4.5 rounding up!

This was one I wasn’t quite sure I’d love, but I’m so glad I took the chance. This is very cleverly written with POV’s from both of the main characters and their race to outsmart each other. I loved the back and forth of their perspectives on the same moments and interactions. I felt the tension alongside both our characters when the time started running out and the ending was top notch. I hope this new release gets the attention it deserves!

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was hard to be a woman in the eighteenth century. Everything was owned it seemed by men. So Hannah Cole, following the murder of her husband, Jonas, is having an especially difficult time maintaining her confectionery shop until one day a man, William Devereux, walks in and seems to be the answer to her nightmare.

William seems to take a liking to her and she to him and with Henry Fielding, author and magistrate, breathing down upon her, she feels that all may be lost. Everything seems to hang on murder and money.

However, William brings an idea with him, ice cream, and the possibility of love. William had been a friend to her late husband so his solicitous care seems to make sense, and Hannah seems to be falling for him.

Both Hannah and William carry secrets which of course could ruin them both, but love is love, and lies are lies, which both of them are ever adept at.

It took me awhile to get into this book and I am so happy I persevered. I so was caught up in the intrigue, the ways of Piccadilly and its shopkeepers, and the times. Hannah and William both had the sense of trust well developed. Both were smart ingenious people so in this duel of wits who would come out on top?

The mystery and food aspect captured my eye when reading the synopsis. I enjoyed the multiple points of view as well as the twists and turns.

There is a strong sense of place as the characters move in and out of different neighborhoods in London. The author did lots of research to pull in details to bring the story alive. Don’t forget to read over the author’s note for more about how she pulled together the story.

If you are looking for a smart mystery with a side of con artistry, then this book is for you.

Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the advanced reader copy.

This book is set in 18th century England. Hannah Cole is a widowed confectioner who is trying to make ends meet after her husband’s murder. Her shop is struggling, and she’s not sure what she’s going to do.

When William Devereaux enters the picture, a friend of her late husband, things begin to change. He introduces her to ‘iced cream’, which she perfects and it becomes a big sensation. And she is intrigued by him.

But the local magistrate, Henry Fielding, is like a dog with a bone investigating the murder of Hannah’s husband and is holding inheritance money hostage until the investigation is complete. Who is telling the truth, and who is lying?

This book is part mystery, and historical romance as well. Is Devereaux too good to be true… An easily readable story that left me feeling like I wasn’t really rooting for one character more than another.

One thing that was off-putting for me was the use of vulgar phrases and words. I know this book involves lies and shady characters, but I felt like it didn’t fit the 18th-century vibes to me, and would’ve been better without it, in my opinion. A promising premise that didn’t quite deliver as I’d hoped.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the treats and delicacies made in Hannah’s Punchbowl and Pineapple confectionery shop.

⚠️| Contains a number of instances of a crude and vile word, brief intimate scenes and some strong profanity. Also includes descriptions of murder

3.5 rounded up. I really enjoyed the story, intrigue, and extra topping of sweets and iced cream. The story is told in alternating narrations from the widow Hannah and the deceased husband's friend William. I liked how this told the story and gave it extra depth; however, at a certain point it started to feel repetitive since we needed to read the same scenes over from the other perspective. I am not an author so I can't determine how to avoid this, but it is something that really disengages me from the story itself. Otherwise, it was a very intriguing story with plenty of twists to keep the reader on their toes!

Thanks to Atria Books for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a mouthwatering historical mystery set in London in 1749. London is harsh and uninviting and most barely eke out an existence. Hannah Cole is the confectioner and owner of the Punch and Pineapple and as a widow must be especially enterprising to stay afloat. Her new thing is creating the perfect iced cream. Her murdered late husband's friend William Devereux has suggestions and the two become close allies which comes in handy as they investigate Jonas' death. Author-turned-magistrate Henry Fielding (yes, that one) steps in and in his crusty way. Not only is there a mystery (though we know the perpetrator early on) but also villains, cons, chemistry experiments, Henry Fielding quotes and ice houses. And the Punch and Pineapple descriptions are out of this world! Think rosewater and pistachio ice and Turkish jellies. Yet this is not as cozy as it sounds. London is full to the teeth with grit and criminality.

