The Art of a Lie is a standalone historical mystery set in Georgian London by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. Released 5th Aug 2025 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out from the same publisher in late 2nd quarter 2026. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is an engaging and well written historical mystery featuring real historical characters and a framework of actual historical events and people. It's set in 1749 in and around London environs and novelist/magistrate Henry Fielding is trying to sort out the complex estate of a murdered confectioner with unfortunate impact to his struggling widow.
It's impressive that the author manages to weave the fiction around the bones of historical events so skillfully that it isn't always clear where fact shades into fiction. She's clearly very adept at research and giving the writing verisimilitude of the period without being at all impenetrable or awkward to modern ears.
The pacing was relaxed, but it isn't overly slow and readers shouldn't have issues staying engaged. The climax and denouement were satisfying and well written.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours 52 minutes and is capably read by Sophie Roberts and Justin Avoth in alternating lead character roles. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.
Four stars. Definitely one for readers who enjoy historical mystery. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, home library, or a buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
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