The Square of Sevens

By: Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Narrated by: Imogen Wilde

USA TODAY BESTSELLER

This “intricately plotted, epic” (The Times, London) international bestseller—in the vein of the vivid novels of Sarah Waters and Sarah Perry—follows an orphaned fortune teller in 18th-century England as she searches for answers about her long-dead mother.

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.

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 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.

“Intricate, haunting, and magical by turns, Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s tale is an absolute immersive read you won’t soon forget” (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author).

Critic reviews

"Wilde wraps listeners in Red’s Dickensian struggle as she searches for her true identity. At first, Red delights members of high society by telling their fortunes, but soon attempts are made upon her life. Why? Wilde ramps up the excitement as secret documents, an uncertain inheritance, murder, lies, double crosses, and betrayal heighten the tension. A well-performed, well-written historical fiction with a satisfying twist."

Interesting mystery, interesting characters

I enjoyed this mystery overall - until the end there were surprises being revealed. I kept running theories thru my head of what happened, which is a good sign for a mystery book for me. The only reason for not a full 5 stars for me on the story (narration was 5 stars) was because it was a stressful read (little break in the suspense) and it was rather long.

Strap in .. it’s a wild ride

The author’s Intricate crafting of a multi-faceted story.. not to be missed. The narration was perfect in tone and character.

The kind of book I like to read

Great story and narration. Kept me engaged and looked forward to listening everyday to see what would unfold next.

Exceptional

I rarely leave reviews but this novel demands kudos.
A book of this length usually has some dull areas of filler. Not here. The author kept this readers interest throughout with all of the twists and turns and unexpected revelations. I highly recommend and thank the author.

Lots of twists

Enjoyed this adventure into 18thc British society and the role of magic card reading. Very intricate plot structure that the author pulls off. Well done!

Very Clever

This is worth listening for 20 hours. Quite a lot of historical detail. Many, many interesting characters, but fairly easy to follow. Several surprises throughout. Recommend.

Terrific Historical Fiction!

I thoroughly enjoy this book! At it’s core, it is a deeply layered mystery set in early 18th century England with complicated & intriguing characters, exceptional historical context, and expect & excellent pacing. From the time I picked it up until I finished 3-days later, every unscheduled, non-sleeping I was engrossed in consuming it! I highly recommend it!

Incredible!!! A must read!!!

Absolutely wonderful! Amazing characters, fabulous twists and turns, and top notch writing. The narration was exceptional as well. I could not put this book down. Bravo!! I will be reading everything this writers pens from here forward.

Very detailed.

The story had many facets but it felt very abrupt in the end. I’m sure there was a lot of research done to write this though and I appreciate that. I just wish that after so many hours of listening it hadn’t been tied up in such a tidy manner.

I did not see that coming!

I highly recommend this book! It has so many twists and turns. You will not see any of them coming. It’s beautifully written. It’s magical! Don’t let the length of this novel deter you. I’m not an avid reader so I almost passed on this one because of its length. I am so glad I decided to take a chance on it. This book left me wanting more, not because I felt there was more to be said but simply because it was such a wonderful story and I didn’t want it to end.