The Art of a Lie

*The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller* *A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick of the Summer * '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 with her husband's brutal murder. Her confectionery 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 that Hannah Cole can't afford and every secret is a step closer to her own undoing. Praise for The Art of a Lie: '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 'This deliciously devious tale of skulduggery, questionable motives and untrustworthy appearances will keep you gripped' – Daily Mail '[Laura Shepherd-Robinson's] best yet, and I don't say that lightly' – Harriet Tyce , bestselling author of Blood Orange

*The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller* *A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick of the Summer * '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 with her husband's brutal murder. Her confectionery 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 that Hannah Cole can't afford and every secret is a step closer to her own undoing. Praise for The Art of a Lie: '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 'This deliciously devious tale of skulduggery, questionable motives and untrustworthy appearances will keep you gripped' – Daily Mail '[Laura Shepherd-Robinson's] best yet, and I don't say that lightly' – Harriet Tyce , bestselling author of Blood Orange

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

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

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

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

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.

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.