This book was spectacular! I loved The Square of Sevens and I'm amazed that the same brilliance was possible in such a short book, I loved the characters and the journey was so enthralling!

**Thank you Atria Book and NetGalley for the gifted copy**

This was quite an interesting read. I really liked that this book has two POVs and that as a reader you have the chance to understand the FMC and MMC and their motivations. This book had some twists and turns and some parts that made me smile (such as the FMCs discover of iced cream and what I hit it is). If you are looking for a historical fiction mystery that has you wondering until the end who would win this game of cat and mouse, this is the book for you.

I loved this historical mystery/suspense! The time and place were largely new to me, and I appreciated the historical research and accuracy that went into the confectionery methodology as well as social norms, places, terminology, etc. I also appreciated that the “twist” was revealed earlier on in the book and the narrative built off of it. It felt like a secret only the reader knew.

3.5

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Vibe/Mood: 1
Characters: .5
Plot: 1
Scratched my ADHD brain: .5
Hyperfixation Potential: .5

3.5/5 🌟

It did take a bit for me to get into this, but then once the twist in the first part happened, I was definitely more intrigued. Which then intrigued me even more once we switched POV because I was NOT expecting his character to be what he was.

I think my only issue overall was the length of the novel. I found myself skimming parts that felt repetitive but overall it was an entertaining novel and I could tell the author put a lot of thought into how it was plotted and written.

3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

'The Art of a Lie' is a good book, not the greatest, but it executes on its amusing premise with well-built characters, a substantial plot, and some fascinating history fueling its setting. While I still prefer 'Square of Sevens,' I've got to hand Laura Shepherd-Robinson her flowers for continuing to be an effective writer.
My main critique is on its dual narration, flipping between William Devereux and Hannah Cole. At first, the dramatic irony between the two was very entertaining and intriguing, but by the 40% mark, I wished we stuck to one perspective. Knowing both sides, the singular mystery-- of motives and truths-- was solved, and with it solved, I just wanted to reach the end (and not with the same eagerness I started with).
Amusing, but not brilliant.

A historical mystery set in eighteenth century London? From the description, The Art of a Lie hit all the right notes for me, and it delivered. I was so impressed by the author’s obvious research, which she describes in the historical note (well worth your time, but save reading it until the end to avoid spoilers). However, the story never felt bogged down in detail – just authentic to its time in a way that only well-researched historical fiction can be.

I don’t want to say too much, to avoid spoilers, but every facet of the book really worked for me. The main and supporting characters were interesting, and their plotlines, as individuals and their interactions, were compelling. There is necessary setup involved in a story like this, but the atmosphere was sufficiently absorbing for me, so I never felt that it was too slow. The ending was not wholly unpredictable, though there were surprising elements. The conclusion felt true, earned, and satisfying as a reader.

In her note, the author mentions a favorite book of mine, Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, as a draw for her. I kept coming back to the writing of Sarah Waters myself as I read this novel, so I found it funny to see her name-checked at the end. I’d recommend The Art of a Lie for anyone who enjoys good historical fiction, especially with mystery vs romantic elements. And definitely one to pick up for Sarah Waters fans. 4 stars.

Thanks to Atria Books, the author, and NetGalley for providing this copy of The Art of a Lie for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This took a bit to get going, but once it did, I had a hard time putting it down!

The premise of this book was overshadowed by the overuse of the word “iced cream.” It was in the book 88 times when I did a look up. There could have been even more, but I didn’t dig into it too much. The first third of this book was all about iced cream and using the word over and over again. I almost gave up, but I’m so happy I didn’t.

The diabolical people in this book made me giggle at how well they played each other. Everyone thought they were smarter than the other degenerate individual. I love it!

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Hannah Cole is struggling to keep her confectionary shop on Piccadilly afloat since the murder of her husband in what looked like a violent street robbery. Between the fact that her suppliers are conspiring to put her out of business because they don’t like women in trade, & magistrate Henry Fielding threatening to confiscate the money in her husband’s bank account because he believes it might have been illicitly acquired., she is barely turning a profit. Hannah doesn't know who to trust. William Devereux, a friend of her late husband, arrives on the scene offering her a lifeline. He tells her about an Italian delicacy called iced cream, and convinces her that learning how to make it can reverse the fortunes of her shop. But their friendship opens Hannah to speculation and gossip and draws Henry Fielding’s attention her way, locking her into a battle of wits more devastating than anything she can imagine.

