Review will be posted on 1/21/22
The year is 1966 and Veronica Weber is an aspiring model. She has landed her dream job at a photo shoot on location at the Frick Collection in New York City. Things don't go as planned though and she ends up sulking at the museum and consequently finds some hidden old papers. These papers aren't just any old papers though; she realizes that they are old scavenger hunt clues, which she thinks may provide the location of the missing pink diamond once owned by Henry Frick. The other parallel story line, which takes place 50 years earlier, is from Lillian Carter's point of view. Lillian is a former artists' model who is now working as Helen Frick's personal secretary hoping to escape the scandal, which is currently following her. Even though her very resemblance is found in many of the statues from the time period, including some at the Frick household, she is trying to be incognito as Helen's secretary. Lillian's part of the story is slowly developed as readers come to realize her role in not only the Frick household, but also the diamond's disappearance. Fiona Davis's The Magnolia Palace is a wonderful historical novel filled with suspense, historical details, and a lot of art.

I really enjoyed Lillian from the start of The Magnolia Palace. I could tell from the beginning that she was going to be one of those characters that I didn't always agree with, but I cared about nonetheless. She tends to run away from her problems, instead of facing them, and that makes for a very entertaining story. For example, when she somehow gets tied into her landlord's homicide case, she runs from police instead of subjecting herself to the questioning. She makes an awful lot of rash decisions without her mother's guidance; however, you can't help but root for her. When she finds herself at the Frick household interviewing for the position of a personal secretary to Helen Frick, she can't believe her luck. She literally happened upon this opportunity as it was a case of mixed-up identities. Since she was running from the police, this turned out to be serendipitous. Lillian thinks this job will just be temporary (so there's no harm in concealing her real identity) as she is just trying to get enough money to head out to California to pursue her dream of acting; however, things get super complicated.

The parallel story line in The Magnolia Palace is from Veronica's perspective and is fifty years later. At first, I had no clue how Davis was going to tie these two seemingly different plot lines together, but once Veronica ends up at the Frick Collection for her photo shoot, I knew we were headed in the right direction. Veronica encounters these hidden papers and with Joshua, the archivist's, help, they realize the importance of them. Could they withhold Frick family secrets as well as the location of the missing pink diamond?

The Magnolia Palace includes a lot of action and a lot more suspense than I thought it would have. I was pleasantly surprised by the mystery and how it unfolded. Davis is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical authors, especially if you are looking for a historical mystery.

Have you read The Magnolia Palace? Is it on your TBR list? Are you a fan of Fiona Davis? Let me know in the comments below.

i struggled to get through this. i kept hoping as i read i would finally catch interest, but it just never happened.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read by this author, but it certainly won't be the last. Wow-beautifully written great detail and characterisation. Historical fiction at its utmost best. Recommended.

A mystery that spans decades. Lillian Carter also known as Angelica is being framed for a murder when she happens into the Frick mansion and becomes the private secretary to Helen Frick, heiress and daughter of wealthy art patron Henry Clay Frick..

A cameo with a pink diamond in it was a gift to Helen's sister Margaret who died by her father.

The Magnolia Palace is the name of the former Frick mansion which now is a museum that houses Henry's art collection. It is named for the Magnolia diamond which has been missing for over 50 years and the Magnolia trees.

The diamond which was inside the cameo went missing upon Henry's death.
Lillian as accused of stealing it and also of causing Henry's death.

Fifty years later a young model Vernonica becomes trapped in the museum and stumbles upon clues that will ultimately solve the mystery of the missing diamond.

After the diamond is found and Helen is made aware of it the mystery of where it was and Henry's death are revealed.

Lillian is exonerated and she and Helen become friends and Veronica is employed by Helen at the museum

Based loosely on real people, including a real art collection, and real events, with a dashing foray into a wholly fictitious murder mystery and alleged jewel theft. The author relays events in the lives of two models decades apart as they bear on a missing jewel and the poisoning of a poisonous scion of respectability who bullied and rewarded those in his orbit. The writing is luscious, the characters well developed, and the plotting terse and engaging. A divine read.

