Please take note of this book and don't just add it to your ever-growing to-be-read list, where it might get lost among the towering shelves Mount Everest. Instead, dive into it as soon as you get the chance! This gem stands out as one of the best books of the year, and I want to make sure it's on your radar!

Let's give a round of applause! This book is truly extraordinary, featuring flawless execution across different timelines. It explores various themes through well-developed characters, while its ongoing mysteries keep you on the edge of your seat, delivering a reading experience that is both unique and immensely enjoyable. It seamlessly blends historical fiction with mystery, offering a gripping saga of a dysfunctional family filled with backstabbing, scheming, betrayal, lies, and secrets. At its heart is the captivating story of a woman artist fighting to survive and leave her mark on the world, her battle against insanity, and an epic love story that spans generations.

The narrative unfolds through different timelines, including the exploration of Juliette Willoughby by Cambridge art students in the early '90s, Juliette's escape to Paris with her lover Oskar in 1938 as documented in her diary, and the present time where the discovery of Juliette's famous portrait becomes entangled in scandalous events surrounding art dealer Patrick Lambert's arrest.

The book is rife with mysteries, such as the whereabouts of two missing individuals—one maid who disappeared during Juliette's childhood and Freddy, the black sheep of the Willoughby family who vanished into thin air in 1991. There's also the intriguing backstory of Juliette Willoughby herself, her tumultuous childhood, her escape from her controlling family to pursue her artistic dreams, and her ill-fated romance with Oskar. Erlich And let's not forget the dark secrets lurking within the Willoughby clan, all of which are masterfully woven together to reach a satisfying conclusion, with the help of main narrators Caroline Cooper and Patrick Lambert.

The story kicks off in a Dubai gallery showcasing Juliette Willoughby's masterpiece, "Self Portrait as Sphinx," miraculously found after being presumed lost in the fire that claimed the painter's life. Before we know it, we're transported back to 1991 Cambridge, where Caroline and Patrick embark on a journey to uncover the secrets behind Juliette Willoughby's tragic fate, aided by Caroline's discovery of Juliette's secret diary.

What happened to the missing people in the Willoughby family estate? Why was Patrick convicted? What truly happened to Juliette, and how did her famous painting survive the fire? All these questions are answered satisfactorily, leading to a thrilling conclusion that will leave you at the edge of your seat.

Overall, I give this book a glowing rating of 5+ stars. It's a truly exceptional read that you won't want to miss!

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Harper for providing me with a digital review copy of this addictive book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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4.5 rounded up

This complex and clever novel starts in Paris of 1937/8 with the tragic love affair between two surrealist artists, the heiress Juliette Willoughby and her married lover, Oskar Erlich. The pair perish in a studio fire along with their work, including Juliette’s “Self Portrait as a Sphinx”. Moving on to 1991 in Cambridge and two art history students, Caroline Cooper and Patrick Lambert who are about to undertake their final year dissertation. They are encouraged to focus on Surrealism especially to explore Juliette’s story via her aristocratic family’s ancient Egyptian collection known as The Willoughby Bequest. This leads Caroline to making several startling discoveries. In the present day, Caroline is a Professor of Modern Art at Cambridge University, an expert on surrealist female artists particularly Juliette. Patrick is an art dealer based in Dubai which is where the story begins and ends. Three timelines, nefarious deeds, is Juliette’s painting the key to understanding and unlocking more than one mystery?

Wow - I love this novel which is my favourite by this author duo by a country mile! It’s part mystery thriller, part art history and the world of art, part love affair and tragedy, there’s a domestic and family history element , a strong driving force of obsession and also examines how women are painted out of a significant art movement. Sounds busy? It’s actually woven together into one well integrated whole, making for compelling and riveting reading and I for one can barely lift my eyes from the pages. What has been created here is exactly the kind of story that would indeed capture people’s imagination in real life, although of course, being fiction there’s inevitably dramatic license but nothing I can’t wholeheartedly buy into.

The novel is fast paced, it has vivid, colourful and cinematic scenes starring many larger than life characters. It’s richly atmospheric with great locations (Paris, Cambridge and Dubai) and the tone varies from excitement to fear and/or anxiety and on more than one occasion a strong sense of paranoia. To say there are twists and turns doesn’t do it justice as there are multiple pull you up sharp moments if not jaw droppers. It’s a fascinating enigmatic puzzle. What is the riddle Juliette is trying to impart? How to interpret her clues? This takes the storyline into Egyptology - yet another terrific element!

