When Emma and Paul buy a derelict French farmhouse, they're hoping for a fresh start. But behind closed doors, they discover lies, betrayal and ever-approaching dangers.
A fatal workplace accident. A double life. And questions that nobody has the answers to.
After years of hardship, Emma's chance of happiness is tinged with heartbreak. Together with her husband Paul and their daughter, Mollie, she takes a chance and moves to France, where an old ruin is set to become their new home, far away from their problems in England. But she's forced to leave her son behind.
Yet renovating an old building takes a greater toll on the family than expected and they are soon burdened with financial worries, conflicts and the challenges of life in a foreign country. At the same time, strange incidents begin to happen which make Emma increasingly nervous.
What began as a fresh start turns into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Distrust poisons their marriage, old lies come to light, and the situation spirals out of control.
In the midst of the idyllic Limousin countryside and a new community, Emma fights for her family – and she needs to figure out who she can still trust. And the dream of a new beginning turns into a struggle for trust, truth and safety. Because some people don't give up. And some secrets don't stay buried.
When Emma and Paul buy a derelict French farmhouse, they're hoping for a fresh start. But behind closed doors, they discover lies, betrayal and ever-approaching dangers.
A fatal workplace accident. A double life. And questions that nobody has the answers to.
After years of hardship, Emma's chance of happiness is tinged with heartbreak. Together with her husband Paul and their daughter, Mollie, she takes a chance and moves to France, where an old ruin is set to become their new home, far away from their problems in England. But she's forced to leave her son behind.
Yet renovating an old building takes a greater toll on the family than expected and they are soon burdened with financial worries, conflicts and the challenges of life in a foreign country. At the same time, strange incidents begin to happen which make Emma increasingly nervous.
What began as a fresh start turns into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Distrust poisons their marriage, old lies come to light, and the situation spirals out of control.
In the midst of the idyllic Limousin countryside and a new community, Emma fights for her family – and she needs to figure out who she can still trust. And the dream of a new beginning turns into a struggle for trust, truth and safety. Because some people don't give up. And some secrets don't stay buried.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 27, 2026
About the author
Helen Matthews
7 books80 followersDelighted to announce that domestic suspense novel The Sisters is out soon from Bloodhound Books. They also recently republished my prize-winning suspense thriller Girl Out of Sight.
Lies Behind the Ruin, family noir set in France, is available from Amazon. A new edition of The Girl in the Van, winner of the Pageturner prize 2022 in the suspense and thriller category, will be out in January 2025.
I'm originally from Cardiff, studied English at Liverpool University and hold an MA in Creative Writing from Oxford Brookes. I've won prizes for flash fiction and short stories and been published in 'Artificium', Reflex Fiction, 1k story, ElipsisZine, Love Sunday, Scribble and in an eBook 'Garage 54 and other stories'.
Long ago in a galaxy far away (before I focused on fiction) I had some articles published in the Guardian, on the BBC and in lifestyle magazines. I love travelling and you can read about some quirky encounters and places on my blog. I'm an ambassador for the charity , Unseen that fights to end modern slavery.
Lies Behind the Ruin, family noir set in France, is available from Amazon. A new edition of The Girl in the Van, winner of the Pageturner prize 2022 in the suspense and thriller category, will be out in January 2025.
I'm originally from Cardiff, studied English at Liverpool University and hold an MA in Creative Writing from Oxford Brookes. I've won prizes for flash fiction and short stories and been published in 'Artificium', Reflex Fiction, 1k story, ElipsisZine, Love Sunday, Scribble and in an eBook 'Garage 54 and other stories'.
Long ago in a galaxy far away (before I focused on fiction) I had some articles published in the Guardian, on the BBC and in lifestyle magazines. I love travelling and you can read about some quirky encounters and places on my blog. I'm an ambassador for the charity , Unseen that fights to end modern slavery.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *House of Lies* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
*House of Lies* is an atmospheric domestic thriller about a family searching for a fresh start, only to discover that moving abroad cannot erase the secrets and problems they have left behind. Emma relocates to rural France with her husband, Paul, and their young daughter, Mollie, where they plan to renovate an old ruin and create a happier, more secure life. However, Emma is forced to leave her son, Owen, behind in England, and the guilt surrounding that decision follows her into their new home.
