The setting: 18th century London. Hannah Cole, a widowed confectioner--whose husband, Jonas, was murdered, is sturggling to keep her shop open. Henry Fielding, "...the famous author-turned-magistrate, is threatening to confiscate the money in her husband’s bank account because he believes it might have been illicitly acquired. William Devereaux--enters the scene a [supposed] friend of her late husband. He "...tells her about an Italian delicacy called iced cream" which she hopes will bring new fortune to her shop. And he seeks to entrap her in his web and steal her money--though he intends to leave her a bit. Deveraux has to pay his debts and also his accomplices --but is he a good soul? [he would like you to believe so as he plans not to take all of her inheritance].

Devereaux is a grifter par excellence!! His schemes, plottings, and intricacies are beyond! I was amazed how carefully he sculpted his plot!

Some great descriptions:
"beveined cheeks"
"wizened as a currant, to my mind hollowed out by an excess of malice"
"place was musty with the smell of ancient hatreds"

New words:
tatterdemalion
Lascar
scagolia

There is much cat and mouse play in this book [indeeed, at times I grew weary of it]. The worm turned multiple times which kept me wondering--to an extent. Hannah was deceived by love and his weaving of a trap/web was quite extensive/well-planned.

Would make a good movie.

In the distinct minority as I got tired of all the back and forth and [no spoiler] didn't ultimately believe Hannah was that smart [sorry; will not reveal more]. 3.5, on the cusp of rounding up because of all the twists [but were there?], ultimately a 3.

A perfect historical fiction for readers who love a headstrong female main character. I especially loved all the details about the pastries, treats, and "iced cream".

I am a big Laura Shepherd-Robinson fan, so when Atria Books offered me a digital ARC of ‘ The Art of the Lie’ I was thrilled.

The book did not disappoint! A story told through two points of view. Hannah, the grieving widow who just wants to keep her family business afloat after the death of her husband, and, Matthew, a money seeking con artist.
And, all is never as it seems.

Nice twists and turns throughout the book and a couple of surprises. The author did a wonderful job of setting the scene in Georgian England.

A highly entertaining book and I will be sure to continue to read anything else Laura Shepherd-Robinson writes.

This was a fun but forgettable read. I found myself spacing out a lot while reading this book. I am not sure if the storyline wasn't enough to grab me, or if the characters just weren't interesting enough. This one just wasn't for me.

The Art of a Lie will keep you on your toes as you navigate the twists and turns of an intricate battle of wits between the sexes. Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s tale of love, fortune, deceit and regret in 18th-century England is completely engrossing, seductively tantalizing and deliciously scandalous.

Hannah Cole’s husband has been murdered, and she is struggling to keep her life from falling apart. Her confectionary shop is barely making money, she’s in debt and unable to access her dead husband’s frozen funds, and the local magistrate considers her a prime suspect in her husband’s murder. Enter William Devereux, a handsome and suave gentleman claiming to be a friend of Hannah’s late husband. He steps in to help her with legal and business matters, giving Hannah hope for a prosperous future. But not all is as it seems with William, and Hannah will have to figure out whether to follow her brain or her heart. With devastating consequences awaiting if she makes the wrong decision, Hannah must act carefully.

Thriller fans, don’t let the prospect of a drama set in 1700’s England keep you from picking up a copy of this book. It’s charming, fast-paced and fascinating. A crime novel disguised as a romance story that is more cons and mystery than it is love and lust. The plot is fantastic, the writing superb and the uncertainty of the final outcome drives everything forward at top speed. But it’s really about the characters. Individuals who are so intriguing and engaging that you connect deeply with them and care about their fate, knowing they possess both good and bad intentions and continuously rooting for their better selves to prevail. Rooting for love and redemption while fearing heartbreak and tragedy.

The Art of a Lie is a suspenseful emotional rollercoaster that ropes you in and gives you a hell of a ride before leaving you spent in the end. A tasty tale of love, loss, crime and cons. It’s fantastic!