Although I do guess part of it, it’s just great to prove myself right (!) and it certainly doesn’t spoil the exciting outcome. Fantastic!

Overall, an exhilarating, cracking, belter of a read and one I can highly recommend.
Great cover too!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.52 s21 comments Constantine965 266

Rating: ???
Genre: Mystery Thriller + Historical Fiction

I’m not going to say much about the book’s synopsis because it consists of three stories in three timelines that eventually intertwine. This book revolves heavily around the mystery of the Willoughby family, so it is better that you explore the whole thing yourself.

I was interested in reading it because the premise seemed it would be about something that would be really interesting. It is possible that I am one of the few people who did not believe that the execution did justice to the intriguing case that was presented. Having to deal with three timelines was simply too much for me. Add to it multiple points of view narrated in first person style. Furthermore, even the present time period is constantly shifting between "before Harry's death" and "certain hours after Harry's death" and so on in a manner that is completely non-linear in terms of time. All these back-and-forth shifts didn’t work for me.

From my point of view, this had the potential to be a five-star book, and I sincerely believe that it would have been a very beautiful historical fiction story. The authors, unfortunately, made the decision to stick more with the mystery thriller genre side, giving it the cliche structure of today's mystery thrillers by alternating between different timeframes unnecessarily because they wanted to build a mystery. I wouldn’t go on to say this was a bad book because it isn't, but it was the wrong book for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.giveaway-read netgalley z2024-0546 s18 comments Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme)458 298

Some women won't be painted out of history…

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? Sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction.

Holy cow! On all counts, The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby was quite an elegant tale and also wholly original. Starting off as a slow burn mystery, it quickly shifted into a captivating historical thriller. Told via three timelines and multiple POVs over four parts, the plot ducked and weaved as an onion- storyline came into view. Was it complex? Most definitely, but thanks to this fiction writing duo, it couldn’t have been clearer. Not once was I lost in the details and instead found myself spellbound to the pages as a story with a ripped-from-the-headlines feel came together in this altogether enigmatic puzzle.

Between the characters and the settings, this book simply came alive on the page. With a character-driven first half, the fully fleshed out personas were both true-to-life and authentic. Granted, there was a bit of dramatic license used here and there, but what would a fictional novel be without that? Boring, to be sure. Add in the locales of Cambridge, Paris, and Dubai, and the atmospheric feel hit all the right chords. That, however, wasn’t the best bit by a mile. Held within these pages were literal jaw-dropping twists. The kind, to be frank, that had me smiling with glee.

All things considered, I am simply gobsmacked by this book. In a completely different style than this duo’s last thriller, The Club, it is quite clear that they’re beyond talented. Capable of showing their brilliance over not just one subgenre but two, I was enraptured throughout this thought-provoking yet suspense-laden plot. From its well-developed characters and dysfunctional family dynamics to its multiple subplots and mysteries, there wasn’t a thing not to love. After all, it was gripping, addictive, binge-worthy, and utterly satisfying in the extreme. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Ellery Lloyd and Harper Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: June 11, 2024

Trigger warning: blackmail, infidelity, mention of: domestic violenceadvanced-reader-copy historical-fiction mystery ...more24 s Katie B1,431 3,092

I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby. It’s set in the art world, and art was not a subject I excelled at in school. But the story hooked me from the beginning and held my interest throughout.

In 1938, Juliette Willoughby and her married lover die in a fire alongside her Surrealist masterpiece, Self-Portrait as Sphinx. In 1991 two Cambridge art history students become interested in learning about Juliette and start to believe the fire might not have been accidental. Fast forward to the present day and Juliette’s name is popping up in the headlines again.

Not sure if this book technically qualifies as historical fiction or not. The main artists featured are fictional characters but others mentioned are real figures. Regardless, it’s a fascinating story and has a nice balance of info about the Surrealist movement and a plot revolving around more than one mystery. Now I wouldn’t say all the mystery elements were shocking but there was just something about the writing that made me want to see everything play out. That’s a sign of good storytelling right there.

Don’t sleep on this one, it’s a worthwhile read!

