Fiona Davis takes readers to New York City and into the lives of two women making a living from modeling in different eras. While one is struggling to keep her career moving the other is struggling just to start it, and it’ll take a snowstorm to bring them together and solve a mystery surrounding the Frick family.

Six fiction titles into her career, Davis has taken the genre of split-time suspense and made it her own. Here she features the historic Frick family and wraps them into a tale about art and appearances. She doesn’t shy away from Henry Clay Frick’s notoriety as one of the founders of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club in Pennsylvania which owned the South Fork Dam. The failure of this dam caused the Johnstown Flood of 1889. In the Pittsburgh area, Frick is also considered widely responsible for the deaths during the Homestead strike just three years later. His relationship with Andrew Carnegie was consequently strained, and Frick moved to New York City where he built the house at the center of this story. Although he isn’t the main character here, I’m glad to see that these elements of his past were included.

I read The Magnolia Palace in one day, and I loved every minute of it. I didn’t know who was responsible for the mystery and hadn’t picked up on the clues Davis left for her readers. If you love art or art history, I definitely recommend grabbing a copy when it comes out in a couple of weeks.

Disclaimer: Although I received an electronic Uncorrected Proof of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, the opinions above are my own.

Grab a cup of coffee and read this very intriguing 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ book!


1919
Lillian Carter age 21 has just lost her mom Kitty, who was her biggest supporter and beloved confidant. Lillian tries to resume her work as a study for sculptures, but is unsuccessful in her attempts at full-time work in her field. Fiona encounters employment for the very wealthy Helen Frick as her personal assistant. This is a perfect job opportunity until Fiona is accused of criminal misconduct.


1966
Veronica Webber's family is financially struggling. Her twin sister Polly is handicapped and requires full time nursing care. Veronica accepts a modeling job for "Vogue" being photographed at the Frick Art Museum. This is the mansion where the Frick family formerly lived. During a snowstorm Veronica and a employee of the museum Joshua Lawrence, accidentally get locked in all night. The bored duo stumble upon a scavenger hunt originally set up years ago by Helen Frick for her fiancee. The clues take them on a adventure the reader will not soon forget.


I love Fiona Davis books. This one is particularly fascinating. It is historical fiction, but is based very loosely on some true events in Helen Clay Frick's life. If you decide to read this book, be sure to read the author's notes at the end. Fiona Davis shares some very interesting background.


Thank you NetGalley, Fiona Davis, and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, for allowing me to review this e-book. It is absolutely the best novel I've read in a very long time! Standing Ovation Fiona Davis!

The Magnolia Palace is set in The Frick Museum in New York City. Having visited this museum a few times, I was excited to read this book. If you’ve been to The Frick, you’ll find yourself envisioning the rooms as you read. The story takes place in dual time lines- in 1919 while the Frick family still lives in their mansion, and nearly 50 years later when a British model is at The Frick for a photo shoot. An unsolved mystery from when the Fricks lived in the mansion will come to the surface with the help of the model Veronica and an art curator Joshua. The alternating story lines will endear you to Miss Helen Frick, Lillian her private secretary, Veronica and Joshua, and somehow it all revolves into a beautiful ending.
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I really enjoyed the story, the mystery, The characters, and the setting! I think I’ll head back to The Frick soon so I can visualize all the rooms as they played out in the story.
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Have you been to The Frick? If not, I highly recommend it! The pictures I’ve included show the exterior with blooming magnolia trees, the organ, and the Fragonard room.

What a way to start the new year out with a really great Historical Fiction book! This is told in a then and now format with then being New York City 1919 where we find 21-year-old Lillian Carter, aka Angelica, an artist's muse with statues of herself all over New York City mostly in various stages of nudity. Angelica returns to her apartment from a session to find that her landlord's wife has been murdered. Suspicion falls upon Angelica after police find a letter she had written to her landlord who was wanting to take advantage of her inability to pay her rent. Police were going to take her into custody but she slipped out of her bedroom window and escaped. She was extremely thirsty and went to the door of the Frick mansion where a servant let her in thinking she was applying for a job as private secretary to wealthy Helen Frick. Fast forward to 1966 NYC where 18-year-old Veronica Weber of England has landed a modeling assignment at the Magnolia Palace which was the former Frick mansion. I will not tell you anything further because you need to read this book and enjoy it as much as I did. What a great read!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group/Dutton publishers for the ARC of this intensely intriguing read that I could not and did not want to put down.

