I have read a lot of Fiona Davis's books so when I saw this I was so excited. I loved the dual timelines and I love how she incorporates some mystery to the historical fiction. I loved learning more about the Frick's and I cannot wait for her next book!

The Magnolia Palace is a story told in dual timelines and involves two young women who find themselves dealing with murder inside the Frick mansion in New York City. Lillian was an artists’ model in 1918 and statutes throughout the city were based on her figure and face. But, when she is no longer able to support herself as a model she begins working for Helen Frick, the heiress to the Frick fortune.

Nearly fifty years later, the Frick mansion has been converted into a world-renowned art museum and English model, Veronica, is at the museum on a modeling assignment. As a snowstorm rages, she is trapped in the iconic home along with a museum intern. They spend the time on a scavenger hunt, after Veronica discovers a hidden message that might lead to a lost treasure, as well as solve an old murder mystery.

Fiona Davis has once again written a compelling and interesting story that involves two timelines. As the stories unfold, the tale moves back and forth almost seamlessly. The characters are interesting and engaging, while the mystery is well-plotted. But, one of the elements that can’t be overlooked is the building itself. The Frick mansion was part of the dazzling gilded age and Ms Davis’s descriptions add so much to the enjoyment of this book. As with her other novels that also involve real buildings and locations, she has researched her subject so that the reader will truly enjoy the outcome. I’m sure the research for these books is a lot of fun. I wonder if she is looking for an assistant?

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

3.5 rounded down

Another interesting read from Fiona Davis. I've previously read (and devoured) the Dollhouse and The Lions of Fifth Avenue, and I greatly appreciate Davis's ability to bring light to topics I previously knew nothing about. This one, yet again centered around New York City at the turn of the century, is an interesting story about a family I previously knew nothing about, the Frick Family. I especially appreciate how Davis includes a list of resources in the back of her books for further reading, something that I've always revisited.

All in all, a solid read for Historical Fiction and literary fiction readers, and a title we will definitely be purchasing for our collection.

I devoured The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis in one weekend. Having lived in New York for 17 years and visiting The Frick Museum on several occasions I absolutely loved being taken into this world by Davis's expert storytelling. I thoroughly enjoyed learning some of the fascinating details about the Frick family and household swell as getting swept up in the fictional story of Miss Lilly, Veronica and Joshua. I didn't want it to end. Five Sparkling Stars!!!!

Thank you to the publisher for the e-galley of this book. And an extra giant thank you to the author who went out of her way to make sure that the galley got through to me after a technological glitch. I was already a fan for life but this really cemented that for me. I have loved each and every one of Fiona Davis' novels and this one was no different. I read this in a single sitting on New Years Eve and it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. This is told from 2 different POV and at 2 different timepoints. The narrative is smooth with the perfect sprinkling of historical tidbits throughout. I've never had the opportunity to visit the Frick Mansion but it is definitely on my list the next time I visit NYC. If you love historical fiction or if you want to try this genre out, I give The Magnolia Palace 2 very enthusiastic thumbs up!!!

The Magnolia Palace is a fun who done story split between generations. The glory and art of the 1910's in old New York set the scene when a disgraced model is caught up with a family dripping in industrial revolution money.

On the run from her past Angelica finds herself in the service of the families home. Will this be her ticket to freedom and stardom on the West coast? It appears so until the patriarch of the family dies and the famed Magnolia diamond goes missing.

Who is responsible for the disappearance of the diamond? The ungrateful son, the scorned lover, the maid or perhaps Angelica? The mystery remains unsolved for decades until a new young plucky model uncovers the families greatest secret.

I love Fiona Davis books and this is another example of her superb ability to bring historical New York to life. She clearly does an immense amount of research but wears it lightly and always maintains wonderful plotting and pace. This is a beautifully told mystery featuring models, art collectors and a missing diamond - a historical treat.