Told in the points of view of both Hannah and William, this four-part novel is almost a landscape painting in its vivid imagery and gorgeous writing. I hungrily flipped through the pages with an intense eagerness and absorbed the descriptions like a sponge. The author's notes are well worth reading, too. The only aspect which didn't appeal to me was the inclusion of a very few graphic words.

I am an ice cream nut and do a lot of experimenting myself so was immediately intrigued. On my travels I have had exotic ice cream and gelato flavours such as sage honey, blood orange, pesto, white almond and Port and violet with walnut. So, the mention in the story of artichoke and parmesan sound pretty wonderful. So much to enjoy here but what hit me most was the unforgettably exquisite writing.

My sincere thank you for the ARC which was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read the e-arc for The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is historical fiction and a murder mystery, except we know who the murderer is within the first ten percent of the book. Now, it is all about the how and the why, and if Fielding will figure out the guilty party. There is also a long con being played and many characters involved in that storyline. Hannah Cole and her husband, Jonas, own and operate a confectioner's shop. But, Jonas has been murdered and Hannah does not know what to do. They are not wealthy and she must run the shop in order to make money but many think it improper of her to be running the shop and other merchants try to take advantage of her lack of experience and mark up their prices for the supplies she needs. She meets a friend of her late husband's, William Devereux, who delivers a small return on some money her husband invested with him. Hannah also discovered from her brother-in-law that the man investigating her husband's murder, Henry Fielding, yes, that Henry Fielding, discovered there was a significant amount of money in her husband's bank account, and there should not have been - she shop only turns a small profit. What was Jonas involved in? Who is this friend/business associate? Will Fielding solve the crime and get approval to start a police force?

I like the writing, and the characters, and even though we know whodunnit in the first 10% of the book, you will want answers to all of the other questions and to see if the con works. This book is being released on Tuesday, August 2, 2025 and I need to thank Net Galley and Atria Books for the advance reader copy. 4 stars.

Even if you don't consider yourself a fan of historical mysteries, you might change your mind after reading this one! It's riveting, with the tension of a psychological thriller, morally gray characters trying to outwit one another, and a truly memorable FMC.

In Georgian-era London, Hannah Cole, a widowed shop owner who sells sweets, struggles to keep her business afloat but learns of an innovative new treat, ice cream. Henry Fielding, a well-known author and magistrate, threatens to take the money her murdered husband left in the bank before it can go through probate. William Devereux, a friend of her late husband, offers to help Hannah uncover her husband's affairs. Their friendship leads to gossip and makes Fielding more determined to act against Hannah, putting her in a tricky position.

Hannah is a complex and compelling character. Determined and strong, she navigates a male-dominated world with intelligence and resourcefulness. William is also vividly portrayed, while ambitious Henry Fielding, the writer, did actually serve as the Chief Magistrate of Westminster. Read the author's note for more information about him and Georgian society. I was surprised to learn how many women ran businesses at that time.

The storytelling is excellent. Perfectly paced with clever plotting and well-timed twists. I thought I knew where this was going and was surprised more than once! The writing is lovely, and the world-building is fantastic, with London locations ranging from gritty to decadent.

Sophie Roberts and Justin Avoth narrate the audiobook and are incredible! Both have beautiful voices and brought a range of characters to life. Through their nuanced and engaging performances, I felt like I was experiencing the story firsthand. This book is one of my favorites this summer. I loved it!

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the gifted eARC

I thank NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance reader copy of “The Art of a Lie.” All opinions and comments are my own.

I’ll leave it to others to go over the plot of this masterful book, because that would be giving away too much. What I will say is that I think Laura Shepherd-Robinson was channeling William Shakespeare when she wrote “The Art of a Lie,” because The Bard would have had a field day with this recounting of “be careful what you wish for.”

