This was a fun read. I enjoyed the characters and the plot lines. I did think it was a bit slow to start, and admittedly I skimmed over some of the descriptive paragraphs that felt unnecessary to the character development or plot development. The subject matter certainly kept things interesting and I’ll always appreciate an acknowledgment in the back of historical events and readings to learn more. In my mind, that’s a sign of an author who cares to do the research and get things right! Will definitely be looking out for other books by this author.

I found myself frustrated over the treatment of women - we’ve come a long way but still have much to overcome. Clara struggled to prove herself as her male counterparts were faced with open arms, not limited to the art world but in various fields. Today the art world is still dominated by males, I hope this changes with each decade.

I enjoyed learning of Grand Central Terminal it’s fair to say I wish the book covered much more. The details Davis provide were intriguing and encouraging to learn more about this historical landmark.

Wasn’t impressed by Virginia or Clara. Both ladies felt rushed, spurious and awkward.

“Mr. Bianchi called for the check. “In any event, he has a family to feed. It’s either let you go or fire him, and I can’t do that to a man with responsibilities.” He put a meaty hand over hers. “You don’t want me to put a man out of work, now, do you?”

Fans of Art, historical landmarks, and enthusiasts of New York history will enjoy The Masterpiece. Its originality is worth the time despite the plot being a tad forced. I enjoy Fiona Davis and look forward to reading more of her works.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

3.5 ⭐️

A dual timeline historical fiction novel set in NYC, Fiona Davis’s The Masterpiece tells a women- & art-focused story revolving around an art school located within Grand Central Station.

In 1928 illustrator & art school instructor Clara Darden is working hard for her big break. Though Clara is dismissed by many of her colleagues because of her sex & chosen art form, Clara doesn’t lose faith in herself & eventually her connections allow her to get a foot in the door & then her talent gets her the rest of the way.

In 1974, divorcee & survivor of breast cancer Virginia Clay is trying to fashion a new life as a professional & not as the spouse of her former husband, a rich attorney. She gets a job at Grand Central—the site of the school Clara taught at—& finds a beautiful painting that she wants to find out more about.

The stories intersect & the reader learns more about both women, NYC in the late 20s, early 30s, & 70s, & the arresting artwork Virginia found.

After a couple of chapters I was invested in this story & really enjoyed Clara’s confidence & ambition, Levon’s personality, the descriptions of the station, the overall importance of art to both women, & Virginia’s growth.

I couldn’t wait to find out more about what happened in Clara’s timeline but unfortunately I was disappointed by the ending, which feels a little anticlimactic in moments.

Still, this is an intriguing piece of historical fiction with a sparkling setting that came alive for me.

I have mixed feelings about this book. While I thought Clara's story in the earlier time period was more interesting, I never quite warmed to Clara's character (though I was sympathetic to her struggles). And while Virginia was likable and relatable, her story in 1974 wasn't as gripping. The plot seemed to struggle to move forward at times, and I had trouble staying engaged. The twist at the end was a good one, though! I think readers with an interest in the 1920s art scene will enjoy this book.

I usually love books by Fiona Davis, but I had a really hard time getting into this one. I don't know if it was just the timing or the story itself. I didn't really connect to the characters, though I did like learning about Grand Central Terminal. The ending was pretty interesting. Overall, it was a decent read, but I've enjoyed other Fiona Davis books more.

Informative and enjoyable read. I really liked the aspects of how the building changed between the two time periods, but I also liked how it stayed the same. Stellar historical details bring this novel to life.

Fiona Davis was one of the first authors I reviewed on my blog and she continues to draw me into her stories. The Masterpiece is no exception. I love the focus on New York Grand Central Terminal as it is such a known landmark and captures the magic of NYC. A great easy read.

Davis always follows a certain pattern when writing her books. She picks a historical site along with a slice of history and weaves a tale from those points. This book is about the glorious Grand Central Train Station, spanning a 50 year period, from its heyday to its days of disrepair.
The chapters jump back and forth, beginning with the 1920's and ending in the 1970's The characters do the same. We are introduced to Clara Darden, a budding artist at the Grand Central School of Art, alongside Virginia Clay, the 1970's character.
The plight of the characters includes romance, budding professions, and unexpected twists. Davis does a remarkable job of interweaving the true history of Grand Central, which would become a landmark. The plot was cleverly drawn and quite surprising at the end.

The Masterpiece was a fantastic read. Davis immerses the reader in the roaring 1920's, bringing the era and the art world to life. Her descriptions of the artwork and the artistic methods the characters use are so vivid I could envision the works in my mind. The plot builds nicely to a surprising twist and a satisfying ending. This was one of my favorite reads of 2018, and a top favorite in historical fiction. Davis is a talented writer and I look forward to reading more of her work!

