The Art of a Lie
The Gripping Historical Thriller of Murder and Deceit in 18th-Century London
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- €10.99
Publisher Description
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
One of The Telegraph's greatest books of 2025
‘Astonishing. A rare and wonderful story’ – Chris Whitaker, author of All the Colours of the Dark
‘Fiendishly clever and completely gripping’ – Jennie Godfrey, bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things
'Laura Shepherd-Robinson takes delight in pulling the rug out from under her readers’ feet . . . in this cleverly structured and consistently enjoyable novel' - The Times
London, 1749
Hannah Cole's world shatters following her husband’s brutal murder. Her confectionary shop, the Punchbowl and Pineapple, teeters on the brink of ruin. Just as she uncovers a hidden fortune—money her husband secretly possessed—a new nightmare begins.
Magistrate Henry Fielding, the renowned author, suspects illicit gains. To save her inheritance, her shop, and her very reputation, Hannah must delve into her late husband's secret life. But as she unearths a labyrinth of lies and deceit, she finds herself entangled in a battle of wits far more dangerous than she could ever have imagined.
From Sunday Times bestselling author Laura Shepherd-Robinson comes a twisty, immersive thriller where the truth is a luxury Hannah Cole can’t afford, and every secret is a step closer to her own undoing.
A 2025 BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick.
Praise for The Art of a Lie
‘This deliciously devious tale of skulduggery, questionable motives and untrustworthy appearances will keep you gripped’ – Daily Mail
‘A twisty confection as subtle and delicious as one of Hannah's iced creams. I loved it’ – Ruth Ware, author of The Woman in Cabin 10
‘An absolute treat of an historical crime novel. Sheer perfection’ – Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal
‘[Laura Shepherd-Robinson's] best yet, and I don’t say that lightly’ – Harriet Tyce, bestselling author of Blood Orange
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Shepherd-Robinson's bewitching latest historical (after The Square of Sevens) artfully folds real-life figures into its plot. In 1749 London, confectioner Hannah Cole flouts convention by running her shop, Punchbowl and Pineapple, instead of continuing to mourn her murdered husband, Jonas. With her inheritance delayed due to bizarre discrepancies in Jonas's accounting, she must earn a living somehow. None other than famed novelist and magistrate Henry Fielding is investigating Jonas's murder, and upon learning that the dead man was an unsavory rogue and a cruel husband, he starts to suspect that Hannah killed him. Hannah's only ally is the new-to-town William Devereaux, who vows to help her and gives her the exotic idea to serve an Italian delicacy called ice cream. While Hannah tests recipes and delights patrons in Piccadilly with this new treat, William negotiates with Fielding on her behalf. Gradually, though, Hannah begins to question William's motives. Shepherd-Robinson's prose is superb, bursting with poetic description and immersive period detail, and she sustains suspense without resorting to cheap tricks. Readers will race through this.
