This was a 2 star read. I typically love historical fiction books especially if it is a break from WW2. I really enjoyed Fiona Davis' other book "The Lions on Fifth Avenue". Unfortunately this book didn't measure up.

I loved the dual timelines and reading Veronica and Lilly's lives in different decades. However, there really isn't much plot. This book solely rested on art history with the Frick Museum. There was a touch of murder at the beginning of the book but that fizzled out quickly which left me bored and wanting more.

This book had so much potential and for me it fell flat.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My favorite two genres have always been fantasy and historical fiction, and though I'm branching out more now (there's simply too many good books out there to be reigned in by one genre!), I'll always love them the best. And because I do love them so, I'm much harder on them. I read this book in about two-and-a-half days, which is rare for me as I'm (sometimes unfortunately) a pretty leisurely reader. But I simply couldn't put it down! I think I've found a new favorite, and I've happily added Ms. Davis' other works to my TBR.

1919, New York City. The world is teetering on the cusp of change; hemlines are getting shorter, along with hair, cut sleekly into bobs, and young people are ready to live life to the fullest, to party and drink the night away with the dawning of the Jazz Age, and to perhaps forget all that's been lost, to war and to the recent and deadly outbreak of Spanish Flu.

Lillian Carter is a modern woman -- unfortunately the rest of the world is just now playing catch-up. Since the age of fifteen she has posed, in various states of undress, for countless artists, who have molded her form into dozens of sculptures all over New York. With her mother's help she became Angelica, the perfect model. Unfortunately, the art world is fickle, and, after her mother's death from the Spanish Flu, Lillian is low on both cash and friends. When her groping landlord kills his wife, and she is falsely implicated in a love-triangle between them, she runs, desperate to flee the accusations and to make a better life for herself. By luck -- whether it be bad or good -- she happens upon the illustrious Frick house, and into the position of personal secretary to the mercurial Helen Clay Frick. Now all she needs to do is last long enough to get some money to hightail it to California, where a movie producer promises her a life on the screen. Only Lillian is unexpectedly caught up in the controlling, tragic, volatile -- and eventually, murderous -- web that is the Frick family.

1966, New York City. If they thought the ankle-brushing dresses of the '20s were scandalous, they had another thing coming with miniskirts. Veronica Weber is a model of a new age, originally from London and sporting a mushroom-style haircut courtesy of her mother's shears. She's desperate to make enough money to free her disabled twin, Polly, from the home she's been put in after the tragic death of their father. When she gets the chance to model for Vogue, things finally seem to be going her way. The first part of the shoot takes place in the Frick house, now a museum and ode to the past, but after a quarrel with the tyrannical photographer, she is left locked inside during a blackout due to a snowstorm. Luckily, she isn't alone: intern Joshua is there, too. When Veronica stumbles across a series of letters, a part of a scavenger hunt long forgotten, they decide to follow them. What they don't expect is to find a clue that will unravel a decades old mystery, and possibly, make Veronica's fortune.

I've heard of the other illustrious New York families dozens of times: the Astors, the Vanderbilts, the Rothschilds and Rockefellers, but I've never heard of the Fricks, whose wealth seemed to come at a terrible price. The family was plagued by misfortune, childhood deaths and assassination attempts, a fraught relationship between the surviving children, which was only exacerbated by the reading of their father's will. But this oftentimes ugly family dynamic was surrounded by incomparable beauty -- sculptures and Fragonard's, gold and Gainsborough's. It was amazing to learn that this house-cum-museum is a real place, one that you can even tour! I loved Lillian's personality, and while I didn't click with Veronica as much, I could understand her undying devotion to her sister, being a sister myself.

This book is a beautiful confection of historical fiction and fact, mystery, a study on family dynamics, and ultimately, a tale of forgiveness. It's a must read for any history lover, and I have no doubts that it's going to be one of the best of 2022.

I was so excited to be chosen to review this book by NetGalley! Who writes better Historical figures than Fiona Davis?

The book starts off in 1919, where Lillian's life has fallen apart.

She loses her mother to the Spanish Flu when she was 26 years old.

She is one of the most sought after artists, going by the name Angelica but after the passing of her mom, her ambition to work has gone out the window.


