Synopsis
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
Details
10 July 2025
9781529053739Reviews
Filled with fascinating glimpses of mid-18th-century London . . . a lively tale of double-dealing and subterfuge
Astonishing. The Art of a Lie is Laura Shepherd-Robinson at the height of her considerable powers. Of course it’s beautifully written and richly detailed, but it’s also fiendishly twisting and properly thrilling. A rare and wonderful story.
A twisty confection as subtle and delicious as one of Hannah's iced creams. I loved it
Told with authority and panache, Shepherd-Robinson takes us on a breathtaking, tension-filled, kaleidoscopic whirl through the Georgian London of the striving middle classes and those who would prey upon them. A woman fighting for her future, murder, romance, deception – and the best desserts in town – this book has it all. Masterful
