"The Persephone Code" invites readers into a captivating tale set amidst the intriguing backdrop of the Hellfire Caves in Buckinghamshire. Following the murder of Antony Pennington, the warden of the clandestine society, his sister Dora embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery behind his death. Assisted by Dr. Jacob Sandys, a former army officer with a troubled past, Dora finds herself entangled in a web of conspiracy involving the enigmatic Illuminati and the notorious Hell Fire Club.
The novel promises an engaging mix of historical intrigue, dark themes, and a burgeoning romance between its protagonists. I found "The Persephone Code" to be an enjoyable read, largely due to its well-paced plot and charming characters. I particularly enjoyed how the author skillfully wove together the storyline.
In summary, "The Persephone Code" offers an enjoyable read for fans of historical mysteries, delivering an intriguing storyline and compelling characters. It earns a solid four-star rating for its entertainment value and engaging narrative.

A historical mystery at in Regency England that involves secret societies and conspiracies.

I really wanted to like this one because it was a unique premise! However, the writing style was just really not for me. Others might enjoy it more though.

3.5🌟

This story starts off with such a fast paced scene that I was immediately hooked. This Regency Era murder mystery was a mix of insane plot twists and revelations.

This is only my third regency era book and I’m still really unsure about the genre. I find these books set in historical settings to be both really interesting but can also stump me a bit as I’m not used to the writing style. This one had me both hooked but also had me struggling a bit.

I found that there was too much talk of politics and for a book likened to Bridgeton, I found myself a bit befuddled. I knew going into this story that it would involve mystery but I expected a lot more romance alongside that mystery and found myself confused when the moment they finally come together it was a fade to black. That definitely impacted my rating as I was expecting something a lot different.

However, I did really enjoy the characters. I found Dora to be really strong-willed and fierce. I found that her and Jacob worked really well as he levelled Dora out with his calm and coherent thoughts. I just wish that we got a bit more romantic moments between Dora and Jacob as I felt like there was very little lead up to the relationship.

Overall, I did enjoy this story and if you enjoy Regency style books and a little bit of mystery imbedded into them, then this is definitely a book for you.

This was something different for me. I was immediately hooked on the Davinci Code x Bridgerton comp!

Dora is trying to solve her brother's brutal murder and putting her acting skills to good use. Jacob has been asked to come investigate too. The two have chemistry and work well together. The murder mystery element had conspiracy links with the Illuminati and the plot moved at a good pace. I personally wasn't hooked throughout but I put that down more to my mood as the book was well written and researched.

The only thing that I'd suggest is perhaps not to comp with Bridgerton. Too much is expected from the romance department with a comparison like that and I felt this book fell short in the romance section because of that. I went in expecting one thing and got fade to black.

Well written and interesting murder mystery with a twist.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Persephone Code by Julia Golding is a Regency mystery where Dora and Jacob, two strangers, are brought together when Dora’s brother is murdered. Dora is an actress who left her father’s noble family instead of marrying the man he chose for her while Jacob is the son of an influential family who chose to be a doctor instead of a soldier. Sparks fly between them as they work to decipher the code Dora’s brother left behind and they travel across the countryside.

The addiction of the Illuminati and the Hell Fire Club plays into that love of conspiracy theories so many of us have and the fascination with secret organizations pulling the strings. I got a bit of an Eyes Wide Shut feeling from the Hell Fire Club, but I was also unfamiliar with the organization until reading this.

Dora is an actress through and through and we get to see her use her skills throughout the novel as she communicates with people to try to find out not only who murdered her brother but several young women as well. It’s always great to have a main character who not only uses their skills, but those skills feel relevant to the plot.

Jacob is a recovering opiate addict and we get glimpses into his journey of sobriety, his addiction, and the opium dens of the era. Opium had devastating effects in the 1800s not only in the UK, but throughout the world and to this day. Jacob and Dora also draw attention the slave trade the UK was participating in and the plantations of Jamaica.

Content warning for depictions of assault, mentions of slavery and racism

I would recommend this to fans of Regency era mysteries with several POVs, readers looking for historical fiction that discusses the worst parts of the time period, and those looking for a female-led Da Vinci Code-style mystery.

I was a little letdown by this book. The plot is interesting, but the characters are weird and I didn’t love them. They just felt off and some of the wording made it seem modern when is supposed to be historical fiction. The pacing was also off in my opinion. It was an okay read overall, nothing special.

I really enjoyed this and hope there are more to come. The MCs were flawed but very endearing, and all-rounded. They weren’t simpering historical characters in any way, Dora is properly strong, brave and frankly kick-ass. She and aristocratic black-sheep Jacob make a great pair with very compatible skills. The story is set near where I live and I’ve been to the Hell-Fire caves, so that was an added bonus, but you really don’t need to have any prior knowledge of the area or the Hellfire Club for that matter. Good job Julia Golding - Am here for a sequel, please!

