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The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained

The Square of Sevens
By: Laura Shepherd-Robinson
My Rating: FIVE out of Five Stars
Best For: 16 and up

The Square of Sevens: A 5-Star Historical Mystery That Will Leave You Gobsmacked

Every once in a while, I pick up a book that reminds me why I started One Man Book Club. The Square of Sevens is that book. I didn’t just like this one—I LOVED it.

Set in the 1730s, we follow a girl known only as Red. She starts as an orphaned fortune teller traveling the Cornish countryside with her father, using an ancient card-reading method called the “Square of Sevens.” After her father’s death, she’s taken in by a scholar and raised as a lady in the high society of Bath. But Red isn’t just interested in tea and dresses; she’s hunting for the truth about her mother and the mysterious enemies her father spent his life running from.

Red is an incredible protagonist. She’s sharp, determined, and beautifully manipulative when she needs to be. I LOVED her! The historical setting is atmospheric and thick with “Dickensian” intrigue, moving from the muddy fairs of Cornwall to the grand, deceitful houses of London and Bath.

I’m going to be very careful here because the plot is diabolical. I have not been this smacked in the face by a series of twists in a long time. It’s over 500 pages, but I was reading non-stop…I couldn’t put it down. My advice? Keep your wits about you and pay attention to the details—you’re going to need them for that ending.

Content Guide for Parents & Discerning Readers:

Age Recommendation: 16+ (Mature themes and grit).

Language: Moderate.

Violence: Significant. Includes descriptions of murder, physical abuse, and injury consistent with a dark historical thriller.

Sexual Content: Mature themes. Includes “off-screen” references to rape and sexual assault, as well as instances of sexual harassment.

Thematic Intensity: High. This is a dark story. It touches on incest, child abuse, suicide, and torture. It’s a “rip-roaring romp,” but it doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the 18th century.

The Verdict:
5 Stars. This is easily one of the best books I read in 2025. If you love a complex mystery with a contemporary “addictive” vibe, go get your hands on this immediately. Just hold onto your jaw at the end—it’s going to drop.

Happy Reading!