"The Elgin Conspiracy," by Julia Golding, is a thrilling historical book set in the early 1800s that combines political drama, mystery, and intrigue. The story is about the controversial purchase of the Elgin Marbles from Greece, which sets off a web of intrigue, secrets, and high-stakes talks. Golding gives us a lot of interesting people, from officials to spies, and each one has their own goals. The book has a great understanding of historical details and moves quickly through the story. It is an exciting look at a lesser-known historical event that is perfect for people who like historical fiction with a hint of mystery.

After finishing this read… it was just okay. A little disappointed that it didn’t live up to what I was expecting from a historical romance but still happy I decided to give it a try. I will say that the conclusion was abrupt and I felt a bit let down that nothing was really resolved with the events that transpired in the book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
3-3.5 out of 5
I started this book knowing that I had missed all the intros in the first volume, but there was enough explication to get up to speed fairly quickly.
Dora (an actress) and Jacob (an ex-army doctor) got involved in a mystery involving Dora's brother (now deceased) and also gained a rep for puzzle solving. Lord Elgin hires them to find out who's sending him threats about the infamous 'Elgin Marbles' which he's trying to sell due to complicated social/financial reasons.
Jacob wants Dora to commit to full time 'detecting' and Dora still wants to go back to her acting troupe as she's feeling like she will always end up 'doing the dirty work' because she's a woman. I did find the portrayal of the social differences between the two lovers to be quite interesting.
The pair also pick up some sidekicks during the course of the investigation, and these characters add their own perspectives to the story.
It's interesting to read an interpretation of how different groups of people in the 18teens felt about the appropriation situation. I found the daily lives of the characters to be pretty 'realistic' as well which helped to ground the story along with good historical detail.
I didn't much like Dora and Jacob's relationship dynamic - Dora seems to have very little chance to say no to sexual situations and Jacob seems to initiate these situations at the drop of a handkerchief (for me it was out of tune with the realism of the rest of the book). There seems to be no discussion of the consequences of continuing like this either, even though they decide that they're going to be full-time investigators. I found it interesting that Jacob would adjust his views of what part Dora would play in the investigating partnership, but they won't talk about the inequality of their sexual relationship.
Trigger warning: violence and sexual situations.
Would recommend for fans of reality based romantic historical fiction.

The Elgin mentioned in the title refers to the infamous Elgin marbles, which are central to this thrilling story. As associates of Elgin are murdered and Greek threats surface, the plot deepens with diverse characters and motivations. The investigation takes protagonists Dora and Jacob across England, Scotland, Greece, and France, making for a dynamic, engaging narrative rather than a simple whodunit.

In this sequel, the romantic development between Dora and Jacob is satisfying, particularly for readers familiar with their backstory. Dora grapples with class differences, and Jacob’s awareness of these concerns adds depth to their relationship. Unlike many historical mysteries with slow-burn romances, it’s refreshing to see their bond evolve quickly from the first book, making this installment a delightful continuation of their journey.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

This book was great! I loved the writing style and I loved the characters and their chemistry. I love a good historical mystery!

I’m new to this series, but love a historical sleuthing couple so I dove in. Dora is an illegitimate actress and Jacob is an ex opium addict army doctor from a noble family. Some of the pacing was slow for me, but I liked the setting and these characters. I like that their relationship is established and not a will they/won’t they. Hopefully, Dora won’t spend the whole series with one foot out the door. I want to go back and read book 1 and I’m definitely on board for the next.

The Elgin Conspiracy is so good. I loved every single detail in this book omg! I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's that good!

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in October. The book was well written, it's a good historical mystery. Like with most historical fiction of this kind it struggles with combining old time opinions and the more modern ones it needs for the book to work and be enjoyable. I really hope we might see more of Dimitra in upcoming books. Jacob needs to learn a thing or two.

The Elgin Conspiracy was an okay read, but not, I thought, quite as engaging as the first book in the series. I think some of that was connected to the romantic aspects. In the first book it was fun to see the two getting to know each other, but in this book the depth of their relationship wasn't there for me. They were either having sex or Dora was getting annoyed with him. I'd hoped by the end of the book there would be some development in that respect, but nothing really resolved. The main plot started well, but I found the conclusion a bit of an abrupt turn at the last minute. That said, it was generally still entertaining and will appeal to fans of historical novels that combine romance with mystery. Given all the references to events in book one, I do recommend starting at the beginning of the series, though, before you pick up this one. I am giving this volume four stars.

I really enjoyed this book! I'm looking for more Julia Golding in my library now!

The Elgin Conspiracy combines regency manners with mystery and mayhem in an exciting, intriguing novel. The characters, Dora and Jacob, were perfect. Dora is a firey actress with a bit of a chip on her shoulder towards Jacob and his high-born ways.. She is observant and clever, instrumental to solving the case, and quick on her feet to save an innocent victim. I liked that she is both good and flawed, with things to teach the other characters and ways she needs to grow and change herself. Jacob is likewise a well-developed character, with a deep desire to help others as well as the ability to use his intellect both for doctoring and for solving mysteries. He is kind, with a bumbling charm, and a strong foil for Dora.