Another great historical fiction novel by Fiona Davis! The dual timeline story takes place in 1919 and 1966.The story follows the life of Lillian as a young girl who has just lost her mother and is trying to survive . She becomes a personal secretary to the wealthy Helen Frick in New York City.
Fifty years later , Veronica a young model has her first job in a shoot for Vogue at the Frick manison. A wonderful mystery story that keeps you engaged until the end. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Magnolia Palace is my first read by author Fiona Davis.

The main story takes place in 1919 and revolves around Henry Clay Frick’s slightly eccentric and prickly daughter, Helen, who through happenstance, hires Lillian Carter to be her personal secretary. Lillian is actually a famous artist’s model whose often sculptured figure adorns a multitude of buildings and artworks throughout New York including one above the port-cochere of the Frick Mansion. Seeing herself above the entrance to the house, Lillian stops at the open door and asks for a drink of water, not knowing that the staff thinks she is there for an interview. In reality, Lillian at that moment is trying to hide from the police who want to interview her in connection to the murder of her lecherous landlord’s wife, in what the newspapers are erroneously calling a scandalous love triangle.
The second storyline revolves around another model set in 1966. Veronica is a photogenic young woman from England, who through some luck and a quirky haircut, finds her way to the Frick Museum for a photo shoot that ends up with her and Joshua Lawrence, one of the Collection’s interns, being stranded in the museum during a blizzard. Although I found this second storyline weaker that the main one, it was still entertaining and solved the mystery of the brooch and diamond.

I can't wait to read more from Ms. Davis; she has a way of blending place and plot that keeps the reader engaged and wanting to know more!

I loved 1/2 of this book and did not like the other 1/2. The part that I loved tells the story of Lillian/Angelica at the turn of the century. Angelica was an artist's muse, a controversial job at that time because it meant she had to pose nude. When her mother dies she gets into a sticky situation and must flee her home. She gets a job at the Frick Mansion as Helen Frick's personal secretary. This part of the story is so much fun and so interesting-- I knew nothing about the Frick's and their art museum in NYC.

The other half of the book takes place in the 1960s when a would-be English model, Veronica, and an intern get snowed in at the Frick Museum. Although the two stories tie in together, I found this part to be forced and made-for-tvish.

Honestly, this is another incredible work of historical fiction by Davis. She clearly goes above and beyond in her research and the characters just fly off the page. I was OBSESSED with the Lions of Fifth Avenue. I mean come one I run a book blog and it’s about a family that gets to live in one of the best libraries!

Magnolia Palace focuses on two key characters in two different times. Lillian in 1916 and Veronica in 1966 how these two are related is the mystery throughout and their similarities are beautifully shown throughout. Bringing in the infamous Frick family has enough mystery to keep the story interesting but allow for strong character development and even some romance.

Review will be posted on 1/13 @literarylu_

My first read by this author.

This book is a historical that has some intense things going on. Models, artist. Murder...

Fiona Davis weaved a story that will keep you reading. When Lillian goes on the run after being accused of helping her landlord kill his wife, her life is never the same. Then she gets a job where something else causes her to run. What if anything will she do. How is she going to survive it all. Lillian is a very resilient woman. Her mother taught her what to do in life to possibly get ahead. Or be known. This was in 1919..

Jump ahead now to 1966.. We meet Veronica. An aspiring model who was found quite by accident. After a horrendous haircut it seems people notice her for her life takes a turn for the "better.". But when on a photo shoot in the Frick mansion/museum things go horribly wrong. That is when things really get interesting,

This book is well written and will hold your interest. There is a lot going on and two timelines. Two women who's life intersect and some thrills too along the way. Well written and the descriptions make you feel you are there, in both timelines.