It should be known up-front that I'm a big fan of Fiona Davis'. Her writing, characters and choice of historical settings are always superb. As with most of Davis' historical fiction there are two women in two separate timelines that eventually come together. You might think that perhaps this choice of set-up in historical fiction would eventually feel overused or loose it's magic as it's been used to death; but for me it's the perfect way to relate a story.

Setting
I seem to always have an affinity for the oldest timeline and characters in any given historical novel. Perhaps because they seem more intriguing, magical or unpredictable? Whatever the reason, The Masterpiece was no exception to the rule for me. Both timelines keep the primary location of the Grand Central Terminal in New York; and yet one is about how gorgeous, vibrant and art filled the station is; while the other is set during a time when they nearly took the whole train station down! I didn't know that Grand Central nearly didn't survive decades ago from being demolished; and so this historical tidbit was great to learn about.

Characters
As always Davis has characters that are realistic and relatable. Whether it's our divorcee fighting to stay alive in (relatively) modern day (1974ish) or the aspiring artist in 1929 who everyone walks all over because she is a woman; Davis makes me feel like these are real women. At one point nearing the end of the story I was beside myself when I realized that there might not be a happy ending here! Inspiring emotion for the people in the story is key to a historical novel being successful and Davis does it masterfully in The Masterpiece.

Plot
There's a lot going on in here. We have intrigue and mystery in both timelines; and of course it all comes together beautifully in the end to tie our two ladies together. I don't to say too much, as I don't want to give any good tidbits away; but if you enjoy the unraveling of a history and finding out about people's dirty little secrets then I think you'll be on board for this plot.
Unfortunately The Masterpiece falls to a four star book (from five) for me because of it's ending. There is a bit too much that just 'happens' for no real reason and so I put this book down feeling a little cheated at the contrived ending.

Overall
Regardless of if the ending is to my liking I still really enjoyed this story and would certainly consider revisiting it in the future. Davis gives us strong women who persevere even when the odds are stacked against them. I was able to relate to these women and even reflect a little on my daily life and realize that it could always be worse. Each day I read this during my commute to work (on the bus), at lunchtime or at home I felt like I was being subtly reminded that any one of our lead women could have been me. And that made me thankful to live when and where I do.
Any book that is able to so strongly connect with me is worthy of a recommendation and a place on my print shelf (the highest honour I can give). While not a perfect five-star read; The Masterpiece is still more than worthy of a dive into the art and magic of a train station.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis is a tale told in two. The struggles of Clara Darden, the highest paid illustrator in New York City prior to the Depression and the tale of Virgina Clay in the 1970s, recently divorced and trying to piece her life back together. Their lives intersect with the discovery of a long lost painting.

"...What happened?'
'The train carrying the works from New York to Chicago crashed, ended up in a river. A horrible accident. All the paintings were destroyed, and the art dealer who represented the artist died on the train, along with Levon Zakarian. It was easy enough to put two and two together. Ever since, Clyde's work has been attributed to Zakarian..."

In 1928, Clara Darden moves from Arizona to New York City to take a post as teacher at the Grand Central School of Art, located at the Grand Central Terminal. She is very talented illustrator and hopes to make a living from her art. But despite her talent and the backing of her school, the public does not seem ready to embrace a woman artist. But Clara is strong and independent and refuses to go back to Arizona. She is determined to make her life work in New York City. With perseverance and solid connections, she becomes the most famous illustrator of her time. Her drawings often on the cover of Vogue magazine and influencing the marketing of major advertisers. Clara is also juggling the affections of two men in her life, a wealthy poet and the artist Levon Zakarian. But what Clara is not prepared for is the market crash that heralded the Great Depression. With people going hungry, art becomes a luxury of the rich and Clara finds that her talents are no longer in demand.

In 1974, Virginia Clay was a happily married socialite in New York City. Coming from humble beginnings, her marriage to a successful lawyer gave her a life of ease and luxury. But that all came crashing down around her as cancer and divorce ravaged both her body and her mind. Now struggling to make ends meet and caring for her grown daughter Ruby, Virginia finds that the only job she has any skills for is at the information counter at Grand Central Terminal. It is here that she makes a discovery that would change her life.

"...Where did you find the watercolor?'
'Behind the storage cabinet. One corner was sticking out, we much have knocked it from its hiding place when we...'
Virginia was certain she was turning the color of rhubarb. 'I was up here with a man.'
'I see.' Clara muttered under her breath. 'The type of woman who's only good when she's on her back.'
'It was from behind, actually..."

