This book - I couldn't put it down. Loved the characters, loved the storyline, and felt like i was there.

I reserve 5 star ratings for books I will read again.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Two time periods featuring the Frick mansion/museum. History fiction readers will enjoy this mystery of theft and murder. Lots of drama going on in the Frick family. What will be discovered when the model Lillian is accidentally left behind in the museum? Love the author's note.

A fascinating historical novel that runs parallel stories - 1919 and 1966 - in the Frick mansion or museum in New York City. In 1919 popular artists' model "Angelica," aka Lillian, loses her way after her mother's death and ends up as the private secretary to Helen Frick, the daughter of rich and famous Henry Clay Frick, in the opulent Frick mansion. In 1966 English model Veronica is trapped in the Frick Museum during a blizzard after a less-than-successful photo shoot. Seeing the two storylines merge makes an entertaining and informative read that is very well-written with strong, clearly-defined characters. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing an ARC.

The Magnolia Palace features a dual time line with two models.
In 1919, Lillian Carter’s career as an artist’s model named Angelica
is on the downswing after the death of her mother. When her landlord
murders his wife, Lillian is considered an accomplice and runs. In a case
of mistaken identity, she is hired as Helen Frick’s secretary. Unfortunately,
circumstances force her to go on the run again.
In 1966, Veronica Weber has arrived from England to do a photo shoot at the
Frick museum. When a snow storm hits, Veronica finds herself locked in with
intern art curator Joshua Lawrence. She discovers clues for a scavenger hunt
that will hopefully reveal what happened in 1919.

First book I have read by Fiona Davis – looking forward to reading her other books.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy.

Dual timeline historical fiction ✔️, Art history✔️, NYC setting✔️. Fiona Davis masterfully drapes a fictional story over a factually historic framework, once again highlighting a New York City landmark worth diving deeper into.

The Magnolia Palace is set in 1919 and 1966, and the Frick Mansion / The Frick Collection museum is the centerpiece. In each timeline, a fascinating down-on-their-luck protagonist is challenged by complications among the family of wealthy industrialist Henry Clay Frick. Generational drama, murder, wealth and power spice up the story to create a page turner. Especially for art lovers, the convergence of two tales (not an easy feat) kept the plot pace quick and highly satisfying. Be sure to read the author notes which reveal even more facts related to this Gilded Age mansion and its occupants.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This work of historical fiction which employs a dual timelines revolves around Lillian Carter, a nude model in New York City 1919, a muse to many a male artist. She is the inspiration for statues at the Henry Clay Frick House. After being a suspect in her landlord’s death, she gets a job as the private secretary to Mr. Frick. The second timeline takes place in 1966 where Veronica Weber is an intern stranded at the Frick House overnight due to a snowstorm and discovers some of the museum’s secrets. Masterfully researched, this is a captivating story that will appeal to lovers of mysteries and historical fiction and books about New York City. Thank you to NetGalley and to Dutton Books for the advanced review copy.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading The Magnolia Palace. I like the way Fiona Davis brings the history of a building into her books, and with this book not just the Fricks and their mansion but also their artwork collection. As I read the story that alternates between 1919 and 1966, I wanted to see artwork that was mentioned and found the museum website online - keeping that page open to refer to while I read enhanced my reading experience. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction plus a little mystery.
And thank you netgalley for the advanced copy..

Reading a Fiona Davis novel is to know that you are in the hands of a master story teller. You will learn some history and become familiar with a cool building in NYC. Loved the way that art, love, and history were woven together.

Discussed on Ep 146 of the Book Cougars podcast.

https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2022/episode146

https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2022/episode146

The Magnolia Place is a page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end! I just loved, loved, loved this story with all its unexpected twists and turns. Helen was such a complex character, I can’t even describe her. Although she could’ve easily been the most hated character, but she had such redeemable qualities, that as conniving as she was, I still liked her. Then, Lilly—how I loved her! She was smart and witty, with a mission to succeed no matter what life threw at her. Lilly was so funny too… every time Helen would have her do something that wasn’t due for months, I laughed at how she’d just mentally file things not to worry about because she didn’t plan to be there long enough. Her plans always backfired but she always found a way to save herself.

I can’t say enough good things about this book other than it is a MUST read!

