I’d recommend this book for readers who are looking for historical fiction that feels like a beach read. I personally prefer a little more ambiguity/difficulty in my historical fiction reads (more Hilary Mantel, less Kristen Hannah), but 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 reader 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 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.

Thank you Simon and Schuster and Atria books for inviting me to read this advanced copy through NetGalley!

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 with a Shakespearean ending.

This story blew me away! There was a detailed, immersive, and impeccably researched world filled with equally detailed and unforgettable characters. With the story switching between Hannah and Williams perspective, the reader gets lulled into the sense they have an idea of all of the information, but I was left with my jaw on the floor more than once.

This well-crafted story feels authentic, exploring characters that represented actual people and businesses from 18th century Georgian London. Also, the author reveals the Georgian craze for ice cream and the curious method for making it. The dialogue was appropriate for the time period and done in an approachable way, and it is evident that a lot of research went into bringing 18th century London to life upon the pages here.

The characters were well-thought out and complex, the pacing was perfect, and it really held my interest. It’s succinct, descriptive writing that told one hell of a story without any unnecessary fluff or filler. I highly recommend any historical fiction lovers to get this book once it’s published!

This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it! The historical mystery was really fun. I adore the cover art and can't wait to add this book to my shelves.

"'I love you' She'd said and I hadn't seen the truth of that moment either. Not a sigh of surrender, but a declaration of war."

oh my god
i actually have no words for how UNWELL i am.
read this book.
dont ask any questions.
just do it.
and listen to lana's Henry, Come on, while your doing that
this BOOK
THIS book.
first half was kind of slow, but that all led up to a world shattering ending my guy
just trust me

THANK YOU SO MUCH NETGALLEY FOR THE ARC <3

Well done Laura!! I am not usually blindsided by a book's plot. But, The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson definitely caught me off guard. From the beginnings' unexpected reveal to its startling but necessary ending, this book does not disappoint.

Set in 18th century England, Hannah Cole finds herself on the precipice of losing her family home and confectionary shop as the result of the brutal death of her husband during a robbery....or was it murder? Enter Henry Fielding, an English writer and the magistrate who founded the Bow Street Runners, the precursor to London's police force. He elects to investigate what he deems a suspicious death. This leads to more financial complications for Hannah given he freezes her assets until his investigation is completed.

Enter William Devereux, a friend of Hannah's late husband who befriends her as she tries to find answers to some of the mysteries regarding her husband's death and business dealings. William also introduces her to iced cream which has the potential to save her struggling business. But, only if she can solve her husband's murder and convince Fielding to release her inheritance.

I enjoyed the well developed and flawed characters and their interactions. Laura did a great job of keeping me torn between loving and hating Hannah and William. I did like the story being told from their different viewpoints. Additionally, the historical insight into Fieldings, London's underworld as well as the creation of ice cream for mainstream society was also intriguing.

While I enjoyed the story being told from both Hannah's and William's viewpoints, the transition between those voices could be disjointed. I found it difficult at times to immediately tell whose voice was being heard since both voices were in first person. It would have been helpful to either change the font of each character speaking or list the character at the beginning of their respective chapters to make it an easier transition between them. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books by Laura.

Again, if you are looking for a story with fresh, unique twists and believable, flawed characters wrapped in a murder mystery, then look no further than The Art of a Lie. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Publishing for the opportunity to review this wonderful book before it's release.

What a masterclass in historical intrigue. From the moment I stepped into the shadowy salons and political undercurrents of Georgian London, I was hooked. The Art of a Lie is the kind of novel that sinks its teeth into you slowly—elegantly—and then refuses to let go.

This book isn’t just about a murder; it’s about the tangled, sticky web of power, ideology, and identity. Laura Shepherd-Robinson does something I love in historical fiction: she doesn't just set a story in the past, she uses the past to say something very sharp about truth, illusion, and how both can be weaponized. And she does it through a voice that feels both authentic and immediate. I felt like I was inside the protagonist’s head, parsing every tension, every look, every calculated word exchanged over wine and whispered in corners.

It’s not a fast-paced thriller, but that’s what makes it so satisfying. The plot unfolds like a painting being revealed through layers of varnish—slow, deliberate, and incredibly rewarding. The politics are messy, the personal stakes are high, and no one is as simple as they first seem. And when the final pieces came together, I felt that rare combination of shock and inevitability that marks a truly satisfying ending.

If you like your mysteries layered with moral ambiguity and rich historical detail, this one delivers in spades. It’s intelligent, atmospheric, and quietly devastating. I closed the final page and just sat there for a while, thinking about how easily lies can wear the mask of conviction—and how dangerous that can be.

Set in 18th-century London, Hannah Cole, after the murder of her husband, faces struggle of keeping her confectionary shop open with bare profits and men conspiring against her. As Chief Magistrate, Henry Fielding, investigates the case of her husband’s murder and holds her savings, she tries to hold her own.

