God I wanted to love this book but it was a massive DNF. I only made it in 2 chapters but it felt like each chapter was over 100 pages long with how boring this author writes. It is a poor attempt at a Sherlock Holmes style novel

The Persephone Code, set in 1812, begins with the murder of a guardian of the Hellfire Club in the Hellfire caves. Jacob, a doctor and the son of a Viscount, has little in common with Dora, the illegitimate daughter of an aristocrat and sister to the murdered man. An old friend who knows the murdered man asks for Jacob's help and begs him to tell Dora of her brother's demise. The chemistry between Jacob and Dora is instant, and when a sinister group attacks her, Jacob goes to her aid, and the couple join forces to discover what secrets cost her brother his life. I like the detailed historical setting, fast-paced, menacing ethos and dynamic between the couple.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This was an enjoyable read. I thought it was full of action and charm. I loved the multiple-point-of-views throughout the book.

The Persephone Code by Julia Golding is fast and furious with some likable characters. The characters were the novel’s highlight, although they made one or two strange decisions. I liked how adventurous the plot was, but it could have been more intricate and mysterious. I felt that the supposed center of the plot was almost a side note to the rest of the book. Overall, I give The Persephone Code three out of five stars.

Dr. Jacob Sandys has been called out of his reclusive life by his friend, the reverend Leighton. He needs to view a play, tell one of the actresses the grave news that her brother has died, and deliver a last letter from him. Reluctantly, especially since the brother was part of the notorious Hellfire Club, Dr. Sandys goes to see Miss Dora Fitz-Pennington. However, things do not go as planned when he finds men threatening and questioning her about the information he imparted. Recognizing a symbol of the Illuminati, Sandys realizes that he and Miss Fitz-Pennington have been caught in the crosshairs of an underworld feud. On the run from the Illuminati, he and Dora must decode her brother’s last secret messages and recover valuable information before either secret society catches up to them.

What I liked most about this book was the characters. Dr. Sandys was tough, knowledgable, dedicated, and respected Dora for her spunkiness. This understanding was portrayed more as a meeting of minds rather than an inherent respect for women, but I think it’s safe to assume that Dr. Sandys would always take a woman seriously. Dora was tough, dedicated, resourceful, and smart enough to know when she was beaten, which I think is a factor that some ambitious heroines lack. She had a logical mind which paired well with Dr. Sandys’.

There were a couple of exceptions to their logical minds; Sandys made an assumption about Dora that seemed really off-base and also made a very strange decision about a consumable. It was a stressful situation, but one where it would have made way more sense to keep a clear head, and he knew that. I think that particular scenario was written specifically to make Dora shine, but it could have been cleaner. Dora was given no choice in a certain situation but refused to communicate with Dr. Sandys about it, and I thought that was weird.

While the characters shone, I thought the plot could have had more finesse. The idea of the Illuminati trying to take down the Hellfire Club and using valuable information for their own personal gain? Fantastic. Layers of clues that remind readers of National Treasure? Also fantastic. However, the ways they were introduced to the story were clumsy and made reading a little disjointed.

For instance, the Illuminati is a secret society, so how did the doctor figure out that was who their pursuers were? Why, they had the eye of Horus stitched into their cloaks! First of all, that is not very secret. Second, if the cloaks were meant to be secret, why are they wearing them out marauding? I felt that the instant conclusion of Illuminati was grasping, at best, and that there were a lot of other reasons that symbol could have been on a cloak. Probably few innocent reasons, but still.

There were a few more instances/introductions of ideas like the above that just didn’t flow very well, and that distracted me from the story. I would honestly say that it might have been beneficial for Golding to make the book a little longer and expand on some of the ideas. The Hellfire Club and the Illuminati floating around in one book already require a lot, and then you add in murder, national security, and a National Treasure-style hunt. Golding’s writing is certainly good enough to keep me engaged for a little longer to fully round out some ideas, or at least provide some smoother transitions. It read a little like a YA novel to me, but I have nothing to back up that instinct as it’s been many years since I’ve read that genre.

