I was given an arc copy of this work free of charge via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

from the moment i read the discription i was hooked, a murder mystery with the Hellfire club and the Illuminati running throught it? It was far to good to resist.

Add in forger and actress Dora Fitz-Pennington and a Noble born Doctor who served during the War and you have a wild adventure indeed. Dora's out going nature and firey spirit are wonderful and complient the Doctors more settled manner perfectly.

this was a well written murder mystery that was slow to start but by chapter 3 I could not put it down, I needed to see what would happen next. Throughly enjoyed this read and would recomend it to anyone.

The Persephone Code by Julia Golding was a fun read, and for the most part, I enjoyed it. I do think, however, that it was missing something. What that something is, I'm not quite sure, but it felt a little rushed at points with a lot of plot, and then very slow with not much happening at all. I also wasn't that attached to any of the characters so wasn't concerned about their outcomes (eek sorry!). So while there were parts of the story I did enjoy, I've given it 2 stars because it was a bit too all over the place for me. Thank you for the opportunity to read it!

"The Persephone Code" sound like it had a promising concept but failed to deliver. it did have an engaging plot and kept me reading but it seemed to lack something to give it that umph.

This was a very intriguing regency era
murder mystery. I enjoyed it immensely. While it did take me some time to get into it once I did, I couldn't put it down.

The mystery was intriguing, and I loved the inclusion of the secret societies. It was all very entertaining! I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Persephone Code blends historical mystery and adventure with some romance.
The story's opening pages featured an ugly murder, which had me hooked and rooting for Anthony's actress sister, Dora, when she joined forces with Dr. Sandys in pursuit of the truth behind Anthony's death. With two secret societies following their every move, it became increasingly dangerous the more the pair decoded the clues left for Dora in her brother's letter.
Dora is a remarkable character. She is no tonnish miss and uses her acting abilities to her advantage. Her initial interactions with Jacob are very funny as she misinterprets his intentions towards her and he takes his time in putting matters straight. Despite wanting to deliver the message and leave, he offers to escort her on her travels to receive her brother's letter and act as her protector when it becomes clear that it will be a dangerous affair.
I really liked the mystery and the adventure that decoding the clues brought them. Dora and Jacob had interesting background stories and I felt like I got to know and understand them pretty well. I loved that there was a hint of another adventure for the pair and it's already published. The Elgin Conspiracy is one of my year-end book buys for 2024.

The synopsis for this one sounded great, a bit of a Da Vinci Code style puzzle solving historical fiction. However, it fell a bit flat for me as it seemed to drag on for ages.

The main character, Dora, receives word from Dr Jacob that her brother has been murdered and that a reverend holds a letter for her from him. When she gets the letter, she finds that he has left her clues to find a stash of highly sensitive material that could lead to the downfall of many respected men.

This is where the book should have picked up pace but it didn’t feel like it did, then all of a sudden it was over! I’m still not sure how I really feel about this, it all felt a bit disjointed and that the authors word count had been met so that was that. Overall, a great idea but not really executed in the best way.

This was a fun romp.

Dora is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy man. She has been disowned by her father, but has stayed in touch with her brother. Dr Jacob Sandys is tasked with notifying her of her brother Anthony’s murder.

Dora and Jacob begin to investigate his death and follow a series of clues Anthony has left around the country.

There’s danger and a quest that involves the Illuminati and the Hellfire Caves.

It’s not really Bridgerton or the Da Vinci Code, but it’s an entertaining adventure. I would recommend you suspend your disbelief and enjoy the fun and utter escapism.

Thank you to NetGalley for my gifted copy of The Persephone Code.

I was excited because I love the Da Vinci Code and Bridgerton but this fell flat. I DNFd pretty early on because it was telling over showing, and the cheesy dialogue was ridiculous. Not my cup of tea

I really enjoyed this novel. I love murder mysteries and this one is set in a regency time.
I enjoyed the characters and their relationships. It was a fun read and I would recommend to everyone

I was drawn to this book for the cover and of course the blurb and I wasn't disappointed. Love the setting and the era of 1812 and the story of the rich, the secret society and the dead.. Yes a murder and two people, Dora and Jacob, who must follow the clues and find the murderer. This will take you on a rollercoaster of a ride through some seedy places and with plenty of twists and turns.