The French countryside provides an effective backdrop for the story. The property initially represents freedom and possibility, but the scale of the renovation, their increasing financial difficulties and the family’s isolation soon make it feel more like a trap. As strange incidents begin occurring around the house, Emma becomes convinced that somebody is watching them or deliberately trying to frighten her. The more concerned she becomes, the less certain she is that Paul believes her.
The tension within Emma and Paul’s marriage is one of the strongest aspects of the novel. Their new beginning has been built on unresolved disagreements and information they have not shared honestly with one another. Financial pressure and the demands of the renovation gradually expose those weaknesses, while Emma’s separation from Owen adds another emotional strain. The novel effectively shows how quickly trust can deteriorate when both partners suspect the other is concealing something.
Emma is a sympathetic but occasionally frustrating protagonist. Her concern for her children and her growing sense of danger are understandable, but some of her choices make the situation more complicated than necessary. The story develops through dual perspectives, allowing the reader to recognise that neither Emma nor Paul necessarily possesses the full truth. This creates uncertainty about whether the threat comes from outside the family or from the secrets already existing within it.
The pacing is relatively measured, particularly during the early sections dealing with the move and renovation. The atmosphere becomes increasingly unsettling as unexplained incidents accumulate, and the later chapters move much more quickly. There are several twists involving the family’s past and the real reason their supposedly idyllic new life is beginning to collapse. Some revelations were effective, while others required suspension of disbelief or felt slightly overcomplicated.
Overall, *House of Lies* is an engaging domestic thriller with an evocative French setting, complicated family relationships and a steady atmosphere of paranoia. Although the pacing was uneven in places and not every development felt entirely convincing, I remained interested in uncovering the family’s secrets and discovering who Emma could trust. It will appeal to readers who enjoy troubled marriages, isolated properties, buried guilt and fresh starts that turn increasingly dangerous.
*House of Lies* is an atmospheric domestic thriller about a family searching for a fresh start, only to discover that moving abroad cannot erase the secrets and problems they have left behind. Emma relocates to rural France with her husband, Paul, and their young daughter, Mollie, where they plan to renovate an old ruin and create a happier, more secure life. However, Emma is forced to leave her son, Owen, behind in England, and the guilt surrounding that decision follows her into their new home.
The French countryside provides an effective backdrop for the story. The property initially represents freedom and possibility, but the scale of the renovation, their increasing financial difficulties and the family’s isolation soon make it feel more like a trap. As strange incidents begin occurring around the house, Emma becomes convinced that somebody is watching them or deliberately trying to frighten her. The more concerned she becomes, the less certain she is that Paul believes her.
The tension within Emma and Paul’s marriage is one of the strongest aspects of the novel. Their new beginning has been built on unresolved disagreements and information they have not shared honestly with one another. Financial pressure and the demands of the renovation gradually expose those weaknesses, while Emma’s separation from Owen adds another emotional strain. The novel effectively shows how quickly trust can deteriorate when both partners suspect the other is concealing something.
Emma is a sympathetic but occasionally frustrating protagonist. Her concern for her children and her growing sense of danger are understandable, but some of her choices make the situation more complicated than necessary. The story develops through dual perspectives, allowing the reader to recognise that neither Emma nor Paul necessarily possesses the full truth. This creates uncertainty about whether the threat comes from outside the family or from the secrets already existing within it.
The pacing is relatively measured, particularly during the early sections dealing with the move and renovation. The atmosphere becomes increasingly unsettling as unexplained incidents accumulate, and the later chapters move much more quickly. There are several twists involving the family’s past and the real reason their supposedly idyllic new life is beginning to collapse. Some revelations were effective, while others required suspension of disbelief or felt slightly overcomplicated.
Overall, *House of Lies* is an engaging domestic thriller with an evocative French setting, complicated family relationships and a steady atmosphere of paranoia. Although the pacing was uneven in places and not every development felt entirely convincing, I remained interested in uncovering the family’s secrets and discovering who Emma could trust. It will appeal to readers who enjoy troubled marriages, isolated properties, buried guilt and fresh starts that turn increasingly dangerous.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
House of Lies by Helen Matthews is a domestic thriller set against the deceptively idyllic backdrop of the homely French countryside.
When Paul ends up under investigation for a tragic accident at the building site he was in charge of, he makes the decision to purchase a ruined French cottage and relocate the family to France. His wife, Emma, handily studied French at university before she had to drop out when she fell pregnant with her son from her first marriage. Although she has some valid concerns, she ultimately ends up in France alone as Paul needs to take up work in England.