Fiona Davis has layered a fictional mystery over the Frick home, art collection, and family history. A 1919 unsolved mystery is stumbled upon when clues are discovered in 1966. This enjoyable novel had me pondering estate planning, society, class, racism, and the art world of the Interwar period and the sixties. Fans of The Personal Librarian and historical fiction will love this one!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Magnolia Palace is the latest book by Fiona Davis and she does not disappoint in bringing life to little known (at least to me) New York City history! In this novel Davis creates an intriguing fictional story by combining the idea of the original real-life supermodel who posed for many of the statues found around the city with the Henry Clay Frick household and its impressive display of art (which eventually became the Frick Collection and is still open today).

Lillian Carter, who once posed for many artists, goes on the run after being a person-of-interest in her landlord’s death. In 1919, she gets a job as the private secretary to Helen Frick, the eccentric daughter of Henry Frick. While there, she learns more about herself, about the ways of the world, and about how the rich are not always happy.

There is a second timeline set in the 1960’s in which a young Frick Collection intern and a model pair up to discover the answers to some long lost secrets and mysteries that occurred around the time Lillian was there.

I always enjoy leaning about some part of history through an entertaining story. Thank you Fiona Davis for continuing to provide that! This book is being published on January 25th and if you are a fan of 20th century historical fiction, put this on your list!

Thank you to @duttonbooks and @netgalley for and advanced copy for my honest review!

As a fan of Fiona Davis’ previous novels, I was thrilled to receive an ARC for her new release, The Magnolia Palace. Like The Lions of Fifth Avenue, it is set in a famous landmark in New York City, the Frick mansion. Fiona Davis paints a realistic picture of the iconic sculptures that were placed around the city and at the mansion itself, and blends fiction with the historical background of the mansion and it’s inhabitants.
This is the story of Lillian “Angelica “ Carter’s life, the model for the noted sculptures, who inadvertently arrives at the mansion while evading the police, only to be mistaken as a job applicant, and hired to be the personal assistant to Helen Frick, a extremely difficult woman to work for. So starts her journey into old grievances, jealousy, a fascinating scavenger hunt, and rumors of deception and murder.
This is written with two timelines, the latter following aspiring actress Veronica Weber, who arrives at the Frick mansion for a fashion shoot, only to be stranded there for an adventure of her own, immersed in the mysteries, rumors, and drama of the fabled building.
As usual, Fiona Davis creates intriguing characters, some real and others of her own imagination, that results in a riveting mystery. She throws everything at it, romance, humor, wonderful personalities,that results in a thrilling page turner.
My thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House and Fiona Davis for the ARC, for my independent opinion. It’s definitely a five star effort.

Fiona Davis has done it again! Historical fiction, dual timelines (that eventually meet) and a mystery to boot! She never disappoints. I hate to give away stories, but if any of the above sounds slightly interesting to you then you'll love this book! And as usual, I learned a thing or two about the history of New York City....
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC!

If you love historical fiction that provides a great story and teaches you a bit about history, then you have to read Fiona Davis. Davis excels at providing her readers with an interesting story that is rooted in historical American locales and will easily add a few sites to see on your future travels.

The Magnolia Palace is her upcoming book that is loosely based on real historical figures. The story is set in the Frick mansion-turned-museum and is told using two POVs - one in the 1920's and the other 40 years later. With her characters, historical details and vivid descriptions, Davis pulls her readers into a mystery, the art world and the lavish lifestyle of the Frick family.

The 1920's timeline follows Lillian Carter, an artist's model who in order to hide from police, takes a job as personal secretary to Helen Frick, the cantankerous daughter of mogul Henry Clay Frick. The 1960's POV centres around a young model and an intern at the Frick Museum (formerly mansion) who find themselves stuck overnight in the museum and endeavor to unlock some of the museum's secrets when they are stuck during a snowstorm.

This was a solid mystery that is accentuated with descriptions of both eras and details the often complex and dysfunctional familial bonds in the Frick family. This family was considered NYC royalty of the time with their extravagant lives, accommodations and connections. I found the ending a bit pat but otherwise, this was an enjoyable read that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

Fiona Davis remains one of my auto-read authors because she excels at balancing story and history and by reading her books, particularly those set in NYC, I now have a list of places I need to visit when travel becomes feasible again.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Dutton Books for my advanced copy provided in exchange for my honest review.

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Fiona Davis is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. She always develops the world so richly and The Magnolia Palace is no exception! I loved the dual timelines and the way they connected. The Frick Mansion is a brilliant setting and the characters were all so well developed!

