The Art of a Lie

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What to expect

This audiobook is read by Justin Avoth and Sophie Roberts, and includes an Historical Note read by the author, Laura Shepherd-Robinson. This edition also features an audio-exclusive Q&A between Laura and Justin.

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

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.

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.

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

'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

'Historical crime fiction doesn’t get any better than this' – Andrew Taylor, bestselling author of The Shadows of London

'Captivating, compelling, and so, so clever' – Jo Callaghan, bestselling author of In The Blink of An Eye

Critics Review

Astonishing. The Art of a Lie is Laura Shepherd-Robinson at the height of her considerable powers. Of course it’s beautifully written and richly detailed, but it’s also fiendishly twisting and properly thrilling. 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
Told with authority and panache, Shepherd-Robinson takes us on a breathtaking, tension-filled, kaleidoscopic whirl through the Georgian London of the striving middle classes and those who would prey upon them. A woman fighting for her future, murder, romance, deception – and the best desserts in town – this book has it all. Masterful
Abir Mukherjee, bestselling author of Hunted
Fiendishly clever and completely gripping, The Art of a Lie had me in its grip right till the satisfying finish. I loved it
Jennie Godfrey, bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things
A thrilling ride through the streets of 18th century London, full of twists and turns, unforgettable characters, evil deeds and delicious food. I loved it
Elly Griffiths, author of The Crossing Places
A delicious confection of bluff and counter-bluff, shot through with detailed research, sprinkled with humour and topped with a twist. I devoured it in a couple of days and went back for a second helping. Laura Shepherd-Robinson creates characters who step full-bodied out of the past into your affections, and plots as intricate and imaginative as a sugar sculpture
S.J. Parris, author of HERESY
Laura Shepherd-Robinson has excelled herself with this most artfully constructed novel, which toys with our emotions and plays havoc with our expectations. She has an instinctive feel for the textures of eighteenth-century life - and an almost supernatural knowledge of contemporary confectionary skills and the art of the sophisticated con-trick. Read and enjoy - historical crime fiction doesn’t get any better than this
Andrew Taylor, bestselling author of The Ashes of London
An irresistible confection to beguile, bemuse and delight, with a slither of ice at its heart
Essie Fox, bestselling author of The Fascination
How I long to visit the Punchbowl and Pineapple on Piccadilly . . . I simply couldn’t look away from The Art Of a Lie. A story as sweet as ‘iced cream’, as tense as spun sugar, as clever as a trickster and as beautifully written and masterful as everything by the wonderful Laura Shepherd-Robinson. An absolute treat of an historical crime novel. Sheer perfection
Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal
In this novel, Laura Shepherd-Robinson displays the art of a truly masterful storyteller: it is captivating, compelling, and so, so clever, but like all the best stories it will capture your heart. It is as exquisite as the iced cream that Hannah Cole concocts and long after you have finished you will not be able to forget it. I absolutely adored it and cannot recommend it highly enough.
Jo Callaghan, bestselling author of In The Blink of An Eye
A fast-paced historical narrative that pits two protagonists against each other in a wily battle of wills. Confident, engrossing, and as taut as any thriller
Vaseem Khan, bestselling author of Midnight at Malabar House
Switchbacks and reversals to beat a rollercoaster with an attention to historical detail that had my mouth watering on occasion. I think it’s [Laura Shepherd-Robinson's] best yet, and I don’t say that lightly
Harriet Tyce, bestselling author of Blood Orange
The Art of A Lie is a delicious mystery and I savoured every twist and turn. An impeccably atmospheric, startling and clever historical thriller that kept me guessing to the final page. Completely brilliant!
Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne
A delicious romp of cat and mouse infused with sumptuous plotting, The Art of a Lie is a novel of rich delectable appetites to be savoured right to the very last chapter.
Susan Stokes-Chapman, bestselling author of Pandora
The Art of a Lie is an absolute triumph of a book. It captures the feel of eighteenth-century London perfectly, and the dreadful position that women in that society found themselves in. Hannah is a most admirable heroine
James Oswald, bestselling author of the Inspector McLean series
A beguiling and mouth-watering game of cat-and-mouse, where Dangerous Liaisons meets Chocolat
Chris Brookmyre, award-winning author of The Cracked Mirror
A spellbinding, utterly immersive, meticulously researched novel that grips as a thriller and yet also plunges the reader into a fully realised and vibrant world. The work of a master storyteller!
William Hussey, award-winning author of Killing Jericho
No one captures the mood and flavour of Georgian London like Laura Shepherd-Robinson. From the reeking back streets to the perfumed delights of the sweet shop, The Art of a Lie is vivid and dazzling. The action races along. This book is a delight
Holly Watt, award-winning author of To The Lions
An irresistible confection, chock full of the finest ingredients: meticulous research, absorbing period detail and characters you will love but absolutely should not trust
