There is no place like Grand Central Station. Its majestic beauty shines through the crowds to reveal decades past. Millions of people quickly coming and going in the heartbeat of the greatest city on earth. Clara Darden is a young artist, struggling to make her way in 1928 as a teacher at the Grand Central School of Art. She is a beautiful, confident illustrator fighting for her place in a man’s world. Finally attaining success, Clara has made a name for herself juggling her wealthy, handsome boyfriend and fellow artists despite the looming Depression. After tragedy strikes, Clara disappears as if she never existed at all. Almost Fifty Years later, in 1974, Virginia is taunted by her chauvinistic lawyer husband who left her with little money and lots of sadness. Having been a homemaker for most of her adult life, Virginia scrambles to find work through a temp agency. She accepts a job in the information booth at Grand Central. Even though the terminal is now covered with dirt and not so shiny, Virginia is immediately enamored by its history. As she begins to explore her future as a single woman once again, she discovers a painting hidden on the upper levels of the terminal that had been abandoned decades ago. The mysterious unsigned painting greatly resembles one that is currently up for auction. With Virginia’s flourishing confidence and new station friends, she is determined to solve this mystery. Author Fiona Davis has done it again. A thoroughly enjoyable work of historical fiction based in NYC capturing the imagination through time and art. Highly recommend The Masterpiece for a fabulous summer read!

An interesting book set in Grand Central Station in New York City. It covers the lives of two women: Clara Darden, a struggling artist who works at the Grand Central School of Art in the 1920's, and Virginia Clay, a divorcee who starts work at Grand Central Station in the 1970's and who becomes involved in the fight to save the station from demolition and find out what happened to the mysterious artist, Clara Darden. Both time periods were interesting with events and facts that I had not known before. Sometimes I will find one time period or protagonist more compelling in a dual timeline novel, but I enjoyed reading about both women and their lives and struggles.

The stories of two women, Clara Darden and Virginia Clay, are used as the tie that somehow binds them to the history of New York's Grand Central Terminal. Clara is a young artist who teaches in the Grand Central Art Studio of the 1920's. Virginia is a divorce' in the 1970's, who suddenly finds herself in need of a job and becomes an attendant in Grand Central's information booth.

Clara's story is that of a growing artist, from designing magazine illustrations to painting portraits in oils. One of her portraits, The Siren, is left in the studio in the '20's and is discovered by Virginia in the '70's. The women's stories are told in alternating chapters, involving various love interests and, in Virginia's life, a teenage daughter.

The history of Grand Central is interestingly woven into the story, relative to Virginia's job there. Included are commentary about the lawsuit to accomplish its demise and the efforts of those, including Jackie Onassis, to see it preserved as a historic landmark.

I found Clara's story to be more believable and compelling than Virginia's, perhaps because Clara' was actually an artist who taught at the studio in the 20's. Virginia's actions and dialogue with both her husband and her lover Dennis are somewhat shallow and unrealistic.

Parts of The Masterpiece move smoothly and interestingly. Other parts are slower and not altogether seamless.
It takes a lot of weaving to pull the story together.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

I am really happy to be able to say I have read all of Fiona Davis' books and have loved them all! When I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Masterpiece, it was a no brainer. One thing that I especially love about Fiona's books are that they take place in my very own city of New York! I love being able to visualize the places she discusses and how they must have looked back when the book was set.

The Masterpiece takes place in both the 1920s and the 1970s (I love me a good dual timeline) and deals with Grand Central Terminal - coincidentally, Grand Central is about a block from my office and I have lunch there nearly every day! I love to learn to guess how the timelines will come together in Fiona's books and see if I can spot the clues along the way. I found Clara and Virginia to both be strong female characters who I enjoyed getting to know in the pages of The Masterpiece - but, I will say, it's Fiona's writing that is the real Masterpiece here!

What would an art school teacher and an information booth attendee have in common besides Grand Central since the women lived 50 years apart? You would be surprised.

Clara taught illustration at the art school when it was in its hey day, and Virginia needed to work since she had been recently divorced. Since Virginia had no skills, the information booth was the best the temp agency could do for her.

The connection Virginia had to Clara was a drawing she found in the abandoned art school on the seventh floor of Grand Central. We, the reader, move back and forth from both time periods and learn about both women’s lives, their secrets, and Grand Central.

Virginia found drawings all over the school’s rooms and found one drawing in particular that was of interest and signed by Clyde. This particular drawing had some odd characteristics, and someone didn’t want Virginia to have it.

THE MASTERPIECE was focused on the artists of New York and the history of Grand Central. Ms. Davis did impeccable research about Grand Central’s history as well as characters based on real people and others fictitiously portrayed.

