The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby
Synopsis
'Intoxicating, enthralling, compelling' Harriet Tyce
‘Bold and ambitious and consuming from start to finish’ Louise Candlish
A stunning, intricately plotted and clever mystery’ Claire Douglas
‘Think The Secret History meets Saltburn’ Holly Watt
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Some women can’t be erased from history . . .
A story of love and madness, of obsession and revenge.
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?
From the author of The Club, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is Ellery Lloyd's compulsive multiple - timeline mystery – a story of love and madness, of obsession and revenge.
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‘A clever, richly imagined, first-class mystery. A story both thrilling and deeply layered, touching and fun. I loved it.’ Chris Whitaker
‘A whip smart page turner with twists and turns that'll keep a hold on you right up until the final, gripping denouement. A terrific, hands down, five star read.’ John Marrs
‘A big complex thriller about art, family secrets and dark academia and is hugely entertaining and fun. Fans of The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair will love it.’ Mark Edwards
Details
Reviews
“The Final Act Of Juliette Willoughby is a behemoth of a thriller that spans decades and continents. Whether Ellery Lloyd were writing the ultra-privileged world of art dealers or a Bullingdon Club-esque boys’ club and dark academia, this story had me gripped. On the one hand a page-turning thriller but also - with the depth of character and richly-drawn world - I would absolutely pass this novel on to someone looking for a literary fiction recommendation. - Caroline Corcoran, Sunday Times Bestselling Author of Through the Wall”
“A richly ingenious puzzle novel, adroitly juggling disparate timelines and addressing such issues as the underrepresentation of women in fine art.”Financial Times
“Intoxicating, enthralling, compelling . . . the reclaiming of an artist's story wrapped up in a mystery with a great love story to boot. I loved it!”Harriet Tyce, Harriet Tyce
“An original, compulsive and brilliantly told mystery set within a world of secrets and privilege spanning decades and continents. Like a reversal of the painting at its centre, the layers of the story are carefully peeled back until the picture is revealed. From the first page to the last, I loved it.”Charlotte Philby, Charlotte Philby
