This book was a treat, with a unique and absorbing plot, including some I-can't-put-this-down twists. The scene is Georgian London, when women, of course, had no rights. Hannah, our primary protagonist, has just lost her husband, who was murdered. She is trying to keep her family's luxury confectionary shop going, despite hostile suppliers who think a woman has no business running a business--plus, her husband's murder is yet to be solved and there are several prime suspects. She soon meets Billy, who becomes enmeshed into her life and tries to assist her as things start heating up in this story. As their lives (and histories) unfold, it is clear that Billy has a fascinating history of his own, as does Hannah. I found myself torn between a range of emotions as the twists kept spinning. I stayed up late until I finished it, the book was that good. I do not want to create any spoilers, but I thought it was a masterpiece of storytelling. It did have a bit of a slow, rather depressing start because Hannah has just lost her husband and that has put her in a precarious situation, but soon, everything heats up and twists kept me engrossed. It was brilliantly woven into a tale sure to keep a reader engaged. Really well done!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was an excellent read! It kept me engrossed from the beginning.

Since I was a big fan of The Square of Sevens, I expected a twisty historical mystery with less-than-angelic characters, and I was not disappointed. I loved being immersed in 18th-century England and learning a bit about what it might be like behind the scenes in a confectioner's shop, but my very favourite thing was the number of times the plot turned on a dime and took me in a new direction. To say anything about the ending would spoil it at least a bit, but I will say it was unexpected.

This will appeal to so many readers: those who enjoy historical novels, mysteries, unreliable narrators, and just plain great stories.

Thanks very much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

This was so fun! Usually, books where the main characters are hiding things from each other feel tedious, but this was more like a chess match, with both sides convinced they’re doing the manipulating while the other is oblivious. Really, everyone in the book was trying to play chess, but no one could do it on the level of the two main characters.

The book isn’t stingy with twists, either. They come at regular intervals instead of all at the end. I couldn’t stop reading!

The Art of a Lie is a fascinating cat and not quite mouse story that takes place in 1749, in Georgian London. The book starts with Hannah Cole meeting with Fielding over the murder of her husband Jonas. It’s quickly revealed that Hannah is in fact the one that killed him, but only the reader and Hannah know this. But his death means that she will be able to continue running the confectionery shop run by her father and grandfather, and may be coming into money that Jonas has tucked away-if it is released from probate. In swoops William Devereaux, someone who claims to have been associated with Jonas, who’s ready and willing to help Hannah get access to the funds. Naturally, despite her suspicions, Hannah can’t help falling for a handsome white knight who has shown up at just the right. But there is definitely a dark side to the white knight, and his timing is no coincidence. Thus begins the back and forth between the pair, told from both perspectives, so the reader can see things unfolding from both sides. Even knowing that Hannah killed her husband, you can’t help but root for her. He was cruel to her, and she’s clever, thinking quickly on her feet. Will she be able to avoid the snares of everyone out to get her? The story is enhanced by Shepard-Robinson’s meticulously researched setting that provides a unique and fascinating background to this story, and her afterward with the details of her research is an insightful inclusion that should be read. There’s one chapter that seems out of place in the story and the last part of the book is told from alternating sides of Hannah and William, which took me some time to figure out after the first three parts had been told exclusively from one or the other. Beyond that it was a fascinating and engaging story. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC. All opinions are my own honest opinion.

This is a 5 star read. I absolutely loved this books. It had different characters that bring different depth to the book. Set in 18 century our main character Hannah recently lost her husband when he got killed in a street mugging. She is having hard time to keep her bakery stay afloat and there’s Henry who is creating more problems for her.

Then enters William who claims to be he late husband’s friend and he brings a solution for Hannah in the form of Iced cream recipe for his mother. While they get close, Hannah finds out things that makes us think differently.

Absolute amazing read with well written characters and twist that I loved. I highly recommend this book!

The premise of this book was very intriguing to me but unfortunately it did not hit exactly how I thought it was going to. I had a good time reading it but otherwise it felt very stagnant and didn’t really make me think too much.

A twisty mystery with unreliable narrators that ends like a Shakespearean tragedy. As compelling as parts were, I struggled to care and didn’t know who my hero was since everyone was lying. It’s a clever premise, but the style didn’t work for me since I didn’t have anyone to cheer for, and it had too dark a resolution for me.