Both the history of Grand Central and the characters wove a pull-you-in story line. Did you know that Grand Central had been in jeopardy of being torn down at one point in history?

New York is a fascinating place historically, and I always enjoy going back in time to learn of bits and pieces of its hidden history.

I also enjoyed the descriptions of the life styles, the parties, and the clothing. I am a nostalgic at heart.

Ms. Davis has created another beautiful “masterpiece” that historical fiction fans, New York City fans, mystery fans, and artists will love.

Make it part of your "required" summer reading. 5/5

This book was given to me as an ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book by Fiona Davis that I have read. I will say for me that it started out a bit slow. I am so glad that I stuck with it. I loved how this book wrapped up.

This was a great look at Grand Central Terminal which I knew nothing. The history that was included in this story was wonderful and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

I received an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book. Both timelines of Clara and Virginia had me hooked and intrigued. This is the 2nd book I have read by Fiona Davis and the second time that I have felt that I am right in NYC during the time periods of the story. I loved learning about the life of an artist in the 1920s as well as the more about Grand Central Terminal and its rich history. This is a great read with the alternating timelines and the strength of both characters. Highly Recommended!

Having now read Fiona Davis' first three novels, I can say with confidence that she's the type of can't-miss author whose work I will gladly buy blind in the future without knowing a thing about the plot first.

Davis handles her characters and the history of New York beautifully, and shows a deft hand at portraying complex women who were ahead of or unusual for their time without making them so atypical for their era that they defy believability.

This would have been a 5-star book if not for one critical plot component that felt absurd...how could no one have noticed (spoiler)? This wouldn't have been a big deal, except that it occurs at perhaps the most critical point in the book, where the stories of the two main characters finally collide.

My only other gripe is minor but I'm including it because it's somewhat personal. There's a small mention of a character attending NYU's art history grad program toward the end of the book, and the brief description of it is in no way close to any actual art history grad program, much less the one at NYU, which I attended myself. Should have been simple enough to fact check.

Otherwise, no complaints. Beautiful, evocative, and perfect for New York City history junkies.

First line: Clara Darden’s illustration class at the Grand Central School of Art, tucked under the copper eaves of the terminal, was unaffected by the trains that rumbled through ancient layers of Manhattan schist hundreds of feet below.

Summary: For Clara, a struggling artist and illustration teacher, Grand Central School of Art is a stepping stone in the hopes of greater things to come. She has dreams of working for Vogue as an illustrator. By moving to New York City, she left behind everything but so far, things have not turned out the way she had planned.
After her divorce, Virginia Clay has been trying to figure out how to support herself and her daughter after spending years as the wife of a powerful attorney. When she gets a job at Grand Central Terminal in the information booth, she does not realize how much it will change her life. She discovers a watercolor behind a cabinet in the old art school and it leads her on search for the artist and the history of the terminal.

Highlights: I really enjoyed the character of Levon. He was fiery and temperamental. He portrays the iconic angsty artist. He had a rich back-story and little quirks that made him stand out. I wish that he were a real person so I could see some of the work that Davis describes in her novel.
The descriptions of Grand Central were amazing. Google is my best friend when reading historical fiction. I am always pausing my reading to search for pictures or more information about places and characters. It is sad that the terminal was in such bad shape in the 70s and that at one point it was going to be torn down. I have never traveled to NYC but I have seen the station at Kansas City and if it is half as pretty as that, it would have been a shame to lose it.
I have enjoyed the time jumps in Davis’ work. I think the thing that makes her work so great. She is able to switch between characters and time while keeping the flow of the story. I have not read her second book, The Address, yet but I am on hold for it now.

Lowlights: The beginning was a little slow to start. Davis gave us some background on the characters plus some information about the time. Then the speed of the relationships went very fast. I was a little shocked by Virginia early on but she grew on me as I continued to read. One scene in particular stood out between Virginia and Dennis.

FYI: If you like this try the novels of Susan Meissner.

Before the planes became popular, “Grand Central was the beating heart of NYC. Soldiers, artists, businessmen, all dashing to get where they needed to go.”

This story brings two women whose lives are influenced by this place of Grand Central.

1928, 25 year old Clara Darden teaches illustration at Grand Central School of Art. She has big aspirations, but as a woman of her time her options are limited. As a female teacher, this already causes some male students to drop her class.

The Grand Central Art Galleries take the 6th floor of the terminal where Clara’s latest work is supposed to be displayed. As she walks through galleries, her work is nowhere to be found. She finds it in the back office.

But it takes only one person to influence the director at the art school, and another with connections at Vogue. The rest starts falling into her portfolio, including a position as an industrial designer.

