THE ART OF A LIE

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.