This is a new author for me which I enjoyed reading. I enjoyed their writing style as well as the ability to pull me into the story with ease and keep me turning pages fast. This is a well written story about three murders over a century. What does a lost painting have to do with the murders? You will want to read this book to find out what happens. It is an engaging story that is fast paced and hard to put down. It has characters that pull you into their world from the start. They make it easy to read and entertaining as well. There is great growth of the characters and the plot throughout. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.

📚 PUBLICATION MONTH BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby
By Ellery Lloyd
Publication Date: June 11, 2024
Publisher: Harper | HarperCollins

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded up to 5⭐)

📚MY REVIEW:

What a fantastic read this turned out to be!

This book began as a reaaaalllly slow burn for me. So slow that I started and stopped it multiple times over a couple months -- I just couldn't get into it initially. There were multiple POVs across multiple decades and timelines, with so many intersecting characters...I struggled to stay focused on the plot. But I kept pushing on because I'd heard so many great things...

And then suddenly, just before the halfway point, a switch flipped -- and this book became unputdownable! Never before has a book so completely done a 180 on me like Juliette Willoughby did. But let me tell you, in no uncertain terms -- the second half of this book was amazing! The mysteries deepened, the character development finally started coming together, and I literally COULD NOT read these pages fast enough to find out what happened.

The dinner hour came and went. Twilight settled in the sky outside. Yet still, I eagerly turned page after page, unwilling to stop reading even as the room around me darkened and night fell. And as I finally read the book's last sentences, I envisioned a crowd offering slow claps and a chorus of "Bravo!" around me. The ending had such a satisfying twist, it didn't even matter that I'd figured it out a while back... Lloyd's written confirmation of my hunch in the book's conclusion was perfection.

This book was less thriller & more mystery, with elements of historical fiction. I definitely can't say this was a bingeable read, but it's worth it. If this one is sitting on your TBR list, it's time to read it. It will start slow but don't give up. I promise this book will captivate you and the story of Juliette Willoughby will capture your heart!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Harper for gifting me this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

#TheFinalActofJulietteWilloughby #ElleryLloyd #NetGalley #ARC #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #greatreads

★ 4.5 Stars ★
I was thrilled when Harper offered me an advanced copy of "The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby." This gripping historical tale of love, obsession, power, and revenge spans over a century, beginning in 1938 and continuing to the present day with various points of view.

Juliette Willoughby, a renowned surrealist artist and heiress, met a tragic end in a fire at her Paris apartment, along with her enigmatic Self-Portrait as Sphinx. However, some doubt that the painting was truly lost in the flames, adding to the mystery and intrigue of the story.

Art students Caroline Cooper and Patrick Lambert from Cambridge set out to uncover the truth behind the painting. Their journey starts in Cambridge in 1991 and concludes in Dubai today. During that time, they encounter more betrayal, cunning fraud than they could have imagined, and long-buried secrets about the Willoughby family. What makes this painting so unique?

This intricately woven narrative was a true page-turner! The themes of art, love, obsession, power, and revenge are masterfully explored, drawing the reader into a world of intrigue and deception among the wealthy and privileged.

Special thanks to the author and publisher for providing an advanced copy of this novel through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and provided voluntarily.

#TheFinalActofJulietteWilloughby #ElleryLloyd #Harper #ARC

THE FINAL ACT OF JULIETTE WILLOUGHBY is the third book from Ellery Lloyd, a pseudonym for the London-based husband-and-wife writing team of Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos. A compelling conflation of several genres including mystery, suspense, romance, and history with hints of mythology woven throughout, the story catapults readers back in time to find themselves entwined in a dark, century old family drama steeped in ugly secrets, manic obsession, and revenge. Readers are challenged with determining if the answers to three mysterious deaths are hidden in a once lost painting by deceased surrealist artist Juliette Willoughby.

THE FINAL ACT OF JULIETTE WILLOUGHBY is an epic, richly atmospheric, often sordid, dark family saga spanning more than a decade. The story unfolds through dual points of view beginning with the tragic love affair between surrealist artists Juliette Willoughby and her married lover, Oskar Erlich, who perish in a suspicious fire in 1938 Paris. The couple's story surfaces again in 1991 Cambridge when two university students in possession of Juliette's diary and long-lost painting, "Self-Portrait As Spinx", raise significant questions concerning the death of Juliette that threatens to divulge long buried secrets of the famous Willoughby family. The story continues in the current time with a scandal surrounding the arrest of art dealer Patrick Lambert for the murder of the last remaining descendant of the Willoughby family in Dubai.