Loved this book! Full of twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down. The author clearly did her homework and brought London during that time to life. The historical notes at the end of the book were really interesting and showed how she picked up on many threads of true stories from the time. I highly recommend, although a note that there is some colourful language but it’s used sparingly and fits with the story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

"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 from the author of the "delicious puzzle-box of a novel" (The New York Times) and USA TODAY bestseller The Square of Sevens.

Following the murder of her husband in what looks like a violent street robbery, Hannah Cole is struggling to keep her head above water. Her confectionary shop on Piccadilly is barely turning a profit, her suppliers conspiring to put her out of business because they don't like women in trade. Henry Fielding, the famous author-turned-magistrate, is threatening to confiscate the money in her husband's bank account because he believes it might have been illicitly acquired. And even those who claim to be Hannah's friends have darker intent.

Only William Devereux seems different. A friend of her late husband, Devereux helps Hannah unravel some of the mysteries surrounding his death. He also tells her about an Italian delicacy called iced cream, an innovation she is convinced will transform 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."

Love the Henry Fielding angle!

I received a DRC of this book through Netgalley. I absolutely loved this book. The story and the way that each tidbit of information is given to the reader is so much fun and I had a hard time putting it down to go to work. I am definitely going to look up the other books that the author has written.

4.5 stars. The Art of the Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is the most unique work of modern fiction that I've read in a long time. Her vision of life in mid-eighteenth century London is vivid and rich thanks to her well researched historical mystery/suspense plot. And speaking of the plot, it has many surprizes and twists to keep you intriguiged. The dog-eat-dog culture of the era will also keep you reading.

Hannah Cole is recently widowed and must face the realities of keeping her confectionary shop financially afloat on her own. William Deveraux, a friend of her husband, comes on the scene and introduces her to the Italian specialty of ice cream, which gives her customers a rare delicacy and improves her fortunes.

Henry Fielding, the famous author of Tom Jones fame is a magistrate who is charged with rooting out crime and corruption in the city. His dogged investigation leads him to Hannah's shop.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for graciously allowing me to read an egalley of this book.

Historical fiction with an investigated murder mystery and some clever twists and turns along the way.

I always enjoy a historical story that teaches me something about the past, and the delicious introduction of an 18th-century confectionary bringing the first batches of ice cream to Britain was a fun and unique path to explore that something new. The first few chapters set the stage, slowly built the ambience and provided mouth-watering detail about the shop owner's business. But at the last sentence of that one chapter (you'll know the one) the reader's perspective changes. I was more committed at that point, fully committed by the next twist, and devoured the rest of the story like pistachio ice cream on a sweltering summer day.

Gave it 4/5 stars because I really liked it, but it didn't have the character development and emotional investment that would take me to the next star.

I read this as an ARC via NetGalley (thank you, you lovely people) but opinions are as always my own.

I’ve been trying to expand my genre readings from thriller to branching out. In high school, I was a MAJOR historical fiction junkie having read the Brontë Sisters so i was excited to dive into a historical novel that also had a little mystery to it. Surprisingly gave me Anastasia movie vibes but was excellent

<b>Iced Creamed Devilry</b>
<i>A review of the NetGalley eBook ARC released in advance of the Atria Books hardcover / eBook / audiobook (August 5, 2025).</i>

<i>The Art of a Lie</i> is set in Georgian England at a time when writer Henry Fielding (1707-1754) was an investigating magistrate. Fielding is investigating the death of Jonas Cole, who was apparently killed while being assaulted on the street.

Fielding suspects the victim had a falling-out with criminal partners and that causes him to freeze the Coles' bank account and put widow Hannah Cole in danger of losing her confectionery shop. Fortunately a friend William Deveraux steps in to help Hannah save her business. Part of that involves the popularization of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream">ice cream</a> in London, which was previously little known.

