Book Review: Juliet by Anne Fortier

When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety deposit box in Siena, she is told it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a precarious journey into the history of her ancestor Guiletta whose love for a young man named Romeo inspired Shakespeare's unforgettable story.
As Julie crosses paths with the families who turned medieval Siena upside down, she begins to realise that the notorious curse- 'a plague on both your houses'- is still at work.

I was really excited to receive this book from Harper as I love Shakespeare and have always been fascinated with the story of Romeo and Juliet. Anne Fortier has created such an intriguing story as she explores the way in which fact and fiction often cross paths throughout history.
This book reminded me a little of Kate Mosses's books such as Labyrinth or Sepulchre but I think that Juliet had a much faster pace which I enjoyed. It is quite a long book but you are right in the thick of it from the very beginning, I couldn't stop turning the pages.
The book jumps between the present day and Siena back in 1340, the chapters in the past explain a part of the puzzle that Juliet is trying to solve in the present. I found myself looking forward to these chapters as I knew that I would be getting some more answers to the mystery that Julie finds herself in. There are quotes from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet throughout the book, each chapter also begins with one and they help to tie the story together.
Anne Fortier offers many surprises plus the odd red herring. There is a lot to take in with this book as it spans across so much time but it is definitely worth it. If you are a fan of Shakespeare then you would greatly enjoy this book. If you are not a fan of the Bard, you would still be reading a great book full of mystery, history and romance.

Many thanks to Harper for sending me a copy to review, Juliet is published today.