Fiona Davis has created a sub genre of Historical Fiction and she owns it! Each book gets better -- I didn't think she could outdo The Lions of Fifth Avenue - but she has. Bravo!

Fiona Davis is at her best with this dual timeline story of the Frick family coupled with a jewelry heist and an art world scandal. Alternating between 1919 and 1966, we travel between Lillian’s journey as private secretary to Helen Frick and then how Veronica, a model fifty years later ties into the story as well - blending seamlessly, as only Fiona can!

Surrounded by Art

Two stories about the Frick art collection nearly fifty years apart. Both stories involve models and romance. Mostly both stories involve the Frick mansion with its collection of art and the people that owned it.

Lillian Carter known as the model Angelique posed for sculptures and had her likeness throughout the country on different sculpted works of art. When her mother dies from the Spanish Flu it leaves her alone at twenty one. Unfortunately her fame as a model died out while she was nursing her sick mother. When the landlord of the tenement house she is living in murders his wife and she is implicated in the murder she flees the city. She happens upon the Frick mansion as she is looking for a job and a place to stay. They think she is the new applicant for the secretarial job for Helen Frick and she lands the job.

She thinks she will only stay for a little while then leave when she has a bit of money set aside. The longer she stays with the family, the further she becomes involved in the dysfunctional family. When Mr. Frick is murdered she is framed for the murder and for the theft of a diamond and must flee for her life with the help of the organist who has befriended her.

Almost fifty years later a young model named Veronica with a very bad haircut lands a modeling shoot at the mansion. It turns into a disaster and she flees the room. She is left behind by accident and locked into the mansion which is now the Frick Art Museum. She finds she is not alone and an art student has also been locked into the mansion by accident as he was working at his desk in the basement. With a snowstorm and a blackout they are stuck there until the storm goes and the electricity returns.

When the storm subsides they are found in the museum by the owner and eccentric owner Helen Frick who had waited the storm out in the Library next to the museum.

This story works into the other story as Helen and the two young people track down the organist and the model to try and find out what actually happened the night Mr. Frick died once and for all.
This was an interesting book and I think anyone interested in art or in historical fiction would find it very entertaining. I am not an art person but a good historical fiction book is what I enjoy. I did enjoy reading this book and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Fiona Davis for writing a great story, to Penguin Group Dutton for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.

Fiona Davis has written a fascinating novel of the Frick collection of art in NYC. She mixes truth with fiction to provide an all encompassing story that is clearly delineated between time periods that come together at the end of the book. Make sure to read the author’s notes as she describes which parts are fact and which are fiction. She also provides some websites for further learning.
#netgalley #fionadavis #themagnoliapalace #penguinrandomhouse

Things I liked: Magnolia Palace is a historical fiction with a mysterious twist that takes place in a dual timeline. The pacing throughout was quick and enjoyable. Things that I didn't love: the male characters all felt one dimensional to me-like they were an afterthought. They could have added more suspense to the plot. The ending was too tidy and didn't match the buildup of the story line. Overall, I liked this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read.

I am a huge Fiona Davis fan and it made me so happy to be granted a read of her latest soon-to-be bestseller The Magnolia Palace.

In a nutshell:
1. Have you seen the cover? I will pre-order a hard copy so I can place it on my coffee table.

2. You always get to discover a new part of New York history with every Fiona Davis you get to select.

3. The Magnolia Palace is my third FD read (I previously read The Dollhouse and The Lions of Fifth Avenue) and every single time I get so attached to all the characters. They are so raw, multidimensional, deep, touching, they all have a meaning and they bring something into my life. I can honestly say that I now consider Lillian Carter, Veronica Weber and Miss Helen as lifetime friends. I am planning on checking in every once in a while just to say hi (meaning a re-read)

4. I discovered the Frick family, their mansion and their art collection thanks to this book. As a history, art and literature buff, I will for sure visit the Frick museum next time I'm in NYC.