Fielding is generally known for his satirical and picaresque novels and plays, especially for <i>The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling</i> (1749). In <i>The Art of a Lie</i> he is more of a malevalent character, who hopes to confiscate supposed ill-gotten gains in order to fund his dream of a professional London police force, which started with the so-called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Street_Runners">Bow Street Runners</a> (founded in 1749).

Hannah Cole is forced to match wits with Henry Fielding. This is in alliance with William Devereux at first, but things take a few twists and turns, about which it would be a spoiler to say anything further. Hannah is forced to make some chilling decisions which are far more than just about the process of creating her delicious "iced creams."

This novel was a delight for both its evocation of the period and for the cat and mouse game played between the lead trio of characters.

My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance ARC copy for which I provide this honest review.

<b>Trivia and Links</b>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Tom_Jones,_a_Foundling">The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling</a> is considered to be one of the first ever English language novels. It was adapted as a popular film <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Jones_(1963_film)">Tom Jones</a> in 1963. The Welsh singer Thomas John Woodward was given the stage <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Jones_(singer)">Tom Jones</a> (1940-) by his manager Gordon Mills, due to the popularity of the film.

I cannot reveal too much of the story as it would reveal all the twists and turns that you should discover as a surprise. Hannah Cole runs a confectionery shop which was started by her father who is now deceased. It is the eighteenth century and most people do not encourage women running shops. Hannah’s husband was found murdered and she is eager to help find the murderer. A Mr Devereaux has befriended Hannah and suggests to her that she should try to make a new confection, iced cream. It seems that there is a spark between them and we wonder where it will lead. They each provide a POV and it is interesting looking into each head. There was real depth to this story and I loved it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Art of a Lie is a gripping, twist-filled historical mystery set in 18th-century London. Laura Shepherd-Robinson masterfully weaves a tale of deceit, power, and hidden truths through the eyes of a complex heroine, Caroline Corsham. The atmosphere is rich, the writing razor-sharp, and the moral ambiguity makes it all the more compelling. A must-read for fans of intelligent, character-driven historical fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
4/5

This is an intriguing British historical novel whose main character, a young widow who owns a confectionary shop, is befriended by an attractive stranger. As a widow of modest means, she not only has to figure out how to keep her business against all odds, but identify both friends and enemies, while protecting her own secrets.

I was excited about this and while it's a good book for the target reader, I feel like it wasn't what I was looking for necessarily. I am always a sucker for London stories, though.

interesting well written historical work with some interesting vibes, mysteries, and tension. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

As was the case with Laura Shepherd-Robinson's previous novel, "The Square of Sevens," it's difficult to say much about "The Art of a Lie" without revealing some of what makes it such a deliciously twisty read. I will say, though, that I raced through it, trying to outwit the two protagonists and the author alike.

It's not the plot alone that distinguishes this book, however. The writing is crystalline, the characters are multidimensional, and the time and place fabulously evoked. And if you don't crave a bowl of ice cream after reading this, you're a better-disciplined person than I. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is that the ending didn't hit me emotionally as I wish it had.

Thank you, Atria Books and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley! A young widow, Hannah Cole, reopens her shop following her husband’s murder. William Devereaux comes to the shop to bestow a dividend check to Hannah sighting her husband’s investment. The two forge a friendship as he introduces her to the new sensation of iced cream and assists her endeavors to create it for her customers. Meanwhile the magistrate, Henry Fielding, is determined to find Jonas Cole’s murderer. The story starts with the murder and quickly, the guilty party is revealed. Due to lies, secrets and deceit the story unravels in a unique way.

Historical fiction that pulled me in very quickly and kept me engaged to see how the plot worked out. It was realistic and made sense to me. I found it very interesting because a main character is a con man, which we find out very quickly. I have known a few people who are very skilled at portraying a different story from their real life, so it was very interesting to see a novel that was built around that kind of character.
FYI: A bit of sexual details and language here and there, so I would not be quick to give this to a young or mid teen.
Good writing and compelling story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC.