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

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Ever since her bestselling debut, Blood & Sugar, Laura Shepherd-Robinson has made the Georgian era her own. In her latest, The Square of Sevens, she revisits the period, this time following a young girl named Red as she navigates the dark mysteries of her own past and the convoluted - and murderous - machinations of two of the country's most prominent dynasties warring over a disputed inheritance. A big, meaty, meticulously researched and unashamedly ambitious historical novel." - Vaseem Khan I doubt I’ll read a better book this year' — Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of We Begin at the End 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 . . .

My father had spelt it out to me. Choice was a luxury I couldn’t afford. This is your story, Red. You must tell it well . . .’ Such brilliant storytelling with twists and turns that leave you breathless. I love Laura's books and this is her best yet." - Julie Owen MoylanThere was quite a large, diverse cast of characters and each of them played a role in Red’s quest for answers. I loved that I never quite knew who to trust. There are clues, red herrings and mis-directions thrown at the reader as the mystery unfolds. I’d think I had it all figured out and then realise I was completely wrong. The final twist took me by complete surprise.

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. A richly immersive panorama. . . With its twists and turns and revelations of those lies that bind and truths that rend asunder, this story is a deep pleasure to read Sunday Times Our protagonist, Red, spent the first seven years of her life on the run with her father, evading the eyes of those who, according to her father, intend to harm them. Red’s father, who goes by the name of George the Tenth of Kernow, is a "cunning-man" who comes from a long line of pellars. Using an ancient method of card reading that has been passed down through generations, father and daughter make their living telling fortunes using the Square of the Sevens method. Red is a gifted fortune teller. She never knew her mother, having lost her when she was a baby, and her father hadn’t shared much about her with Red. After her father dies, seven-year-old Red is left in the care of an antiquarian from Bath to whom he also entrusts the manuscript detailing the unique Square of Sevens technique. However, she remains curious about her parents, a quest that is discouraged by her guardian. Red spends the next ten years in Bath until her fortunes change after the demise of her guardian. She runs away from Bath and the clutches of her guardian’s shady nephew and tries to support herself, telling fortunes – a risky venture after the passing of The Witchcraft Act of 1735, which could result in imprisonment. She follows the clues of her mother’s family history from her father’s documents which lead her to London and Devon amid two feuding but influential families who would rather their secrets stay buried but also wouldn’t hesitate to use Red as a pawn to further their own motives. Will Red discover the truth about her family connections and finally find out why she spent her early childhood on the run with her father? Will she be able to see through the lies, deceit and manipulation? Red is seven-years-old when we first meet her. She has an unconventional childhood, living on the road with her fortune telling father, a self-professed cunning man. Red is used to people looking down on them and being fearful of their craft, even those who choose to have their fortune told.I wasn't a fan of the fortune-telling part in the book The Cloisters so I was hesitant when I saw the main character in this book was also a fortune-teller. It turned out that the use of cards in The Square of Sevens was so deftly woven into the story that I looked forward to seeing what the cards would reveal. Intricate, compelling and stuffed full of intrigue, The Square of Sevens will sweep you into its world." - Fiona Barton Even if this isn’t your normal time period for books, just give it a go, I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Red grows up around the lavish Georgian splendour of Bath and her fortune-telling skills are the talk of the ton, delighting those who have the coin to spare a look into their lives, yet Red cannot help but wonder: who was her mother, and what ever happened to someone who Red loved so very much… 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? Laura Shepherd-Robinson's The Square of Sevens is an epic and sweeping novel set in Georgian high society, a dazzling story offering up mystery, intrigue, heartbreak, and audacious twists. Moving between Cornwall, Bath, London and Devon the locations provide an added colour to the book with the beliefs and laws of the time adding extra danger to the quest for the truth. Don’t let the size of the book put you off as once you start reading the time will fly by as you find yourself immersed in Red’s world. One thing for certain is that Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a very skilled storyteller and I don’t think it will be long before I catch up reading her earlier books. About the Author Brought up as a lady amidst the Georgian splendour of Bath, Red’s fortune-telling skills are a delight in polite society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her own soul: who was her mother? How did she die? Who are the enemies that her father always feared would find him?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? Life changes abruptly for Red when her father dies of a sudden illness and she becomes the ward of a respectable gentleman, Mr Antrobus. Going to live with him in his elegant home in Bath, Red finds herself thrust into society for the first time. Raised by Mr Antrobus and his kindly housekeeper, she settles into her new life while entertaining the people of Bath by reading their cards for them. It’s through her gift for card-reading that Red crosses paths with the wealthy De Lacy family, whom she believes hold the key to the secrets of her own past. And so a sequence of events are set in motion that take Red from Bath to London’s Bartholomew Fair and a grand house in Devon in search of answers. People like to say they seek the truth. Sometimes they even mean it. The truth is they crave the soft , quilted comfort of a lie." I really enjoyed the character of Lazarus Darke (what a fantastic name for a character!) Lazarus was mysterious with a very murky past but I loved finding out more about him and his motivations.

I was intrigued with the beginning of this book. A young girl whose mother died during childbirth who tells fortunes and desperately wants to know more about her mother who was disowned when she married Red's father. Prior to her father's death, Red and her father supported themselves by telling fortunes using The Square of Sevens. They are constantly on the move as her father feels that they are in danger. When it is clear he is not going to survive his illness, Red's father asks Mr. Antrobus, a gentleman, to take Red in and raise her. 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. The Seven of Squares’ was an enthralling epic tale. As I found with her other novels, the historical setting was so well realised that I found myself totally immersed from start to finish. Red was an amazing lead, complemented by a wealth of supporting characters. Red is now known as Rachel Antrobus and is plunged into society circles in Bath. Rachel enjoys her new life but she can't help wondering about her father's mysterious enemies.

Our heroine, Red, is the epitome of relentless determination, pursuing her goal with ingenuity and, at times, a careless regard for her own safety. She’s also not averse to a little manipulation when she believes it will serve her purpose. Let’s face it, in this book she’s not alone when it comes to that. 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. I was enthusiastic about it until I started reading it and I just knew we weren't going to get along. I love that it is set in Bath, as that place is one of my favourite cities to spend time in, and obviously one of those reasons is because of the closeness with Jane Austen. This will sound terrible, but I couldn't picture Laura Shepherd-Robinson's characters swanning about in Bath. I'm a way, the story didn't belong there.