Member Reviews

This is such a step up for Ellery Lloyd. It took me a moment to get into but I was hooked fairly quickly, and I deeply enjoyed how layered and intricately woven this story is. Personally, I don't think we need Alice's POV; the characters arrive at the truth without it and I think it would have packed a heavier punch if the secret had been picked apart rather than just unraveled for us. I still found it all very interesting-- the art world is truly fascinating and makes for such a great thriller premise.

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#TheFinalActOfJulietteWilloughby #NetGalley
Everybody knows that in 1938, runaway heiress artist Juliette Willoughby perished in an accidental studio fire in Paris, alongside her masterpiece Self Portrait As Sphinx. Fifty years later, two Cambridge art history students are confounded when they stumble across proof that the fire was no accident but something more sinister. What they uncover threatens the very foundation of Juliette’s aristocratic family and revives rumors of the infamous curse that has haunted the Willoughbys for generations. But what does their discovery mean? And how is it connected to a brutal murder in present-day Dubai?
The characters were unlikeable and it was very slow. It took me longer to finish it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for giving me an advance copy.

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I’ve loved Lloyd’s previous titles and this was really good but not my favorite. I really enjoyed the present timeline trying to figure out what happened to Juliette. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I love Ellery Lloyd but I have to say I was a little hesitant going into The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby. I heard there were a lot of characters on top of time jumps, and I was very worried I would get confused especially since I was listening to the audio. It turns out I had absolutely nothing to worry about and I loved this captivating tale full of dirty laundry and revenge. I love when art takes center stage in a novel even though I know nothing about it, and that is certainly what happened here. I wish it had been an even larger part of the storyline, but as it was, I still loved it.

Nneka Okoye, Joshua Akehurst & Eleanor Jackson narrate the audiobook and I have to say I enjoyed each one immensely. I loved that Juliette, Caroline, and Patrick all got a voice in this book, and I would say I actually enjoyed Juliette's POV the most. I also loved how they each tied together, and this is a complex plot with lots of moving parts. This author duo never disappoints, and I felt like The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby was different from their other work but just as well executed. I heard this was a follow-up to The Club but honestly, I have zero idea how. I would say you definitely don't need to read that first to get this one.

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I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

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Part historical fiction part mystery thriller. This books was a bit of a slow build about a runaway heiress in 1938 and her artist boyfriend and the only painting she created, Self Portrait As Sphinx that was lost in a tragic fire that killed them both.
Fifty years later two Cambridge art history students stumble across proof that the fire was no accident. The more I delved into the story the more intriguing it became. Twists that I didn't see coming. It was a very enjoyable book for and talented author team. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book.

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In present day Dubai, at a presentation after the discovery of a work of art once thought lost, a man is arrested for murder. Back in 1991, two art history students, Caroline and Patrick, at Cambridge are trying to figure out what their theses will be. Caroline decides on writing about Juliette Willoughby an artist whose work was destroyed in a fire in 1938 that took the life of her and her romantic partner Oskar Erlich. Caroline's investigation brings her and Patrick into the history and struggles of the Willoughby family. Caroline's discoveries start a chain of events filled with hidden secrets and murder.

This book was a wonderful balancing act, with a historical fiction story about art, an academia investigation, and a murder mystery all mixed together. Ellery Lloyd switch between the stories of Caroline and Patrick in the 1990s and present day and then Juliette Willoughby's story back in the 1930s. There were so many threads and mysteries that the book neatly tied up and the central characters were very easy to root for as they face the difficulties of uncovering history, putting art up for auction, or facing the legal system of Dubai. This will be a great book for fans of historical fiction, for those who want to learn more about the art world, or those who just want a twisty mystery.

Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for a copy of The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to Net Galley for providing an advanced digital copy of this to me for my honest review.

