'The Art of a Lie' by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is an excellent book, full of twists and turns. Set in the 1800's, recently widowed Hannah Cole, is trying to keep her confectionary shop going, and her head above water. However, the manner of her husband, Jonas's, death, means Henry Fielding (renowned author and real life magistrate at this time) wants to investigate, and the inheritance she is dependent upon is held up while he does. Will William Devereux, a man arriving at her shop with some profits from an investment and knowledge about icecream, be Hannah's saviour?

I am a big fan of Laura Shepherd-Robinson. All of her books are heavily researched, well plotted and full of characters that pull you in. This book is no exception. Coming to the end of it was upsetting, not just because of the conclusion, but also because my time reading it had ended. I would highly recommend this book.

A good and engaging read. This one really stands out from the typical historical mystery – blending a clever cat-and-mouse game between two sharp protagonists with a richly atmospheric depiction of 18th-century London. The setting is vivid, the plot smartly constructed.

The Art of a Lie tells the story of widowed confectioner Hannah Cole, who, determined to save her failing shop, becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy tied to her late husband’s secrets and the enigmatic William Devereux.

First off, I have to say the book is extremely well-researched – it's clear the author put great care into portraying 18th-century London with historical accuracy. That attention to detail makes the setting feel incredibly authentic and grounded. The writing is also smooth and skillful, which adds to the overall enjoyment.

As for the story itself, it's tightly plotted, and the mystery is constructed in an engaging way. At its heart, it’s a psychological chess match between Hannah and William, each trying to outmaneuver the other – without realizing the other is doing the same. What keeps the reader hooked is the suspense of discovering who will ultimately come out on top in this duel of wits. It’s an intriguing narrative approach, as it relies on the reader knowing more than the characters do from early on. I found this structure really interesting at first and enjoyed how much insight it gave into both characters. However, as the story progressed, I realized I tend to prefer mysteries that hold back a bit more and unravel their secrets gradually. Since I already knew both sides’ intentions, I sometimes felt a bit "ahead" of the characters, which slightly reduced the tension for me. So, while I appreciated the cleverness of the dual-perspective setup, it wasn’t entirely my favorite type of narrative structure. That said, the story is still very well-executed and wrapped up in a satisfying way.

Even with a few minor reservations, I genuinely enjoyed the read and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a historical mystery that dares to do things a little differently.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was overall a good book, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Laura Shepherd-Robinson's previous books.

As usual, Shepherd-Robinson's is very skillful with her settings and her descriptions of the historical period. I always learn something new and I really feel like I am really in the 18th-Century. I especially liked the details of how it was to keep a business, and the details about the making of ice cream were also a nice, original touch.

As for the characters, I really liked Hannah, the main character, and I followed her chapters with interest. I also really liked Henry Fielding, who appears in the novel as the magistrate who is investigating her husband's murder. While he wasn't likeable, he was very well drawn and I always enjoyed his scenes.

Unfortunately I really didn't like the other main character, William. While I appreciated how Shepherd-Robinson characterized him, and I obviously saw the point of his narration, I liked his chapters a lot less than Hannah's, and I found myself getting a bit bored towards the middle. The ending, however, was really good and I especially liked how everything wrapped up. It was very satisfying and for me it was a perfect ending for the story.

The Art of a Lie takes place in London in 1749. Hannah Cole’s husband was murdered and she is struggling. She owns the confectionary shop The Punchbowl and Pineapple but it is barely turning a profit. Hannah learns about iced cream and hopes it might improve her shop. Henry Fielding takes an interest in her and she has to prove the money she inherited from her husband’s death wasn’t acquired illegally.

This was okay but to be honest it wasn’t really for me. It had a really intriguing beginning and I really loved the twist but other than that I found the rest to be a bit boring. It was written well though and I think many people who enjoy historical mystery books will enjoy this.

Enjoyable novel about criminality in Georgian England. Highly recommended.

