The Square of Sevens: A BBC Two Between the Covers Book Club Pick

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Laura Shepherd-Robinson has created an instant classic.Red is unforgettable. The story is a treasure trove of lavish Georgian riches, female ingenuity and bitter betrayal… and I didn’t want it to end Sophia Bennett, author of Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholomew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red’s quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads to grave danger. A corkscrew plot, full of ingenious twists and turns, a charismatic heroine, a rogue’s gallery of aristocratic rascals in Georgian England and a dangerous family feud makes Shepherd-Robinson’s third novel a hugely engaging, entertaining read. Daily Mail

And what was the truth? The process to get to the end of the book had me both boggled and impressed at the same time. I was never sure where we were going, or where we were coming from. Nothing was certain, there were layers upon layers of mysteries and truths in this book, and you have to really dig.I did feel that there were pacing issues in some aspects of the story and the plot slowed down significantly in the middle of the book. The book felt slightly too long because of this. However I did really love the ending which more than made up for any slow parts. The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson Review: Summary Any attempt to summarise the twists and turns of the plot would be doomed to failure and risk giving away some of the many surprises awaiting the reader, so I’m not even going to try. Safe to say, the dividing line between truth and illusion is gossamer thin and you shouldn’t necessarily believe what you see or hear. Raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendor of Bath, Red’s fortune-telling delights in high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her soul: who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him? The Square of Sevens is the second book I have read by this author. I loved Daughters of Night, so I was very excited to read this book. I loved Red's character, and I liked that we had several different people narrating this book, because you were left wondering: what was the truth?

The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholemew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red's quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads into her grave danger . . . Intricate, compelling and stuffed full of intrigue, The Square of Sevenswill sweep you into its world Fiona Barton, bestselling author of The Widow Both setting and plot are so richly detailed you will truly feel like you are there, but will you brave having your own fortune told?This is such a glorious adventure, full of scheming and betrayal, with a delicious whiff of magic at its heart.Our hero holds only a few cards, and she must play them exactly right if she wants to survive William Shaw, author of the DS Alexandra Cupidi series Fans of Laura Shepherd-Robinson's previous books will be delighted to know that her latest story is another belter. When young Red, daughter of a Cornish fortune-teller and herself a teller of fortunes using the ancient method of the Square of Sevens, is left orphaned, her life changes forever when she becomes the ward of a gentleman scholar, Mr Antrobus. Although raised as a Georgian lady, she cannot ignore the question of who her parents were and why her father was always terrified his enemies would find him. It is worth noting that you should read her authors note at both the beginning and the end of the book.

The Square of Sevens isn't just a five-star read, it's a fully immersive experience. I lived Red's quest, rooting for her every step of the way. Loaded with plot and intrigue and sumptuous period detail, this kept me guessing until the end." - Caz Frear Weare introduced to Red when she is a very young girljust as her life is about to change forever. The daughter of a Cornish fortune teller she finds herself becoming a wardof a gentleman from Bath who they meet on their travels.​After changing her name to Rachel and advising her never to reveal her past she is brought up as a lady. It is during this time shebecomes acquainted withthe De Lacy familyand once again her life appears to change. I really loved the premise to this book and I was really excited to read it. It promised to combine Georgian England, high society and a touch of magical realism. Just up my street! Cornwall, 1730: A young girl known only as Red travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient Cornish method of the Square of Sevens. Shortly before he dies, her father entrusts Red���s care to a gentleman scholar, along with a document containing the secret of the Square of Sevens technique. The Square of Seven’ has an interesting narrative structure inspired by this fortune telling system. The novel has four parts, each comprised of twenty-one chapters. Every chapter is headed by a playing card and the meaning of the card mirrors the events of that chapter. In addition, each of the four parts corresponds to a fortune that Red tells during the course of the novel.

Compelling, thrilling, totally absorbing. The rich period detail never once weighs down the pace of the storytelling in this exhilarating tale where fate and destiny come up against courage and ambition in wealthy, corrupt Georgian society. I loved it." - Tammy Cohen I'm going to be honest, the best aspects of this particular book are the cover, the quirky illustrations of Bath and the fact the story was set in Bath. Apart from that, this book was difficult to like, and, putting it lightly, my heart is most definitely dissatisfied. In The Square of Sevens, Laura Shepherd-Robinson excels at recreating the past - in this case, Georgian England - in an authentic way. She invites us to join fortune teller Red on an epic journey to unravel the secrets of her past and we cannot rest until we have answers. Dazzling." - Fiona Cummins This is a book that has reinforced why I love the author. I am so excited to see what May come next. The author has penned a fascinating historical note where she discusses the era, her inspiration for this story and much more. This is my first time reading this author and I intend to explore more of her work.

This is such a glorious adventure, full of scheming and betrayal, with a delicious whiff of magic at its heart. Our hero holds only a few cards, and she must play them exactly right if she wants to survive." - William ShawMy favourite Laura Shepherd-Robinson novel yet. Fortune telling, Cornwall and Bath. What's not to love? Completely compelling and clever, of course. And in Red, a heroine I wanted to spend days with." - Joanna Nadin