4.5 stars!

I devoured this book straight off the bat - my goddness! This was completely unpredictable and I also wasn't sure where we were headed but, the plot and characters were so well develope, it made this read very enjoyable and I was there for the ride.

Juliette Willoughby is an enigma. An heiress of a wealthy aristocratic British family, she flees her home and becomes enamoured with an aging artist in Paris. Although Oskar Erlich is talented, he was also abusive and jealous. Despite encouraging Juliette to paint, he becomes angry when her reputation begins to eclipse his own.

The short fame is pleasant but surprising since Juliette’s only masterpiece is her much spoken about painting Self-Portrait as a Sphinx. Unfortunately, when Juliette and Oskar perish in a house fire, the painting is also destroyed. But is it? Two Cambridge art history students – Caroline Cooper and Patrick Lambert – set out to prove that Self-Portrait as Sphinx still exists and, if it does, it could be worth millions.

There is drama, suspense and mystery weaved within the pages of this book, the dual timelines of both Juliette and Caroline and getting into the psyche of these daring women is thrilling to experience. I was on the edge of my seat alot of the times and couldn't wait to see what happens in the end. You do not see the plot twists either and I think the author does a fantastic job of tying up all those loose ends (almost!) In the end. There was one aspect which is minor and doesn't get explained for which the half star is lost but it does not take away from the overall love I have for this book. I'm so glad I have finally read it before the end of 2024! Definitely not one to miss and I'll be looking out for more books by Ellery Lloyd in the future.

Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest unedited review.

I love the previous two books - People like Her and The Club. So I was very excited about this one.

However the previous books had set my expectations high up there. This one takes a long time to really grip you. You have to have patience - a virtue that’s hard to come by. For me I would love the pace to be upped like before.

I still look forward to the next

4.5. This is a totally satisfying read and manages to include romance, mystery, murder, art history and more within its pages.

It does cross timelines and POV but bear with it those who dislike those things because this is a well-written and tricksy novel that will keep you guessing throughout. Some of the twists I worked out, others not but it didn’t affect my enjoyment.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the authors for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd is a multi perspective and timeline mystery thriller. Set around a young female painter Juliette Willoughby in 1938 who dies in a fire with her only painting.

52 years later two cambridge undergraduates discover clues that may mean the painting survived.

Moving to the present day a man is brutally murdered in Dubai.

So what connects these events with a famous photographer that passed away soon after helping 2 students with their dissertation.


The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd is one of those novels that seems to have everything you want from a novel of this type.

Dead bodies, a long term mystery, cover ups by various people and a mixture of characters that may or may not be who as a reader you think they are.

Firstly the novel for me took way too long to get into the body of the story, yes the novel does need a lot of information to allow the reader to get into the story.

However Ellery Lloyd seemed to be taking such a long time to get into the main body and it took a while for me as a reader to become at one with the story,

This is the point where as a reader you are so intouch with characters and events, that you do not need to think about it, and your reading speed goes up.

For The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby it felt like the novel was written by committee (Ellery Lloyd is the pen name for two writers Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos, something I generally did not know.)

As for the characters most of them were indistinct from one another and seemed to be based on either what was to dislike about them or who their parents were, apart from Juliette Willoughby and that was because you were reading her life through her diary.

Everyone else including the two main characters were almost interchangeable from one to the other and at certain points in the story it happened.


On the upside The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd the plot of the story was well thought out the only problem is everything else felt weak.

So is The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd worth reading for the right reader.

Yes, the only problem is there are novels published with similar plot lines that do everything else that makes a story worth your time out there.

In theory, this is right up my street. A murder mystery, set in the art world and university, but told in three different timelines (one of which is the artist of a mysterious missing painting). And yet… it just didn’t work.

Why, I hear you ask? Because of two reasons. First, I never felt an urge/need to pick it up. I picked up the audiobook from my local library and I could listen to a good 20/30 minutes on my drive to work, but then would feel no urgency to listen on the way home or at the gym (don't! I have a membership now and I have no idea what I'm meant to be doing there! I'm not one of those buff bookish people who I drool - FOLLOW on social media...). I want stories that I want to rush back to. I want to return to that world and its characters, and if I don't feel that, then we're in trouble.