There are advances made towards her by her landlord to help her pay her rent, which she denies him. When he murders his wife and the police find a note from Angelica, she's called in for questioning

Helen Frick needs a secretary and when Lillian hears of this she jumps at the chance to work for her, even though she gets pulled into more things than she thought she would.

The story proceeds to the 1960's where during a snowstorm, Veronica and Justin get locked in the Frick Museum and decided to look into the murder.

What they find is so much more!

There is so much history here but it doesn't bog you down. It leaves you wanting more without overdoing it.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this most amazing work!

I just reviewed The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis. #TheMagnoliaPalace #NetGalley

THE MAGNOLIA PALACE by Fiona Davis brings my love for art history and good writing together in one place. Told in dual timelines, the readers follow two models with very different experiences but in the same place – the Frick Mansion. I love how much time the novel covers, how the characters interact with the art and the architecture, and the mystery that is ultimately resolved well in the end. This novel made me add several reference books to my TBR list and I’m excited to learn more about the real people and places that inspired this historical fiction journey. I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Magnolia Palace was an enjoyable dual-time line historical mystery. In 1919, Lillian stumbles into a job at the Frick Mansion working as a personal secretary to Henry Clay Frick’s daughter. Almost 50 years later, Veronica is working as a model at the same location, which is now an art museum.

I enjoyed the intrigue, which definitely kept me turning the pages, and I loved the historical snippets weaved into the book. The ending was way too neat and cutesy for my tastes, but it was a good read overall.

This book is written in a dual timeline meaning it follows two specific characters who are living in stories roughly 50 years apart in the timeline. At the end of the book, the author brings this two timelines into present time and weaves them together. She did a wonderful job at this.

The mystery revolving around a lost broach and how each character was going to get out of their pickle. It kept me on my toes reading and reaching for the next chapter!

There is a small love story that is slightly a tangled web but the author keeps the reading material very appropriate for teenage readers.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
I give this book 4.25 stars

Lillian Carter stumbles upon an employment opportunity at the Frick mansion.But the longer she works as a private secretary to Helen Frick, the daughter of industrialist and art patron Henry Clay Frick, the more deeply shes pulled into a tangled web of romantic trysts, stolen jewels, and family drama.
Nearly 50 years later,Veronica Weber has her own chance within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into one of NYC’s most impressive museums. She chances upon a series of hidden messages that will lead her on a hunt that could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in the infamous Frick family.

I found this such a refreshing read the author cleverly researches real life historical places, people and events then magically weaves a tale of fiction for the reader to enjoy. I was transported between 1919 and 1966 and immersed myself within the mansion setting,the artwork and sculptures and the missing magnolia diamond.. I found the beautifully crafted characters engaging especially Lillian,
Plenty of mystery and secrets to unfold! .
With thanks to Netgalley,Fiona Davis and Penguin Group Dutton for my chance to read and review this book

This story, told in 2 different timelines, spans from 1919 to 1966 and highlights the Frick house in NYC (now an art museum). There's murder, romance, betrayal, & secrets. The 1966 story was a bit convoluted to me, but the author's attention to art history & detail makes up for the rather slow-moving plot.

Thanks to NetGalley & Dutton for the ARC.

Fascinating historical fiction about the famous Frick family of NYC and the effort Helen Clay Frick went to establishing an art reference library while turning her home into an illustrious art museum. I have read all of Fiona Davis’ books and this meets the same high standard of her previous novels. I liked the way the author incorporated the different interactions among the social and economic classes present during the early 20th century. And it was all done within the context of a splendid fictional tale. Thanks to #NetGalley and #TheMagnoliaPalace for an advanced digital copy.

Another terrific book by Fiona Davis! She always writes a good story about landmark places in NYC and there is always something to learn when reading one of her books. This was really good and highly recommended for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

I cannot tell you how happy it makes me when a book is based around a real family. The Magnolia Palace takes you on an astonishing journey of the Frick's, their home, and the art that surrounded them. Fiona Davis is a master of drawing you in with strong female characters. That are deeply layered and deliciously flawed. Davis does an astonishing job of weaving fact with fiction, making the story leap off the page and play like a movie in your mind. I was unable to put this book down, wanting to figure out what happens to the family and the people that worked for them. I also enjoyed the dual timelines set in 1919 and 1966 New York. Bringing the mystery that ripped a family apart, finally come to a close.