3.5 stars

This was an enjoyable read, with an intriguing world building. The characters were pretty interesting, and the romance side was nice, though a bit rushed and maybe more chemistry was needed to make it work for me.

While I read it in the hopes the mystery intertwines nicely with the romance, and they did.. it feels my expectations were too big for this book and it didn't quite reach them. Overall it was a nice read.

I received a copy of this in order to share my view on it.

God I wanted to love this book but it was a massive DNF. I only made it in 2 chapters but it felt like each chapter was over 100 pages long with how boring this author writes. It is a poor attempt at a Sherlock Holmes style novel

The Persephone Code, set in 1812, begins with the murder of a guardian of the Hellfire Club in the Hellfire caves. Jacob, a doctor and the son of a Viscount, has little in common with Dora, the illegitimate daughter of an aristocrat and sister to the murdered man. An old friend who knows the murdered man asks for Jacob's help and begs him to tell Dora of her brother's demise. The chemistry between Jacob and Dora is instant, and when a sinister group attacks her, Jacob goes to her aid, and the couple join forces to discover what secrets cost her brother his life. I like the detailed historical setting, fast-paced, menacing ethos and dynamic between the couple.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This was an enjoyable read. I thought it was full of action and charm. I loved the multiple-point-of-views throughout the book.

The Persephone Code by Julia Golding is fast and furious with some likable characters. The characters were the novel’s highlight, although they made one or two strange decisions. I liked how adventurous the plot was, but it could have been more intricate and mysterious. I felt that the supposed center of the plot was almost a side note to the rest of the book. Overall, I give The Persephone Code three out of five stars.

Dr. Jacob Sandys has been called out of his reclusive life by his friend, the reverend Leighton. He needs to view a play, tell one of the actresses the grave news that her brother has died, and deliver a last letter from him. Reluctantly, especially since the brother was part of the notorious Hellfire Club, Dr. Sandys goes to see Miss Dora Fitz-Pennington. However, things do not go as planned when he finds men threatening and questioning her about the information he imparted. Recognizing a symbol of the Illuminati, Sandys realizes that he and Miss Fitz-Pennington have been caught in the crosshairs of an underworld feud. On the run from the Illuminati, he and Dora must decode her brother’s last secret messages and recover valuable information before either secret society catches up to them.

What I liked most about this book was the characters. Dr. Sandys was tough, knowledgable, dedicated, and respected Dora for her spunkiness. This understanding was portrayed more as a meeting of minds rather than an inherent respect for women, but I think it’s safe to assume that Dr. Sandys would always take a woman seriously. Dora was tough, dedicated, resourceful, and smart enough to know when she was beaten, which I think is a factor that some ambitious heroines lack. She had a logical mind which paired well with Dr. Sandys’.

There were a couple of exceptions to their logical minds; Sandys made an assumption about Dora that seemed really off-base and also made a very strange decision about a consumable. It was a stressful situation, but one where it would have made way more sense to keep a clear head, and he knew that. I think that particular scenario was written specifically to make Dora shine, but it could have been cleaner. Dora was given no choice in a certain situation but refused to communicate with Dr. Sandys about it, and I thought that was weird.

While the characters shone, I thought the plot could have had more finesse. The idea of the Illuminati trying to take down the Hellfire Club and using valuable information for their own personal gain? Fantastic. Layers of clues that remind readers of National Treasure? Also fantastic. However, the ways they were introduced to the story were clumsy and made reading a little disjointed.

For instance, the Illuminati is a secret society, so how did the doctor figure out that was who their pursuers were? Why, they had the eye of Horus stitched into their cloaks! First of all, that is not very secret. Second, if the cloaks were meant to be secret, why are they wearing them out marauding? I felt that the instant conclusion of Illuminati was grasping, at best, and that there were a lot of other reasons that symbol could have been on a cloak. Probably few innocent reasons, but still.

There were a few more instances/introductions of ideas like the above that just didn’t flow very well, and that distracted me from the story. I would honestly say that it might have been beneficial for Golding to make the book a little longer and expand on some of the ideas. The Hellfire Club and the Illuminati floating around in one book already require a lot, and then you add in murder, national security, and a National Treasure-style hunt. Golding’s writing is certainly good enough to keep me engaged for a little longer to fully round out some ideas, or at least provide some smoother transitions. It read a little like a YA novel to me, but I have nothing to back up that instinct as it’s been many years since I’ve read that genre.

All in all, characters were great, writing was engaging, and plot was okay but could have been smoother. If you’re looking for an interesting read, you might want to think about The Persephone Code. I give it three out of five stars.

