Books by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
“The Art of a Lie is an 18th-century historical novel, set in London. It features ice cream, which became a popular snack at the time, and also Henry Fielding, author of Tom Jones, one of the best 18th-century novels. What’s less well known is that Fielding was also a pioneering magistrate, credited with setting up the earliest professional police force in England, nicknamed the Bow Street Runners. The plot revolves around two charming main characters, neither of whom are what they seem.” Read more...
The Best Crime Fiction: The 2026 Gold Dagger Shortlist
Sophie Roell, Journalist
“This is about a young woman whose name is Red. She’s never known her mother. Her father dies when she is very young, and she is given into the care of an English gentleman. She’s raised as a lady in Bath, England, and early in her adult years she discovers a document that describes a fortune-telling method called ‘the Square of Sevens,’ something that her father was in possession of and worked very hard to make sure she had access to. The story is Red trying to figure out what this is and how it works. She’s trying to figure out why people are trying to steal it, and her friends and loved ones begin dying around her as these elements close in.” Read more...
The Best Historical Fiction Set in the 18th Century
Ariel Lawhon, Novelist
Interviews where books by Laura Shepherd-Robinson were recommended
The Best Historical Fiction Set in the 18th Century, recommended by Ariel Lawhon
It was the century of the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution. In the Scottish Highlands, there were multiple rebellions in favour of the deposed Stuart dynasty. Ariel Lawhon, author of The Frozen River, recommends five of her favorite novels set in the 18th century, a tumultuous era that doesn’t always get the shelf space it deserves when it comes to historical fiction.
The Best Crime Fiction: The 2026 Gold Dagger Shortlist, recommended by Sophie Roell
If you enjoy crime fiction, there can be a bewildering array of books to choose from. Fortunately, the UK has the Dagger Awards, awarded by the Crime Writers’ Association to standout books in the genre. The ‘Gold Dagger’ is given for the best crime novel by an author of any nationality, originally written in English and first published in the UK. Five Books editor Sophie Roell runs us through the six books that made this year’s shortlist.