They mystery was well-written, pulling me along with each new discovery and clue. I stayed up late following the twists of the story, and found the ending rewarding and logical.

Overall, excellent book!

Dora and Jacob an unlikely detective couple work hard to help Lord Elgin as he is being threatened and involved in a controversy about the famous Elgin marbles. While they try to unravel the tangled mystery they travel to various locations such as Greece, France and Scotland adding spice to the story. It was an engaging, easy-to-read detective story.

The Elgin conspiracy starts just after the events of The Persephone Code.

Jacob and Dora are still together but she is wondering whether she should go back north to resume her acting career.

All that is put on hold when Lord Elgin reaches out to them to solve a mystery.

In a fast paced, action packed story, we are led from London to Scotland and back to try and find clues to solve the matter.

I found this book moved faster than the first one, I liked the characters' banter and the new friends they gather along the way.

I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.

An enticing Regency-era whodunit, with a dash of romance, and surprisingly rich in contemporary relevance.

"The Elgin Conspiracy" by Julia Golding is book two in the Regency Secrets series. At the time of initially starting to read the book, I did not realise it was a sequel, however there are a number of references throughout the book to the first installment. Whilst the first book was not essential to understanding "The Elgin Conspiracy", I am likely to go back and read it to fully appreciate the story and character development.

The heart of the mystery centres on Lord Elgin and the Parthenon Marbles, as our protagonists' Dora and Jacob unravel a complex web of deceit, treachery, and political intrigue. The novel's mystery is particularly relevant today, given the ongoing debates about the rightful ownership of the Parthenon Marbles. It explores cultural restitution, colonial legacies, preservation needs, and the ethics of museum collections—questions that generate an underlying tension and make for a compelling story. The historical dispute over the Marbles' ownership echoes current discussions about the return of cultural artifacts, adding significant depth and relevance to the narrative.

The professional and romantic tension between Dora and Jacob further enhances the story, particularly due to their stark social divide. Jacob's gentlemanly manners and idealism often clash with Dora's pragmatism, work ethic, and street smarts, creating a dynamic as intriguing as the mystery they’re trying to solve. Their evolving relationship subtly critiques the societal norms that separate them, adding another layer of complexity to the story.

I enjoyed this story, and feel that the book successfully blended an interesting murder mystery with observations on Regency Society, and ethical issues around museum collections. I thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Dora and Jacob have quickly made it onto my list of favorite sleuthing couples. I was thrilled to see the charming cover of this book, which instantly reminded me of the first book in this series.

The Elgin in the title is THAT Elgin and the famous marbles are central to this story. Associates of Elgin's are being killed and threats written in Greek are being sent to people. Even someone who knows the story of the marbles and the controversy around them will find this story enlightening, as we get characters with different motivations and reasons for being involved. The investigation takes Dora and Jacob out of the country (and back) and involves people from England, Scotland, Greece, and France. This isn't a straightforward whodunit, it's a fun roller coaster!

When it comes to the romantic plot and development of Dora and Jacob's characters, this book builds on the first, While it can be read alone, seeing how their relationship develops is incredibly satisfying when you know the backstory. Dora's concerns about their class difference are valid and it's great to see Jacob acknowledging that, sometimes with Dora's help and sometimes not.

Side note about their relationship: A lot of historical mystery has a slow burn romantic subplot. Readers wait years to see their main characters come together in some series. It was fun to see Dora and Jacob come together in the first book and really interesting to see the evolution of that relationship in this installment.

This read was a first for me from the author Julia Golding, but by the second chapter is hooked into finding out who was the culprit. It was a page turner and not my usual pick. Free ARC from net galley for honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I started this book before raising this was a second in a series and starts a week after where the first book ended. I did have to buy the first book to get the background.

This continues the story of Dora Fitz-Pennington and Doctor Jacob Sandys. After they had successfully solved the murder of Dora brother and the horrors of Hellfire Club. They have been approached by Earl Elgin , to help with another murder mystery.

This time they are both going undercover and going into Earl Elgin ex wives home in Edinburgh.

This series is really unique and fun mystery set ina regency back drop. Dora is strong willed and feisty character , and Dr Jacob Sandy is a simp for her.

Really loved this series and I am so invested in where their relationship grows and to see more of Alex Smith and Kir.

This Regency adventure story was intriguing from start to finish.

The cast of characters was diverse and interesting and the political controversy affiliated with an English Lord “ saving”;the Elgin Marbles was fascinating to me.

For those of us who learn history through historical novels, the contemporary British feelings about Napoleon were interesting to read about , as were the debates on who should rightfully exhibit the marble statuary.

This was a really engaging “spy” novel and I hope to encounter the protagonists in another novel.

Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.