Flawlessly executed through brilliant characterizations, THE FINAL ACT OF JULIETTE WILLOUGHBY accentuates the fascinating world of historical art and women's struggle for recognition within it, a sordid illicit love affair, a highly dysfunctional family drama, and an intriguing murder and missing person mystery. The duo's mesmerizing writing style draws readers in, holding them in the palm of their hands until the final page. This book is a highly entertaining, fast paced, scandalous murder mystery I recommend to art history buffs, and mystery and suspense readers.

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd is a brilliant combination of historical fiction and mystery.

Set in three different timelines, this book is full of mysteries. Caroline and Patrick, two art historians, are in search of a painting by Juliette Willoughby. But this artist is an enigma. Spanning years, this book is about a dysfunctional family, art, loss, grief, and mental illness to some extent.

This book was really brilliant. There are so many layers in the book, and every layer has been written so well. I only wish that the pace was a little fast. Juliette Willoughby is an exceptional character, and I really wish she was a real painter.

Thank you, Harper, for this book.

One of my favorite books of the year. My audience loved hearing from them. See my interview here: https://youtube.com/live/AwSHqWzVjRk

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd was a phenomenal story.
So wonderfully written. I was glued to my kindle.
The storyline was extremely compelling and I was completely addicted from beginning to end. I started it this morning and finished it in a day!! It was filled with mysteries, twists and surprises and had me completely absorbed throughout.
Historical fiction, suspense, mystery, dual POVs all combine for one unparalleled piece of perfection!!

Thank You NetGalley and Harper for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful novel by the writing duo Ellery Lloyd. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

In Paris, in 1938, runaway heiress Juliette Willoughby perishes in a fire, along with her married lover. Her one painting, Self Portrait as Sphinx lost. In Cambridge, in 1991, two art history students discover secrets about the artist's family and the painting. In present day Dubai, an art dealer is accused of the murder of his oldest friend, the last surviving member of the. Willoughby dynasty. Is the key to unlocking all these mysteries hidden in Juliette Willoughby’s lost painting?

Wow - I loved this smart thriller! It's complex, spanning a century, with hidden love affairs, family secrets and tragedies. There is the intrigue of the art world, secret university societies, and lots of money. The locations become part of the story as well. It also explores how women artists were treated in the past. This sounds like a lot, but it is so cleverly written, full of twists that had me gasping, and the satisfying coming together of all these story lines. Highly recommended - make sure this is on your reading list this summer for a real escape!

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is by far Ellery Lloyd's best book yet! The dark academia vibes along with missing persons, potential murders, and a look back into surrealist art of the 1930s. Just wow! I was captivated from the beginning and while a few things I suspected turned out to be right there was so much more where I wasn't exactly sure how it was going to wrap up. I could have devoured this is one sitting but I've been extremely busy which hasn't allowed for uninterrupted reading but I was thinking about this book and itching to get back to it every time I was away from it. I'm sad to see it end and I feel like I'll need to take a minute before I start something else because I enjoyed this one so much! Book hangover in progress!

I spent half the book trying to figure out what the final act is, since a lot happened, and of course we find out on the chapter. I LOVED it. I loved the three different timelines/eras, as it helped piece together the overall picture of what was going on. We see the drama that unfolds as Caroline and Patrick find this rare portrait, and we see what inspired Juliette to paint it in the first place.
Also each time period has a death that turns into it’s own mystery. And they are all also interconnected. I pieced together one of the big twists, and I feel pretty proud of myself for that because it never happens, and everything else was just mindblowing.
This really takes the line “a picture is worth a thousand words” to a whole new meaning. Imagine solving an old murder case by examining a painting for hidden clues?

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Books for the egalley for review!

This was the perfect mix of family drama, mystery, history and overall enthralling literature.

I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this the best and then the extent of the family drama that was so well done.

This is perfect if you love a mix of genres and story twists and turns throughout.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.75/5

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby beautifully intertwines multiple mysteries across three time periods! This book kept me on the edge of my seat 😮 I was thoroughly invested in figuring out the mysteries and how everything was connected. An extremely enjoyable read! I highly recommend you pick this one up 😊

Highlights:
✨ 3 interconnected mysteries 🔍
✨ Story spans the 30s, 90s, and present day
✨ Told from multiple POVs
✨ References real figures from the surrealist art era 🎨
✨ Interesting characters and relationships
✨ Unexpected plot twists 😮

Although the book starts off a little slow, it had me hooked after a few chapters. The 1930s, 1990s, and present-day overlap throughout the story, but it is paced so well that it is never confusing. Even with the story being told from three different points of view (Caroline, Patrick, and Juliette), it is easy to follow along and get lost in the story!