1974, 40 year old Virginia Clay after 19 years of being a wife to a corporate lawyer, she gets divorced and is forced to get a job. She finds a position at info booth at Grand Central. At the top floor, she comes across rooms, where sign says Grand Central School of Art. There she comes across a sketch signed by Clara Darden. Her curiosity leads her to investigate her finds.

The story is told in an entertaining language. It has a good flow in the first half of the book. The second half falls apart with family drama, relationship drama, and the investigative curiosity of Virginia turns pretty flat.

very enjoyable glimpse into the history of art in the 1920’s. a very interesting story of the fight to preserve the glory of Grand Central Station. FIONA davis’s best book to date..

As with "The Dollhouse", this novel tells a story in dual timelines - 1928|1974.

The story of Grand Central Terminal in its glory in 1928 and in a state of decay in 1974.

1928: Clara, a forward-thinking, progressive woman is the sole female teacher in the art school on the top floor of Grand Central Terminal. The fight for equality and notice gives her drive to become an unknown but very appreciated artist. This fight is the change of her life on the brink of the Great Depression. Not only does she not foresee the aftermath that this time period will bring to her future professionally, but the altercations in her personal life also attest to this very dark time.

1974: Virginia, a determined newly-single mother, begins her fight to survive and provide. She takes a job at the decrepit Grand Central information booth. Discoveries in the Terminal, provide her with a newly formed motivation to not only better herself but also save Grand Central from the looming destruction.

The unearthing of one small piece of Grand Central's history - a watercolor from the original art school - leads to the passion for restoration not only of the building but of those who once resided within its walls.

Set in two different decades, 1928 and 1975 the book centers around the art field and Grand Central Station. In 1928 Clara Darden was a young artist teaching at the Grand Central School of Art. A talented illustrator Clara is having difficulty breaking into the artistic world, as female artists at that time were very much looked down upon.
Fifty years later Virginia Clay is facing struggles of her own. Newly divorced and a survivor of breast cancer she takes a job in the information booth at Grand Central Station to support both herself and her daughter. Stumbling upon the now defunct art school she happens upon a watercolor hidden in the dust. She now takes it upon herself to find the artist of the unsigned piece of art.
This was a wonderful book, especially for those who are interested in art and the history of New York City. Well researched and well written, this book is highly recommended. I have read other books by this author and without a doubt, I look forward to more of a her writing. My thanks to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

"In her latest captivating novel, nationally bestselling author Fiona Davis 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.

For the nearly nine million people who live in New York City, Grand Central Terminal is a crown jewel, a masterpiece of design. But for Clara Darden and Virginia Clay, it represents something quite different.

For Clara, the terminal is the stepping stone to her future, which she is certain will shine as the brightly as the constellations on the main concourse ceiling. It is 1928, and twenty-five-year-old Clara is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art. A talented illustrator, she has dreams of creating cover art for Vogue, but not even the prestige of the school can override the public's disdain for a "woman artist." Brash, fiery, confident, and single-minded--even while juggling the affections of two men, a wealthy would-be poet and a brilliant experimental painter--Clara is determined to achieve every creative success. But she and her bohemian friends have no idea that they'll soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression, an insatiable monster with the power to destroy the entire art scene. And even poverty and hunger will do little to prepare Clara for the greater tragedy yet to come.

Nearly fifty years later, in 1974, the terminal has declined almost as sharply as Virginia Clay's life. Full of grime and danger, from the smoke-blackened ceiling to the pickpockets and drug dealers who roam the floor, Grand Central is at the center of a fierce lawsuit: Is the once-grand building a landmark to be preserved, or a cancer to be demolished? For Virginia, it is simply her last resort. Recently divorced, she has just accepted a job in the information booth in order to support herself and her college-age daughter, Ruby. But when Virginia stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor hidden under the dust, her eyes are opened to the elegance beneath the decay. She embarks on a quest to find the artist of the unsigned masterpiece--an impassioned chase that draws Virginia not only into the battle to save Grand Central but deep into the mystery of Clara Darden, the famed 1920s illustrator who disappeared from history in 1931."

Literally THE BOOK everyone I know is talking about this summer!

A wonderful blending of two eras in the life of Grand Central Terminal. One begins in 1924 when the Grand Central School of Art was formed. Few women were able to teach but Clara Darden, an illustrator breaks through. She becomes a successful illustrator for Vogue until the Depression hits. Fast forward to the 1970s when it won’t be long until the wrecking ball tumbles down the illustrious building. Working at the information booth, newly divorced Virginia Clay tries to find her way. She joins the fight to save the station along with Jackie Kennedy and bring back the art from the time.

