Synopsis
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
'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.
A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick of the Summer.
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
'An absolute treat of a 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
Details
07 May 2026
9781529053746Reviews
This deliciously devious tale of skulduggery, questionable motives and untrustworthy appearances will keep you gripped
Laura Shepherd-Robinson takes delight in pulling the rug out from under her readers’ feet and the revelation of the identity of Jonas’s murderer is only the first in a number of narrative surprises she springs on us in this cleverly structured and consistently enjoyable novel
[A] breathtaking historical thriller . . . Brilliantly researched and masterfully told, this page-turner is every bit as delicious as Hannah's apricot tarts. 10/10
Fiendishly clever and completely gripping, The Art of a Lie had me in its grip right till the satisfying finish. I loved it
