August Book Club Pick: The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby
Kirkus Reviews calls this book “A delightful puzzle box of a novel.”
The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd is just the kind of mystery our reading lives were in need of. Spanning three different moments in time, the novel features at its center the early 20th-century fictional painting “Self-Portrait as a Sphinx” by artist Juliette Willoughby — and the secret-shrouded story of the woman who painted it.
Caroline and Patrick, both Art History majors at Cambridge, are toeing the lines of a fledgling relationship when they’re simultaneously tasked with meeting Alice Long. Alice, their dissertation supervisor, makes a suggestion that sends the two deep into the depths of a decades-old mystery, setting them up to potentially solve one of the art world’s most interesting enigmas.
The novel moves around in time, stepping back into the days leading up to the death of Juliette, forward to Cambridge, and sooner still to contemporary times as Patrick and Caroline are still seeking to find out the truth of a very complex and unexpected story. There are a number of high-stakes elements resting on that very mystery remaining unsolved, and Patrick and Caroline don’t quite grasp just how steep they are until it’s nearly too late. As the novel brings us to the mystery’s apex, the web of storylines meets in the middle, revealing the final piece of this gripping art caper.
Your beach chair, book club, and sense of adventure will be unanimously grateful you picked up this fabulous and fun novel.
The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby
by Ellery Lloyd
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Discussion Guide for Book Clubs
The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd — the pseudonym for husband-and-wife writing team Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos — presents much to parse, given its multiple storylines, Egyptology, the dynamics of class and money, romance, art history, and more. Work your way through the ins, outs, and arounds with the help of a few questions to help guide your book club’s discussion.
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We’re taking this week’s inspiration from Osiris — the so-called dining society that every well-to-do gentleman-about-town at Cambridge works his way into. Roast beef is likely the thing this rambunctious crew is most likely to serve if dining is actually on the menu at any particular gathering. (We note that it’s more likely they’re getting boozy and making mayhem.) Still, we’d recommend this version from Martha Stewart, with rich shallots and a sauce to die for. A baked potato on the side is a must, in our opinion.
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F
or your wine pairing, look to the artist’s homeland of France and reach for a rich rhone blend like this Cotes du Rhone Mistral from Domaine de Ferrand. It’s elegant and character driven — very much like the novel.
We asked Ellery Lloyd to share a few art world novels they have loved and to tell us why they would recommend them. A few we recognize, some we’ve also read and loved, and still more are brand-new to us. Take a look and get ready to update your TBR list!
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