Whew. This was a tough one to get through. The content was good but the pace just dragged and dragged on. I enjoyed putting the “puzzle together” along with the characters. It reminded me a little of “National Treasure” towards the end, which I admit was more sped up/faster paced. At that point all the secret clubs and Egyptian history in the book started to make sense, even though I don’t have any knowledge of those topics. But that kind of story plays better on screen vs in a book, in my opinion.
The back and forth between characters wasn’t bad but when you combined it with the back and forth in time it got confusing.
It was an entertaining book, not a literary masterpiece, but I’m only giving it three stars because it was a slow read and I wasn’t dying know “what happens next” until the very end.

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Agatha Christie-level mystery meets the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in this really engaging story. I really enjoyed the book's writing style and the 20th century setting. While I prefer my mystery books on audio, I still enjoyed this and will suggest it to others.

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The book had many elements that felt unnecessary. I tried--I really did--but only made it 45%... thus giving three stars because I don't know how it would have ended. My mind kept wandering and that could have been a me problem. It probably WAS a me problem because this book is rated so high!

Maybe I'll try again on audio or something. But for now, it was a DNF.

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Thank you to Net Galley and Harper for this ARC! Juliette wWilloughby is a Surrealist painter from the 1930s and is the central character in the book. We have several POVs in this story, all expertly woven together to tell her story. This is not my typical book in that it’s part historical fiction, but once I started reading I couldn’t put it down.

Definitely worth a read!! Four stars!

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This one hooked me from the beginning. I loved that the twists made sense and the ground work was all laid, because nothing drives me crazier than one that comes out of nowhere. Loved the multiple timelines and getting to see into the art world a bit!

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What a pleasant surprise! I wanted to give this author another shot after reading her previous release and not really liking it and I’m so glad I did. I’m not an avid historical reader, but I was very intrigued by the synopsis of this one. I was very impressed by the depth and research and skill it took to write something like this, which I was not at all expecting because I felt her other book was lacking. This was quite a fun, exciting story. It felt very much like the movie National Treasure, so if you love that type of story, you’ll probably love this book. I liked the historical vibes, the well-developed setting, the Cambridge and secret society aspects, the aristocratic art scene, and the multiple POVs and timelines. I’m obsessed with Egyptology and mythology so that part of the story was very intriguing for me. I connected with the characters and was so invested in figuring out the puzzles and mysteries. Overall, I thought this was very well written, it kept me engaged throughout, it’s very memorable, and I highly recommend!

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🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
If you liked “The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard” then this book is for you!
This book is set in 1938, with artist Juliette Willoughby, who lives in Paris with her artist lover. Their sudden deaths also take Juliette’s masterpiece painting.
Fast forward fifty years, where two young Cambridge students stumble upon Juliette’s story. The twists and turns kept me up late at night. This book has its all- family drama, women's rights, and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. I want to thank the author, Harper Publishing and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of the audio book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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Such an incredible book! The twists + turns kept me engaged the whole time. I couldn't read it fast enough and have already recommended it to so many friends. It's a great mix of thriller/mystery and historical fiction mixed with current day.

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This was book was complex but in a good way. There were three story lines and three timelines that Lloyd wove together perfectly. It did take me a little bit of time to get used to the jumping around but in the end it was worth it.

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This book had it all: art, mystery, murder, family drama, romance. The authors created a complex story with multiple timelines and POVs. This story had so many twists and turns that had me guessing up until the very end. This is more than just a mystery book and the authors explore things such as history, women's experience in the art world, and grief. There are so many layers woven together to create a rich and interesting story. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a twisty story fully of art and history.

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Wow, I loved this. This was a different story than any of the other Ellery Lloyd novels, and it was by far the most unique. The writing was beautiful; I was captivated by the story of Juliette in the past and Caroline and Patrick's connection to each other and Juliette.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

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I loved People Like Her and The Club, so I was excited to snag an ARC of Ellery Lloyd's newest book! Told from alternating perspectives and timelines, The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby had the perfect combination of family drama, murder, cover ups and missing art. Bonus points for the various settings throughout the story! This was truly one of my favorite books of 2024 - don't sleep on it!

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I went into this book without really knowing what it was about / what to expect and I am so glad I did! I really enjoyed the different timelines and mysteries woven throughout. I was turning pages so fast to find out what happened.

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