Lillian Carter has been the muse of several sculptors - her likeness can be found over all New York City. But as she reaches 21 in the year 1919, she needs to find other work, as she has "aged out" of the muse phase. With a case of mistaken identity, she is swept into the Frick household as the private secretary to daughter Helen Frick. Lillian has little skills, but relies on her ability to play a role to succeed. Fifty years later, model Veronica is at a photo shoot at the museum, when she is locked in overnight by mistake. As Veronica and friend Joshua try to pass the time during their time locked inside, they discover letters and clues from a scavenger hunt, which involves an unsolved mystery from long ago. Murder, jewels, the gilded age - this book has it all, and as always author Fiona Davis sweeps the reader away to a different time and place. A must read!

It’s 1919 and Lillian has just stumbled into a seemingly great job as personal secretary to Henry Clay Frick’s difficult daughter after escaping from a bad situation in her apartment building. Little do the Fricks know, but they have the most famous artists’ model of the time in their midst. Things end badly and Lillian once again finds herself on the run. In 1966, British model Veronica is on her first big photo shoot in what is now the Frick Museum when she encounters the mystery of what happened all those years ago and goes on the hunt with art intern Joshua.

If you’ve read any Fiona Davis, you know this is her thing: historical fiction featuring a famous place with two different timelines and a mystery that must be solved. They’re very fun and definitely make the reader want to learn more (I was already obsessed with the Dakota before reading The Address, but now I REALLY want to go and now I need to add the Frick Museum to my list). It was especially interesting to learn about all of the art that was created with the same real-life model, on whom Lillian was based. This book was good but wrapped up a bit too neatly. Thanks to Dutton and Netgalley for the eARC. Available 1/25/2022.

I’m a big Fiona Davis fan. I really enjoy the historical topics she chooses. They’re generally about less known events or about historical places that she creates stories around. She always incorporates real characters into her books and includes great links for more information around the people and places she writes about. In The Magnolia Palace highlights the little known Frick family and The Frick Collection, which is located on Madison Avenue in New York City. This book focuses heavily on the family’s history but is also perfect for those interested in art, as art and artists play a pivotal role in the story.

Set in a dual timeline narrator, both in 1919 and 1966 both stories are set in and around the Frick Home, which is now The Frick Collection on Madison Avenue.

In 1919 Lillian, also known as the famous artist muse Angelica, is mourning the loste of her mother and the end of her modeling career. She stumbles upon a job in the Frick household as the personal secretary to Helen Frick. Helen Frick is fickle but the pay is good and both Helen and Lillian develop a routine. That is until Henry Clay Frick, Helen’s father dies and the Magnolia Diamond, goes missing all at the same time. To add to this, Helen’s brother, who does not get along with with Helen is convinced their father was murdered. When the accusations land on Lillian’s shoulders she does whatever it takes to figure out the culprit.

Almost 50 years later, aspiring model Veronica Weber is in New York shooting a spread for Vogue. When Veronica finds herself locked in the Frick household and stranded with the curator intern Joshua Lawrence, she struggles to decide how to provide for her sister and mum now that she’s most certainly ruined her modeling career. The two stumble upon an unsolved scavenger hunt with the hopes the clues lead toward the Magnolia diamond.

I really enjoyed that both our main characters were models during very different times. While Lillian’s modeling was more for artists and sculptors, Veronica’s was more in line with what we think of a model today. Reading the different way they were treated and seen by society during their eras was interesting to me. I also really enjoyed the way the two story lines converged.

Once again Davis has done an excellent job of depicting a New York City landmark. The depth of information around the famous art the house maintains is engaging and in no way dull. I found myself looking up some of the art as I was going through the story. As always, she adds just enough extra fiction into the story to keep it engaging and the mystery really helped to humanize the Frick characters. If you’re interested in art or just enjoy a good historical fiction that is not focused war, than you’ll enjoy this one.


The Magnolia Palace comes out January 25, 2022. Huge thank you to Dutton Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There isn't a book Fiona Davis has written that I haven't enjoyed. With dual timelines, set in 1919 and the mid 1960's, the story follows two very different types of models exploring the Frick art collection.
The earlier story, set in 1919, was much richer in detail, and more interesting. The later timeline seemed set to fill in a few blanks and just help solve a bit of the "mystery."
All in all, though, another winner from Fiona Davis!

The sixth novel for Fiona Davis and she did not disappoint. The Magnolia Palace gives us a dual timeline of 1919 and 1966. I love the historical aspects and the knowledge of the buildings used in the novels by Fiona. Learning about the Frick collection, the mansion and the museum is an amazing plus to reading The Magnolia Palace. I have found myself researching more about the Frick History! Miss Lilly is now a favorite character of mine.
Fiona has a way to weave past with present or in this case, past with past present. One of my favorite authors and historical fiction mastermind.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.