Skip to main content

Review: The Juliet Code - A Freddie and Grace Mystery #3


What a joy to continue with another Freddie and Grace Mystery, especially as the title, the cover, and the synopsis were all so compelling! The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham lives up to all of the mystery promised, along with plenty of swooniness along the way.

Many thanks to Barbour Books and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Content to be aware of: mentions of ghosts

Book Synopsis

Frederick and Grace Percy finally make it to Italy to enjoy a delayed honeymoon and explore the beauties of the historic city of Venice. To their surprise, their friend, Detective Jack Miracle, is also in the city, investigating a series of art heists starting at the house of eccentric millionaire, Laraby Covington. Drawn into a world of boat races, mysterious houses, and parties of the rich and unusual in Venice, Frederick and Grace learn of the existence of the Juliet paintings, Renaissance paintings featuring Shakespeare’s tragic heroine, rumored to hold a secret code to an underground vault of similarly treasured artwork assumed lost over the centuries.

As Freddie and Grace are pulled deeper into the mystery and their beloved Detective Jack disappears, can they use their wits and work as a team to find the thieves and Jack before it’s too late?

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

Two things always enchant me when it comes to Freddie and Grace: marriage and mysteries. I love that the Percys are such a sweet couple whose heart and innocence quickly win everyone over, no matter where they travel. Paired with the misadventures that befalls them, readers are taken along for a ride with the best chaperones. Adding in the elements of mysteries and crime-solving, the way each one is approached is positively delightful. The Juliet Code is the ideal setting if envisioning an episode of Poirot being played out, complete with a mysterious cast of characters, an island of dubious origin, and a plot that continues to untangle as Freddie and Grace get to its heart. Along with Detective Jack Miracle and his sleuthing tips, I enjoyed this riveting story about stolen art and lost family legacies.

I appreciate how much Freddie and Grace relied on their faith in this book, especially as they were traipsing into unknown territory. Pepper Basham's stories about a married couple are refreshing and lovely, notably the idea of Freddie and Grace working together as detectives. I love the spiritual lessons that Freddie encounters in this book, making him an even more endearing character. As usual, Grace’s characteristic optimism points to the hope that she has in the Lord, especially when demonstrated through her whimsical and literary nature. If you’re looking for a European whodunit where hijinks are aplenty and the Christian faith is woven through a married couple’s relationship with each other and all those around them, these mysteries are the ultimate foray into a cozy escape.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: đź“–
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Her Off-Limits Charity Date - Unexpected Dates #3

Happy release day to the third book in the Unexpected Dates series ! Her Off-Limits Charity Date  by Liwen Y. Ho  is a perfect book for summer, and involves a soft-hearted zombie actor with a penchant for cooking. Now who doesn't want to learn more about a man who can do both?! Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis The one man I’m falling for is the one man I absolutely shouldn’t want. As a professional event planner, I’m used to managing chaos. My own love life, however, is another story. Especially after I meet my brother’s new brother-in-law and discover he looks like he walked straight out of a romance novel. Tall? Check. Piercing blue eyes? Check. Broody enough to make my heart do inconvenient things? Double check. Unfortunately, Zane Beckett also happens to be a famous actor. And our first meeting gets off to a rocky start when he finds out I’ve never seen any of his movi...

Review: The Secret Ingredient - Holy Grounds #2

It's such a joy to read Christmas short stories that offer a meaningful punch. If you're looking for a faith-filled book that will fit into your schedule this season while providing a warm welcome to the Holy Grounds CafĂ©, The Secret Ingredient by Kirsten Clark is a great accompaniment to your favourite cozy beverage. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Holy Grounds runs on two things: the nutty, caramel scent of coffee and Sebastien Davenport's beloved cranberry-gingerbread muffins. When the pastry chef collapses days before Christmas, owner Bridgette Calloway faces an impossible morning rush and an even harder truth: the beloved chef she's leaned on may need her more than ever. When a frightening diagnosis upends Seb's independence and he's at his lowest, it's his boss he finds himself calling. Perhaps she's more than a boss after all… Bridgette show...

Wedding Scenes

I've had the pleasure of reading some lovely wedding scenes lately and it had me thinking about books that choose to include them. In noticing that a lot of the romances I read tend to end with either the couple finally confirming their relationship or possibly an engagement if there is an epilogue, I'm usually left wanting to know what the wedding will look like. If there happens to be any wedding scene, it may be from the perspective of a character in the next book in the series, such as a bridesmaid or family member as a segue into their own story. However, I've found that when I get to read fuller descriptions of a wedding from either the bride or the groom's point of view that it seems to make the book feel more complete. That's not to say that a wedding should always be included, especially if the timing doesn't make sense, but they are wonderful to read about. In terms of Christian weddings, I've always been curious as to how authors convey this. Some...