Thank you #NetGalley, #FionaDavis, #PenguinGroupDutton for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

4/5 stars and I recommend it.

This is my first ever Fiona Davis book and it won’t be my last. I absolutely love how she blends true life events with the fictional world in her mind. It’s seamless!

The story is told in 2 timelines, In 1919, Lillian is an aspiring model and actress when she inadvertently comes upon a murder. Lillian flees the city when the police jump to the conclusion that Lillian was part of a love triangle gone wrong. She happens by chance at the Frick mansion where through a turn of events she becomes Helen Frick’s personal secretary.

In 1966, the Frick mansion is now alive as an art museum. Veronica Weber, an aspiring model and actress, is at the museum for a photo shoot which goes wrong. Veronica gets left behind. Locked in overnight, she chances upon a scavenger hunt created by Helen for her hopeful fiancé. Veronica meets archivist Joshua and the 2 follow the clues to hopefully uncover an unknown mystery about the Frick family.

This lovely novel strings together real life art and sculptures throughout New York. Together with the beautiful descriptions of art collections, this is a wonderfully constructed story. The characters are engaging, and the mystery is intriguing. It makes me want to travel to New York to explore the museum and art contained within.

A novel that informs and engages is a delicious treat! I especially love the underlying theme of female empowerment during a time in history when a woman was suppose to marry and marry well. It’s refreshing to learn all that Helen Frick accomplished as a single lady.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC. And thank you Fiona Davis for showing me the beauty in art!

🌸Book Review🌸
Read this if you:
*like scavenger hunts
*have ever been in the right place at the right time
*are interested in art
*are obsessed with this cover
*you want to read an incredible book

I love historical fiction & dual timelines. I was immediately engrossed in this book and flew through it. The writing was beautiful, the characters were relatable and the mystery that developed was interesting.

With The Magnolia Palace, Fiona Davis has once again taken her readers back to the New York City of the early 20th century. This time her setting is the glorious Frick mansion where wealthy businessman and art collector Henry Clay Frick rules the roost, and his devoted daughter Helen does all that she can to please him. Through a case of mistaken identity, Lillian Carter enters their world and becomes part of their complicated family drama. This drama continues for half a century until model Veronica Weber arrives at the now Frick Museum and sets in motion a series of events that could change the course of all their lives. Highly recommended.

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Magnolia Palace” by Fiona Davis, Dutton, January 25, 2022

Fiona Davis, the author of “The Magnolia Palace” has written an entertaining, intense, intriguing and thought-provoking novel. The genres for this story are Historical Fiction, with Mystery, a Dash of Romance. This is a fascinating novel with secrets, betrayals, artistic detail of the Frick family residence. I love the way the author visually depicts the use of art, sculptures, paintings, models, artists, music, and unique historical detail to create such an inspirational novel.

There are two timelines in this novel, with different characters that connect together like pieces in a puzzle. There is a sort of scavenger hunt of clues that plays out in the story. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. Not all characters are who they seem to be. There is an underlying mystery with danger. There are family dynamics that are dysfunctional and dangerous. Also, are stolen treasures that are significantly important. Fiona Davis has written a historical gem that I highly recommend for other readers.

I love Fiona Davis’s books - she always weaves some great NYC history into a fun fictional mystery. The two timelines worked perfectly between The Frick as residence and museum. I hate to admit but this is a museum I have not had the pleasure of visiting. Will begin with their virtual tour! With my art history background and love of NYC (past and current!), this was a perfect historical fiction read! Highly recommend! 💗📚🌸

@fionadavisauthor has found a formula that works and I hope she never abandons it! She has described her writing as layering a fictional story over the scaffold of historical facts. I think that is the beauty of historical fiction, taking a bit of truth, a bit of what we know, and reimagining it. Once again, Davis gives us two story lines. I would have to go back and revisit her other books, but I feel like this is the first time the two main characters’ lives paralleled each other so closely. And (spoiler alert) the first time they meet in person! Davis explores class and racial issues of the times, as well as family dynamics, female friendships and loyalty. This book sent me on a deep dive about the Frick Collection and the artists’ model Audrey Munson, who was the inspiration for Lillian and whose likeness can be found in sculptures throughout New York City.

