Upon looking at the cover for the first time I had to know who Juliette Willoughby was and what was her legacy.
I devoured this book and one twist and mystery after another made it difficult to put down.

I enjoyed the multiple timelines and point of views between all the main characters.
There were multiple audible gasps unraveling the mystery that is Juliette Willoughby.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for allowing me to read this book and give my honest review!

Having absolutely loved Ellery Lloyd's two other books, I have been excitedly waiting for this book to come out.

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is a well paced and intriguing read. I was pulled in from the first chapter and had a hard time putting it down as the story unfolded. I loved the way that the three different perspectives were balanced and having the mystery revealed across the book gave space for the reader to both discover and be surprised at different times.

That being said, at times, I felt that the twists were easier to guess than it seemed the authors wanted. I also would have liked more time spent on the events in the last ~25% of the book. It felt like the pace was significantly quickened and the ending was somewhat rushed. There was quite a bit of story that was given as confession/villain monologues in this portion that could have been better explained and/or explored, as well.

Overall, this was a fun and interesting story that I would definitely recommend.

I learned about this title in a Reader’s Advisory webinar and was interested in the book from the summary of the plot.
A very engaging read from the first page. The flashbacks to the different time periods also really served the story well. I enjoyed the mystery of Juliette Willougby and finding out more about the elusive artist and her backstory as it wove into Caroline and Patrick’s plot as well. I did not see the ending coming at all.

This was brilliant! I loved this complex story alternating between two timelines/characters. I enjoyed reading about Caroline and Peter's journey to look for the missing painting. I loved Juliette's chapters/diary and learning about surrealism art in the 1930s. Juliette's family's obsession with Egyptology was a fascinating addition to the book. I recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction with some mystery/suspense.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Publishing for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been on a kick recently with books set in the art world. This novel has a duel timeline with present day art history students revealing new information about the death of an artist. The mystery was not terribly mysterious and I found myself liking the more modern story better (the historical plot line was a bit tedious to me).

An intriguing read about the art history world and two students who get swept up in an old mystery. A good read with art, murder and love!

Loved, loved, loved The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby!! The alternating POV and dual timeline serve up the mysteries in a compelling way. The various plot lines are well developed and the main characters are too. Several dramas build in the book as the worlds of art discovery, auction and authentication are explored. Ellery Lloyd’s book is not to be missed!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is a fresh take at historical fiction, and a follow up to The Club by author Ellery Lloyd.

At first I was a bit bewildered by the multiple POV periods (1938, 1991 and current). But I was drawn in very quickly to Caroline Cooper's story as an Art History Ph.D student and her colleague the interesting and rich Patrick Lambert. There are sparks between the two but at first they must focus on their work. The two are tasked with focusing on the Surrealist period of Art and their dissertations, while different, guides them to uncovering more information about the infamous Juliette Willoughby. When they find potential proof that Juliette's death was not an accident the story really takes off!

This tale is more than historical fiction and comes complete with thrills and the excitement of overlapping storylines. Dive in and help find out what happened to Juliette Willoughby! #thefinalactofjuliettewilloughby #ellerylloyd #harper

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.

This book really exceeded my expectations! The story and timeline are well organized and laid out perfectly. It was a perfect mesh between past and present which kept the story moving forward with revealing more details in spurts. This kept my interest peaked the entire time, but also was easy to follow the storyline. Just when I thought I knew what was happening, the story would take a turn. There's also a really good finale of a twist. I enjoyed the setting of Dubai and it played on one of my worst nightmares, being convicted of a crime in another country.

This one is definitely going on my favorite books of the year list. I cannot recommend this one enough!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is quite a step up from the last Ellery Lloyd work I read (People Like Her). The storyline has an air of sophistication about it: from the Cambridge affairs to a closed fraternity to the art dealing business & Dubai. I’m thankful that I was allowed an ARC by way of NetGalley, as I enjoyed the complicated storyline and many twists.

A couple of critiques that kept it from getting that fifth star. First, the ending was just a bit lackluster for me. I just didn’t feel the impact of Juliette becoming Alice as forcefully as I would’ve liked; it was not a jaw-on-the-floor moment for me, though I was surprised. I think I would have liked the chapter where Alice reveals her plan, or perhaps even all of Alice/Juliette’s life stories to occur after the closure of Caroline’s final chapter. The order in which it is currently just didn’t quite have the impact that I think it could have had.

Secondly, I don’t feel like the adult characters are as well-developed as their college-aged selves. Perhaps some of the time changing perspectives should have shifted back and forth more frequently in the beginning. I feel that the reader gets to know all of the characters, but especially Caroline and Patrick, much more in depth in their college years than their fully matured selves, which makes the transition feel almost rushed.

