Only one word can describe Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s historical thriller set around a sweet shop in eighteenth century London – delicious. Like many a modern TV show, Shepherd-Robinson burns through twists and reveals that possibly in the past might have been the whole point of the narrative. And she does it through a pair of delightful characters neither of which are afraid to manipulate those around them to get their own way.
The Art of a Lie opens with sweet shop owner Hannah Cole, struggling to keep the shop going following the mysterious death of her husband. Hannah has learnt that her husband had a large amount of money that she did not know about and that she stands to inherit a third of that money. This inheritance will allow her to save the shop. Except that the new Chief Magistrate Henry Fielding (based on the real character who also wrote the novel Tom Jones) suspects that the money was gained illegally and is looking to take it for himself for the establishment of his police force. Enter William Devereux, a friend of Hannah’s husband who seems to want to help her but also maybe catch her eye romantically.
It is hard to talk about any more of this novel without giving away some of its jaw-dropping reverses. Safe to say that it is pretty clear from the jump that William, Hannah’s knight in shining armour, is not all that he seems. But Hannah is also not as helpless as the face she presents to the world. And the pressure that builds on both of them is complicated by mutual attraction.
In amongst the shenanigans, Shepherd-Robinson gives a great view of different parts of London on the 1750s. From the pleasure grounds to the dingy pubs to the tables of high society. In particular are her descriptions of the various products of Hannah’s sweet shop, and Hannah’s role in the popularisation of ice cream, which became a legitimate place for men and women of different social strata to mingle as they ate. There is plenty more detail of all of this in a lengthy Historical Note.
The Art of a Lie is the full package – engaging, if fairly amoral, main characters, a fun range of side characters, fascinating historical detail and a slippery page-turning plot that keeps twisting all the way to its conclusion.
The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
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