'Astonishing. The Art of a Lie is Laura Shepherd-Robinson at the height of her considerable powers. A rare and wonderful story' - Chris Whitaker, author of All the Colours of the Dark

'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

The Art of a Lie is a beguiling cat-and-mouse thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Square of Sevens, Laura Shepherd-Robinson.

A 2025 BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick of the summer!

That’s the trouble with stories, especially the ones you write for yourself. Sometimes you think they've ended, when they've barely begun . . .

London, 1749. Following the murder of her husband in a violent street robbery, Hannah Cole is struggling to keep her head above water. The Punchbowl and Pineapple, her confectionary shop on Piccadilly, is barely turning a profit, and her suppliers are conspiring to put her out of business. So when she learns that her husband had a large sum of money in his bank account that she knew nothing about, the surprise is extremely welcome. And when William Devereux, a friend of her late husband, tells her about a new Italian delicacy called “iced cream”, Hannah believes it might transform the fortunes of her shop.

But her husband’s unexpected windfall attracts the attention of author-turned-magistrate Henry Fielding, who suspects the money was illicitly acquired. Unless Hannah can prove otherwise, her inheritance will be confiscated. As she and Devereux work to uncover the secrets of her husband’s double life, their friendship opens Hannah to speculation and gossip, locking her into a battle of wits more devastating than anything, even her husband’s murder.

'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

'Fiendishly clever and completely gripping . . . I loved it' – Jennie Godfrey, bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things

'An absolute treat of an historical crime novel. Sheer perfection' – Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal

'This book has it all. Masterful' – Abir Mukherjee, bestselling author of Hunted

'[Laura Shepherd-Robinson's] best yet, and I don’t say that lightly' – Harriet Tyce, bestselling author of Blood Orange