The House of Lies

As soon as I heard about this book I immediately pre-ordered a copy. The author's Alardyce House series was incredibly good. The prospect of reading another story about this family was too good to be true. The book was published on February 6, 2026.

The publisher's summary:  

For generations, the Alardyce family have lived under the shadow of a curse. Some say it died with Robert Alardyce - the ruthless patriarch whose name was whispered in fear - but others know darkness like his never truly fades.

Decades later, Alardyce House stands empty, its secrets lost behind its walls. Until Kate Alardyce - Robert’s sharp and ambitious great-granddaughter - decides it’s time to reclaim her family’s legacy. And Kate always gets what she wants...

As the family gathers, old secrets resurface, loyalties fracture and the air thickens with menace. When Kate's cousin, Cameron Alardyce walks through the door, his resemblance to Robert sends a chill through them all…and it isn’t long before history begins to repeat itself.

But is the infamous curse really to blame… or is someone alive, watching, and ready to make the Alardyces pay in blood?

I enjoyed the first half of the story but it lacked the suspense and tension of the previous Alardyce novels. Kate wants to make a movie about the family, which is why she invited her cousins to the house. Lucy, Cameron, Simon, Harry and Jenna became reacquainted with each other and with Kate during this weekend. There were special family dinners, tours of the house as well as tours of the local village. The first third of the book was devoted to introducing the idea of the film to the cousins and convincing them to not only agree to the film but also to be a part of it. Kate wanted Cameron to play the role of the evil Robert Alardyce. Cameron looks exactly like a painting of Robert which hangs in the dining room. Robert’s eyes are dark, like evil lurking within them. With some prompting by Kate, Cameron easily becomes angry and impulsive like his doppelganger. Kate obviously inherited a dark side too. She knows how to manipulate people and events in order to get her way. 

At the halfway point I realized there wouldn't be any action. The book is solely about the reunion of the cousins. Most of the book is dialogue between them on mundane topics. There is alot of discussion concerning the Alardyce curse. It really is the Alardyce mental illness that seems to always skip a generation. 

I am not sure whether attempting to replay family events is sufficient to make a good psychological thriller. Kate's idea that the Robert painting can come to real life is loony. It's not plausible. It might work in a cozy mystery but not a psychological thriller. Another thing, Alardyce House seems to be haunted. Sightings of serial killer Edward Alardyce have been seen in the house. It would have been interesting if the ghost was also a serial killer as Edward was. I am not sure whether this fifth installment of the Alardyce House series was meant to merely bridge the gap from Victorian England to the present for future installments or to present a new mystery for us to resolve. Either way, The House of Lies falls short.

2.5 stars out of 5 stars.