Readers will think they know this woman, Hannah Cole, with her sorrows, and anger, and determination. Each additional character is crafted with equal dexterity. The world-building is likewise masterful. And in the end, a tale is spun such that the gods would delight in the telling.

The historical note at the end is fascinating. Don’t read until you have finished the story.

Another 18th-century novel by Laura Shepherd-Robinson that features the novelist Henry Fielding as a character? I was definitely intrigued. Her last novel fell a bit short of the mark for me (I found it a bit hard to follow), but I did not have that problem at all with this novel. The dual perspective and the twists and turns kept me guessing and intrigued throughout. I loved how heavily based in truth this plot was, the detailed research into eighteenth-century confectionary (yes, we must have watched some of the same documentaries for me to know that), and how fully Fielding was drawn as a character, warts and all. This novel is a thrilling roller-coaster of deception and a vivid portrait of 1700s London, terrifying and yet a chilling delight (pun intended).

Hannah’s world shakes when her husband is murdered leaving her to run her bakery in a time where women are not accepted as business owners and she is a lead suspect in the investigation. As she struggles to make ends meet a customer by the name of William Devereux suggests she make and sell ice cream as a new delicacy and helps get her the recipe. As her store surges from the sales William also begins to engratiate himself into her life. He is a good deflector of attention from the authorities but what other motives does he have and can she ascertain the truth among all the lies in time? Hannah’s character will have you rooting for her as the plot unfolds and twists and turns and is the epitomy of a strong FMC. Loved this one!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

THE ART OF A LIE, by Laura Shepherd-Robinson, is a historical fiction novel set in 1749 London, where Hannah Cole struggles to keep her confectionery shop open after her husband's murder. As Chief Magistrate Henry Fielding investigates his death and holds her savings, William Devereux visits Hannah, claiming friendship with her late husband and offering her the recipe for iced cream to gain her trust.

The narrative alternates between Hannah's point of view and William’s, giving readers insight into both their motives and deceptions. As the story progresses, both characters try to outwit each other, and it becomes clear that neither is completely honest. The plot is filled with twists and turns, ruled by corruption, lies, and deception, led by complex and intriguing characters. Perfect for fans of historical fiction and twisty crime dramas, it is thoughtful and beautifully written. The personalities of all the characters were exceptional.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Atria for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. This was my first book by Laura Shepherd Robinson, but I will certainly look for her others! I highly recommend reading The Art of A Lie, it is beautiful prose and twisty plot will not disappoint!

** spoiler alert ** 5 stars

Picadilly, London, mid-18th century - Hannah Cole is recently widowed, following the brutal slaying of her husband in a seeming street-robbery-turned-homicide. It's all she can do to try and keep their family's confectionary shop afloat since little money is coming in and suppliers keep gouging her on prices due to their disdain for an independent woman shopkeeper. Henry Fielding, the local magistrate keeps hounding Hannah, believing her husband's death to be a result of illicit dealings with certain gambling dens, and she has no way to prove otherwise in order to claim the money that Fielding recently discovered her husband had been hiding. Her only friend appears to be a Mr. William Devereaux, a business acquaintance of her late husband's and a gentleman who seems to be intent on helping her out of this financial and legal distress. But even sharing his family's secret recipe for a newfangled dessert called "iced cream" isn't enough to put Hannah back on solid footing. As Fielding's proverbial noose starts tightening around her neck, she and William must work together to transform her fortunes. But nothing is ever really quite as it seems, is it...

I certainly didn't know what to expect from this book, but after the first few chapters I was hooked! Every time I thought I'd figured what was going on, another piece of the puzzle revealed itself and the layers of intrigue and misdirection grew larger. Deception is the name of the game here and the compounding deceit built tension at a sometimes dizzying speed. I loved the writing style and the POV switches between Hannah and William always kept things interesting. And I was entirely unprepared for that ending. Whew!