Matthews does a fantastic job of using the isolation of the French countryside to create a slow burning realisation that something is wrong and deeply unsettling. Switching between the alternating viewpoints of Emma and Paul gives us opposing insights into their unravelling relationship. The novel, which is set mainly in 2016, also weaves in a topical edge by tying the narrative to post-Brexit uncertainty for British expats.
Emma is a sympathetic protagonist who clearly wants to do the best for her family but she comes across as a bit of a wet blanket. In the end she does manage to stick up for herself but I spent most of the time frustrated at how blind she was to everything going on. Paul, on the other hand, is a deeply unlikeable man – he is a thoroughly infuriating, cliched husband whose sole trait seems to be wanting to have his cake and eat it, too all while making things as bad as he can for his family.
There are multiple predictable character arcs, especially the mysterious Eve. It is glaringly obvious who Eve is long before the reveal. While she serves as the resident psychopath, her character also feels cliched – especially the bit of unearned salvation.
Although the book is well written and kicks off with a fast pace the story stumbles a bit in its execution as it progresses. After a strong start, the narrative sags considerably in the middle before picking up again as the novel draws to a close.
However, despite an interesting premise, the plot ultimately doesn’t go anywhere satisfying, culminating in a very lame ending. A very generous 3 star read.
House of Lies by Helen Matthews is a domestic thriller set against the deceptively idyllic backdrop of the homely French countryside.
When Paul ends up under investigation for a tragic accident at the building site he was in charge of, he makes the decision to purchase a ruined French cottage and relocate the family to France. His wife, Emma, handily studied French at university before she had to drop out when she fell pregnant with her son from her first marriage. Although she has some valid concerns, she ultimately ends up in France alone as Paul needs to take up work in England.
Matthews does a fantastic job of using the isolation of the French countryside to create a slow burning realisation that something is wrong and deeply unsettling. Switching between the alternating viewpoints of Emma and Paul gives us opposing insights into their unravelling relationship. The novel, which is set mainly in 2016, also weaves in a topical edge by tying the narrative to post-Brexit uncertainty for British expats.
Emma is a sympathetic protagonist who clearly wants to do the best for her family but she comes across as a bit of a wet blanket. In the end she does manage to stick up for herself but I spent most of the time frustrated at how blind she was to everything going on. Paul, on the other hand, is a deeply unlikeable man – he is a thoroughly infuriating, cliched husband whose sole trait seems to be wanting to have his cake and eat it, too all while making things as bad as he can for his family.
There are multiple predictable character arcs, especially the mysterious Eve. It is glaringly obvious who Eve is long before the reveal. While she serves as the resident psychopath, her character also feels cliched – especially the bit of unearned salvation.
Although the book is well written and kicks off with a fast pace the story stumbles a bit in its execution as it progresses. After a strong start, the narrative sags considerably in the middle before picking up again as the novel draws to a close.
However, despite an interesting premise, the plot ultimately doesn’t go anywhere satisfying, culminating in a very lame ending. A very generous 3 star read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Net Galley for an Advanced Reader Copy of House of Lies by Helen Matthews.
Paul and Emma have a seemingly happy marriage and are raising their young daughter, Mollie and Emma's son, Owen together in England. When an employee is killed due to a work place accident, and the blame falls on Paul, he does what he thinks is necessary to clear his name-even if that means partnering with Genevieve, a beautiful single woman he works with. He puts his family in debt wining and dining his mistress and begins to lose track of his lies. He is given time off from work while an investigation is started to see who is at fault. He decides to take his family on holiday to France. Although he is preoccupied with Genevieve, he wants his marriage to work out. He decides to buy a run down estate in France that he can s to fix up for his and relocate to. Paul believes by moving to France he can get himself, and his family away from Genevieve. Wrong! This story started out pretty slow-the first 100 pages had me wondering if this book was actually going to be a thriller. It was predictable when Eve showed up in the village and befriended Emma that is was Genevieve. The twist at the end was good-I didn't see it coming.
I thought the character development could have been better. Paul was a sniveling creep throughout the book. Genevieve was a predictable psychopath. Although Emma started out co-dependent, she did stick up for herself in the end. She should have gone back to England to see Owen and work things out before Christmas, no matter what Paul's excuses were.. 3 out of 5 stars.