This book is wonderfully written and kept me interested throughout. I enjoyed every minute of it and couldn't put it down. There is so much tension and atmosphere in this book/story that it will keep you on the edge of your seat. 4 1/2 stars from me.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to read adn review this book.

This book was so great, that I could not put it down. I really loved Dora and Dr Sandys who are working together to solve the murder of Dora's brother. I look forward to reading more from Julia Golding in the future!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

This was a fun historical murder mystery. I loved the beginning and found it so fast paced and intriguing. The pace carried on the same through the book. The characters were well defined. I enjoyed the twists! Overall it was quite good.

This book was very fun and was an enjoyable read. The characters had good chemistry and it was fun reading their journey and watching them solve the mystery. I did guess the plot twist quite early on but this didn't take any enjoyment away from the book at all.

This was good, but I think may have been trying to do too much? A mystery and a romance and secret societies, it was a lot, and sometimes fun, but I feel like I wasn't sold on the romance. And I love a good complicated mystery and this had elements of it, but also was still a bit predictable. I think it had a lot of elements I like and was excited for, it was just a bit of a miss for me. I did really like our main character, she was bold and fun!

Regency romances aren’t normally my thing, but I wanted to give this a try. I’m glad that I did! It was entertaining with interesting characters. The plot was a bit slow at times, but maybe that’s regency romance? Overall, I enjoyed it and would read more!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Well this was just a stellar read! So many twists, intriguing characters and a gothic vibe. Highly recommended.

This is a really cool Regency romance and mystery! I love both of the characters thought that the mystery added a great background to the romacne.

It may be that I’m not the target audience for this because I normally don’t read mystery/crime novels. But still, I liked the premise and promise of “Bridgerton meets The DaVinci Code” enough to give this a try, wanting to be surprised. Unfortunately, for me, i couldn’t get into the story at all. I started reading this back in April (!) and only finished it last week, because the plot simply wasn’t intriguing enough for me to pick this up again. I didn’t feel any connection to the characters, who felt wildly one-dimensional and underdeveloped.
The writing itself was fine - but this novel simply wasn’t my cup of tea.

Book Review: The Persephone Code by Julia Golding

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing The Persephone Code by Julia Golding , and I really enjoyed this one! Set against the intriguing backdrop of the Buckinghamshire countryside in 1812, it dives deep into the scandalous world of the infamous Hellfire Caves—a secret society that indulges in satanism, opium, and all sorts of debauchery. The story kicks off with a brutal murder: Antony Pennington, the warden of the club, is found dead. This sets the stage for his half-sister, Dora, who embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery behind his death.

Dora's journey leads her to partner with Dr. Jacob Sandys, an ex-Army officer and former opium addict, who just so happens to be the son of a Viscount. Together, they navigate a dangerous conspiracy involving the legendary Illuminati and the Hellfire Club itself. As they uncover dark secrets, they are not only racing against time but also grappling with their undeniable attraction to one another.

First off, can we take a moment to appreciate the cover of this book? It's beautiful and perfectly encapsulates the vibe of the story. Now, onto my thoughts...

The writing style was smooth and engaging, making it an easy read that flowed beautifully from page to page. I loved how Golding incorporated historical elements throughout the narrative—there's something so captivating about a secret club filled with blackmail and intrigue. I found myself chuckling every time someone mentioned the Hellfire Club because it instantly transported me back to Stranger Things. There’s just something about secret societies that sparks my imagination!

The characters in The Persephone Code were absolutely delightful. Dora and Jacob had great chemistry, and their relationship was entertaining. I found myself rooting for them as they navigated their challenges together.

Overall, I can't wait to see what’s in store for these characters next! If you enjoy historical fiction filled with mystery, romance, and a dash of danger, I highly recommend giving The Persephone Code a read. It's a fantastic ride that keeps you hooked until the very last page!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️