Thanks to NetGalley, author Laura Shepherd-Robinson, and Atria Books for granting me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

Well this was certainly unexpected. The Art of the Lie is a mystery, thriller, cat and mouse game all wrapped up in historical fiction. Set in 18th century London, Hannah Cole is a widow whose husband has been murdered. She has also now become a lone businesswoman, in debt, trying to make her confectionery shop thrive. Investigating the murder is none other than Henry Fielding, famous author and Chief Magistrate. Enter the charming handsome William Devereux a supposed friend and investor for her late husband. With his advice she begins to prosper by making and selling the delicacy ice cream.
But nothing here is as it seems. The story is told alternately by Hannah and William, sometimes shocking, sometimes romantic and always true to the morality and events of the time. This story will grab you from the first few chapters to its inevitable conclusion. Thank you for the arc of this novel Atria books and Netgalley.

Set in 18th century England, this book has a very well thought out plot. Hannah's husband is found dead under suspicious circumstances. Hannah is deep in debt and there is much anxiety over her ability to keep her families sweet shop afloat. While the magistrate investigates her husband's death, the funds that should be available are frozen. Help comes from unexpected sources as there is more than 1 man who would be glad to help Hannah out. The setting is descriptive of the times and I was able to see it in my mind. The book meandered along at times, uneven in its pacing. THEN, another hook set and twisted and I feverishly read on. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital ARC. This review is my own opinion.

The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a wonderfully written story of love, betrayal, and intrigue.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
They are realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7795542322

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-a-lie-laura-shepherd-robinson/1146384416

This book was so different from anything else I've ever read. It takes place in 18th Century London. The historical fiction centers around a woman who's husband was murdered. The murder is being investigated by a guy who is pretty ruthless in his hunt for the murderer. There is also a gentleman who is trying to help the wife get the money her husband left, in order to save her shop.

I really don't know what to say about this, except you can't ever be sure that anyone in the book is forthright and telling the truth. The writing was superb and I really had to pay attention so that I didn't miss any of the small nuances written into the story. There are stories on top of stories, which are on top of other stories. I know that doesn't really make sense, but you really have to stay sharp in order to know what is happening. The story could have ended in numerous different ways.

I enjoyed how the book made me keep dedicated to the reading and not distracted.

Thanks to Atria Books for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

I do not often enjoy a book well enough to give it 5 stars in a review, but this book is one of the very few. I had read "The Square of Sevens" by this author and found it wonderfully complex and engaging. While reading "The Art of a Lie," I found myself looking for moments that I could steal in my day and get back to reading this book. From the moment of meeting Hannah, it seemed that she was easily understood, the characters were well imagined and the setting was charming...and then the coin dropped and the game was afoot. This book was engaging from the first page to the very last.

5 stars. Set in 18th century London, the story follows Hannah Cole, now sole owner of her father/grandfathers confectionery shop after her husband is murdered in a robbery gone awry. Hannah is determined to keep her shop going, however back then it was a man’s world and very few men supported it. This affects her business financially.
While Henry Fielding, you heard that right.. that famous author-now magistrate.. investigates the murder, he keeps Hannah’s inheritance from being released. Tsk tsk.. so how exactly did her husband accumulate that much money?
She then meets and is attracted to an unknown business acquaintance of her husband, William Devereux, who offers to help.
I must say I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this cat and mouse game with battle of the sexes vibes that ensues throughout! So lively and fun how you never knew what to expect or which direction it would go. Also how easily I could imagine the people, streets and foods of that bygone era. The cover not the best - but the story.. chefs kiss. Very well done. Pub. 8/5/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

A lively tale set in Georgian England of a romantic conman and his victim, a woman who may not be so innocent herself. The novelist and playwright, Henry Fielding, author of The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, is the Chief Magistrate of Westminster in 1749 and doggedly investigates the crime of murder at the center of this story. He believes 'that any one of us is capable of acts of great wickedness under the right circumstances.'

This is quite a fun read. I didn't know who I wanted to win this battle of wits but I sure would have loved a taste of any of the iced cream flavors served at The Punchbowl and Pineapple Confectionary! Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.