I love Fiona Davis. I’ve read all of her books and loved them. This one is probably my least favorite. This is a historical fiction novel told during two different time periods, the Frick family in 1919 and a second story involving the remaining family in 1966.

I loved the 1919 story! The characters were enjoyable and the history and story were captivating. The writing was excellent.

The 1966 story almost seems like it was written by a different author. Maybe that was intentional? I didn’t enjoy the characters and the writing style was a bit made for TV movie like. The ending was a bit rushed and Scooby Doo-ish. I also don’t like when authors interject personal political opinion lectures. That’s just one of my own preferences though. I skimmed much of this part of the book.

The Magnolia Place captures the fictionalized account of what would have happened if a 1910 super-model became the personal secretary to Henry Clay Frick's adult daughter, Helen Clay Frick.

I received an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Lillian Carter, the 1910 super-model has been featured in various famous statues throughout the city. Lillian, 21 years old, just recently lost her mom, Kitty to the Spanish flu and is struggling to find work and pay her rent.

Mr. Watkins, her landlord, and his wife have been known to get into frequent fights and he's been hauled off to jail on several occasions. On this morning, he and his wife were in a screaming match and Lillian hopes he is hauled off to jail so that she can buy herself a few more days to earn the rent. Ironically, Mrs. Watkins was murdered and somehow Lillian is believed to have a relationship with Mr. Watkins and wanted for questioning in her murder. Lillian decides to go into hiding and through a series of uncanny events ends up with a job at the Frick house.

Simultaneously, we are introduced to Veronica in 1966, who is at the Frick house for a modeling shoot. Somehow Veronica manages to get locked into the house by herself during a major snowstorm and has no way out. However, she comes to find out that Joshua Lawrence, the Frick collection archivist, is also in the house.

The novel alternates between Lillian and Veronica's story during which we learn more about the Frick family, some of the skeletons in their closet and overall love and devotion to the art world. Ironically, despite the different time periods, we see some similarities the challenges faced by Veronica and Lillian.

Although the novel does include some factual events, the author does take some license with creating a story wrapped up with lies, deception, murder, friendship and family loyalties. I found the overall book enjoyable/exciting and would recommend it - especially if you enjoy strong female characters.

The author has an amazing way of making the landmarks and buildings of New York come to life, as if they were characters in the story. This book continues that pattern.

I found Lillian and Veronica both to be sympathetic characters. Each had been dealt serious blows in life and was just trying to find the way forward. Each made a rather stupid decision at one point, but I was still rooting for them to have happy endings.

There was a bit of a mystery, a scavenger hunt, and quite a bit of suspense. I found the ending quite satisfying.

Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for the early read.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Veronica finds some notes in the museum that used to be the home of the Flicks. She and Joshua try to decipher what happened their many years ago. I liked the different characters.

This is the perfect blend of a beautiful historical novel and a mystery at once! I loved both timelines and the fearless heroines of this story and highly recommend it to all those readers that enjoy a sumptuous tale of old-world riches.

This was an engrossing historical fiction novel based on the Frick family and a fictional sculpture model who shakes up their lives. The dual timeline narrative kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next in both timelines! The author weaves in considerations of how different people experience the world based on their gender or skin color relative to their respective time periods. Would recommend for fans of historical fiction and especially for those who enjoy reading about women and lesser known stories from history.

Fiona Davis has become one of my favorite authors, and I was delighted to receive an advance copy of The Magnolia Place from NetGalley.

Ms. Davis is quite intelligent and does a great deal of research to lend authenticity to the fiction narrative she so beautifully creates. Her descriptions of art and architecture are equally eloquent in both eras that are simultaneously depicted in the book.

The first era, circa 1919, introduces us to Lillian Carter, an exceptionally beautiful woman and favorite model among sculptors of the time. Her likeness appears throughout New York City, and that works to her detriment when she is forced to escape false illegal entanglements and take refuge as a private secretary to Helen Frick in the lavish Frick home. Scandal ensues when an engagement is broken and a cherished and valuable piece of Helen's jewelry goes missing; and Lillian, who once had dreams of being a silent film star, must settle into a quieter life than she ever imagined for herself.