The second reason: I found myself not caring. I was really excited to discover what happened at the start, but over time, I found myself losing interest and not caring about the characters or the situation, before I started questioning why I should care.

I think, what made it worse was the fact, over the past two months, I've been reading "When the World Tips Over" by Jandy Nelson, and I cared. Even though I made myself take my time over reading this (nearly two months), I cared about the characters, the situations they were in and needed to know what happened next.

I've now seen a review on Goodreads describling the book as a mix of Donna Tartt's "The Secret History" meets Saltburn, and if I had seen this, I would have been more wary as I have tried Secret History multiple times and I never get past page 100.

Maybe this is a sign that while I love dark academia, the subgenre doesn't love me...

This book offers an intriguing blend of mystery, history, and family drama, but the pacing can feel slow at times. While the plot involves twists and secrets that unfold across different timelines, the frequent jumps in time and characters can be confusing. Despite some predictable moments, the story remains engaging, especially with its mix of art, legacy, and a family's dark history. Though not a page-turner, it has enough suspense to keep readers entertained.

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.

This is a an epic story, twisting, turning and keeping the reader engaged and guessing. It reminded me somewhat of a Da Vinci code (but better).

Without doubt the storylines are complex and it's a book that needs the reader to make notes to keep track almost, (or maybe that's just me!) I do love a book that challenges me sometimes, and this one definitely did. I was fully engaged with the storyline and had to know the answers to all the riddles scattered throughout. It definitely didn't disappoint and it was very satisfying how the writer tied all the strands together.

If you're a mood reader this is a book you may start and put down to come back to when the mood takes you. It isn't a light read, but if you enjoy a more complex plot you'll love this one.

I couldn't read this as an ebook for some reason so will get it when it comes out! Sorry! (Leaving a 4 star review to be fair.)

In 1938, runaway heiress Juliette Willoughby perished in an apartment fire in Paris, along with her acclaimed artist lover and the only copy of her own masterpiece, Self Portrait as Sphinx.

Half a century later, a final year art history student at Cambridge University, Caroline Cooper, is drawn to the legend of beautiful, tragic Juliette and, incredulous at the idea that such a talented artist could have produced only a single great work, she sets out in search of proof that Juliette Willoughby deserves to be remembered and revered as much as her male contemporaries. With the help of an unlikely ally, Caroline stumbles upon evidence which suggests that the fire was no accident, and its discovery could have deadly ramifications.

When I requested this book through NetGalley - encouraged ny some effusive reviews - I wasn't convinced that it would hold my interest. Art is not an area of expertise or particular interest for me, and I worried that the premise wouldn't lend itself to the kind of mystery I enjoy. How wrong I was! The Last Act of Juliette Willoughby incorporates art, history, romance and domestic drama and the result is a tightly woven, thrilling story which had me gripped from beginning to end.


Juliette herself is an intriguing, sympathetic figure and a captivating narrator, while Caroline's integrity and determination to uncover the truth and achieve justice for Juliette make her a driven, likeable protagonist. In a world of aristocrats, country piles and unearned privilege, she also provides a valuable grounded perspective on the Willoughbys.

Often novels which weave an historical mystery into the present day timeline are disappointing; the events feel to distant to be truly affecting - especially when they are recalled in the third person. However, Juliette's diary entries feel real and urgent, and I was just as invested in her fate as I was it what was happening with Caroline and Patrick in the early 1990s and in the present day. The separate timelines unfold at an exhilarating pace, the author cutting deftly between them in order to heighten the sense of building tension and unease as we come to understand the dark history and legacy of the Willoughby family. Each time period has its own mysteries, and the novel brings them all to a satisfying, exciting conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

I loved this book which was my first outing into the work of this writing partnership. I really loved it. The plot galloped along but was well controlled. The characterisation was excellent ( even if a little preposterous) and the relationships between individuals were sympathetically explored. The book would make the basis of a brilliant film. Thank you to the authors, the publishers and to Netgalley for the opportunity to access an arc.