The Art of a Lie is a book about it is truly an art to telling the best lie. I could not relate to any of the characters and did not enjoy. The message in this book. It was well written but I couldn’t get into it

Shepherd-Robinson created a fun mystery novel set in the Georgian time period in England. Although it kept me interested enough to continue reading, and rooting for the murderess main character, I really wished the author would have taken more time with descriptives -- textures of clothing, temperatures of weather, flavor elements of her pastries and iced cream, sounds -- basically all the background elements that give the foreground more richness. The overall book reminded me of The Thomas Crowne Affair due to the fun chase of the lies ping ponging back and forth. It was a fun read, but not much more than that.

It took me a while to get into this book but once i did--I enjoyed it! Great sense of place and character, and the story keeps you guessing.

I’d recommend this book for readers who are looking for historical fiction that feels like a beach read. It’s a plot driven and twisty narrative, but I had a tough time connecting with the characters - I prefer a little more ambiguity in my historical fiction (a favorite is Hilary Mantel). However, I believe there will be a large number of readers who will enjoy this book. It just, unfortunately, wasn’t for me.

My expectations were also a little off (not the author’s fault) - I was expecting more of a mystery/thriller with some historical elements, but it’s actually historical fiction with a little dash of a mystery. It sort of reminds me of Sarah Waters’ book Fingersmith, which many people love but I did not enjoy. Similar to Fingersmith, The Art of a Lie alternates between two perspectives — the characters are lying to one another, but we as the readers are in on both of their lies. The story is less about the reader looking for clues, and more about following the characters as they try to figure out what the other one is up to. Unfortunately, I found this frustrating.

Others are really enjoying this book, so please consider the overwhelmingly positive reviews too before making a decision!

I loved The Art of a Lie. This is a wickedly good novel. I love the setting, 18th century England. Hannah, the confectioner and the betrayal, and intrigue really hooked me. Great characters that are sly and unforgettable. A great story, the ending really got to me, very unexpected. Looking forward to reading more of this Authors work.

I give The Art of a Lie 5 stars for its unexpected story.
I would recommend this book to Historical Fiction fans.
#TheArtofaLie #NetGalley

DNF @ 61%. I just couldn't relate to either character, the plot was plodding, and I was getting stuck behind this book. It was time to move on. I appreciate the opportunity to review books through Netgalley but just couldn't complete this one.

Now see here! My Southern is coming out thinking about this novel. I won’t give anything away, but there’s a great twist at the beginning, and that’s so refreshing. Hannah Cole is recently widowed and is run ragged trying to keep her confectionary shop afloat. She is worried about money, naturally, as the times are not favorable to women (it is 18th-century England after all). Her suppliers start charging her more because she’s a woman. Hannah’s husband was murdered, but is being investigated by Henry Fielding, a famous author who is now a magistrate. Fielding is suspicious that a large sum of money in Hannah’s husband’s bank account was obtained illegally. Enter William Deveraux, who arrives at her shop one day claiming to have been a friend of her late husband. He helps Hannah solve some of the questions related to her husband and also tells her about an ice cream recipe he tried in Italy, prompting her to try it in her store. She and William develop a friendship, and Henry Fielding takes notice.

This book should be made into a movie. It was like a breath of fresh air. Both devastating and lovely, it will make you feel all the emotions on the spectrum. Alternating between Hannah’s point of view and William’s point of view, you are always kept on your toes. The dance is wonderful to read. You are “in” on their secrets, yet you do not know how it will all pan out until you finish the book. And when you finish…oh my goodness. Wow. That ending.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

In 18th-century England, a widowed confectioner is drawn into a web of love, betrayal, and intrigue and a battle of wits in this masterful historical novel

I enjoyed the dual narration in this book. The writing was good. The first half of the novel was definitely better than the second for me. It slowed down a bit in the middle and toward the end. 3.5 stars

I can think of few other books outside of the adventure genre where I have had such an abundance of fun. For a breath, the book starts almost cozy - a widow trying to save her sweet shop by convincing a detective the money inherited from her husband was legitimate - but quickly becomes something far more sinister. No character is immune to the consequences of their actions, and they always act in ways that suit them. It had tension similar to a cat-and-mouse dynamic, but both think themselves the cat. I was dying to know who would get caught first and how, and to discover the lengths each would go to to protect themselves. I loved the whiplash from the alternating perspectives of Hannah and William, who are as different as ice cream and pistachios, and yet are surprisingly compatible. I loved them with my whole heart. The imagery was tangible. I could taste the iced cream, feel the sweat under a velvet gown, and hear the jubilant customers chattering as they celebrated a new delightful confection. The pacing felt lightning-quick, and the ending bittersweet and sudden, but I can’t think of any other way it could have gone. These characters did not exactly lead innocent lives, and it was bound to catch up with them. I’m emotionally devastated and crawling back for more.