I really enjoyed this book. Davis's descriptive writing about Grand Central Terminal in the 1920s and 1970s allows the reader to imagine themselves in the grand space, in both its best and worst times. The main character, Clara Darden, is a strong female artist in the 1920s who bucks convention and stereotypes about illustrators at that time. Told in alternating chapters, Virginia is a recently divorced cancer survivor who stumbles across artwork at the terminal in the mid 1970s, and she and Clara find themselves with similar interests. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy historical fiction and strong female leads.

This is a fantastic book about Grand Central Terminal in New York City and two women, Clara and Virginia, whose lives are affected by it.
I like its narrative style that takes turns focusing on each woman, Clara in the 1920's and Virginia in the 1970's. The author's attention to detail in the culture and surroundings of each time period makes the story richer and the characters more alive. Her description of the architecture and art of Grand Central Terminal made me want to go there; I've only ridden past it on tours. The plot was interesting and suspenseful at times. There were a few surprises along the way too. I became invested in the story early on and couldn't put it down, reading most of it in one day. This is a book I highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a fascinating read and I really enjoyed it. This book follows two women separated by fifty years as they try and make it in the world. The story revolved around the history and majesty of Grand Central Terminal in New York City.
I can't describe how awesome it was to read about the beauty and grandeur of Grand Central in the 1920's and the decay of it in the 1970's. There is a lot of fact in this fiction also which was so wonderful. This book also revolves very much around art.
We first follow Clara in 1928. Clara is an artist and also teaches in the Art School School that is located in the upper floors of Grand Central. This was a time period when Grand Central was the highlight of the city. She is very much fighting tooth and nail to be taken seriously as an artist during a time when women were not really taken seriously.
Secondly, we follow Virginia in 1974. She works for Grand Central during a time when it was very dirty, dark, and scheduled for demolition. Virginia recognizes the beauty under the grime and joins a fight to stop the demolition. She also discovers the remains of the old art studios in the now dark corners of the terminal.
These two stories converge in a surprising way. I loved every minute of reading this. Grand Central Terminal is fully restored now and is once again an artistic jewel and deserves its status as an official landmark.

ERPIECE” BY FIONA DAVIS Penguin Group/ Dutton Publishing August 2018

Bravo to Fiona Davis , Author of “The Masterpiece” for writing an amazing, captivating, intense, riveting, entertaining and enthralling novel. I love everything about “The Masterpiece.” I appreciate the historical research that the author has done. Fiona Davis is a creative force when it comes to writing and describing the vivid images and colorful characters, combining fiction and historical fiction. The Genres of this novel are Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery with a dash of Romance. The spotlight and center of interest in the story is The Grand Central Station Terminal in New York City. There are two timelines, with different characters that depict the historical and fictional events.

Part of the history in The Grand Central Station is the former ART school, where famous artists worked on their creative inspirations. There also was a ritzy apartment, that later housed a famed bar.

In 1928, Clara Dane is teaching Art in the Grand Central Station School of Art. Clara’s strength is illustrations. Unfortunately women were not treated in equal measures to the men. Women Artists were looked down upon. Clara was not treated fairly. Clara’s claim to fame is that her illustrations land on the cover of Vogue Magazine. When the Great Depression occurs, it forces the owners to close down the Art School. Clara has two men that play a significant part in her life. Clara also dabbles in other forms of Art. With the Depression, things change.

Fifty years late, in 1978 the Grand Central Station Terminal is in much need of a Facelift. Things are dirty, and there are homeless people as well as people dealing drugs hanging around. Virginia Clay, a divorced mom with a young daughter needs a job. Virginia finds employment working in the information booth in the terminal. When Virginia is wandering around, she finds the location of the old art school. Virginia also finds a gorgeous painting, actually a masterpiece. Virginia is determined to find out who the painter is. As Virginia investigates, she finds that she in possibly in danger.

Sadly there is a discussion of tearing down the Grand Central Station Terminal. Led by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, there is a group trying to preserve the history and integrity of this landmark.

I love when the past and present merge. There are some Uh- Oh moments, and twist and turns. I highly recommend this fantastic intriguing novel , especially for those that enjoy Historical Fiction. I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review.

Grand Central Terminal is an iconic landmark in New York City. This is the setting of this beautifully described book. It is told from 2 points of views and 2 different time periods. Clara was an artist in 1928 teaching at the Grand Central School of Art and Virginia a single mother working at Grand Central Terminal in 1974. The dual story lines work perfectly together and both narrators are strong, independent women who both are dealing with personal challenges. I enjoyed learning about the time period during the time Grand Central Terminal was saved from demolition. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton. All opinions are my own.