This novel deserves a standing ovation. It masterfully weaves together multiple timelines, delivering a rich narrative filled with complex characters and layers of intrigue. The mysteries within will keep you hooked, offering an experience that is as compelling as it is unique. The blend of historical fiction and mystery makes for a captivating tale of family betrayal, hidden secrets, and a struggle for artistic recognition. At the heart of it is the fascinating journey of a female artist determined to survive against all odds, while battling both inner demons and an epic love story that spans generations.

The story is told through multiple time periods: the 1990s, where Cambridge art students explore the life of Juliette Willoughby; her escape to Paris with her lover Oskar in 1938, as chronicled in her diary; and the present day, where the discovery of her iconic portrait leads to a scandal involving an art dealer, Patrick Lambert.

Mysteries abound, from the disappearance of a maid during Juliette’s childhood to the sudden vanishing of Freddy, the Willoughby family’s black sheep, in 1991. The narrative also delves into Juliette’s own turbulent past, her escape from a controlling family, her pursuit of artistic fame, and her ill-fated romance. Dark family secrets, long buried, slowly unravel as the story unfolds, guided by the alternating perspectives of Caroline Cooper and Patrick Lambert.

The plot kicks off at a Dubai gallery, where Juliette’s lost masterpiece, “Self Portrait as Sphinx,” miraculously resurfaces after being presumed destroyed in the fire that claimed her life. The action then shifts to Cambridge in 1991, as Caroline and Patrick investigate Juliette’s tragic end, uncovering hidden truths through her secret diary.

What happened to the missing Willoughby family members? Why was Patrick implicated? How did Juliette’s painting survive the fire, and what truly became of her? All these questions are addressed in a satisfying conclusion, packed with suspense and unexpected twists.

This book easily earns a solid 5-star rating. It's an unforgettable read that will keep you enthralled from start to finish!

The book was just ok in my opinion. I found it somewhat annoying that it kept flipping backwards and forwards through different time periods.

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby follows multiple timelines; Juliette in Paris in the 1930s, Caroline and Patrick in Cambridge in the 1990s and present day Dubai. It’s a novel about love, mystery, surrealism, Egyptology and women in a male dominated art world. After a little bit of a slow start, (and a Dubai storyline that feels a little beyond belief) it was a pleasure unpacking the mysteries in these pages. 3.5

Although this book was well written I did struggle to engage with the story and the characters. Maybe this is because I havn't got much of an interest in art. It wouldn't be fair for me to be highly critical of this book. It just wasn't for me.

I loved this book, a refreshing who done it book with enough twists and turns to keep me turning the page. I liked the feminist slant and the fact the book took place over three time periods.

Found this one repetitive seeing the same scenario from 3 perspectives. Twists were obvious so I’m afraid I didn’t enjoy this one much. Maybe one for art lovers to appreciate the background story?

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby" is an absolute triumph, seamlessly weaving together art history, mystery, and the timeless allure of a tragic love story. This novel is a masterclass in storytelling, taking us from the smoky studios of 1930s Paris to the high-stakes art world of 1990s Cambridge, and finally to the glittering, dangerous streets of present-day Dubai.

The narrative is rich with atmosphere, bursting with vivid, cinematic scenes that leap off the page. The characters, larger-than-life yet achingly human, drive a plot as intricate as one of Juliette’s own surrealist masterpieces. The twists are relentless—just when you think you've cracked the code, the story pulls you in another direction entirely. It’s a heady mix of obsession, history, and the eternal question: how much of the past can we ever truly know?

The novel's exploration of how women are often erased from history is both poignant and powerful, adding a layer of depth that resonates long after the final page. I couldn't put it down—this book is a belter of a read and one that lingers like the smoke from Juliette's tragic fire. Highly recommended!

Wow, this is such a well written book. Brilliant from start to finish. The story intertwines itself so well and finishes with not one but several twists that you did not expect.
It just easily backwards and forwards through the years. It’s not often you find an author who can do this. A book I am sure everyone will enjoy reading.

I loved this book and the twists and turns keep you guessing. The story of the picture and what it would uncover is great and the fact you know there is something else happening but not sure what.

Kept me guessing!