I received a copy of this book and am giving all opinions voluntarily.

The Persephone Code is the first book I've read by Julia Golding and it caught my attention because of the cover. That said, I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Sometimes it's a risk picking up books by authors I don't know but this time it paid off and I look forward to more from Golding in the future.

To kick this one off, we're introduced to a character being murdered. Turns out it is the warden of an infamous club that resides in the Buckinghamshire countryside, the Hellfire Caves, and the victim is Antony Pennington, our fmc's brother.

Dora is Antony's bastard sister and they've been estranged for a few years. She's been living the life of an actress and he's been living the life of an aristocrat but despite their differences, Dora is determined to figure out what happened. Growing up, they used to be extremely close but to make their father happy, Antony toed the line while Dora rebelled. Now having received a message from a total stranger that her brother is dead and despite not having been close to him these last few years, Dora is attacked and has to follow the clues to decode who the killer is, aided by an unexpected ally – ex-Army officer, former opium addict and son of a Viscount, Dr Jacob Sandys.

Jacob is our mmc. He has his faults for sure but he is also trying to be a better person. As he and Dora work together to try to solve Antony's murder, they are drawn into a web of lies and conspiracies and they don't know who they can trust. I will admit, the twist got me on this one and the mystery part of this was very well done. As the story progresses, Dora and Jacob find themselves attracted to each other and I appreciated how Golding set this relationship up knowing they are characters from two very different backgrounds.

I can't really say too much more about this one due to the mystery aspect of the story but if you're looking for a new historical that has a bit of romance to it and will keep you guessing on who is the guilty party, consider picking this one up!

'The Persephone Code' by Julia Golding is a regency era murder mystery that is entertaining with a likable main character.

Claiming to be Bridgerton meets The Da Vinci Code was aiming a little high when it came to this 1812 mystery. It would be more correct to be labelled an entertaining Regency murder mystery - a historical romance/whodunit about a series of murders centered around the infamous Hellfire Caves (pleasure palace for the idle rich – a secret society steeped in satanism, opium and debauchery of the highest order).

Dora, the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy merchant, learns that her brother is found dead in these caves. Dr. Jacob Sandys is sent to Dora's theatre group to notify her of her brother's death. However, when he arrives, masked assailants are already in pursuit. They both escape and go on the run, trying to solve her brother's murder.

‘… you say we are being chased by men who masquerade as cloaked villains, and they think either you or my brother have given me something. They want that something, but we do not have a clue what that something is - unless it is the letter?’

4 1/2 stars!

Wow, what a wild ride this was! Murder, satanism, secret societies (Hell Fire Club and Illuminati), conspiracy, politics— just to mention a few.

Dora is trying to solve her brother's murder and Jacob, an ex-army officer with secrets in his past, becomes her ally. But the more clues they discover, the more dangerous it becomes for both of them. With so much evil at work from more than one source, Dora and Jacob must be at their best, despite the distraction their growing friendship and attraction bring.

I couldn't put down this one! With so much at stake, it just kept me hooked till the ending. Highly recommend!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

The very epitome of page-turner with a chilling storyline that grips from the first and kept me guessing right up to the heart-racing denouement STUNNER ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all - what a beautiful cover!
A story involving drug addiction, murder mystery and historical fiction, we follow Dora and Jacob trying to find out who murdered Dora's brother and why. The main characters were easy to understand and appeared flawed, which only helped the story to move along. Secrets unravel and reveal secret societies - what is their role in Dora's brothers death and was he involved in them?
An intriguing story, I needed to know what had happened and following the clues through the book felt exciting.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this ARC.

A brilliantly fun romp through Regency England, this is like Bridgerton crossed with Sherlock Holmes. Really enjoyed it!

Persephone Code by Julia Golding.

Genre: Historical murder mystery

Tags: 1812, drug addiction, murder mystery, secret societies, Illuminati, forbidden love, LGBTQ+, attempted rape, surviving war, adventure

Dora’s brother leaves her a note just before he dies, with instructions to hand the note directly to her. Dr Jacob Sandys is roped in by his friend, the vicar in the area Dora’s brother died in. There are secret societies, snobbery, some chases, and a lot of questions about Dora’s brother, and the society he was involved with, which is called the Hellfire Club.

I enjoyed the adventures this book takes you on, and I wanted to know who the person was who had killed Dora’s brother. The setting was good, with Napoleon still around, so there is uncertainty about what’s going to happen, but there are jaded soldiers who have already fought battles and have survived the terrors.

I enjoyed the twists in the story, and I didn’t see them coming as we went along, which is always a good sign for a book! The characters are flawed, which adds to the realism of the story for me.

I enjoyed the story, and getting to go along with the investigation!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley, One More Chapter and Julia Golding.