Thank you Harper for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
1930s 1990s arc ...more16 s Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee756 187

This is the first book I've read by Lloyd. I requested this book after seeing a few fantastic for it. I did not know that it's a follow up to Lloyd's previous book, THE CLUB. I went into this one anyway because I was intrigued by the plot. For me, this one started out on the slow side, but once I was about a third of the way in, I was definitely into it. It was a blend of thriller, mystery and historical fiction, and takes place through three different timelines. In 1938, runaway heiress and artist Juliette Willoughby and her married lover perished in a studio fire, along with her art piece “Self Portrait As Sphinx”.
Fifty years later, In the 90’s, Cambridge art history students come across evidence that the fire was no accident. It could potentially threaten the legacy of the aristocratic Willoughby family, and could also be connected to a murder that has happened in Dubai. I did figure out a small part early on, but I still enjoyed the story and had a few more surprises that I was not expecting. This is a fun read that would be a great movie and I would recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!9 s Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page)618 1,049

4.5 stars - This is a twisty mystery involving a cursed wealthy family and a Surrealist painting which holds the key to three suspicious deaths over the course of a century. I thoroughly enjoyed the focus on an artist whose one famous work went missing as well as the strong characters and numerous engaging mysteries. For fans of multiple timelines and art.

This is one of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide Preview selections. Check out the preview for more great summer reads: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com/blo....10 s Erin2,335 88

ARC for review. To be published June 11, 2024.

In 1938, British heiress and Surrealist artist Juliette Willoughby died in a fire at her studio in Paris along with her lover, a famous artist. Her most famous painting, “Self Portrait As Sphinx” also went up in flames.

Fifty years later Caroline Cooper and Patrick Lambert, two art students at Cambridge discover that the fire wasn’t an accident and they delve into the history of Willoughby’s famous family and its legendary curse…and the way it might be connected to a present day murder in Dubai.

A fun little mystery with lots of great references to the art world of the 1930s. Nothing too shocking happens, but I enjoyed it all, especially the way the “middle time” story works out…things aren’t always so rosy. Recommended, especially for those who enjoy the Surrealists. arc-review4 s Anna168 9

Imagine if AS Byatt’s Possession was a contemporary thriller set in the world of art history. Ellery Lloyd’s new novel is a smart take on the multi-narrator historical novel in telling the tale of the fictional “lost” Surrealist painter Juliette Willoughby and the two scholars in the 1990s who attempt to find her missing masterpiece. Lloyd blends historical fiction, dark academia, and art history deftly in this engaging, compelling read. netgalley3 s MrsHarvieReads149

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd is a complex art-world thriller about fictional Surrealist painter, Juliette Willoughby. The ambitious story is told from 3 viewpoints across various timelines (1937-present), and not told chronologically. Caroline Cooper and Patrick Lambert are art history students at Cambridge in the 1990’s who research JW for their senior thesis. Their stories are interconnected up to the present time. And Juliette’s viewpoint is told from her diary entries. It’s more of a mystery/thriller than historical fiction and involves three separate suspicious deaths that are linked to her lost painting, Self Portrait as Sphinx. The pacing is slow at times, as the story takes some time to bring the various storylines and characters together, but has several surprising twists. Overall would recommend to fans of intricately plotted mysteries with slow burn action. ????????/5

Thank you to Harper Publishing for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. Release date: 6/11/20242 s Meire Albuquerque139 7

I really enjoyed this book! I look forward to reading other books by this author. There were so many twists in this book I didn’t see coming. But then again, I rarely can figure books out. I would definitely recommend this book!2 s Sandra Hoover1,309 218

Full review coming...arc-publisher arcs-from-author historical-fiction ...more2 s Lux16

I received an ARC

4.5 stars

This book has so many twists and turns and oh my god. I was initially hooked in by the concept of writing a woman back into a history in which everything is dominated by and revolves around men. What I then stumbled into is a story of madness and grief and longing. I also appreciate that this book is realistic - the main protagonists have complex relationships and backstories that are gripping (and they make mistakes!!! Their relationship isn't perfect and they have to deal with the consequences of their actions). I also that all the mysteries are wrapped up by the end - part of the book is written as a journal, and I was worried that once they ended that I would not find out how everything happened, that it would be explained by a throw-away line, but everything is nicely tied up.2 s Freyja53 2

Juliette Willoughby is an artist with no existing work, other than a mention of her painting at an international surrealism exhibition in Paris, 1933. When students Caroline and Patrick start researching Juliette for their dissertations, they have no idea where the journey will take them.

A fantastic Historical Fiction come Thriller, this book was full of twists and turns and I couldn’t put it down - I’ve read from 40% to completion today.

I won’t say any more as to avoid spoilers - other than read this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.2 s Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50)1,370 150

My mom was an artist so paintings and art have always fascinated me.