Paul and Emma have a seemingly happy marriage and are raising their young daughter, Mollie and Emma's son, Owen together in England. When an employee is killed due to a work place accident, and the blame falls on Paul, he does what he thinks is necessary to clear his name-even if that means partnering with Genevieve, a beautiful single woman he works with. He puts his family in debt wining and dining his mistress and begins to lose track of his lies. He is given time off from work while an investigation is started to see who is at fault. He decides to take his family on holiday to France. Although he is preoccupied with Genevieve, he wants his marriage to work out. He decides to buy a run down estate in France that he can s to fix up for his and relocate to. Paul believes by moving to France he can get himself, and his family away from Genevieve. Wrong! This story started out pretty slow-the first 100 pages had me wondering if this book was actually going to be a thriller. It was predictable when Eve showed up in the village and befriended Emma that is was Genevieve. The twist at the end was good-I didn't see it coming.
I thought the character development could have been better. Paul was a sniveling creep throughout the book. Genevieve was a predictable psychopath. Although Emma started out co-dependent, she did stick up for herself in the end. She should have gone back to England to see Owen and work things out before Christmas, no matter what Paul's excuses were.. 3 out of 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
House of Lies is one of those novels where the tension doesn’t come from dramatic twists but from the slow, unsettling realisation that something is deeply wrong beneath the surface. What struck me most was how convincingly the author captures the fragility of starting over — the hope, the exhaustion, and the way small cracks can widen under pressure.
Emma’s voice feels grounded and relatable, and her determination to carve out a new life in rural France gives the story real emotional weight. The isolation of the countryside, the strain of renovation, and the challenges of adapting to a new culture all feed into a subtle but persistent atmosphere of vulnerability. It’s a setting that’s both beautiful and quietly claustrophobic, and that duality works brilliantly.
The novel shines in its portrayal of relationships under stress. Trust, resentment, and fear weave together in a way that feels authentic rather than sensationalised. As the tension escalates, the story becomes a compelling study of how secrets corrode even the strongest intentions.
This revised edition offers a thoughtful, atmospheric read with a strong sense of place and a slow‑burn suspense that rewards patient readers. It’s a domestic thriller with emotional depth — one that lingers after you turn the final page.
With thanks to Helen Matthews, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Emma’s voice feels grounded and relatable, and her determination to carve out a new life in rural France gives the story real emotional weight. The isolation of the countryside, the strain of renovation, and the challenges of adapting to a new culture all feed into a subtle but persistent atmosphere of vulnerability. It’s a setting that’s both beautiful and quietly claustrophobic, and that duality works brilliantly.
The novel shines in its portrayal of relationships under stress. Trust, resentment, and fear weave together in a way that feels authentic rather than sensationalised. As the tension escalates, the story becomes a compelling study of how secrets corrode even the strongest intentions.
This revised edition offers a thoughtful, atmospheric read with a strong sense of place and a slow‑burn suspense that rewards patient readers. It’s a domestic thriller with emotional depth — one that lingers after you turn the final page.
With thanks to Helen Matthews, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
House Of Lies is a bit of a slow burner which actually works well for it. It twists and turns and develops into a story about trust, deception, strength and weakness.
Emma trusts her weak-willed husband, Paul, implicitly, she has no reason not to. Until an accident at his work leaves him vulnerable and virtually penniless.
Emma begins their new life in France at their derelict new home, with their young daughter, expecting Paul to join them shortly. She has left behind her son from a previous relationship and is living in a caravan in the middle of winter, all in the belief that it will be worth it eventually. She works hard to build a viable business so she and Paul can be together, while believing that he is tying up loose ends in England and earning money while he can. Soon a new friend arrives, giving her the company she craves and helping her cope with running a bar while bringing up a young child on her own.
When Paul eventually joins her in France, Emma is excited for him to see how she has managed and to meet her new friend. He is less enthusiastic and before too long, the truth must inevitably come out.
I enjoyed House Of Lies, though I intensely disliked Paul as a character. While that is part of the point of the story, he had very few redeeming qualities and, at times, that distracted me. I also wanted to give Emma a good shake at first but she grew on me.
Emma trusts her weak-willed husband, Paul, implicitly, she has no reason not to. Until an accident at his work leaves him vulnerable and virtually penniless.