Virginia begins a quest that will bring the past to life as she searches for the artist of the watercolor. A quest that will question the artist's very identity.

This is a beautifully told story that flashes back and forth from New York of the 1920's to New York of the 1970s. The Bohemian lifestyle of the artists of the 1920s and the pragmatic mindset of the late 70s and coming 80s that saw the value of the dollar as being far more important than history and art. Against the back drop of the Grand Central Terminal, the story of the lost watercolor is told through two separate narrators. The life of Clara Darnden and that of Virginia Clay.

I enjoyed the tale of Darnden quite a bit. A woman struggling to be taken seriously as an artist when here chosen field was viewed by many artists to be a sell out of their craft. Illustrations were for magazines and books and not considered to be fine art. Nothing that would be hung up for exhibition. But illustrations were one of the few ways an artist could make a living. Her love affairs were both tragic, but in them, the reader can see that though Darden may have loved the men in her life, she loved her art far more. Clara's story is one of loss and tragedy.

When we begin learn of Virginia's life, her tragedy has already happened. The cancer that resulted in her breast removal and that mutilation, perhaps resulting in the destruction of her marriage. Reality is Virginia's greatest challenge now. How can she rebuild her life. Her obsession with the watercolor seems somewhat contrived and it can be said that her actions created a great deal of the mess that both her and Clara end up in. But without that happening, there wouldn't be that much of a story here and one thing that Fiona Davis does with this novel, is tell one hell of a good story.

A really good read!

I always look forward to a Fiona Davis historic look back at a New York City iconic building. The Masterpiece tells the story of the Grand Central Terminal through the eyes of Clara, an artist attending an art school in the 20's while also telling a story during 70's through the eyes of Virginia, a new employee in the terminal. The two storylines intersect as Virginia stumbles upon the abandoned art school. The Masterpiece is full of history and architectural splendor.

The Masterpiece takes readers into the glamorous lost art school within Grand Central Terminal, where two very different women, fifty years apart, strive to make their mark on a world set against them. Clara an aspiring illustrator, passionate about her craft, is waiting for her big break while  working as an instructor at the Grand Central Art School.

Virginia, recently divorced, starts working at the information booth at Grand Central and stumbles across the remnants of the art school and a potential discovery that can change the art world and unravels the mystery of Clara too.

This book was a pleasant surprise for me, I learned more about Grand Central's history. Clara, as the only female in a male dominated world, gets an opportunity to shine when she meets another artist, Leon. He seems to be making his mark and after challenging Clara, she is on a path that will allow her to make hers too.

Virginia's storyline really picked up for me when she finds a painting in an old closet in Grand Central, part of the former art school. A bit of a mystery and a surprising merger of the storylines really made for a good read.

This well researched novel spans 50 years and follows the perspectives of two different women, Clara and Virginia. Clara was a struggling artist and instructor of illustration at the Grand Central School of Art which was in the terminal in the 1920’s while Virginia is struggling to get by after the breakup of her marriage of 19 years in the 1970s.
I enjoyed Clara's portion more than Virginia's, I loved the 1920s vibe and the portrayal of the artist lifestyle. Overall it was an enjoyable read and I will seek out more from this author as it was my first of hers.

Fiona Davis does a great job writing a seamless story! Her books are always a delightfully uncomplicated read that always leaving you feeling wonderful when you finish.

I so wanted to love this one but I just didn't connect with the story or characters which was so disappointing. The characters seemed a bit generic and flat and I was a bit bored.

This was the first book I've read by Fiona Davis. I enjoyed the book and am a fan of historical fiction. I would have preferred one timeline to follow, specifically Clara Darden's. I will read more books by this author. I apologize for the late review, grad school has got me behind in reading for leisure.

An absolutely breathtaking historical novel with fantastic characters and a rich background. Set against the vibrant background of the Grand Central Terminal, Fiona Davis' latest novel volleys back and forth between two characters and fifty years. Clara and Virginia are both capable heroines that any reader would want to root for. I found myself particularly drawn to Clara's story in the 1920s.

Fiona Davis is one of those authors who's work is truly transporting, bringing her readers to another time and place in dazzling fashion. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Another great historical story from Fiona Davis. It’s a mystery along with providing a story of american artists and how women struggled to gain recognition in the art world, I enjoyed the two time periods and how they merged. Can’t wait for her next novel.

I tried three times and just could not get into this novel. The subject matter is there, but the characters held no appeal for me.

Read through Chapter 8 but couldn't rouse enough interest to continue. Just not a good fit for my tastes.