A tragic love affair that does not start out on the right foot, as one is married and the other one leaves her family for this love.

You can tell this one is well researched with the art world, auctions and value of ancient art.

This is perfect for the art lover. Part mystery and thriller.

Let this novel take you away to Paris, Dubai and Cambridge. I love travel so this was a plus for me.
goodreads-giveaway netgallery2 s Debbie161 5

I was a little unsure going in...A tale in 3 periods - 1938/1991/current - and the POV of the two protagonists. I was sure I was going to get lost somewhere. Somehow, the authors managed to make it all flow in a way that was easy to follow and very enjoyable to read. Without much knowledge of art, or frankly much interest, I also wondered how involved I would get with the story, but I found myself very ready to go back to it. I enjoyed this much more than the last I read by this duo. Kudos.2 s Sabelle71 4

I confess, I only on rare occasion read suspense fiction, but when HarperCollins asked me to review the arch of a highly anticipated release from an author(s) I’ve heard so much about via Reese’s Book Club, I was immediately intrigued. And having finished the novel, I’m pleased to say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed "The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby".

Although the blurb didn’t exactly draw me in, by the time I finished the prologue I was hooked and unable to leave the book. The central mystery, although predictable, felt clean with its ending, and I was left impressed by how tight the plot was woven. Story wise, "The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby" gets the job done and will undoubtedly leave readers entertained and satisfied; however, with that being said, I did find the dialogue and characters immature at times, and this lack of realism took me out of the story.

Now, if you’ll allow me to be harsh for a moment: the writers’ age reveals itself through the text. The early characterization of twenty year old undergraduate students felt a homeschooled child’s idea of what high school is –only, the story is set in university. This leads to an abundance of character inconsistency, as the students behave teeangers, but their situation and responsibilities mirrors that of a PHD candidate (not undergraduates)… and yet, the story largely focuses on two twenty year olds with a divorcee mindset, long before any serious estrangement and sad alcoholism takes place. Perhaps this is “nit-picky”, but this lack of cohesion took me out of the novel’s immersion; which, I will say, this novel is highly immersive with its sophisticated settings: Dubai, Paris, Cambridge, and a luxurious estate… If you’re fond of dark-academia aesthetics, à la, "The Secret History", you’ll adore this light-read. I expect this novel to do wonderfully given the recent success and cultural phenomenon of Emerald Fennell's "Saltburn".

With that being said, I did find the alternating perspectives difficult to differentiate at times. The voices of Juliette, Caroline, and Patrick all blend together, and the narrative perspectives lack any quirk or character. Juliette’s narrative sounded far too modern, and truth be told, I think the novel might have benefited from her perspective's removal; as one: It was clunky. And two: this would have led to a more shocking ending. Caroline and Patrick’s perspectives improve with realism as the novel carries forth, but speaking personally, I could have done without the toxic romance subplot.

Overall, I enjoyed this and the novel is harmless. I think "The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby" makes for a wonderful light read, so long as you don’t think about the characters and mystery too deeply; that is, although I find it difficult to ignore unrealistic characterizations, I am able to put realism aside when it comes to thrilling plots; as, what can I say, i’m here to have fun! And the The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is great fun.

Thank you HarperCollins for my copy of The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby! I thoroughly appreciate this opportunity to read and review what I suspect will be a summer hit. Keep an eye out for Ellery Lloyd’s upcoming novel this June; if you’re expecting fun, you won’t be amiss.1 The Cookster478 54

Rating: 4.5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books published under the Ellery Lloyd handle by the husband and wife writing team of Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos and this third offering is quite possibly the best so far.

Set in Paris, Cambridge and Dubai across three timeframes, "The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby" connects three suspicious deaths over the course of a century. A painting by the deceased artist, Juliette Willoughby, entitled "Self-Portrait as Sphinx" seems to hold the key to the mysterious deaths - but the picture is also a mystery in itself.

