A fun Regency mystery featuring the unconventional Dora and the stalwart Jacob. I missed the first novel but this was fine as a standalone. Fair warning, though, that it helps to have a sense of the period to understand some of the action. It's got good twists and nicely clever mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, A good read.

Lord Elgin’s Greek marbles are the talk of London society, but behind the scenes a dark and dangerous threat is closing in, intent on taking back that which was plundered. Fresh from their success in exposing the murderous Hell Fire Club, actress Dora Fitz-Pennington and ex-army doctor Jacob Sandys, are employed by the earl to go undercover and root out the culprit.
The second outing for Dora & Jacob & it’s easily read on its own, as I missed the first book, which I’ve since bought. I like the dynamics between the couple & the chemistry between them was sizzling. A well written mystery which was both entertaining & thrilling. There’s plenty of danger but I felt the book lagged in a couple of places but that didn’t impinge on my enjoyment. I look forward to more in the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

A sweeping, romantic mystery. The Elgin Conspiracy is charming, twisty and Dora and Jacob have fantastic chemistry. I hadn’t read the previous book but, it made no difference, I loved it.

Huge thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this.

Dora is far from the conventional 1800s women being a detective alongside Jacob makes for a wonderful dynamic. I enjoyed this twisting tale and felt the characters really came to life. It kept you guessing right up until the end when all was finally revealed.

The cover interested me as it was so pretty. The story was so compelling and I loved it. It was full of warmth and how people lived in those days. A really brilliant book. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Really great well written sequel to the first book in the series. I think it could be read as a stand-alone but knowing the previous story added a bit more to the characters for me. It was another fast moving light read and was very enjoyable. It kept my interest throughout and it will be interesting to see where the next story takes the entertaining pair. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Julia Golding for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Elgin Conspiracy coming out October 24, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’m obsessed with regency era novels. I really enjoyed the first book, so I was excited to check this book out. Dora and Jacob are really interesting characters to me. I enjoyed the progression in their relationship. I thought there was some fun to it. There are also some concerns since they’re from different social classes. Some of the book was a little slow for me. I loved the action parts more. I would read more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries!

It’s quite a fun, fast paced plot. One that you definitely can’t take too seriously. If you’re in to solving mysteries and who dunnit’s you will be in your element with this book. I read the first book in the series The Persephone Code so was already familiar with the two leading characters Dora and Jacob and though it is set back in 1812, I find these two characters bring quite a modern day feel to the narrative. We left them quite smitten with each other in the previous book and they continue to play off one another in this one, with Dora not quite willing to commit.

I enjoy the characterisations in this series and you definitely get a feel for the period but my historical knowledge of that time is non existent and just as in the Persephone Code, I do think you need some background into what was happening in the world at the time to be able to get your head around the plot. I wasn’t even aware we were at war in 1812 (I suppose the 1812 overture with the canons kind of gives it away) but I’ve since educated myself a bit with the aid of Wikipedia and come to the conclusion there was a lot going on. Nevertheless I did struggle a bit at times trying to follow the plot and as, at the heart of it, it’s a sleuthing kind of a story, looking for clues, and following leads, I can’t honestly say that it’s really my thing. But if you love a mystery and plenty of action then this will be right up your street.

My first thoughts would be 3 stars because the actual story didn’t quite capture my interest, but that is down to personal taste, I don’t have the staying power or patience for solving clues. However you can’t fault the writing and I loved all the characters so I’ve given 4 stars.

A few pages into this Regency mystery by Julia Golding, I realised it was a sequel (even though Goodreads doesn't list it as such), so I went back to read the first book, The Persephone Code. Although The Elgin Conspiracy can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading the first book as it really heightened my enjoyment of the sequel.

In this book, we follow Dora and Jacob as they start their own detective agency and go undercover to unravel the mysterious threats Lord Elgin has received.

The characters are compelling and there were enough twists to keep me happily entertained. From a historical perspective, I really enjoyed the way the Marbles were portrayed, with time given both to the contemporary point of view that Lord Elgin was protecting the marbles from certain destruction and to the modern perspective that their removal was akin to theft.

A recommended read for fans of Regency detective stories like Claudia Gary's Mr Darcy and Miss Tilney series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I hadn’t read the first book in this series, but that didn’t become a drawback to understanding the relationship between the main characters, Dora and Jacob, who are working to figure out who is threatening Lord Elgin, the man who brought to Britain the marbles from the Parthenon. They make a fun pair to follow.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Mysterious, gripping, AND spicy. Dora and Jacob solve another puzzle together in the UK. While trying to hash out the details of their own affair, they are hired to investigate threats to Lord Elgin and his family related to his possession of Greek marbles. Dora and Jacob go undercover and recruit various helpers along the way to solve the mystery of who is threatening and murdering in the name of some marbles that don’t really belong to any of the parties involved to begin with.

There are a lot of elements to enjoy in this sequel. For starters, one does not need to read the first book to understand this story. I have not read the first book, but there is enough context provided in this story to understand the characters' backstory that one might be missing if they haven’t read the first book. I enjoyed the way that this story deals with the modern dilemma of the Greek marbles while keeping with historical context. Dora and Jacob serve as examples of two different ways of looking at the issue. Dora holding the modern opinion and Jacob holding the historical (very British) opinion. I think Jacob’s character is supposed to be somewhat harsh to modern readers (it is historical fiction, after all). Dora is a likeable main character because of her more modern opinions and demeanor. Her relationship with Jacob is sweet and comes off as relatable (despite some of his “man of his time” opinions). There are lots of opportunities to learn vocabulary words and various historical elements throughout the story. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction and romance books because The Elgin Conspiracy certainly is a great combination of those.