This was my first Fiona Davis book and I really enjoyed it! The book grabbed me from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. The story is told through dual timelines and unfolds into a murder mystery and a mystery of the missing Magnolia Diamond.

In 1919, Lillian Carter, also known as Angelica, is an artists’ model and her image is captured in sculptures throughout NYC. After an unexpected turn of events, Lillian finds herself wrapped up in the art-filled world of the Frick family when she is hired as the private secretary of Helen Frick.

During a blizzard in 1966, Veronica Weber, an aspiring model, gets trapped in the Frick Museum with Joshua Lawrence, an archivist at the museum. After discovering a set of old clues, they set out on a scavenger hunt that results in a significant finding that links to the events in 1919.

The two timelines and characters eventually converge, and the story unfolds into an exciting whodunnit with great storytelling and character development. I look forward to reading more from Fiona Davis. Thank you very much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Author Fiona Davis has selected some of New York City’s most iconic, landmark locations as the locations for her books combining its history with an engaging fictional story which takes place in two time periods. Her choices of where to set her novels are all inspired. The Barbizon Hotel for Women, The Dakota, Grand Central Terminal, The Chelsea Hotel, The New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue and now, The Frick Collection. The Magnolia Palace does justice to one of the few remaining opulent structures from Old New York and its Gilded Age. Davis captures its grandeur with well-researched details. And by combining real-life historical figures, those inspired by true people and others imagined, we have another highly entertaining book with a well-developed story which should delight and captivate historical fiction fans, especially those who love books set in New York City. With each book, Fiona Davis continues to secure her place as a must-read author.

Once you read this book, you’ll want to visit The Frick, but note that the mansion is undergoing a major renovation so check for info on its reopening. The art collection has been moved to a temporary location. And get ready to Google Audrey Munson, the woman who inspired the character of Angelica.

In 1919, an artist’s model is trying to escape her past .... and nearly 50 years later, a fashion model trying to figure out her way forward into her future: these dual storylines comprise Fiona Davis’ latest historical fiction. This fascinating book intertwines the lives of these two strong young women and places them both in New York’s Frick Mansion, interacting with real-life historical figure, and founder of the Frick Art Reverence Library, Helen Clay Frick. A missing jewel, a faithless sweetheart, a scavenger hunt, a bickering family, and more kept me engrossed, page after page. Loved this book! Many thanks to NetGalley and Book Club Girl for this Advance Reader Copy! #TheMagnoliaPalace #NetGalley

Thanks to Netgalley I received the ARC of The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis. Starting with the Gilded Age of NYC, a young former sculptor's model seeking a safe haven finds employment as a private secretary in the Frick mansion.She becomes enmeshed in the family dynamics, learning about the origins of the magnificent art collection and the ambitions of daughter Helen. Intrigue and mystery follow, with resolution happening in the dual timeline of the late 60's. I loved this book!

I have completed my first book of the year (Goal- 52, right on track!) and what a book it was! I was especially pulled into this book because of the family in the story. One of America’s most infamously wealthy families, the Fricks made their fortune in steel. I currently live in Pittsburgh and knew almost nothing about the Frick history, believe it or not. I moved here and found there is a gorgeous Frick Park and a place known to yinzers simply as The Frick, which was the family’s home and is now a collection of museums and historical buildings. Other than those things, I knew nothing. Fiona Davis changed that.

The Magnolia Palace is told in dual timelines, 1919 and 1966. The story focuses on our 1919 protagonist, a muse turned private secretary to Miss Helen, Mr. Frick’s daughter. Our muse’s name is Lilly. She is smart, beautiful, and would do anything to work in film. Our 1966 gal is Victoria, a new model flown in from England who is stuck in the famous home/museum with intern Joshua after a snowstorm causes a blackout and locks them in. This actually takes place in NYC at their other home, where all the families erected their own “Vanderbuild”.

Mystery, scandal, murder, and money, Davis includes it all. Weaving her own storyline into the history of this well-known family, she gives us an historical novel impossible to put down.


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