As with their previous two novels, the execution of the characterisation by this writing partnership is of high quality, but the duo have created something quite different in style and tone to their previous works. At times this is more akin to what may be deemed to be literary fiction, but please do not think that is merely a way of describing this as worthy, but tedious. Far from it - this is a compelling mystery drama that works on a variety of levels. There are historical aspects, mythology, romance, domestic drama and multiple mysteries wrapped up in an atmospheric, well-constructed and eloquently written storyline. I will certainly be back for book four from Ellery Lloyd.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.netgalley1 Terri609 36

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 enjoyable1 Beth Eats And Reads Walsh242 5

I really enjoyed this mystery, with 3 intertwining time lines: A surrealist painter in the 30’s, college students in the 90’s who may have found her iconic missing painting, and the same students present day who are now an art dealer and an expert on the same artist. Struggling artists in Paris, crumbling country manors in the English countryside, and the international art scene in Dubai. This atmospheric story had everything I : murder, exotic locales, twists, even a little romance.
1 Sarah245

I LOVED they layout of this book with the jumping about of POV and timelines. It worked so well and left you wanting more. We were given little puzzle pieces in each chapter and they all came together to create the whole picture and it was flawless! The intricacies of the plot and character connections were all so good and so clever.
Overall, an amazing book! I highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the arc!1 Kate7 4

ARC Review - A real page turner! I wouldn’t normally gravitate towards an art mystery book but this was peppered with a light love story and murder so gets 5 stars from me! A beautiful story told with intrigued and emotion. I’ve already recommended it to friends!1 Hillary1,066 18

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.1 Denise Mcghie197 1 follower

This is the third Ellery Lloyd book I've read and found them all enjoyable.

the others, this is a slow burn the first two thirds of the book telling the story and laying the crumbs for the ending. Set over 3 timelines, Paris 1938, Cambridge 1991 and Dubai present day with the painting  ‘Self Portrait as a Sphinx’ by Juliette Willoughby at the heart of the story.

Caroline and Patrick, Cambridge art students doing their dissertations on surrealism stumble upon clues that the painting might still exist and in their search they find family secrets, subterfuge and murder.

 A quick, entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for the ARC.1 Kat305 6

‘The Final Act Of Juliette Willoughby’ by Ellery Lloyd is an exhilarating, mysterious and layered tale about a lost painting, long buried secrets and obsession. Set across three distinct time periods and locations, we are whisked between Paris 1938, Cambridge 1991 and Dubai in the present day and visit glamorous locations including artists’ lodgings, surrealist exhibitions, academic libraries, country houses, sophisticated galleries and renowned auction halls.

In 1991, students Caroline and Patrick meet with their dissertation supervisor and their interest in surrealism leads to a discussion of the mythic ‘Self Portrait as a Sphinx’ by Juliet Willoughby, which was exhibited for one night only in 1938 and presumed to have perished in a tragic fire along with its painter and her famous artist beau. In the present, Caroline and Patrick are brokering a multi-million pound art deal until a suspicious death and a murder arrest. However, it’s in Juliette’s journal entries from 1938 that the real seeds of mystery are planted… While the world may have viewed her as an English MP’s mad daughter who absconded to Paris and fell in love, she was actually an artist with a terrible secret whose star shone brightly before blazing out and who refused to be erased from history.

This book has so many mysteries to unravel, multiple deaths to explain and an abundance of connections woven throughout. It was supremely satisfying and empowering when everything came together. The final discovery was gruesome and sad, but believable in its simplicity.

I adored Ellery Lloyd’s ‘People Her’ but didn’t really connect to the characters in ‘The Club’… I am thrilled to say that the stars of this novel are smart, interesting and motivated, with captivating pasts and hidden depths. I cared about Juliette’s truth and Patrick’s ordeal. I enjoyed the feminist message also.

Five stars and highly recommended!

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Pan MacMillan via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.favourites five-star-2024 netgalley-reviewed1 Jenny41 1 follower

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. 1 Barbara Schultz3,456 259

Name of Book: The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby
Author: Ellery Lloyd
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Mystery/Thriller, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Harper
Pub Date: June 11. 2024
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Pages 336

The book’s promo ~
Some women can’t be painted out of history…
This is a story of love and madness, of obsession and revenge.

This story develops as we travel with Juliette through three timelines as well as several locations- Paris, Cambridge and Dubai and we are sure they will intertwine.

Prologue - Dubai Present day - Patrick Lambert the owner of an art gallery introduces Dr. Caroline Cooper a Fellow at Pembroke College and a professor of modern art at the University of Cambridge.
(This is precursor that we will be following Caroline and Patrick throughout this story. They are the main narrators.

Story starts in Paris in the later 1930s with two surrealist artists, Juliette Willoughby an heiress and her married lover, Oskar Erlich. Both perish in a studio fire along with their work, including Juliette’s “Self Portrait as a Sphinx”.