In 1966, Veronica Weber, an aspiring model, finds herself snowed in at the same Frick House--which has become a prestigious museum--with Joshua, one of the museum's interns. Two days into the storm, Helen Frick discovers Veronica and Joshua inside the museum, and learns that these two have used that time to solve a very tricky treasure hunt Helen herself created almost 50 years before. Their discoveries cause Helen to realize there's yet more to be ascertained about the precious missing jewel.

And I'll leave it here. There are twists and turns and surprises masterfully woven in the story, as well as treasures of storytelling you'll want to discover for yourself in reading this entertaining historical mystery.

Fiona Davis is an author I have managed to have (almost) kept current with. Her debut The Address is my favourite. She has a knack for blending history with fiction nicely, writing an intriguing story.

What I enjoyed about The Magnolia Palace is learning about the Frick family, yes they are real. I will confess to googling the family, the art collection and seeing the mansion. My desire to visit New York City again and visit Frick Collection is piqued.

Now as to the book, it was a lovely read. There was mystery, determination and family drama. The characters are real, flawed and each one unique. While the past time period plays centre stage the current day (well 1966) wrapped up the story nicely.

The author notes at the end were that finishing touch I enjoy. What's fact vs fiction, the motivation for this book as well as the authors thoughts are what this reader likes at the conclusion.

My thanks to Dutton Books (via Netgalley) for this digital arc in exchange for an honest review. Look for The Magnolia Palace January 25th, 2022 - it is available for preorder now.

I loved it! Fiona Davis does it again! This was a combination of a few of some of my favorite things- history, dual time lines, art and a real place I had been so I almost felt like I was there when I was reading it! In this case- the Frick Mansion turned museum.
This story follows Angelica as she tries to outrun her past but only gets entangled in more drama. Loved the characters, loved the twists and turns. Definitely check it out!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis. As a fan of the author, I was looking forward to this book and it did not disappoint. Set as a dual timeline in 1919 and 1966 in New York City, it is the story of the Frick family and the collection of art that was turned into a museum. I enjoy dual timeline stories and these two were fun to read. In 1919, the daughter of Henry Frick, Helen, hired a private secretary named Lillian Carter. Lillian has a secret that doesn't come out for months - not giving it away here. I loved the characters in this time period as some were stereotypical and others were more self assured. In 1966, an intern and a model solve riddles from 1919. As the two timelines converge, I really enjoyed how the author made it seem plausible that the intern and model would meet Helen and Lillian (with a few surprises thrown in). I enjoyed looking up the art that was mentioned in the story to be able to see it. The author explains the inspiration for the story in Author's Note and I loved the connection to real people. I would love to read a follow up story about the intern and the model and other mysteries and surprises they find in the Frick Museum.

FIONA DAVIS has done it again! This book has it all - well rounded character development, a plot that moves along and keeps you turning pages, rich in historical well-researched detail, Romance, Mystery, and a surprise ending! I thoroughly enjoyed Magnolia Palace and wait eagerly for Ms. Davis' next novel! Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Group for providing this e-arc! #TheMagnoliaPalace #NetGalley

Fiona Davis has done it again! Her newest novel, The Magnolia Palace, is a well written dual story line novel that is easy to follow and nicely comes together in the end. The novel, set in New York, moves seamlessly between the years 1919 and 1966. As usual, Davis' characters are interesting and draw the reader in. Her rich descriptions and reconstruction of historical events add an educational element to the enjoyable fiction novel. Add a bit of a mystery to this and you may very well have her best novel yet. I highly recommend this novel.
While I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Magnolia Place is set in the Gilded Age and has mystery, family drama, romance, betrayal and long-buried secrets. This historical novel tells the story of Fricks and the real life artists' model. As with all historical fiction I always need to learn more about the real history and people that are in the novel. I now would love to visit The Frick Collection and the Henry Clay Frick house in New York. Thanks Fiona Davis for such an intriguing novel and thanks NetGally for the opportunity to read this book.

I absolutely loved this book! It is the first book in a very long time that I stayed up way past my bedtime reading. The characters were well developed. The storyline had so many aspects, but they all tied together perfectly. It is a wonderful book.