Ambrose Parry, author of Voices of the Dead
This book is an absolute treat, with deceit layered on deceit. As always, Laura brings Georgian London to life in all its wit and wickedness. I devoured the story like a bowl of fresh iced cream, and I won't be able to walk the length of Piccadilly without thinking of Hannah Cole and her shop of sweet temptations. As William Deveraux says to Henry Fielding, "You'll divide your days between the before and after"
S. J. Bennett, author of the Her Majesty Investigates series
Twisty, atmospheric, wickedly entertaining. Goes down like a gulp of iced cream on a summer's day
Tammy Cohen, author of The Wedding Party
A mesmerising and addictive historical thriller from one of the outstanding writers of our generation. A tale quite unlike any other. Gripping and deadly but also rather moving and delicious
Imran Mahmood, author of Finding Sophie
I absolutely loved this book. A deliciously clever and complex confection of love, artifice, mystery and ice cream, with exquisitely drawn characters. Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s best book yet.
Anna Mazzola, author of The Book of Secrets
An astonishing historical thriller: artful, wry and unflinching. Laura Shepherd-Robinson invites us to 18th century London both sumptuous and sinister, where no-one is what they first seem. With twists that are as exquisitely constructed as any Georgian confection, I utterly devoured this
Danielle Giles, author of Mere
A gem of a book. Beneath the prim Georgian gentility lurks a deliciously devious world. Laura Shepherd-Robinson's latest book is her best yet. Sharply witty and cleverly plotted, it's an utterly satisfying read.
William Shaw, author of The Wild Swimmers
This book is as delicious as the sweet cakes in the Punchbowl and Pineapple. Full of brilliant twists and turns that keeps the reader completely hooked to the final page. Laura just gets better with every book. I adored it
Julie Owen Moylan, author of Circus of Mirrors
Exquisitely drawn and meticulously researched, fast-paced and tightly plotted and full of heart. This gorgeous novel had me turning pages late into the night, and I am still thinking about its two brilliant protagonists long after finishing the final chapter. In a word: decadent
Elizabeth DeLozier, author of Eleanore of Avignon
The Art of a Lie pulled me into the darkly deceptive world of Hannah Cole with the wonderfully jolting contrast between the murderous conspiracies and the sugary treats in her sweet shop I loved the brilliant deployment of historical details that led me - often by the nose - through Georgian London (I could almost smell that cellar…). The twists stopped me in my tracks and I am warmly recommending it to everyone
Fiona Barton, author of The Widow
The queen of historical crime has done it again: The Art of a Lie is a propulsive, twisty and immaculately researched mystery, bringing the grime and glamour of Georgian London to roaring life
Caroline Lea, author of The Glass Woman
The Art of a Lie is everything I could want in a novel. A scintillating set-up, characters you care about and a plot as silky and sly as the devious protagonists. Confirming Laura Shepherd-Robinson as a writer at the pinnacle of her game, this book is a delicious delight - beautiful, brittle and irresistible as box of French macarons
Kate Griffin, author of Kitty Peck and the Music Hall Murders
Richly imagined, fiendishly clever and twisty as hell, this an up-past-midnight page turner from a writer at the top of her game. An absolutely glorious cat-and-mouse tale!
Ellery Lloyd, author of The Club
With shades of Fingersmith, Laura Shepherd-Robinson's latest novel, The Art of a Lie, is a twisty, turny masterpiece. I loved it
Beth Lewis, author of The Wolf Road
A devilish delight of a novel, full of sly treats and unexpected moments. This is Laura Shepherd-Robinson at her finest
D.V. Bishop, author of City of Vengeance
A glorious tale of men and women with secrets, love, heartache, deceptions and comeuppances. Historical but also thematically current this is highly recommended
Sarah Pinborough, author of Behind Her Eyes
I was completely immersed in this evocative tale of 18th-century murder and intrigue. Alongside a cast of richly-drawn characters, beats the heart of Georgian London. The scenes are so vividly imagined, I could hear the bustling cobblestone streets and taste the exquisite iced cream. Every sentence of this cracking story is crafted with elegance and bite. I loved it
Amanda Jennings, author of In Her Wake
The Art Of A Lie immerses the reader in the world of eighteenth century London. The reveals hit me like sucker punches and the book is so beautifully written that the descriptions of confectionery and sweet delicacies left me salivating
Nikki Smith, author of The Beach Party
Artfully plotted, its world beautifully rendered, The Art of a Lie is a glorious tale of double-dealing and desire, of commerce and chicanery, its pages filled with unforgettable characters and exquisite details. I loved it!
Alex Hay, author of The Queen of Fives
Started and finished this in one morning. Nothing is what it seems, the twists are worthy of barley-sugar, and the delicious descriptions of iced cream will make you drool over the pages (when you're not swooning over her devilishly charming main characters). Dazzlingly good
Sarah Hilary, author of Sharp Glass
A delicious treat of a novel that brings Georgian London vividly to life
Good Housekeeping
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
The Times
I loved this enthralling historical caper
Red
Prepare to be utterly gripped by this mesmerising novel and its richly drawn cast of characters . . . it's a beautifully written story with some truly unexpected twists and turns
Heat
Enrobed in deceit and duplicity
Sainsbury's Magazine

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