Overall, this was a great story with a surprising set of twists. The writing is very good in both descriptiveness and complexity. I would certainly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a thrilling read.

I saw that this book is being offered by the Junior Library Guild as an adult crossover thriller. I found the pacing a bit slow, and I think an epistolary format may have been beneficial. I was not particularly invested in the mystery nor characters, and felt there was too much going on character wise and not enough plot. I’m sure some patrons will love this book, it just was not a winner for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby.

The narrative is a combination of themes; art history, Egyptology, thriller, romance, and the trouble privileged, entitled brats get into.

My feelings are split on this book:

I enjoyed the mystery behind what happened to heiress artist Juliette Willoughby and her masterpiece Self Portrait As Sphinx, how everything ties together in the present including the murder.

Not surprisingly, I guessed most of the twists, since I read so many of these types of genre books.

On the other hand, I found the past timeline long and tedious, mostly because I couldn't stand the cast of characters and I didn't care about the romance between Caroline and Patrick.

It's hard to connect, much less care about white, privileged brats boozing, drugging, and swanning about. It's been awhile since I was that age and I never want to be that age again.

I also found the ending(s) hard to suspend disbelief for and a bit too romance-y for me; how lucky one of their old college friends is the creator of AI who helps to solve the murder.

I did like how Juliette gets credit for her talent and her paintings and justice for the victims.

The writing was good, but the pacing dragged, the suspense was lacking, and it took too long to get to the point.

I love art but I felt the art history bits hampered the flow of the story, ironically.

At times, the mystery felt superfluous against the backdrop of the ridiculous shenanigans everyone were engaged in.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper for the eARC.
Absolutely absorbing book, couldn't put it down.
I didn't think I was going to like it as much as I did because of the subject matter: art, Boy, was I wrong!
Set in 3 timelines and with 2 very likable protagonists, it's also thrilling, intelligent and very interesting. The parts taking place in Dubai were fascinating, you don't often spend time there in a book (or at all!). I knew there is a lot of opulence, but I would not want to be a tourist there: the law is almost brutally strict: when you're accused of something, you're generally found guilty? You go to jail when you're bankrupt? No.thanks!
All in all a fantastic book with some shocking conclusions. Highly recommended!

I absolutely Loved this book! I’ve read the previous two modern day thriller books by the author(s) and really like them a lot. This one felt different to me, more of a mystery with a back and forth time line (1938/1991/2023) and narration I loved the subject being art, I was an art minor in College/Uni. I loved the Cambridge University setting so much as I love any University setting in novels. The back and forth narrative was gret, I loved hearing both main characters thoughts. I also really liked them both. This book is really complex, but not difficult to read at all and will keep you wanting to know more throughout.

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.

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 like 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.

The latest mystery novel by Ellery Lloyd is chock full of entertainment, told during three time periods, in three places and from three points of view.

1938, Paris - Juliette Willoughby is a runaway heiress/surrealist artist who dies suspiciously in a fire in Paris alongside her famous married lover. Her masterpiece, Self Portrait as Sphinx, is thought to be among everything destroyed.

1991, Cambridge University – Caroline and Patrick meet as art history students working on dissertations on the Surrealist movement. Caroline’s subject is Juliette. Caroline finds Juliette’s journal in a research library and realizes there’s a mystery to be solved. Self Portrait as Sphinx seems to hold terrible secrets that the Willoughby family wants to remain hidden.

Present, Dubai – Patrick, now an art dealer, in possession of Self Portrait as Sphinx, has been arrested for the murder of his oldest friend.

While I found this book to be slow starting, once it picked up, it was amazing to see how the author wove all of the stories and characters together. There were things I was able to guess but, even so, there were multiple surprises.

I found the main characters to be likeable, the plots intricate and believable and the ending satisfying.

Definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

I was looking for a mystery for the weekend and this was perfect. Surrealist and Egyptian art, 1930s Paris, a college secret society, and rich people drama all drew me in. A multi-narrative story told primarily in the 1990s (and then the present) by two art students and in the past by the title character Juliette, an heiress-artist, the plot flies as the two students solve an intricate puzzle of what happened to Juliette’s masterpiece? While the mystery is complex with many twists and turns and murders to solve, I like when I can look back as I’m reading, see the pieces, and try to figure out the next clue like I could here. This is a more about a smart, quick paced plot book than one with serious character development or dialogue, but I did still find myself wishing that Juliette and her painting were real. All in all a fun time and I appreciated the women’s history nod towards the end. I would love to watch this as a movie or limited series. Happy I got read to this advanced copy through NetGalley/Harper.