I really enjoyed this one. You find out almost immediately that Hannah is the one who killed her late husband, and then after that it is a matter of her trying to stay a step ahead of Henry Fielding, and also hoping Hannah will figure out who she can and can't trust before she gets scammed out of all of her money. Henry Fielding is like a dog with a bone, and he has Hannah in his sights. If you love historical fiction, then you will adore this one!

Thank.you Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson.

I really appreciate the amount of detail that went into the setting on this book. I was fascinated with the whole "mourning period" in the 1700's and all the different distinct areas of London at that time.

I love how the author tried to give the women of the story as much power as she could without completely going against what really would have happened during that time.

I have to say the ending was very satisfying, but I feel like it could have wrapped up a little better.

First thank you to atria and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: Hannah Cole runs a candy shop in London in the 1700s when her husband is killed in what looks like a brutal robbery. She is struggling to run the shop when a suave gentleman William comes to visit. He helps her improve the shop by telling her about ice cream and maybe can help her with more

What I liked: this was a fun cat and mouse mystery and loved the food aspect of it. I love how both William and Hannah are hiding secrets and conning each other. The story is told from both of their povs and since they both are unreliable, you are kept guessing throughout the story. Of course there is an investigation that is happening that keeps both on their toes. However since they are con artists you are somewhat on their side hoping for them to do well. Overall a fun book to read especially if you enjoy food.

Easy to read cozy mystery packed with sugar, lies and a scoop of the new fangled delicacy of the time - iced cream. Set in 1749 London, the book centers on Hannah Cole, a widowed confectioner navigating life and business after her husband's murder. The narrative unfolds through alternating view points of Hannah and her new "friend" William Devereux, a man who steps into Hannah's life under false pretenses. Tightly woven mystery full of shifting alliances, secrets and betrayal, some moral ambiguity and lots of twists and turns that have you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Always hard to read books with strong female leads back in the days when women had no rights. I really appreciated the cleverness and tenacity of Hannah Cole, even amidst her challenging circumstances.

Thank you to Atria books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Guys, I fear this book is in my top three for the books of 2025.

This book.

This book…

THIS

FUCKING

BOOK.

When I tell you, this book had be gooped and GAGGED. I mean it.

Hannah Cole is truly down on her luck, after her husband, Jonas, was murdered in a robbery gone wrong, her debts are climbing and her confectionary shop is on the brink of ruin And when an investigator comes to her shop and claims that her husband has money that she didn’t know about and that he intends to investigate that moneys origins, Hannah feels well helpless.

Enter William Devereaux, a man who loves iced cream, and also who conveniently worked with Jonas, he might be her one last chance to save herself, and her shop.

BUT GUYS. LISTEN!!! CAUSE LIKE THE BOOK TITLE SAYS! This book is SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. I cannot tell you a whole lot else other than, I was GAGGED by the plot twists. It’s just???? Incredible???? And so fun?????

The writing is so well done, and these characters are TRULY the definition of morally grey. This was an incredible read, and I truly hope MORE peoplw read this.

Murder, intrigue and confectionary treats in 18th century London

Hannah Cole's life completely changed when her husband was killed in the street in what appeared to be a robbery. Now the running of the confectionary shop in Piccadilly that is their livelihood has fallen to her; she is barely able to keep it afloat is facing significant prejudice as a female tradesperson, and knows that financial ruin is nipping at her heels. She also discovers that her husband's bank account has a significant amount of cash in it, a sum that she cannot explain and that has raised magistrate Henry Fielding's suspicions as well. If Hannah can't prove that the money was obtained through legitimate means, he vows he will confiscate it. At her wit's end, Hannah is grateful when the charming William Devereux, seemingly a friend of her husband, enters her life. He has an idea which he believes will bring in more business to her shop....iced cream, considered quite a delicacy in Italy...and is also willing to help her look into her late husband's dealings. Each has secrets they are keeping from the other, and they must navigate the delicate situation in which they find themselves, a dogged investigator who has them in his sights, and betrayal. In the end, who will succeed in outwitting the others?
The Art of a Lie is a historical thriller featuring elements of mystery and romance. Author Laura Shepherd-Robinson has created a vivid setting in the busy streets of London of the time in which she set her briskly paced tale, full of unexpected twists and surprises. Hannah and William take turns narrating the story, and as neither is a particularly reliable source of information they keep the reader guessing as to what is true and what isn't.. Despite being less than honest, the two characters are quite likable even with their highly flexible moral codes. The story balances historical accuracy with the suspenseful flow of the story, and those who enjoy reading about women performing roles outside the norm will find Hannah's predicament of interest. I found it to be an intriguing game of cat and mouse, and suspect that it will appeal to readers of Sarah Waters, S. J. Parris and Andrew Taylor. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first time reading this author. I could not get into the writing style or the characters. This was a DNF for me. (First time on Netgalley)

