📖 Book of My Month ~ The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

 

Mantle Books
10 July 2025

Thanks to the publisher for the invitation to read this book

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.

📖 My Review..

Struggling to keep her luxury confectionery business viable after the untimely death of her husband, Hannah Cole welcomes the arrival of William Devereux, a lively and generous friend of her late husband’s. Hannah soon comes to rely on Devereux’s charm and expertise but more especially his idea of producing iced cream which brings in customers to the Punchbowl and Pineapple many of whom are excited to try this new delicacy, a delight which intrigues Georgian London. 

However, there is more to this clever tale than the manufacture of iced cream, although Hannah’s ingenious method of production and subsequent flavours were tantalising, the tangled web of deceit which the author weaves together so skilfully is where the real crux of the story lies.  Who do we believe in this twisted tale of greed and corruption, the grieving widow charmed by a handsome face, or a handsome charlatan with an eye for the main chance.

Gloriously written with all the skill which this talented author brings to her stories, Georgian London with all its idiosyncrasies comes to life. From the undeniable greed of the gambling hells, to clever little secrets which, if left unchecked, will fester and gain momentum, especially when Henry Fielding, Westminster’s chief magistrate, starts to investigate Hannah’s husband’s suspicious death, with dramatic consequences.

There’s so much I loved about this fascinating story which fired my imagination from the start, I loved the small details of everyday life, the suppliers who kept Hannah’s confectionery business afloat, the hackney carriages which scurried about the city and the swarming underbelly of crooks and villains. Teeming with life, rich in history, and alive with deceit and corruption The Art of a Lie is another master class in historical crime writing from an author who makes the history of ordinary people seem vivid and vital.

Pure delight from start to finish, I have no hesitation in making The Art of a Lie the Book of My Month for July.

**To be published on the 10th July by Mantle Books**

About the Author

Laura Shepherd-Robinson was born in Bristol in 1976. She has a BSc in Politics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics. Laura worked in politics for nearly twenty years before re-entering normal life to complete an MA in Creative Writing at City University. She lives in London with her husband.

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