All in all, characters were great, writing was engaging, and plot was okay but could have been smoother. If you’re looking for an interesting read, you might want to think about The Persephone Code. I give it three out of five stars.

I received a copy of this book and am giving all opinions voluntarily.

The Persephone Code is the first book I've read by Julia Golding and it caught my attention because of the cover. That said, I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Sometimes it's a risk picking up books by authors I don't know but this time it paid off and I look forward to more from Golding in the future.

To kick this one off, we're introduced to a character being murdered. Turns out it is the warden of an infamous club that resides in the Buckinghamshire countryside, the Hellfire Caves, and the victim is Antony Pennington, our fmc's brother.

Dora is Antony's bastard sister and they've been estranged for a few years. She's been living the life of an actress and he's been living the life of an aristocrat but despite their differences, Dora is determined to figure out what happened. Growing up, they used to be extremely close but to make their father happy, Antony toed the line while Dora rebelled. Now having received a message from a total stranger that her brother is dead and despite not having been close to him these last few years, Dora is attacked and has to follow the clues to decode who the killer is, aided by an unexpected ally – ex-Army officer, former opium addict and son of a Viscount, Dr Jacob Sandys.

Jacob is our mmc. He has his faults for sure but he is also trying to be a better person. As he and Dora work together to try to solve Antony's murder, they are drawn into a web of lies and conspiracies and they don't know who they can trust. I will admit, the twist got me on this one and the mystery part of this was very well done. As the story progresses, Dora and Jacob find themselves attracted to each other and I appreciated how Golding set this relationship up knowing they are characters from two very different backgrounds.

I can't really say too much more about this one due to the mystery aspect of the story but if you're looking for a new historical that has a bit of romance to it and will keep you guessing on who is the guilty party, consider picking this one up!

'The Persephone Code' by Julia Golding is a regency era murder mystery that is entertaining with a likable main character.

Claiming to be Bridgerton meets The Da Vinci Code was aiming a little high when it came to this 1812 mystery. It would be more correct to be labelled an entertaining Regency murder mystery - a historical romance/whodunit about a series of murders centered around the infamous Hellfire Caves (pleasure palace for the idle rich – a secret society steeped in satanism, opium and debauchery of the highest order).

Dora, the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy merchant, learns that her brother is found dead in these caves. Dr. Jacob Sandys is sent to Dora's theatre group to notify her of her brother's death. However, when he arrives, masked assailants are already in pursuit. They both escape and go on the run, trying to solve her brother's murder.

‘… you say we are being chased by men who masquerade as cloaked villains, and they think either you or my brother have given me something. They want that something, but we do not have a clue what that something is - unless it is the letter?’

4 1/2 stars!

Wow, what a wild ride this was! Murder, satanism, secret societies (Hell Fire Club and Illuminati), conspiracy, politics— just to mention a few.

Dora is trying to solve her brother's murder and Jacob, an ex-army officer with secrets in his past, becomes her ally. But the more clues they discover, the more dangerous it becomes for both of them. With so much evil at work from more than one source, Dora and Jacob must be at their best, despite the distraction their growing friendship and attraction bring.

I couldn't put down this one! With so much at stake, it just kept me hooked till the ending. Highly recommend!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

The very epitome of page-turner with a chilling storyline that grips from the first and kept me guessing right up to the heart-racing denouement STUNNER ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all - what a beautiful cover!
A story involving drug addiction, murder mystery and historical fiction, we follow Dora and Jacob trying to find out who murdered Dora's brother and why. The main characters were easy to understand and appeared flawed, which only helped the story to move along. Secrets unravel and reveal secret societies - what is their role in Dora's brothers death and was he involved in them?
An intriguing story, I needed to know what had happened and following the clues through the book felt exciting.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this ARC.

A brilliantly fun romp through Regency England, this is like Bridgerton crossed with Sherlock Holmes. Really enjoyed it!

Persephone Code by Julia Golding.