Lillian Carter or better yet the gorgeous artist muse of the 1900's, Angelica, is still grieving from the loss of her mother to the Spanish Flu. She is struggling to find jobs and will take anything that comes her way. She is short on money and cannot pick herself up from the sadness that is draped around her. When her landlord's wife is murdered and all the clues point to Angelica, she leaves her home with nothing. She accidentally stumbles into the Frick's household, and she is suddenly Henry Clay Frick's daughter's personal secretary. Her ability to mold and shape herself into becoming what people want her to be plays well and she blossoms in this job. Having a safe, warm bed, a steady income, allows her to deal with the stubborn, bullying ways of Miss Helen. Fast forward to 1966, the Frick house is now a museum and Veronica is on her first photoshoot for Vogue. She stumbles upon a scavenger hunt and the rest is left to history.

I loved the rich details, the enticing descriptions, and how the charismatic characters, all come together to make for one astonishing read. You will find yourself googling all things Frick and researching to see if Angelica was a real person. I highly recommend this vibrant read! Thank you to Fiona Davis, Dutton, and NetGalley for this breathtakingly phenomenal trip back in time.

Usually with a dual timeline book like this, I struggle with loving one timeline so much more than the other that I feel like my enjoyment is interrupted when the timeline switches. That happened here but only for a short period of time and disappeared quickly once I got in to the book. Both lead characters in the two timelines were unique strong women stuck in tenuous positions. Both of their stories were interesting enough to carry the book on their own, so combined made for a page turner! I even loved the characters that weren't supposed to be loveable. They felt a bit like caricatures meant to be stereotypes and help highlight the plight of the two women. And, while the book centers around an old family home that becomes an art gallery, I do not feel you need to appreciate art to understand and enjoy this historical fiction about the Frick family and the people around them.

The Magnolia Palace chronicles the life of Lillian, otherwise known as Angelica, a model and muse for many of the statues around New York City. She find herself adrift after her mother dies, and she gets into some trouble, and finds herself in front of the Frick Mansion. After a case of mistaken identity, she lands a job as the personal secretary to Helen Frick, which happens to be a live in position. She decides she will take the job just until she can earn enough to pay for a train ticket to Hollywood, where she can begin her acting career.

This story is told in two perspectives, Lillian's, in the year 1919, and Veronica's in the year 1966. Veronica is a model hired to do a shoot at the Frick Mansion after it became a museum. Both points of view are interesting and move the story along. I thought the story was great and engaging, and you definitely were rooting for all the players in the book.

Overall, this is a great historical fiction novel, and a wonderful alternative to those who love historical fiction, but feel like they're always in a WWII novel rut.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fiona Davis’ most recent novel, The Magnolia Palace is a delight to read. Set between the early 1900s and the 1966’s, the novel tells a story revolving around the art world, a stolen diamond, and a death surrounded by mystery.

In the novel, we meet the artist's muse, Lillian Carter (know professionally as Angelica) who takes a position as a private secretary to the daughter of the wealthy Frick family (whose home was turned into a museum at the wishes of the family patriarch Henry Clay Frick.) Lillian finds herself at the mercy of her employer's changeable moods while trying to keep the secret of her past from coming to light.

In the 1966’s we meet Veronica, who travels to America for a Vogue photoshoot and finds herself trapped in the Frick Museum over a long weekend. There she meets Joshua a young intern, and together they work to unravel the clues from a decades-old murder.

I read this book over the course of several evenings, because it’s just too good to rush through, and the ending is definitely worth it! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves art, mysteries, and family drama.

Another fabulous historical fiction from Fiona Davis.

I absolutely love how Davis weaves a story. Moving between two time periods. It was so interesting to learn about Helen Frick and her personal secretary, Lillian. I also really enjoyed Joshua and Veronica’s story as they uncovered the Frick family history.

If you like historical fiction and learning more about New York, pick this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for an advanced e-book of The Magnolia Palace!

The Magnolia Palace showcases an intricate depiction of life within the 1910s in one of the wealthiest families in New York City, whilst also exploring the secrets left behind almost fifty years later. The book revolves around Lillian, a young woman who is caught in a massive misunderstanding and is forced to fend for herself like never before. Thanks to her misfortunes, Lillian waltzes right into the life of a private secretary in one of New York's most elite households. We get to explore the inner workings of a high-society family, akin to the drama and ornateness of Downton Abbey.