Hannah is a widow and keeps a confectionery shop on Piccadilly, London. She is befriended by William, handsome and debonair, while also meeting Henry Fielding, author and magistrate, who is looking into the murder of her husband. A web of intrigue ensues: who is lying ? who telling the truth?
The three main characters are well-developed as well as quite a few secondary ones: shop workers, co-conspirators etc.. All the action takes place in the London area and the plot moves along at a nice steady pace: the narrator changes often, giving the reader a different perspective on a regular basis, although this needs some thought in the last part. A most satisfying and enjoyable romp and mystery story, well worth a look. Highly recommended. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was really looking forward to this but the version sent to me by the publishers seems to be an early draft and not ready for review so unfortunately I will not be continuing with the book in this draft. I have contacted the publisher for the latest draft.

In 18th century London, Hannah Cole is determined to make a success of running her confectionery shop. Struggling in the aftermath of her husband's sudden and violent death, an unexpected silver lining is the discovery that she may be coming into an inheritance that will help her business to survive.

Unless a suspicious magistrate gets his way, convinced that this money consists of some form of ill-gotten gains by her late husband - which would deprive Hannah of her claim to it.

Can Hannah and her husband's friend- turned-ally William find a way to prevail over the situation? And could ice cream be part of the solution?

This is an absorbing historical mystery that is well worth the reader's time. Scoring an easy 3.5 stars, the novel definitely merits checking out for fans of the genre.

Another excellent book by Laura Shepherd-Robinson, "The Art of a Lie" shows how wicked lies can get you in and out of trouble depending on how you spin it. This time we are in the heart of London in the 1700s and I found out all fascinating things about confectionary, making ice cream and Henry Fielding. Loved the alternating narration from the two main characters, not just a gimmick here but it really did help flip the story and move the plot along.

The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd Robinson
Having read all three of this author’s previous novels I was very much looking forward to this new book and I was not disappointed. It is set in 18th Century London and focuses on Hannah Cole a young widow who we first meet as she struggles to hold onto her Confectionary shop following the murder of her husband. The fact that she owned the shop, which had been her father’s, means nothing once her husband is dead and his cousin can claim a large portion of her estate.
Henry Fielding, the Chief Magistrate, is desperate to launch his own “police force” and is keen to uncover the murderer. He also discovers that her husband had a large sum of money secreted and puts a block on her inheritance. Then William Devereux arrives on the scene claiming to be a friend of her husband and offering to assist her in her investigations into her husband’s wealth. He also gives her a recipe for the Italian delicacy called iced cream and soon people are flocking to the shop to try this new taste sensation. I love the historical details such as the way people went wild for pineapples and that the huge cost, £30, was outweighed by the fact that it could be displayed for weeks until it was then turned into a delight to tantalise the taste buds.
The story is told from two viewpoints that of Hannah and later from the viewpoint of William Devereux. I was completely engrossed throughout the story and found the historical detail added another depth to the novel. Henry Fielding’s character was well developed and I also found the historical notes with further suggested reading interesting. The story is filled with twists and turns but at its heart there is corruption, lies and trickery.
I will be wholeheartedly recommending this novel at my various book groups and would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the novel in return for an honest review.

Another 5 star read from Laura Shepherd-Robinson! The descriptions of the sweet shop were delectable, the range of complex perspectives and twisting storyline had us desperate to find out what was going to happen. As always, LSR is the Queen of Twists, and the one that came early on into this book was jaw dropping. Delicious, complex, historically rich and a great murder mystery.

4.5 stars

I have been looking forward to this book for so long! I have a copy of Laura's previous book - The Square of Sevens - but haven't read it yet so this is the first book of hers I've read, although I do have her on Twitter and she seems like a marvellous writer and gorgeous person, very kind .And having finished this, I will definitely be moving it up my TBR list and I'll definitely look out for her other books too.

I don't know how much of this is based on truth but it rings true. Everything to the minutest detail is impressive, you can tell history is her passion.

Historical novels are one of my most read genres, and in my experience, while they can be surprising, they don't tend to hold the same twists and turns that say a thriller does. But Laura has somehow worked them into this novel in a genuine, natural way. So you're surprised but not shocked, they fit in perfectly. Although the one at about 12% through the novel was a whopper I wasn't expecting (no spoilers here).

It starts off very on the surface: a woman loses her husband, her husband may have been involved in something criminal, and she struggles to survive as a widow in the 18th Century. And that's great. But the deeper into the book you get, the deeper into each strand of the story becomes, and all the twists come together to reveal a fascinating outcome.