Genre: Historical murder mystery

Tags: 1812, drug addiction, murder mystery, secret societies, Illuminati, forbidden love, LGBTQ+, attempted rape, surviving war, adventure

Dora’s brother leaves her a note just before he dies, with instructions to hand the note directly to her. Dr Jacob Sandys is roped in by his friend, the vicar in the area Dora’s brother died in. There are secret societies, snobbery, some chases, and a lot of questions about Dora’s brother, and the society he was involved with, which is called the Hellfire Club.

I enjoyed the adventures this book takes you on, and I wanted to know who the person was who had killed Dora’s brother. The setting was good, with Napoleon still around, so there is uncertainty about what’s going to happen, but there are jaded soldiers who have already fought battles and have survived the terrors.

I enjoyed the twists in the story, and I didn’t see them coming as we went along, which is always a good sign for a book! The characters are flawed, which adds to the realism of the story for me.

I enjoyed the story, and getting to go along with the investigation!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley, One More Chapter and Julia Golding.

A fast paced action adventure with a side order of romance which isn't too explicit for those who dont like that. There are lots of twists and red herrings in a different to the normal setting which is well researched, a very entertaining read but at the same time quite light hearted despite the series topic. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this book immensely.

In a Ripper Street x Bridgerton style crossover, this murder mystery, regency novel has you traipsing across the English countryside in a quest to discover who is responsible for the murder of the heroine's brother.

With secret societies, spies, lords and clergymen all involved, can Dora and Jacob solve the clues in time, whilst evading masked pursuers themselves?

The main characters in this book had me gripped with their flawed pasts and uniqueness. The will-they-won’t-they nature of their relationship teased me right to the very end, and only added to the mystery.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What do the fine Gentry get up to in their elite clubs? This book is based around the very real Hellfire club of the 18th Century. In the story, Dora is delivered the news that her brother has been murdered, but has left her a letter with some clues. Turns out these clues are the key to the countries security and there are some very rich powerful people after them. We see Dora and the messenger ( a Dr Jacob Sandys) try to follow the clues whilst trying to keep themselves out of harms way.

I knew nothing about the hellfire club so this was really intriguing as a plot for the story. I really liked the main character Dora and her clever antics, I also loved the relationship between her and Jacob. The book was fast paced and full of adventure. I enjoyed trying to uncover the secrets as the characters did. I did find the story was very heavy on politics and history which would be good if you already knew a lot about that time period. As someone who knew little, at times it felt confusing or overwhelming. I liked learning about the time period but felt like the book was less accessible for those who didn’t already know something of the politics at that time.

It was interesting to see how the story line all tied together and the secrets unravelling. I enjoyed this one a lot and know want to know more about the hellfire clubs

A great read this story is full of intrigue and danger….
Anthony Pennington dies under distressing circumstances, he’s been tortured for information. He has been working for the Hellfire Club at the time, which is a house in a secret location for the rich. His friend Jacob who’s an ex army officer and a doctor, has to inform his sister Dora that Pennington has died. She’s given a letter from her brother, which is coded so only she knows where to go to retrieve something that the murderer wants. They know they are being followed so have to be careful.
I found it a really great read. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this story! Knowing there was someone on their tail
as they tried to find Anthony’s hidden item, made the tension too much!!
Many thanks to HarperCollinsUk for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #HarperCollinsUk, #JuliaGolding.

Do you ever read a book by an author you loved as a kid and find yourself thinking, wow I shouldn’t have done that. If only I had kept the rose-tinted view I had of Julia Golding’s books in my mind! If only! (That being said, maybe her writing does work better for the kidlit I read by her. There’s still hope!)

That’s what happened with The Persephone Code. I mean, Bridgerton meets The Da Vinci Code should have spelled it out for me, but I thought at least this could be fun! Sadly, dragging myself through it killed any semblance of fun it might have had. The plot was ridiculous, sure, but I can deal with ridiculous plots. I can (sometimes) suspend my disbelief.