5. What a beautiful story!!! It is a dual time-line (1919 and 1966) focusing on protagonists Lillian Carter aka Angelica a young nude model working for New York sculptors, and Veronica Weber, a 60s model who is really not meant to be a model. And Helen Fritz, a firecracker,.. she is also the main heir to the Fritz collection and an impressive woman who did a lot over the course of her lifetime.

6. I loved the messages relayed in this story: beauty can often be a curse, don't be afraid to change the course of your life, fight for what you believe in, be you, admit your mistakes, it's going to be OK, seize opportunities coming your way... as you can see, nothing but good messages. I felt so good when closing the book, I did not want the story to end,

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Magnolia Palace is a well-researched and smart historical fiction read.

This dual-timeline story centers around Lillian Carter, model turned grieving daughter turned accidental personal secretary to a wealthy daughter of the Frick estate. 50 years later, a model gets snowed in at the residence, which is now a museum. Together with an intern, they discover some long-hidden Frick family secrets.

If you enjoy art, this book is filled with incredible descriptions of so many wonderful pieces. I am super ashamed to say that even though I've grown up just outside of NYC I had previously never heard of The Frick Collection, but I was so inspired to learn more about it after this book! I love how author Fiona Davis weaved together history with a fictional plot to create such a page-turner! Overall, this book was a joy to read and is incredibly well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dutton and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this and the opportunity to share my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fiona Davis is an expert in dual story lines. This time she begins her story in 1919 and shifts to 1966. Sculptors' model Lillian Carter, known as Angelica to hide her identity, has fallen on hard times since of death of her mother. She accidentally winds up as a private secretary to rich, spoiled and demanding Helen Clay Frick and impresses her with her art knowledge. There is much unhappiness in the Frick house, but Miss Lilly tries diligently to do her job. In 1966 young English model Veronica Weber finds herself in the Frick Mansion for a modeling shoot that doesn't seem to go right. Over the course of the novel, their stories intersect. Another excellent, enthralling look at the rich and famous.

I love a Fiona Davis novel and the way she integrates real NYC buildings into fictional stories. The Magnolia Palace in all its splendor came alive for me and I enjoyed the suspenseful storyline that Davis built into its walls and secret hidey-holes. I couldn't put this book down and I'm already excited to see which piece of NYC Davis brings to life next.

Fiona Davis is one of my favorite authors. She did not let me down with her latest novel, The Magnolia Palace. Usually, when an author uses two timelines I favor one over the other. Not in this case. I enjoyed both storylines, as well as the vivid characters. I strongly endorsed this beautiful novel on Instagram, awarding it stars. Nobody does it better than the incomparable Fiona Davis.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penquin Group for an advanced copy of this novel.

I was very excited to receive an advanced copy of this novel. I have read all of Fiona Davis's recent novels and I love the way that she integrates the New York buildings and historical facts into her fictional novels. This one had all of the things that make an historical fiction novel interesting: history, romance, secrets and a mystery told over two time periods of 1919 and 1966. The 1966 time period also contains an older version of the characters from the 1919 time period, making for a great ending to the story and some surprises. The authors note at the end really shows how skillfully she was able to integrate the facts about the Frick family and the Frick art collection into a very believable fictional account. If you like Fiona Davis's previous novels, this one will not disappoint.

Fiona Davis has become one of my favorite authors, and I absolutely loved this new tale of historical suspense! I just ordered a hard copy to keep, and I look forward to adding it to our school library as well. Many thanks for the librarian preview copy!

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery set in dueling timelines in NYC. In 1919, Lillian becomes the private secretary to the prickly daughter of an art-loving millionaire. In 1966, Veronica is a model that stumbles upon a mystery at the Frick Museum. The story in both timelines is captivating and the characters well-developed. I was engrossed in the mystery and was not disappointed by the resolution. This is my first novel by Fiona Davis and I will be reading more. She clearly did a lot of research about the real-life subjects and did a great job creating a fictional story around them.