The way Laura has described the food in this book is just amazing. I have tried writing scenes involving food and in my opinion, it's really difficult to write it in a natural way, rather than just writing a list of ingredients. But Laura has made it tempting and delightful.

My one negative I suppose, and this is a personal thing entirely, is the change in points-of-view. It is mainly Hannah's story, but we do get a POV of William. I generally love multiple POV novels, although hi know some people can get confused by them. And it's not that I didn't like William's contributions, it still made for an interesting story, but I loved Hannah so much that I just wanted to hear her story for the whole thing. So it's not a negative about the book as such, more of just what I prefer.

This is definitely a stand-out novel, and if I didn't admire Laura beforehand I definitely do now, and I can't wait to read her previous books.

Absolutely brilliant! There was so much to love about this book - the evocative setting of Georgian London, the clever plot told in such a compelling way, and the wonderful writing which is always present in Laura’s books. I really enjoyed A Square of Sevens a couple of years ago, but this is even better in my opinion. I particularly loved the juxtaposition of Hannah and William’s characters, when seen through the eyes of another, compared with the reality of who they truly were, and this was handled with such skill. All in all a fabulous read which is highly recommend. Many thanks to the publisher for this advance copy.

As a huge fan of “Square of Sevens” and historical fiction in the 18th century in general, I was excited to read “The Art of a Lie” by Laura Shepherd-Robinson ahead of its release. I was in once I read the description — ice cream and a murder mystery were involved!

In quick summary, the tangled web of deception and conning had me from the beginning through the author’s talented writing. It’s been awhile since a book has gripped me and had me questioning “Could things have ended any other way?” It was all very well done through beautifully tragic storytelling just like SoS. I especially appreciated the change of POV to William to hear his voice.

Anyone who adores historical fiction that takes place in London, this is a tribute to the genre. A bit of creative license on the history, but it all still rings authentic for the fans.

// Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the e-ARC invitation in exchange for an honest review! //

Oh my heart skipped a beat at the possibility of reading a new book from Laura. Set in London in the mid-18th century, Hannah Cole is surviving, not thriving, after her husband’s murder and trying to keep their business afloat. The Punchbowl and Pineapple offers the very best in sweet treats, and when a stranger arrives with talk of something call ‘iced cream’, Hannah has to make it. This stranger wants to help, and becomes something of a confidant to the young widow. Meanwhile, Henry Fielding (yes, that Henry Fielding) is on the trial of an unexpected windfall, determined to find its origin. Hannah, quite frankly, needs the money and is willing to risk her reputation to get it. I cannot adequately tell you how much I enjoyed reading this book – beautifully researched, sensitively written, it was gorgeous.

Shepherd-Robinson is the Queen of exquisitely crafted and intricately woven historical whodunnits and the Art of a Lie is no exception. Set in Georgian London, we meet newly widowed Hannah Cole who owns a confectioner’s shop that was her father’s before her, but the business is under threat due to the dodgy dealings of her husband. Enter William Deveraux, a handsome and seemingly wealthy businessman, who seems too good to be true along with Henry Fielding the author, magistrate and founder of the Bow Street Runners who takes too keen an interest in Cole’s affairs. Twists and turn abound, but how best to con a conman?
Superb and highly recommended.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

The Art of a Lie may just be Laura Shepherd-Robinson's best book and that is high praise given just how much I loved each of her previous releases. Complex characters and an intricately woven plot made for such easy reading that I tore through the book in less than a day, unable to put it down because I had to know what happened next and where the author was going to take me and I have to say it was a great way to spend my day.
Set in London 1749, the book tells the story of Hannah Cole, a woman struggling to keep her family business, a confectionary shop, open following the tragic death of her husband Jonas in a violent street robbery. When a friend of her husband, William Devereaux, comes to the shop and introduces her to the concept of ice cream it sparks her imagination and gives her an idea of how to keep her business afloat. The good news keeps coming when Hannah learns that her husband had a bank account holding a large sum of money she knows nothing about. Unfortunately as the source of the funds remains unclear it comes to the attention of magistrate Henry Fielding, yes author Henry Fielding, who is trying to root out corruption and thinks that not only could Jonas have stolen the money but also the people he stole it from may have been responsible for his death. If that is the case the money will be forfeit and Hannah is back to square one. She turns to William for help to prove the truth about the money but the more they uncover the more dangerous it becomes.
To say much more about the plot of this book would spoil it, this is definitely one where the less you know going in the more you will be surprised as the story unfolds. The author definitely keeps you on your toes with this one, using a both Hannah and William's perspectives to create a story filled with scandal, deception and surprise that kept me guessing to the very last pages. If you are a history nerd you will love the notes at the end of the book, they were almost as fascinating as the story and showed how the author used her research very effectively to create such a vivid setting for her tale, making it a truly transporting and immersive read and bringing the past vividly to life for the reader.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, it is easily one of the best I have read all year,
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