It wasn’t so much the plot here where it fell down (although I did note that, at times, the plot was as subtle as a faceful of bricks and occasionally very stupid, so there is that too), but the lack of development in the characters and their relationship. I get it, you’re trying to write a romance alongside an adventure thriller thing, but it was just… abysmal. There are no other words for it. The characters were underdeveloped to the extreme and their relationship was so completely underbaked as to be raw. And not in the good sense!

Having said this, though, there are times when that character underdevelopment tied into the plot: namely, points where I was clearly intended to care about certain events, but I couldn’t, because the characters weren’t compelling (and also spelled some things out so clearly in their POV that I had to roll my eyes at the other character’s POV for not seeing it).

The thing is, I think both here and in the plot, everything was too rushed. The characters had decided they were on the way to being in love within a couple of days, the plot was never given time to breathe (there’s a difference, I think, between a fast-paced plot (which doesn’t feel rushed) and a plot that is rushed), and the ending was resolved in the blink of an eye with no apparent impact on anyone. Even the clear attempt in the final pages to hint at more to come was flimsy.

All in all, not the most enjoyable read, it has to be said!

A man is murdered. His name Antony Pennington, the warden of a secret society, and he leaves behind a letter addressed to illegitimate sister, Dora. Dora is informed of her brother's passing by a military doctor, Dr Jacob Sandys, and they both embark on a quest to find his killer and get to the bottom of what is going on within these secret societies. They quickly realize the conspiracy goes deeper then they could have imagined.

This book was a fun time, the characters were very enjoyable. They had good chemistry and it was fun to go along with them as they solved the mystery. I guess most of the twist and turns from a mile away but that did not take away from my enjoyment. They setting was also fun, and I love a good historical romp type situation.

I'm absolutely terrible when it comes to remembering author's names. Of course, the truly famous ones that are everywhere stick eventually, but the rest don't. When I requested this book from Netgalley I had therefore not realized that I already read books by this author. Firstly, the Jane Austen investigates series, which I really enjoyed. Secondly the books the author wrote as Joss Stirling, books I absolutely loved. Luckily One More Chapter granted me a review copy.

I have to admit that I had expected a little more from this book. But, let's start with all the positive things. Despite its themes, this book was an easy read. That's mostly because of the writing style. The sentences aren't too complicated, the words chosen aren't too sophisticated and the dialogues were easy to follow. I therefore flew through the book. The chapters being on the shorter side, especially for adult novels, helped too.

I also liked the setting, the plot and the historical nods throughout the story. I'm no way a historian, I'm sure those have strong opinions on this book, but I at least noticed nothing that felt completely off. And yet, the story never really grabbed me. I was reading the words, I was flying through the book, I was taking in the plot, but I never got excited, I never had issues putting the book down, I never needed to read on.

That's firstly because a book being compared to the Da Vinci Code should be more thrilling, more dangerous and more action packed. I missed the adrenaline rush and the true fear and horror. It's secondly because a book being compared to Bridgerton should be more romantic, sexier and there should be a lot more tension between the romantic leads. It feels like all the ingredients are there, but its full potential doesn't shine yet.

It is April 1812 and the war between England and the Napoleonic regime is well under way. In West Wycombe in Buckinghamshire a young man is murdered in the notorious Hellfire Caves. The Hellfire Club was a private club, in various locations in Britain and Ireland, for the wealthy and privileged where any debauchery is accepted and where the ton can carry out their darkest fantasies without fear of retribution. I love all the historical detail in this book, the author has clearly done her research.

Briefly, at Lake Windermere in the Lake District Dr Jacob Sandys has been asked by his friend and vicar in Wycombe to tell the murdered man’s sister of his death and to give her a letter from her brother. She is Dora Fitz-Pennington who is an actress and also a very clever forger. The letter is a code to obtaining a secret that her brother has hidden but, if his killers get their hands on it, could likely change the course of the war.

A fast paced action adventure with a smattering of romance. The attraction between Jacob and Dora is really well done, lots of flirty banter without being sickly, as is the depiction of the Hellfire Club and the Illuminati. Plenty of twists and turn kept me avidly page turning until the last page. A good novel with a great plot and unusual settings, a very entertaining read.
4.5 ⭐️