I’m not too sure of the ending of this book; our author--Laura Shepherd-Robinson--had me so discombobulated that I don’t trust what I had read. Thank you! I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Hannah Cole is newly widowed and dealing with the misogyny of 18th century England. Her husband has been murdered and all she wants to do is continue to run their candy shop, The Punchbowl and Pineapple. The business has been in her family for generations, but it is her husband who made the decisions. Now that he is dead, she must contend with the restrictions and innuendos that befall her as an unattached woman running a business. Enter the two men who will have considerate impact on her life and decisions.

Henry Fielding (the satirical writer responsible for Tom Jones) is in charge of investigating the murder of Hannah’s husband (later in life, he became a magistrate judge). The suspicious circumstances of his death has made Fielding continue the investigation into a supposedly cut and dry case. This affects any funds and inheritance coming to Hannah. In debt with suppliers, and experiencing a lag of customers, she is in desperate need of money. Enter the dashing William Devereux with a recipe for a new confection: ice cream. Along with this instantly profitable and exotic treat, he offers kindness, friendship, advice, and the possibility of romance.

Now, this sounds like a damsel in distress plot; well, it’s not. Hannah is independent, and hungry to prove herself as an entrepreneur that just happens to be female. She also has a few skeletons in her closet (as do most of the characters). Fielding is shrewd and thorough as every character in the novel comes under suspicion, including the mysterious Devereux. Whom can they (we) trust? It is hard to tell because everyone has a selfish, hidden agenda that keeps them (and us) on our toes.

The New York Times has called it a “delicious puzzle-box of a novel” (a box that cannot be opened unless a series of puzzles are solved). I couldn’t put it any better. There are twists within twists within twists. And then there is the ending…

I would like to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this delightful novel.

I gotta say this book turned out to be way more than I could have possibly expected.
This book is divided into parts and each part if told by one of the two main characters' POV.
And right before the first part ends, we get a very fun (and at least to me, unexpected) plot twist concerning some lies Hannah had been holding secret. And right after part 2 begins, with William's POV we already get another revelation that I was, again, not expecting.
I thought this book was going to be a cozy but dramatic historical fic with maybe a little romance in between.
Boy, was I wrong! The whole mystery in here was super fun to follow! And the constant swift of characters' POV and all the lies they kept holding from each other? It was like a game, a fun game to follow. I'm not really sure if we, the readers, are supposed to find this book fun and funny, but I sure did!
I also loved the ambience and the shop. I actually wanted more of the dynamics inside the shop.
My only reservation is that I didn't particularly love the William's POV chapters. I thought he was interesting when he was side by side with Hannah, but his solo chapters were not as appealing to me. But that's just me.
I had a great time, in general, and I can easily recommend this book to any historical fic readers out there who love this genre with some fun mystery to follow through.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for providing me with this eARC.

The Art of a Lie is about a recently-widowed woman named Hannah Cole who runs a confectionary. Her husband, Jonas, has been murdered and - because of the circumstances surrounding his death, the money she’s set to inherit is on hold until the mystery can be solved. Early on she meets a man called William Deveraux, a friend of Jonas’ who offers to help Hannah solve the mystery so she can get the inheritance, and help get her life back on track.

And that’s all I can say without giving anything away! But I will say that there are a lot of fun twists in the story that I wasn’t expecting. Even the ones I saw coming were still fun, honestly. I enjoyed being along for the ride, although I will say I’m a bit torn on the ending.

The pacing of the novel was great; it started out a bit slow for me, but picked up right away and held my interest to the end. It’s told from both Hannah’s and William’s points of views, but what I especially enjoyed was that it didn’t immediately bounce back and forth between them, and we also weren’t given a simple rehashing of an event after switching between them. To me this was a good way to keep things moving.

