The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby

Book Blurb
Paris, 1938: Runaway heiress Juliette Willoughby perishes, with her married lover, in an accidental studio fire alongside her Surrealist masterpiece, Self-Portrait as Sphinx.

Cambridge, 1991: Two art history students stumble across proof something sinister was at play in Juliette’s death, threatening to expose the long-buried secrets of the artist’s aristocratic family.

Dubai, now: An art dealer is accused of the brutal murder of his oldest friend – the last surviving member of the Willoughby dynasty.

Three suspicious deaths over the course of a century.

Is the key to unlocking them all hidden in Juliette Willoughby’s lost painting?

My Review
Readers of my reviews will know the I love nothing better than a good art based thriller. I was super excited to be offered the opportunity by Anne Cater and Pan MacMillan to be part of the blog tour for The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd.

The book has three different timelines, Paris 1937-38, Cambridge 1991 and finally Dubai present day. In 1991 and present day the story is told from the point of view of Caroline and Patrick who first meet whilst studying Art History at Cambridge. It is whilst discussing their dissertaions that they learn about Juliet Willoughby, daugter of MP and artistocract Cyril Willoughby, and artist in her own right. She is known for one painting ‘Self Portrait with Sphinx’ which is believed to have burnt in the fire that took Juliette’s life. It is through a diary that we see Juliette’s story, her time in Paris and the repercussions that ripple throughout the decades.

I loved the relationship between Caroline and Patrick, their romance, but more importantly how they worked together to follow the clues to the truth about Juliette Willoughby. Caroline is more down to earth and from a difficult background. Patrick may not have a lot of money as his parents are divorced, but is friendly with Harry Willoughby and his rich friends which can open doors. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop, and their dogged approach in finding the truth about Juliette’s life and her painting.

Ellery Lloyd has written a thriller that works on so many levels. First is the missing painting and the fact that it may not missing after all. Part of this is the mystery of Juliette’s death in a flat with her lover Oskar Erlich, also an artist, and why she was estranged from her family. If that isn’t enough there is murder in Dubai and a missing person from 1991. These stories are brilliantly woven together, keeping the tension and suspense in each time line, and finally coming together to bring the the story to its conclusion.

The writing and plotting is simply brilliant to the extent that this is a book once picked up is difficult to put down. Ellery Lloyd captures the distinct atmosphere of each time period together; from the Parisian art scene in 1930’s Paris,life to both the rich and glitzy side of Dubai, and the poorer parts and Cambridge University and its clique of the rich students. The suspense and mysteries continue to build, and the author leaves you hanging right until the excitement of the ending. Of course my favourte part was the finding of lost art and the decoding of the symbols; I always like the stories in the news of missing paintings being found hidden away somewhere, any art history student dreams of this scenario.

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is an immersive and intricately plotted read. Combining a plot of the alusive artist and her painting, a murder and a missing person, there is not a moment in this book that isn’t supercharged. This is a compelling and captivating read that once picked up is impossible to put down.