Fiona Davis does it again with another smashing historical fiction novel infused with historical facts. The Magnolia Palace centers around Lilian Carter, aka Angelica, a muse for famed sculptures throughout NYC in 1919. Seeking refuge from the law, Ms. Lilly lands the role of lifetime as personal secretary to Ms. Helen Frick at their family home on 5th Avenue in NYC. Her new job provides her the seclusion she needs until the scandal that shrouds her name is resolved.

Fast forward to 1966, two kids mistakenly get locked in the Frick Museum, formerly the Frick home, overnight and uncover long-lost clues to the secrets the family locked away. In a home adorned with world famous artwork, the Frick's lived a lavish life in New York City but weren't exempt from tragedy. This family saga is a mystery that takes nearly 50 years to solve.

In the authors note, Davis describes the moment this novel came to life after a tour of the Frick Collection. I'm throughly intrigued to learn more about this family, their art collection and the muse Audrey Munson who Angelica is based.

Thank you Dutton / Penguin Group and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. #TheMagnoliaPalace #NetGalley.

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis is a book of historical fiction that follows 2 time lines; one in the 1960s and the other 50 years earlier. The author writes this way in all of her previous books. Davis takes people from an earlier time period telling their story and then encompasses a story much later on with the two time periods coming together at the end. The author has a fantastic way of combining fact with fiction.
I loved this story. So interesting to read what the Frick family was thought to be like, their art and their house which now houses the Frick museum in NY City. A little drama and scandal thrown in along with some G rated love scenes.
The writing of this story is easy to follow and the characters are well defined. Great book to read!

The Magnolia Palace is EXACTLY what I want and have come to expect from Fiona Davis. As with the best historical fiction, this is at its heart the story of a strong women who affect and are affected by their time and place. Written with a dual timeline format, this novel switches seamlessly between the 1920s and the 1960s and is almost exclusively set in what is now The Frick Collection in New York.

The earlier timeline shares a window into post-war early 20th century society and vulnerabilities associated with wealth and power. The later timeline allows a decades old mystery to be solved and a satisfying end to both stories. It takes a very talented storyteller to create two stories that are equally intriguing, and Fiona Davis is a master.

Personally, I especially enjoyed the descriptions and analyses of some of the Frock collection and consider that a bonus!

Read it.

And thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my unbiased opinion.

This book started strong and then felt as though it dragged on a bit from the middle to finish. Told in a non-linear timeline spanning 50 years. I found both timelines lacking connection and depth, the book is clearly well researched from an art history perspective but the overly simplistic female protagonists didn't draw me into a moving experience. Thanks so much for an opportunity to read and review this book.

The Magnolia Palace is a story told with a dual timeline of 1919 and 1966. It’s the story of the Frick family and those that worked for them. The story includes murder, scandal and family infighting. Full.of intrigue that will keep the reader occupied and turning the page.

Fiona Davis has an incredible writing style that combines facts with fiction in such a way you are transported into the story. With exquisite detail and characters so likable and then some so deplorable in their behavior that you can’t help but love this book.

If you haven’t read Fiona Davis before, I highly suggest that you do. Her ability to take facts and fictionalize events, the research that goes into her books make them well worth reading.

Thank you to #netgalley, #penguinbookdutton and #fionadavis for the opportunity to read such a wonderful book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

This dual timeline novel explores the stories of two women, separated by half a century. In 1919, Lillian Carter masquerades as the famous muse Angelica and inspires statues all around New York City. Her mother dies, though, and grief-stricken Lillian is immediately exposed to a scandal that could ruin her. Fleeing her past, she ends up in the famous Frick mansion and bluffs her way into a position in the house. Trials and intrigue follow, and the thread of Lillian’s story is picked up by another model decades later. It is 1966, and Veronica is at the Frick mansion, now a museum, for a photoshoot, when she stumbles across a thread from the past and unravels secrets that were long buried. As world collide, will the truth finally emerge?