1991 Caroline Cooper and Patrick Lambert were History of Art students at the university and in the final year of their dissertation. They are focus on Surrealism especially Juliette’s story via her family’s ancient Egyptian collection known as The Willoughby Bequest.
As we follow Caroline and Patrick we see them fall in and out of love and perhaps in love again. But they are always on the quest of finding what really happened.

Don’t want to give too much away; however just have to say there is a big hint about Juliette given rather early on.

The ‘Author’s Note was at the beginning of this story – States that Juliette Willoughby, Oskar Erlich as well as Austen Willoughby are fictional. The other artists are genuine historical figures.

Although I read this before starting the story-for some reason I remembered it the ‘opposite’ thinking Juliette’s was an historical artist. (Surely you are judging me as a dummy.)

BTW: Ellery Lloyd is the pseudonym for a married writing couple ~ Collette Lyons and Paul Vitas.
I'd to thank NetGalley and Harper this early eGalley of “The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby” Publishing release date Scheduled for June 11. 2024.
2024-gr-challenge arc netgalley ...more Librow0rm Christine464 6

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is described as “A story of love and madness, of obsession and revenge.” It a story of many parts, historical fiction, mystery, whodunnit, love story and tragedy, and more. If you think that that sounds too much and that there is no way any writer could squeeze all those elements into a book meet the writing duo that make up Ellery Lloyd. The story is set across multiple timelines across the 1930’s, 1990’s and current day, as it explores multiple PoVs to tell the story of the lost and written out of art history story of Juliette Willougby and her surrealist artwork.
We enter the story in Dubai, as Juliette Willoughby's masterpiece, "Self Portrait as Sphinx," is unveiled for auction with it’s provenance proven by the work of Professor Caroline Cooper, whose introduction to Juliette came as she wrote her dissertation in her final year at Cambridge University in the 1990’s on Juliet’s life and the tragedy of her loss and her work. Shockingly, Patrick Lambert, art dealer, Caroline’s university boyfriend, and close friend of the Willoughby family is arrested for the murder of Harry Willoughby at the art sale.
Team Lloyd blends a current murder mystery with historical fiction and the saga of a destructive and dysfunctional family, whose infighting, lies and betrayal sit at the heart of this truly captivating story of a young woman struggling to survive and find her place in the art world.
The multiple PoVs include Juliette telling her own story via excerpts from her journal as well as Caroline and Patrick providing theirs from the latter 1990’s and current timelines. Between which a plot is masterfully woven that covers almost a century of history, mystery, murder, deception, madness, tragedy and betrayal. As dark secrets finally come to light in an explosive and revealing conclusion that seamlessly ties up all the ends in a most satisfying way.
Much as I would love to tell you more, all I can say is that this story is a masterpiece of crafts-person-ship and it’s definitely up there with my top releases for 2024. This book will appeal to anyone who loves mystery, historical fiction, Egyptology, family sagas or puzzles!

Thank you so much Pan MacMillan and Bookbreak UK for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review! LindaPf452 51

One of this book’s “art experts” states that what makes a coveted piece of art isn’t necessarily the subject matter or mastery of brushstrokes but rather “the story behind the art.” In “The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby”, the author team of Ellery Lloyd brilliantly creates the provenance of a lost piece of 1930’s Surrealist art,called “Self Portrait of a Sphinx.” The oil painting was supposedly burned in a fire that also killed its young artist (her only known work) along with her famous older lover, a well-known Surrealist artist.

The “Sphinx” and its artist might have remained forgotten until a Cambridge advisor in 1991 suggested to student Caroline Cooper that she should give more attention to Juliette Willoughby. Caroline eventually uncovers a lost photo of the painting, but also a puzzle — the details in the artwork might have clues to an awful crime and the “Willoughby Curse,” as well as the possibility that Juliette was murdered when the portrait was actually stolen instead of incinerated.

Ellery Lloyd creates an action-filled story of art theft, possible forgeries, suspicious art dealing, and family mysteries. The story moves between three timelines: Juliette’s experience in the 1930s; Caroline and her lover/later husband’s (Patrick), discoveries in 1991; and current day in Dubai where the newly discovered surviving self-portrait is up for auction and a murder occurs. The story is multi-layered and so incredibly interesting — immersing the reader into almost a century of the underground art world. There are twists and surprises, and the ending is wonderfully satisfying. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems 90% of all fictional females): YES Patrick has hooded green eyes and Athena has enormous green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO

Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Mae of Scotland171

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