When William Devereux presents at her shop and claims to be her late husband’s friend, putting claim to some investments, it gives her hope. To present himself even more believable, he gives her recipe of an Italian delicacy called iced cream. Their new friendship draws some attention to speculation and gossip.

The story begins with Hannah’s narrative, and then alternates with William’s narrative, making the story very absorbing as they reveal nuances of their stories. Both backstories are fascinating, with Hannah’s passion for new creations in the world of confectionary. And William’s sad story of his mother who made iced cream for him and was badly mistreated by his father. William’s story can make one feel sympathetic toward him, but Hannah’s uncovering can make one change the mind.

As the story progresses, it becomes even more gripping as both characters try to outwit each other. At the same time, bringing to the surface true colors’ of Hannah’s late husband.

This well-crafted story feels authentic, exploring the characters that represented the middle-class tradespeople who grew substantially in number during the 18th century Georgian London. Also, revealing the Georgian craze for ice cream and the curious method for making it.

Henry Fielding is a historical character, novelist and playwright, later becoming Chief Magistrate of Westminster, who was battling political and judicial abuse of power. Hannah Cole is a fictional character but she represents the ten percent of women who ran businesses in Georgian London despite being disadvantaged by the inheritance laws.

This fast-paced story is filled with twists and turns ruled by corruption, lies and deception led by characters that are complex and intriguing.

This was a very fun read. Set in 18th century London it was a bit of everything - a great timepiece, intrigued and romance. The characters were well fleshed out - I definitely felt like I knew them well. The writing was good and the surprises just kept going; sometimes shared so abruptly that I had to go back and read them again to make sure that was what I actually just read!

Thank you to net galley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It was a wickedly good read with an oddball set of characters but you grow to like them and the plot is good too
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me review book

The Art of a Lie
by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
Pub Date: Aug 05 2025

Historical Fiction at its Finest!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. In 18th century England, Hannah's husband is murdered and she is left to save their confectionary shop due mainly to suppliers not believing in women working. On top of that, the government in the form of Henry Fielding believes the money in Hannah's husband's bank account was obtained illegally, and are threatening to take it. A friend of her husband, William, becomes a friend of Hannah's as he tries to help her and dig into the murder of her husband, which seems to be less random and more calculated. It is William who also tells Hannah about an Italian treat, called iced cream. And though the iced cream is sure to help turn Hannah's shop around, that success is clouded by the looks and gossip surrounding her friendship with William.

There certainly were a lot of unlikeable characters in this book, which did not impact my desire to continue to read this book at all - rather, it pushed me to want to read more, as I wanted to see Hannah rise above. I loved the incorporation of historical research, which was very well-done, and real life historical figures, too. I also liked reading about Hannah herself, a woman beyond her time, but who demonstrated perseverance.

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

Oooo Fingersmith vibes.

This was wicked good fun with loads of secrets, betrayal, tricksters and con men (con people?). I absolutely hoovered in this book; I couldn't read fast enough, yet, the author also has a lush prose that I wanted to savor the words for longer. An addicting historical read which I will be fervently recommending upon release!

This is a really good book, I loved the historical setting and how vividly it was brought to life, and the author included an afterward that was very information about the period. Hannah is a new widow, her husband had been murdered and the funds that were to be paid to her from his estate from his bank account (the majority goes to his brother), has been held up in probate due to the investigator believing they were ill gotten gains. Hannah is a determined individual, in 1749 women in trade as she is, are shunned so she's trying to keep her confectionery store open to honor the memory of her grandfather who had started it. William Devereux comes in one day and convinces her that making iced cream is the way to go and provides her with a recipe his grandmother had used to make it. Hannah is willing to do almost anything to keep her store open and makes it according to the recipe, it doesn't freeze, so she successfully adapts it and starts to sell it, becoming very busy in the process. William starts to come around more often and they eventually become close, Hannah has no desire to marry but having a man around is handy. The investigator is still giving her grief and William is able to talk to him about the probate. But alas all is not as it seems and that's where the story really gets interesting. I would highly recommend this book, it is so good. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Atria for the ARC.

I love a book with a good plot twist, more so when it’s delivered early on and The Art of a Lie did not disappoint in this regard. Ive seen this book labeled as both historical fiction and mystery, while it certainly does fit those classifications, it’s also a love story so tragic in nature the author even refers to it as ‘Shakespearean’. It is a good, fast read that will leave you curious as to what will happen next.
Don’t skip over the Historical Note section, I appreciated all of the research and background context the author here, it lends to the overall story.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book!

I love historical fiction and The Art of a Lie is set during my favorite time and place: 18th century England. Although the plot seemed a little far-fetched and wrapped up perhaps too neatly, I really enjoyed how the author makes you feel like you've been dropped into another time through her writing. I also enjoyed that she dropped real-life people, events, and details into her narrative to make it seem more authentic. Overall, this was a fun read.