Hang with Heather

A confection of suspense in old London

- LAURA Shepherd-Robinson's

The Art of a Lie is a masterclass in historical crime fiction - clever, atmospheric and full of slow-burning tension.

Set in 1749 London, the novel follows Hannah Cole, a widowed confectioner.

When Hannah's husband Jonas is murdered in a street robbery, she's left to run their struggling Piccadilly sweet shop, the Punchbowl and Pineapple. She's barely keeping the doors open when she learns Jonas had a large and unexplained sum in his bank account. The money could save her, but its origins immediately raise suspicion.