Thank you Laura Shepherd-Robinson and Atria Books for sending me a review copy.

Rarely do I pick up and ARC immediately upon downloading it, but when I was offered this early copy of The Art of The Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson I put aside all other books—having loved Square of Sevens that much.

In the Art of the Lie we follow Hannah Cole—a recently widowed owner of a confectionery whose husband has just been murdered in a seemingly violent street robbery. After her husband’s death, she struggles to maintain her business as women in trade are frowned upon and often treated unfairly, and she now finds herself in debt. She learns of her husband’s hidden fortune only to have it threatened by Henry Fielding’s (based on the real-life novelist turned magistrate) belief that the money was earned illegally. Enter William Devereux, friend of Jonas Cole, who befriends Hannah by helping save her business by telling her about iced cream (a new delicacy) and helping her convince Fielding to release her money. But is William really who he says he is? What are his motivations in helping Hannah? As the novel progresses, we enter a world of conmen (and women), betrayal, and intrigue stimulated by our main characters’ battle of wits. Set in 1740s London (which is a character all to itself), this novel is full of adventure and was just so much dang fun to read.

I love the way that Shepherd-Robinson’s historical settings come alive on the page, I appreciate how well-researched her fiction is (especially as someone who’s research interests lie in long 19th century), and how well-drawn her characters are (not to mention her lovely prose). If you like historical crime fiction, confidence trickster stories, and literary mysteries—this is for you. 5 giant stars|⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After loving this one as much as Square of Sevens, @laurashepherdrobinson is now an automatic read author and I can’t wait to dig into her backlist.

The Art of the Lie is our 8/5/2025. Thanks @netgalley for the copy.

3.5 rounded up.

This author's previous novel was my favorite book I read in all of 2024. This one wasn't as much of a homerun for me.

The writing style is quite good, and it is evident that a lot of research went into bringing 18th century London to life upon the pages here. From Hannah Cole's confectionary shop to the various parks, grand homes, and gambling houses, the details all rang as authentic and do an admirable job dropping the reader directly into the setting. This story is a decent one featuring widows, murderers, con artists, and one satirical novelist turned crime-busting magistrate based off of a real historical figure. There is a mystery that largely stems from not knowing which information you can and cannot trust.

However, I found myself kind of annoyed spending time with the main characters. The story alternates between two points of view, and while the reader knows when one person or the other is being lied to, it can be quite frustrating when the characters themselves are unaware of this. You spend your reading time wondering if and when things will come to light for them, or if their part of the tale will continue to see them reacting to false pretenses. This set up had me feeling kind of angsty, and knowing what I knew as the reader sort of left a bad taste in my mouth as I read on.

Many other reviewers seemed to really appreciate the ending, but I have to say that to me it seemed rather sudden and underwhelming. Especially considering this author's other work, I was expecting the rug to be pulled out from under me in much more dramatic fashion at the last moment. There were still unexpected twists throughout, but the final one didn't really wow me the way I think it was intended to.

But in all this is still well written historical fiction with some twisty mystery for added spice. I just had difficulty enjoying my time with the characters in this one.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I will publish my review to my blog and Instagram pages on August 5th.

A mystery set in 1700s. A widow running a confectionery shop tries to find the truth behind her husband’s death. She struggles to make a living and must confront men who do not think she be in business

Mrs. Hannah Cole has recently lost her husband. He was murdered. Her husband's friend Mr. William Devereux comes to see her bringing with him an incomplete recipe for ice-cream. Running the confectioner's shop left to her by her father Hannah is trying to hold onto her family's legacy. The fact is neither of them are what they seem and in the tumult of trying to get the money from her husband's estate, secrets, lies, betrayals and nobody is who they seem. This book was a journey and I loved every second. Hannah is a woman of determination that I loved and William is a rogue and gave me a male Sophie from Leverage type of vibe. Excellent storytelling with lots of unexpected twists.