Davis has a tremendous gift for turning a setting into a character. In this case it’s the Frick Museum, home one of the city’s most famous private art collections. Davis tells the story of a dysfunctional Frick family as seen through the eyes of a personal secretary with a dangerous secret.

Dual time lines and a light mystery help make this book a fun, face-paced read. I recommend it - particularly if you’re looking for a good story on a winter weekend.

The Magnolia Palace is a wonderful historical fiction novel. The story is told in dual timelines of two young models, one from 1919 and the other in 1966, in New York City and. a diamond missing from the Frick mansion/museum. I loved everything about The Magnolia Palace. Thank you Fiona Davis for a most enjoyable read and to Net Galley for an AR copy. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction told in dual timeline.

Fiona Davis is one of my absolute favorite authors. She is amazing at writing Historical Fiction books. She has a way of drawing you into her books and make you not want to put it down. She is so good at making you feel like you’re there in the story with the characters.

I loved the dual timeline, set in New York, in this story. It was fun to see how they would eventually connect. I loved the characters in both timelines and I found both timelines to have an interesting story. I was so curious what was going to happen, I didn’t want to put the book down! If you’re a fan of historical fiction, I highly recommend checking this book out!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Magnolia Palace, told in dual timelines, takes place at the Frick Collection Museum in New York City, formerly the residence of billionaire Henry Clay Frick and his family. The novel is the story of a former artist's model (the "supermodel" of the early 1900s) named Lillian Carter. Implicated by her landlord in the murder of his wife, the model flees and reinvents herself as a private secretary hired by none other than Helen Clay Frick, daughter of mogul Henry. Lillian makes a success of her new job until Henry Clay Frick dies under mysterious circumstances and suspicion once again falls on her.
Fifty years later 60's "it girl" model Veronica and Joshua, an archivist at the Collection, are locked in at the museum during a winter storm and power failure and discover in the archives a document that details a scavenger hunt set by Helen Clay Frick many years earlier. Veronica follows the clues and discovers the famous missing pink Magnolia diamond. The stories of Lillian and Veronica alternate throughout the novel until the two stories connect when Joshua and Veronica are rescued by the now elderly Helen Clay Frick and together the three decide to hunt for the vanished Lillian.
Fiona Davis succeeds in evoking a past era with its opulence, inequalities, and blind prejudices while drawing three-dimensional, intriguing characters in the two women and delivering a fascinating and suspenseful tale. The similarities and differences in the lives of the two models form an interesting juxtaposition as the story unfolds. The novel is well-crafted and the tension builds as it weaves through the two storylines. The Magnolia Palace is a perfect choice for lovers of historical fiction.

a dual story line about a model who loses her mother in 1919 to the spanish flu, almost 50 years later another model finds herself with a mystery about the same family from 50 years ago. very good story.

Fiona Davis, “biographer” of famous buildings in New York City, has done it again with her latest historical fiction, The Magnolia Palace, which will be published on January 25, 2022. This time, the Frick House is front and center of the novel about the mansion that was destined to house an art museum and the mysteries that occurred there.

The storyline follows two characters on two timelines, typical of Davis’ work. Lillian Carter, a character based on a real and much sought-after model of the early 1900s who was the muse for many New York landmarks, turned to the job of the private secretary for the daughter of Henry Clay Frick, an industrialist and art patron who had the Frick House constructed and furnished with artworks with the intent of the home becoming an art museum upon his death.

Lillian became a key player in a love triangle, a missing diamond, and a possible murder before she mysteriously disappeared in 1919. Nearly 50 years later, British model Veronica Weber is on assignment in New York when she becomes trapped in the Frick House during a snowstorm that has knocked out the power.

Working with Joshua Lawrence, an archival intern who was also trapped that night, Veronica uncovers clues to a treasure hunt that leads them to one answer to the mysteries of the Frick House. An improbable encounter with the elderly Ruth Clay Frick in the museum sends the three – Ruth Veronica, and Joshua -- on the trail to solving a decades old murder and finding out what happened to Lillian.

Fiona Davis is a Canadian-born author who has developed a specialty in writing historical fiction set in famous buildings in New York City. She began her career in NYC as an actress. Upon earning a master’s at Columbia Journalism School, her writing career has embraced both journalism and fiction.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting November 2, 2021.

I would like to thank Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.