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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

4.5⭐️ rounded up!

i was so excited to dig into this because i loved “the club”. typically if a book is labeled historical fiction, i pass by because that’s a genre that i can never get into, but dang this book has made me reconsider. of course, it helped that there was a mix of past and present times to add layers to the multi-decades mysteries.

i was able to figure out the first twist early on, but even so it was exciting to watch it play out and finally come together in the end.

READ THIS BOOK!! thank you net galley 🫶🏼

This is not normally the type of book that I like to read; however this is defiantly a diamond worth picking up. A tale of money, power and fame that shows how sometimes things happen for a reason.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Books for my #gifted advanced readers copy! My opinions are my own and voluntary.

Wow. A really intense mysterious thriller full of TWISTS and turns at every corner!

There is just so much going on in this book! Three storylines all at once, but not confusing at all. Everything intertwines and relates to each other very nicely. We have the mystery of Juliette Willoughby, a young, wealthy artist that tragically met her death, who's art was lost in a fire. Her painting is found and authenticated by grad student and art connoisseur, Caroline.

After many years, Caroline becomes an expert of the young artist, after finding her journal and renderings of a self-portrait. She is a best-selling author and sought after for all things Juliette Wiloughby. When a duplicate self-portrait is discovered, Caroline flies out to Dubai, on request of her ex-husband, to authenticate it. Thier mutual friend and seller of the portrait, is then found murdered in his hotel room. Connecting all the dots, with help from an old friend, Caroline starts putting the puzzle pieces together. Not only solving Harry's murder but the disappearance of her college friend, Freddie and digs up deep, dark secrets about the Willoughby family.

My thoughts:
This was such a terrific read! So many TWISTS, surprises and secrets! Betrayal, lies, love and MURDER. In the end, everything comes together perfectly! You do NOT want to miss this one!

If you loved First Lie Wins and are a fan of Ruth Ware or Lisa Jewell, you will want to grab this one right away!

I would consider this more of a mystery than a thriller, but I quite enjoyed it. Despite not being an art fan or a fan of historical literature, I found this story entertaining and enjoyed the different points of view and timelines. Would reccomend to others!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In the 1990s two art students, Patrick and Caroline, meet and have a brief romance. Years later they are paired to do graduate work with an art historian. Caroline decides to study the lone painting of Juliette Willoughby, an artist who died in a fire along with her surrealist painter lover Oscar Ehrlich (whom Patrick has chosen to study.) Patrick and Caroline's love story parallels that of Oscar and Juliette as they try to find out what really happened to the pair of painters in the 1930s. The novel flits between Caroline and Patrick's past and present, and Juliette's timeline. The modern era aspect of the novel involves a murder which is used as a framing device. The novel offers a compelling story of what art really means and how far people will go to capture beauty.

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book has it all and is executed flawlessly. Mystery, history, family drama, love - it is just amazing. I loved the characters, the three different timelines, the details put into every aspect of this book. It was incredibly well done and I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. A wealthy family has a history of tragedy, missing people and art work. Who is responsible, what really happened and where did the art go? Paris in the 1930's follows Juliette Willoughby, who dies with her lover in a studio fire, along with her art. Cambridge in the 1990's - two art history students question what really happened to Juliette. Will they expose the secrets of her aristocratic family? And Dubai, today - an art dealer is accused of murdering the last living member of the Willoughby family, who is also his best friend. Is Juliette's lost painting the key to discovering who is responsible for all these murders?

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. This story follows two art history students, Caroline and Patrick as they work on their dissertation they unravel a mystery around a painting thought to be missing by surrealist Juliette Willoughby. When a photo of the painting is discovered the two are started on a path that will change their lives forever.

I really enjoyed this story. I found the beginning a bit slow at first but then it picked up so nicely that it made the story enjoyable to read. It had some interesting twists and turns and I really enjoyed the characters.

5 stars!

I have to admit, I didn't love Ellery Lloyd's previous works because they missed the mark in a way I couldn't put my finger on. However, they stuck gold with The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby! It's smart, it's a true puzzle that kept me guessing and I love the Surrealist painter angle. Like most talented women in history, they've been written out of the biographies and turned into footnotes in their own lives. Juliette Willoughby was no exception. How did her painting, once hung at a Surrealist Exhibition in the 1930's mysteriously reappear after it was thought to be lost in an apartment fire? Let's throw some ancient Egyptian beliefs in there, and a little mix of current day Dubai. It's a bit of a slow burn, but it pays off at the end. Thank you HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC.