House of Lies

House of...

by Merryn Allingham

Love is timeless, but so is betrayal.

How do you survive when your world falls to pieces? When Megan Lacey’s lover dies in a car accident, she retreats to a small coastal town certain, she will never recover from his loss. Until, that is, she discovers everything she’d thought real has been an illusion.

Grappling with a series of catastrophic events, Megan finds herself walking back into the past to an older story of love and betrayal.

Slowly and and irrevocably, she is drawn to Sophia, a Victorian woman who once occupied the same cottage and who, in so many ways, is her counterpart. But centuries later, can she help the woman escape her fate? And can the past help Megan herself find happiness?

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2018

About the author

I was born into an army family and spent my childhood moving around the UK and abroad. Unsurprisingly it gave me itchy feet and in my twenties I escaped an unloved secretarial career to work as cabin crew and see the world.

I still love to travel and visit new places, especially those with an interesting history, but the arrival of marriage, children and cats meant a more settled life in the south of England, where I've lived ever since. It also gave me the opportunity to go back to 'school' and eventually teach at university.

I've written seven historical novels, all mysteries with a helping of suspense and a dash of romance - sometimes set in exotic locations and often against a background of stirring world events.

My latest novel, A Tale of Two Sisters, is set in Constantinople at the turn of the 20th century when rebellion within the Ottoman Empire is growing ever louder. Against this background the novel traces the fate of two sisters, Alice and Lydia Verinder, and explores themes of family, love and loss.

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I love Time Travel and Timeslip novels and I read them for the historical side of it as I don't like contemporary fiction. A bit more of the historical side would have suited me better, however, the present day story held my attention too.
This, to me, is a story about relationships. My heart went out to Sophia. She was a strong person but also had a vulnerability that was touching.
That mystery that surrounded the cottage Megan was renting was intriguing.
The side stories that were included were interesting but I would have liked the ending to be tweaked a bit. Everything fell into place a bit too easily for Megan. I loved that the book ended with a flash back to Sophia and we got to see what happened to her. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the topics mentioned.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not since Dorothy Macardle's "The Uninvited" have I read such a spine-tingling and captivating book. This book has everything you could want: perfect setting, love, vivid characters and a ghost story. The story is beautifully written with characters that invade your dreams (my fave part about reading a book this good). Our main character has been through so much in her life and when she escapes to a small sea-side village to try and heal she finds herself involved in not only her own story, but the story of the previous tenants. She also finds love- not just with a dreamy man, but the love of true friends (and family). This is simply the best book I have read all year! I am an avid reader and so I don't make that statement lightly.

[Julia Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed House of Lies and I'm happy to give it four stars. I took to Megan immediately although I did find her rather naive, but that meant her character could develop through the story. This is a time travel story, but not where the heroine travels into the past. Megan had 'visions' of Sophia's life as Megan realised that her circumstances and Sophia's were very similar. I loved the way the narrative was split into two halves in that Megan's life was written in the first person and Sophia's in the third person. Set in the small seaside town of Hastings, UK, it was obvious that the author knew the town extremely well or had done phenomenal research. whatever it was, this added to the enjoyment of the story. Highly recommended.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are two stories here, one set in the present day and the other 150 years ago. Megan Lacey went to stay at a cottage in Hastings to recover from a personal tragedy. Megan’s visions are the link to the past. This is written in a seamless way, effortlessly joining the two stories. The settings of Hastings and Rye just added to the enjoyment of this story. There were a number of interesting secondary characters, each with their own story. I really enjoyed this book and will look for more in this genre. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two women, separated by 100 years, are haunted by the betrayal of the people they love. Now, they need to fight to rebuild their lives.

I particularly liked Megan's journey and the way we see her healing step by step. And I enjoyed finding the parallels with Sophia's story, which is, to put it mildly, not a happy one.

This is a book in which mystery mixes with the emotional journey of the protagonists, and it will appeal to anyone who simply loves a well-written book. A recommended read.

[Elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the best features of a gothic novel star in this convoluted mystery cum romance cum time travel tale. Our heroine doesn't actually move through time physically but via certain objects she is propelled into the past where she sees a life unfolding and unravelling, even as her own seems on the edge of collapse. Two entwined tales for the price of one!

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albeit not being much original and being very predictable this novel kept me gripped to its pages for two solid days, that is what took me to read it. It’s brilliant and it kept my curiosity alive throughout the whole story. The final is so moving and uplifting I found a tear or two going down my cheeks. It’s very well written, the style is flowing and never boring.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay although was a bit disappointed however that the "blurb" on the back did not give any hint whatsoever that the stories in both time frames were focused around artists. Not really my cup of tea.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story & beautifully written, i felt great empathy with
Sophia so i loved the way the book ended with mother, daughter
& granddaughter finally united as a family.

[Gaynor Mackenzie-Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I enjoyed this so much I read into the night and still couldn't finish it. First thing in the morning I had to finish this exceptional story. Well done Merryn

[Helen Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time to escape

I enjoyed this book it was a nice escape easy reading and kept my interest which a good read should

[Marilyn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super read.

I enjoyed the plot: a genre that excites me! I really cared for the characters and their lives. I equally enjoyed, ‘ House of Glass.’
Clark Marshall

[MetLineReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book which is both intriguing and informative . I found that Megan’s story intertwined well with Sophia’s and the tale became more intriguing as it progressed.

The history of the painters was well drawn and the tale of the husband and wife held true.

I enjoyed the tale of Gil and Lucy and how they ended up in Hastings - and their charismatic mother. They added great colour to the story, as I had found the initial chapters rather slow.

3* An interesting read for the Hastings elements, the painter elements and the romance...

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for a copy of this book to review.

A great read full of tragedy and intrigue with beautiful descriptions of southern English coastal towns. Recommended to anyone who enjoys time-slip plots and strong female characters. I particularly liked the connection between Megan in the present day and Sophia in the past. I also always admire writers who place real historical characters into their novels, as Merryn Allingham has done here with the pre-raphaelite painters and their counterparts.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I have read all of Merryn's books, so far, and I have enjoyed them all, however, for me this is your best book yet. It is well written, a good length, not padded out with plot that is not needed, a good mix of relationships, betrayal, happy, sad, interesting characters. I really wanted to carry on reading and find out what happened next. I think it will be a big hit, its also a good time to release a book, ready for holidays and reading in the garden. Treat yourself :-)