Ultimately, I rate this book as a 3.5 or 4 out of 5 stars. A few reasons that it is not a five-star book for me include the pacing and the way the plot wraps up. The pacing of the book felt not consistent, to me. It felt like the plot moved slowly and then wrapped up quickly towards the end. The plot twists were worth the wait, but I felt a little disappointed because it felt like there was a lack of closure to some plot devices. Perhaps this is leaving the door open for another in the series, but it would be better if that was clearer in the ending chapters. I felt like there was not a lot of progress in Dora and Jacob’s relationship at the end. There is no sense of if they are going to move forward with their situation or remain lovers, or what.

Thanks to One More Chapter for providing an advanced reader copy through NetGalley!

A really fun mystery surrounding the Elgin marbles in early 1800s Britain. A red herring filled whodunnit (which may have dragged in the middle) with an emphasis on cunning, courage, forgiveness, family, and how in the world are the lovers from different societal backgrounds going to be able to move forward together.

This twisty mystery immerses you in the Regency era while focusing on main characters who hold more modern views. Golding does a great job of informing the reader about European historical context while fueling the story on. Unfortunately, I should have listened when the series description mentioned Bridgerton, as it has too much steaminess for my taste.

Special thanks to the Publisher, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed being back with these two characters in the sequel. Jacob and Dora make a well-matched detective team and here we see their detective agency being founded and expanded to an eclectic and entertaining team. There’s high stakes and scrapes, romance and history. I’m looking forward the next in the series. (I was going to make a ‘Marbleous!’ gag, but have been very restrained. Maybe for the Amazon review..,)

"1812

Lord Elgin's Greek marbles are the talk of London society, so when a death threat arrives, the earl hires actress Dora Fitz-Pennington and the honourable Dr. Jacob Sandys to investigate. They plunge into the scandals of society's most eminent members, from the Byron circle to the secret world of collectors.

As danger lurks around London's every corner, in the most exclusive ballrooms and the roughest taverns, Dora and Jacob will face not only what has been left unsaid simmering between them but the threat of silent assassins, traitorous acquaintances and the darkest of secrets..."

You know what would solve ALL death threats related to the Elgin marbles? RETURN THEM!

Fresh of their success in taking down the Hellfire Club, former army surgeon Jacob Sandys and actress Dora Fitz-Pennington are hired by famed antiquarian Lord Elgin to find out who is threatening him/his family (and possibly killed an archaeologist in his employ). Jacob and Dora soon find themselves embroiled in a case involving French spies and yet another secret society. They also start putting together their own investigative crew—including Dora’s deceased brother’s secret lover, Alexander Smith, and a street smart orphan named Kir.

I loved this one even more than the first—it’s a little edgier than many other historical mystery series and I really liked that we get to see how Dora and Jacob try to navigate their personal and professional partnerships given their very different backgrounds. While Sandys is the youngest son of an viscount, Dora is the biracial illegitimate daughter of a wealthy tradesman who has spent the last few years as an actress. To say their experiences and world views are different is a vast understatement. I myself felt Dora’s exasperation with Sandys at times, who despite fighting in the Napoleonic wars, was a bit naïve in comparison in a lot of ways. It will be fascinating to see if they can work things out long term! I am very much looking forward to more books in this series. The Elgin Conspiracy is out October 24th!

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the e-ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

this was… forgettable, at best. i did not get a true sense of place & time from it, and i get it’s supposed to be a rompy historical romance but i do expect a certain degree of plausibility from the historical fiction i read.

4.5 stars

This was so good! It took a big step up from the first book (which I enjoyed!). Our characters and the setting are already established, so we're able to jump right in to the action. And we have another murder mystery to solve with our dynamic duo Jacob and Dora.

The scope expands internationally with the Elgin marbles, Napoleon, and conspiracies and espionage. It was fascinating to me to learn more about Elgin himself. The author clearly did a lot of research about everything that happened at the time. The level of danger is absolutely elevated with all the foreign agents involved with our protagonists, and their lives are at risk multiple times.

I loved Jacob and Dora so much. I love their relationship and how it's both established at this point, and yet still in question. I appreciated SO MUCH how they talk out their problems and address the power imbalance, their expectations, and their differences in society. Their issues are not ignored, nor are they allowed to fester and become a reason to separate. There are some steamy fade to black scenes too, which I appreciated.

One more addition I loved was Kir! There's nothing like a loveable orphan who is fiercely protective of his savior. I also liked how Dora and Jacob's investigative operation is expanding with the addition of Alex and now the members of the theatre troupe.

Overall, super enjoyable and I'd definitely recommend. I'm looking forward to more books in the series!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

(And as a side note I saw the marbles myself for the first time this year. My husband and I definitely discussed how it was great to be able to see something like this, but wow how much more amazing if they had stayed in their original home.)

The author's second in her adult Regency histfic series made me cheer from that gorgeous cover on. I fell headlong into the continued story of actress Dora Fitz-Pennington and ex-army doctor Jacob Sandys, newly famed for their detective skills, and this time hired by Lord Elgin, who stole the famous marbles from Greece, and feels his life is in danger after a colleague is murdered.

The chemistry between Dora and Jacob sizzles, and their pursuit for truth is gripping as they contend with dangers galore. It is as unforgettable as Book One, The Persephone Code, which one does not have to read first, but adds depth to the thrilling experience and makes histfic mystery fans breathless for even more. Huzzah!

I absolutely love Dora and Jacob in this second historical fiction sleuthing series by Julia Golding. I was so pleased to see them back after their first mystery and it was nice to see them settle in nicely to their roles. I look forward to many more to come.