If there is one thing Laura can do it is write a cracking historical novel. All her books are full of fascinating historical detail combined with an intriguing story.
Mrs Cole runs a sweet shop in London in the early 1700’s. Her husband was recently murdered supposedly by robbers on his way home one night and she now faces an uncertain financial future. As the story unfolds, we come to learn that he was an abuser and cheat who had enemies. Enter the debonair and wealthy William Deveraux who purports to be an old friend of her husband who supports the poor widow and encourages her to try making a new treat, ice cream, to help her income.

But both of them have secrets…

Written from each person’s perspective in alternating chapters, the story is a fascinating study of all the different sorts of lies we tell for different reasons. The most successful liars make a business of it. Swindlers and con artists have been around forever and not just in the internet age.
The afterword is just as interesting as the story itself. Highly recommend.

Having read Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s previous three novels, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of her latest novel, The Art of a Lie; publishing 10th July 2025.

This historical thriller, set in the notoriously hot summer of 1749 in the St. James’ area of London, is a tale of deceit and murder.

Our protagonist, Hannah, runs and owns the Punchbowl and Pineapple, a shop selling the most delicious-sounding confectionary. When Hannah’s husband is found dead, it is assumed he was mugged and murdered, and she struggles to carry on the business without him. So, when she learns that her late-husband had a secret bank account with money that could help save the shop, she is, of course, delighted.

Then, enter William Devereaux, a suavely, handsome gentleman of means who was a friend of Hannah’s late husband but unknown to her… until now. William soon introduces Hannah to a new Italian delicacy called ‘Ice Cream’ that is sure to excite London’s society, and he is by Hannah’s side as she tries to prove that her husband’s secret money was not acquired illicitly.

Their intriguingly clever story is told alternately by Hannah and William, following every twist and turn, in this web of secrets, lies, gossip and revelation, right up to the very end. Once again, Laura Shepherd-Robinson did not disappoint. This is a wonderfully engaging read that had me turning pages and gasping with each twist.

Make sure you read the ‘historical notes’ after the story as these brilliantly expand the historical aspects of the novel.

Blood and Sugar was one of my favourite novels of 2019 and until now my favourite Laura Shepherd- Robinson novel, however she has surpassed herself with The Art of a Lie, which will definitely be one of my favourites of the year.
The year is 1749 and Hannah Cole is widowed after her husband's murder. She owns a confectioner's shop- The Punchbowl and Pineapple- on Piccadilly and is in danger of losing her livelihood unless she is able to obtain her inheritance from her husband. With the help of her husband's business associate William Deveraux she has to prove to the magistrate Henry Fielding, that her husband's money was lawfully obtained.
I loved the Georgian setting and the amount of research the author does really shines through. She really brings the era to life and the information about confectionery is fascinating. She also excels at plot and characterisation; both Hannah and William are compelling and convincing characters and this is a gripping page turner with breath taking twists and turns.
This is another beautifully written and meticulously researched novel from the author that is also a compelling and immersive read that I adored. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

4.5 stars rounded down after much thought. Laura’s books never disappoint, being rich in research and description, and twisty turny in plot… and for the majority of this book I thought I’d be marking it as a 5 star read. The only reason I marked it down a little in the end, is because the finale wraps up very quickly - which can be a deliberate thing to shock and wow the reader, but here I was left wondering what on earth happens with Musgrave when he doesn’t get his money… will Hannah ever be safe?

However, leaving that part aside, I’d strongly recommend this book with the characters, historical description, and intricacy of plot. You marvel at just how in depth the lay is once it becomes apparent that William is not who he says he is, and you start rooting for Hannah… but then realise she has her own secrets. It’s con man versus lying woman, and who will succeed?

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers, in return for an unbiased review.