The characters have depth and are so well fleshed out that they feel real. I also love the inclusion of real people from the surrealist art movement throughout the story. Even if you're not into art history, the unraveling mystery and well-written characters are sure to make for an enjoyable read!

Thanks to Ellery Lloyd and Harper Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Multiple timelines lead us to discover what happened to Juliette Willoughby. Not only did she tragically lose her life in a fire in 1938, but her painting, Self Portrait as Sphinx was also lost.
Over 50 years pass, and now Patrick and Caroline are studying art history and stumble upon information that Juliette’s death might not have been accidental. There was a lot to uncover between these pages. For me it was a slow burn, but one that kept me intrigued. I did enjoy the multiple timelines and when everything comes together, I was surprised.
My first book by these authors, and I’m definitely going to see what else they’ve written.

This book is actually having me on the fence. The historical aspect was very interesting. However with the multiple points of view and the non-linear timeline, I just could not keep track of the happenings or allow myself to invest in the characters unfortunately.

Two Cambridge Art History students set out to find a missing painting from a Surrealist artist that was supposedly burned in a fire. But they could never imagine that 30 years later, revealing that famous painting in Dubai, one of them would be arrested for murder.

Clever and sophisticated, this novel did admittedly take me a bit to get into. Very far removed from the art world or the prestigious education world, I found the first third a bit slow and hard to relate to. But as the three timelines progressed it became much harder to put down.

History and mystery are woven well together here, and the relationship between the two main characters is well developed and intriguing to watch throughout the novel. Some fun twists along the way, and once I was engaged I was sold on the story.

3.5 rounded up

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley.

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is a clever novel about a mysterious artist, a complicated family with many secrets, and the indefatigable energy of two Cambridge art history graduate students who pursue the mystery of artist Juliette Willoughby’s life, art, and legacy.
The story unspools in two timelines, 1937 and 1991. It reads like historical fiction as it is peppered with names of well-known artists and their works, but it is charged with suspense as Juliette’s joy in her painting and romance in Paris is burdened by her ruthless Willoughby family in England.
The story is well-plotted with plenty of dramatic tension as clues are presented and as the reader is also treated to some fine art history along the way. I found the story and the female characters—Juliette in the 1930s and Caroline in 1991—to be engaging and suitably strong, independent women. The intelligent prose added to my reading pleasure.
The author, Ellery Lloyd, is a pseudonym for husband and wife writing team, journalist Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos, professor of creative writing at a university in the UK. Their writing skills result in an excellent novel that hits the sweet spot, for me, of well-crafted suspense and art history!

Thank you to Harper Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Books about female artists not given their due is a new theme and I'm here for it.

The story is told in several POVs, starting with the present, a historic art sale and a murder.

We time travel to 1991 Cambridge and then to 1938 Paris the stories linked by Juliette Willoughby, a surrealist artist whose only exhibition painting is presumed to be destroyed. We learn about Juliette and her relationship through her journals which Caroline is researching for her thesis.

It's far less confusing than it sounds and actually mashes together quite well. It's a love story, a mystery, of wealth as mirage and though it struggles a bit here and there for some narrative cohesiveness (and does require.a level of remembering this is a fictional story with liberties) it's still enjoyable.

4.6
Slight downgrade in stars for a heavy belly in the middle of this one, but a tight, tight ending, which I adore, relentlessly.

This could have been a slam dunk for me - it has three intersecting timelines, multiple POVs, an interesting historical fiction aspect, and several different mysteries set in the art world. The problem for me is that I guessed several of the big twists on page 37 (not joking). So, I basically read 300 more pages to confirm what I already thought.

There were many elements of the book that just felt unnecessary. Several storylines didn't go anywhere, and one character is given a tragic backstory with absolutely no pay-off. It felt like the writers (Ellery Lloyd is a pseudonym for a husband-and-wife team) decided they needed to add a bit more trauma into the plot, but this wasn't really explored at all besides making the novel a bit more heavy in parts. They also tried to include a weird almost supernatural theme since one of the characters is obsessed with Egyptology. None of this worked for me.

I definitely understood what they were trying to do with these characters, but the predictability ruined it all in the end.

I took a chance on this one for sure, and it definitely delivered. The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby surrounds the mystery of the Willoughby family and a famously lost painting from the 1930s.

We follow three POVs through two timelines and three perspectives that eventually emerge into one single timeline that ends in murder and finding out what happened to two missing persons.

This book is packed full of mystery. It pieces together in a way I did not expect, although I did figure out one pretty big piece along the way. Overall, this book was incredibly enjoyable once it got going. I will admit that the beginning was a bit slow. To be honest, with the way the story was put together, I don’t know how it could be written any differently.

Overall, thoroughly impressed! Would definitely read Ellery Lloyd again!