Emma begins their new life in France at their derelict new home, with their young daughter, expecting Paul to join them shortly. She has left behind her son from a previous relationship and is living in a caravan in the middle of winter, all in the belief that it will be worth it eventually. She works hard to build a viable business so she and Paul can be together, while believing that he is tying up loose ends in England and earning money while he can. Soon a new friend arrives, giving her the company she craves and helping her cope with running a bar while bringing up a young child on her own.
When Paul eventually joins her in France, Emma is excited for him to see how she has managed and to meet her new friend. He is less enthusiastic and before too long, the truth must inevitably come out.
I enjoyed House Of Lies, though I intensely disliked Paul as a character. While that is part of the point of the story, he had very few redeeming qualities and, at times, that distracted me. I also wanted to give Emma a good shake at first but she grew on me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 1/2 stars. I believe this is the first book that I have read by the author but I do have a couple of more on my tbr list.
In the book, House of Lies, there is Emma and Paul a married couple. There is an accident at work that Paul gets blamed for and Paul also has an affair with a woman he works with. Paul decides his family needs a vacation and then that evolves into that they need a fresh start so he purchases a farmhouse in France that needs some renovations. He sends Emma on ahead to France while he ties up some things back home. Emma leaves behind her son Owen, and eventually Emma, Paul and Mollie are in France together for that fresh new start, however, that fresh start doesn't really happen, because there is a relationship under stress, secrets, betrayals, emotional issues, guilt, financial issues, little events that are concerning and then outright danger. There are twists and turns but I am not going to give spoilers but I did like how it wrapped up in the end. This is more of a slower paced domestic thriller with characters that have complicated flawed relationships.
Thank you Netgalley and DP Books for the complimentary copy of the story.
In the book, House of Lies, there is Emma and Paul a married couple. There is an accident at work that Paul gets blamed for and Paul also has an affair with a woman he works with. Paul decides his family needs a vacation and then that evolves into that they need a fresh start so he purchases a farmhouse in France that needs some renovations. He sends Emma on ahead to France while he ties up some things back home. Emma leaves behind her son Owen, and eventually Emma, Paul and Mollie are in France together for that fresh new start, however, that fresh start doesn't really happen, because there is a relationship under stress, secrets, betrayals, emotional issues, guilt, financial issues, little events that are concerning and then outright danger. There are twists and turns but I am not going to give spoilers but I did like how it wrapped up in the end. This is more of a slower paced domestic thriller with characters that have complicated flawed relationships.
Thank you Netgalley and DP Books for the complimentary copy of the story.
August 4, 2026
REVIEW OF ADVANCE COPY RECEIVED FROM NETGALLEY
📚 House of Lies by Helen Matthews ⭐⭐⭐
Out 27th August 2026
A slow burner domestic psychological thriller full of secrets, lies and twists! 🏡👀
Emma and Paul move to France with their daughter to renovate a farmhouse, hoping for a fresh start, but soon find themselves dealing with secrets, betrayal and growing danger.
There were so many secrets and little twists that kept me guessing, and I was constantly changing my mind about who I could trust. I flew through this one because I just needed to know what was really going on!
If you love a twisty domestic thriller packed with lies, secrets and plenty of suspicion, definitely give this one a go! 📖❤️
📚 House of Lies by Helen Matthews ⭐⭐⭐
Out 27th August 2026
A slow burner domestic psychological thriller full of secrets, lies and twists! 🏡👀
Emma and Paul move to France with their daughter to renovate a farmhouse, hoping for a fresh start, but soon find themselves dealing with secrets, betrayal and growing danger.
There were so many secrets and little twists that kept me guessing, and I was constantly changing my mind about who I could trust. I flew through this one because I just needed to know what was really going on!
If you love a twisty domestic thriller packed with lies, secrets and plenty of suspicion, definitely give this one a go! 📖❤️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book is slower-paced than I prefer. The pace does not pick up until the end. The story was good, but I would call it women's fiction. I think if it were labeled differently, the expectations would match the book. As a literary fiction, it was good; as a thriller, it was too slow. Emma was too passive in the first half of the book. She was too quick to follow Paul even if it negatively impacted her kids. A lot of time is spent on her life in England and adjusting in France. I felt for her as she grew and was forced to learn how to manage life in a new country. I began to hate some of the characters and love Emma more. Overall, a good read once I changed my expectations.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.25 stars from me. I did enjoy the storyline of this novel. Following the lines of friendship and betrayal you never know who you should really trust that inserts themselves into your life. The story was good and the ending was exactly what I had hoped it to be!
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC to read and review.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC to read and review.
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