I enjoyed that Lillian was on a journey within herself to find worth outside of what she had known for so long. She was fiery, but she knew when to hold her tongue and go through the motions most of the time. I felt like I was friends with her and only wanted the best for her the whole way through. Helen managed to be the most likable unlikable character that I have ever read and I would honestly just love to sit down and listen to her stories.

The side plot set in 1966 could drag at times, but I really enjoyed a look into how a home of such elegance had fared throughout the decades. It had whimsical aspects that kept me turning the page looking to see what they would get into next. The ending was beautiful and I feel like these characters will stay with me for quite some time.

In 1919 Lillian’s life has fallen apart - her mother just died of the Spanish Flu, she was once a famous model, but a scandal has left her on the run. She ends up becoming a personal secretary for heiress Helen Frick and begins to help her create a library cataloging her father’s art.

In 1966 model Veronica is trying to restart her career and finds herself at a photoshoot at the Frick Collection. A series of events leaves her locked in the museum where she stumbles across a scavenger hunt made by Helen nearly 50 years earlier.

I adore Fiona Davis’ work and this book is no exception. Whenever I read one of her books, I learn so much about the history of these incredible NYC landmarks and learning more about the Frick Collection was fascinating. I loved the dual time-lines and how they end up intertwining. This book has a great Old Hollywood feel and manages to mix history, glamour, and a little bit of mystery all with a fictional twist.

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Author Fiona Davis is known for her historical fiction novels set in famous buildings in New York City. The Magnolia Palace was the nickname for the Frick mansion that was built by industrialist Henry Clay Frick to house his art collection. He bequeathed the mansion and art collection to New York City after his death to become a museum.

While a teenager, Lillian Carter, had been an artists’ muse. Known professionally as Angelica, she was the first super-model, with her face adorning many famous sculptures and paintings. Now at age 21, her prospects are drying up. When Lillian’s mother dies from the Spanish flu, her unscrupulous landlord tries to seduce her. Things go astray, and Lillian must quickly escape in order to avoid questioning by the police. By chance, she finds herself at the Frick Mansion, where she is hired to be Helen Frick’s personal secretary. Helen is the 31-year-old eccentric daughter of Frick and his sickly wife. Frick offers Lillian a large bonus if she can help Helen get engaged and be married to Richard Danforth by the end of the year. Things get very complicated when Mr. Frick becomes ill and a valuable gem, known as the Magnolia Diamond, mysteriously disappears.

Fast forward to 1966, a young British model, Veronica Weber, is offered the chance to be in a Vogue photo shoot that starts at The Frick Collection. When something upsets her, Veronica ends up hiding in a secluded room that houses pipes from the organ. There she stumbles across a series of clues that had been written by Helen Frick for Mr. Danforth. When a snow storm shuts down the city, Veronica finds herself locked into the mansion, along with a young intern. The two set out to find the remaining clues. Along the way, Veronica discovers the Magnolia Diamond. Knowing this diamond would secure her financial future, she grapples with what to do about the discovery.

Fiona Davis quickly draws the reader into the world of the mansion and its glorious art. The mystery of who stole the diamond and perhaps committed murder is intriguing. The dual timelines work well together.

4.5-Stars, rounded up. Book Club recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group, Dutton for my advanced reader copy. Also thanks to author Martha Hall Kelly whose high praise of this novel encouraged me to read it. This novel will be released on January 25, 2022.

This was an interesting historical fiction novel that has a dual time line of 1919 and 1966 in New York City involving art and the historical Frick House. I enjoyed learning about the history from those times that I was not aware of and learning more about the Frick family. The characters were well developed although not always likable. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

What a thoroughly complex story based on the historical Flick Family. I had no clue nor knowledge about this family until reading this book.
There was so much going on within the story. From secrets, romance, family, mystery, betrayals and historical information.
Told in duel timeline of 1919 and 1966 the author does a spectacular job of intertwining the stories. At first, I wasn’t sure where it was going. And, then it all started to fall in place.
Though this is a historical fiction, the story is based on many interesting facts. The author certainly did her research while writing The Magnolia Palace.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.