I highly recommend this novel, and I can’t wait to read something else by Laura Shepherd-Robinson! Thanks very much to Atria and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to netGalley and Atria Books for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It's the 18th century in London. Hannah Cole is a widowed confectioner who is determined to save her failing shop. She becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy tied to her late husband’s secrets and the enigmatic William Devereux.

This is a fast paced, historical mystery with a touch of psychological thriller. I really enjoyed the mental chess match between Hannah and William as they try to outmaneuver each other and end up on top. I liked the characters and I thought the dual perspective worked well. I was hooked on the suspense of what each would do next.

Recommend if you like historical mystery with the thrill of a game of mental wits!

Historical novelist Laura Shepherd-Robinson wanders into thriller territory with her newest book The Art of a Lie, to be released on 5 August 2025 by Atria Books. Newly widowed Hannah Cole is beset from all sides: her Piccadilly confectionery business Punchbowl and Pineapple is foundering because women in business are socially unacceptable, her suppliers are overcharging her, the shop assistants are acting up. Along comes William Deveraux, a stranger to Hannah but who says he was friends with her late husband Jonas Cole and wants to be of assistance to his widow.

Hannah is grateful for any help he offers. When William suggests that an Italian delicacy called iced cream would draw crowds to her shop and revitalize its reputation, she immediately refines the old recipe he found and advertises the new treat, which is a rousing success.

Hannah’s cousin, the executor of Cole’s estate, finds a large sum of money in Cole’s bank accounts that cannot be explained. Sir Henry Fielding, author turned magistrate, is trying hard to promote the desirability of a publicly funded police force, which so far no one wants. Fielding attaches the estate while he investigates Cole’s business dealings more thoroughly, freezing probate and settlement. If the money could be proven to be illicitly acquired, then Fielding can seize it to fund his police force. Cole was found in the river, an apparent victim of a street robbery, but Fielding learns enough about his shady business dealings to suspect deliberate murder and decides to look more closely, asking questions of the late Cole’s associates and relatives, including Hannah, that they would rather not answer.

In the meantime Deveraux is growing particular in his attentions to Hannah, despite her mourning status, causing considerable gossip. She is busy experimenting with new flavors of iced cream while ordering more cream and ice every day; she cannot keep the frozen dessert in stock and the elite of the ton are dashing to her store.

Set in 1749 during the reign of George II, readers familiar with the St. Cyr Regency mysteries written by C. S. Harris which begin in 1811 will still recognize many of the people, places, and conventions. Like Harris, Shepherd-Robinson’s deep scholarly research is dauntingly impressive but never interferes with the unfolding of the story. The annotated bibliography at the end offers more sources for the academically minded to pursue.

Hannah is a force of nature in a time when women were not allowed to be anything except servants, figuratively and literally. Her strength of character and raw intelligence keep her one step ahead of everyone else and allows her to deceive her ill-wishers and surprise the reader again and again.

A fascinating read. It will be on my best of 2025 list.

Starred review from Library Journal.

had preconceived notions about this book and was pleasantly shocked to find that it was nothing like I had imagined. The Art of a Lie is a WILD ride!

This crude story takes place in the 18th century and is a game of wits that is centered on the sudden death of Hannah Cole's husband, her struggling confectionary shop, and a mysterious gentleman named William Devereaux who claims to have been a friend of her late husband.

After Hannah's late husband's death is under investigation by a relentless man in search for justice (Henry Fielding), she is quick to help, especially when she finds that a large inheritance was left in her name upon the death of her husband. Since her husband's murder is under scrutiny, the money is stuck in probate and could potentially be stalled permanently, dealing a devastating blow to Hannah's struggling shop. Her new acquaintance, William Devereaux is all too eager to help track down the killer and even introduces Hannah to a new confectionary delight from Italy, ice cream. With the new treat as a temporary fix for her struggling business, the investigation is well underway, but as dark secrets come to light both Hannah and William must navigate through the underbelly of London in a cat and mouse game to gain the prize they each desire.

Written in Hannah and William's perspectives, the book was an entertaining read filled with many plot twists early on. There is so much deceit in this book. I gave it a four-star rating for the adult content and heavy language. In truth, I did not see this book coming. It had a strong plot and dark humor. I also liked how William's parts often breached the fourth wall. The writing was creative albeit crass.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary. All thoughts are my own.