I love dual timeline stories, and this novel does not disappoint. Clues as to what really happened behind the gilded walls of the Frick mansion are dropped in both narratives, each revealing a bit of how Lillian’s story ended. The suspense builds as you read, and the author does an excellent job of keeping you guessing until the end. Many times, I am able to predict the ending of a novel, and that makes it a somewhat anticlimactic read. That is not the case in this novel, and my heart was racing as I reached the final chapters.

This novel is so well-researched, and the readers are immersed in the treasures of the Frick mansion. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction!

The Magnolia Palace
by Fiona Davis
Pub Date: January 25, 2022
Dutton
* historical fiction * mystery * New York
I look forward to the next release from Fiona Davis each time I read one.
Thanks to Dutton Books this was another winner from a great author.

4 stars

After reading Anderson Cooper's book about his family I wanted to read gilded age historical fiction. I had been seeing this book everywhere and I received a copy from NetGalley. I was expecting a little more from the description. It talks about murder in the Frick Family. I looked up the Frick family while reading and there was nothing about a murder in the Frick mansion. A murder does happen at the beginning of this book, but not in the Frick mansion. This book has two timelines, 1919 and 1966. We follow two models. This book is actually loosely based on an actual model named Audrey Munson from the early 1900s, which to me is more fascinating than the Frick family. Audrey Munson's sculptures that she posed for were all over New York back then. I am more plot driven and this book was more character driven. I was just waiting for more to happen. I did enjoy the author's note at the end though as I had never heard of Audrey Munson. I would love to go see the Frick Museum if I ever visit NYC.

I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of twists and turns to keep me interested. I liked that it had a lot of historical information in it. I really enjoyed learning about a different time period. I also liked that this book had two different time periods that intersected for a great ending.

Fantastic! This book kept me up late at night because I couldn't put it down. A duel timeline that connects in the end to solve a murder that I couldn't figure out. Great characters and plot with lots of history and twists and turns throughout. You will also learn some things about art even if it doesn't interest you like me. I found myself googling to read more about the paintings and sculptures. Book is getting terrific ratings for a reason. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

A sparkling gem of a novel. Fiona Davis is at the top of her game -- she's one I am happy to recommend when you're searching for stellar historical fiction.

I'm a little in love with Joshua myself! Thank you, Netgalley, for my arc.

Fiona Davis never disappoints. Historical fiction isn’t usually my go to selection, but she manages to transport the reader directly into the time and place with her incredible writing.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good leap into the past with a solid twisty mystery within!

Historical fiction at its finest, this incredible story includes mystery, murder, betrayal and revenge all set among some the finest works of art in the world.

Lillian, also know as the renown model Angelica, hiding from a mistaken accusation of murder finds herself in front of bossy and difficult Helen Frick, who believes that she is there for a job interview. Miss Lilly begins to work with Miss Helen in the Frick residence, and she finds herself surrounded by secrets and lies.

Two timelines, from 1919 and 1966 intersect with an ending that merges the two time periods with a satisfying conclusion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, the characters were interesting, and likable, even the bullish Miss Helen. I highly recommend this book to all fans of historical fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Fiona Davis knocks it out of the park, again, with this wonderful story that takes place largely within the walls of The Frick, in New York. Great historical details and a mystery with a couple of unexpected twists and turns make for a great read.

I love Fiona Davis' writing, and The Magnolia Palace is no exception. Taking place in both the early 1900's and the 1960's with a superbly written dual timeline, The Magnolia Palace is that awesome mix of fact and fiction all about the Frick family and mansion-turned-art museum in NYC. Having known only the bare bones of the history of the Frick Museum, I was delighted to learn more about the family and just how the museum came to be. The ending was the perfect blend of both timelines and had me cheering in my seat for all involved.