The Magnolia Palace is a remarkable endeavor by the talented Fiona Davis. Davis walks us across an unexpected bridge of thought that spans from 1919 after the Great War and its impact on society to the Mod Years of the 1960's and beyond. It serves as a split screen depicting those who held on covetously to the past and those who blindly chased the future.
Lillian Carter finds herself fighting for survival in the expanse of New York City in 1919. She and her mother, Kitty, make the rounds on the 67th Street Studio District searching for modeling jobs for Lillian. Lillian has finally struck gold. Several artists have been taken with her Grecian attributes of classic beauty. With Kitty monitoring nearby, Lillian poses for breathtaking statues during the Beaux Arts period in New York City. Her image in The Three Graces stands in the entrance of the Hotel Astor.
But Kitty is taken too soon during the outbreak of the Spanish Flu and Lillian, known professionally as Angelica, is on her own with just pocket change after the funeral. Her dream is to be in films in Hollywood. And making that into reality is going to be a challenge. Her landlord proposes a way out with the rent. And to add insult to injury, Lillian is a suspect when his wife's murder is revealed. And here's where Fate steps in and Lillian is mistaken for someone else applying for a private secretary position at the Frick Mansion. She's hired on the spot and Hollywood could not have developed a better stage presence than the one that Lillian fakes. She now works for Miss Helen, the daughter of the famous Henry Clay Frick, steel magnate and art collector.
Miss Helen is a very cantankerous and difficult woman to please, but Lillian manages to reveal her knowledge of art without revealing her identity and that she is wanted by the police.
Fast-forward to 1966 with the now Frick Museum allowing a photo shoot with a bevy of models to take place within its walls. Veronica Weber is originally from London trying to make advances in her modeling career. Fate pays her a visit as well when she is locked inside the museum after the others have left. A fierce snowstorm hits the city and the power goes out. Veronica comes across Joshua Lawrence, museum archivist, down an unlit hallway. These two are on the edge of a big adventure .

The Magnolia Palace has everything I love— real historical people and descriptions, mysterious intrigue, richly developed characters (especially Miss Helen – whom I loved to hate!), multiple points of view, multiple timelines, fast pacing and a well earned ending. I tore through this book in a few sittings on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and it left me wanting more Fiona Davis!

Lillian Carter, once the most famous sculptural model of New York City’s gilded age, takes on the job as Miss Helen Clay Frick’s private secretary after a fortuitous mix-up. Miss Helen is the surviving daughter of Henry Clay Frick, a successful coke and steel magnate. Both Fricks have an obsession with collecting high end art. Lillian and Miss Helen form a bond at once, and she is pulled into the family’s drama and secrets. Almost 50 years later, Veronica Weber, also a model, ends up at the Frick mansion for a photo shoot. She and Joshua Lawrence, an intern at the museum studying art, discover the answers to some of those same secrets. Together, the two must decide what they should do with their newly gained knowledge.

I don’t want to give anything away, but this book is definitely worth picking up. It’s easy to read, immersive and had me looking up all of the historical characters, paintings and places long after I’d finished the book. There’s also a great author’s note at the end that explains how Fiona Davis came to write this story – including which parts she took liberties with. If you like historical fiction/family fiction/a mystery, this one is an easy pick.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton and Fiona Davis for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Historical fiction novels and art are two of my favorite things, so I was excited to read The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis. This is a dual timeline story that involves secrets, betrayals, and murder, all taking place inside the Frick mansion, now known as the Frick Collection.

1919: Artist’s muse Lillian Carter accidentally joins the Frick household as Miss Helen Frick’s personal secretary. As she begins to manage Miss Helen and the Frick household, information about family, and the servants, is revealed. There’s quite a lot of family drama within the Frick household and it all culminates with a murder and a missing cameo and diamond.

1966: Veronica is a model who has traveled to New York from London for a fashion shoot at the Frick Collection. While there, she meets Joshua, an intern archivist working at the museum. They end up trapped together in the mansion overnight as a snowstorm/blackout descends upon the city. While trapped, they solve the 50-year-old mystery of the missing cameo, which leads to the solving of the murder.

Davis did a wonderful job bringing the time-period, characters, and art to life. I enjoyed this story, the mystery, and the relationships between the characters, particularly in the 1919 storyline. I did find the 1966 storyline a bit rushed and unbelievable, but I can’t explain why without spoilers.

The author’s note at the end was interesting and Ms. Davis is sure to point out that this is a fictional story layered over historical facts. The Frick family, and much of the drama surrounding them, are factual, and the character of Lilian is lightly based on the real-life artist’s model, Audrey Munson, whose figure is over the front door of the Frick Collection.

Told in dual timelines in NYC, 1919 and 1966, it focuses on Lillian, an artist’s model turned assistant to Helen Frick and Veronica, a British model who is fired from a Vogue shoot at the famous Frick Museum.
Another great historical fiction novel from Fiona Davis. Well researched and filled with mystery, ‘hidden treasure’, family drama and, perhaps, murder. I was thrilled to receive an early copy of this novel thanks to the author and NetGalley.

Fiona Davis has mastered the use of the dual timeline in the historical fiction novels. This time she highlights the New York City’s Henry Clay Frick house once home to the wealthy Frick family and now a museum.
In 1919, Lillian Carter is a much sought-after artist model known professionally as Angelica (based on real life model Audrey Munson). Lillian has lost her mother to the Spanish Flu. Now paralyzed with grief, she does not know how to continue to work and live. When she inadvertently witnesses a murder in her apartment building, she flees from the police who think that she is part of a love triangle that led up to murder. Lillian happens upon a chance to hid at the Frick mansion when she is offered a job as the personal secretary to Helen Clay Frick daughter of wealthy Henry Clay Frick. Despite the demands of her new employer, Lillian soon finds success in her new position, even attempting to help Helen make an advantageous marriage.

Fast forward to 1966 and British aspiring model Veronica Weber finds herself on a photo shoot in New York City at the Frick Mansion, now functioning as a museum. When the photo shoot goes wrong, Veronica is locked in the mansion during a fierce snowstorm. While there she happens upon some papers describing a scavenger hunt that Helen had made for her soon to be fiancé. Trapped in the mansion along with Veronica is archivist Joshua Lawrence. the duo set out to decipher the clues that will ultimately lead to a solution of a long-lost secret.

Davis’ novels bring to life many of New York Cities landmarks, and this one is no exception. Along with beautiful descriptions of the famous art collection housed in the museum, this is an intricately plotted novel, with engaging characters and a well-developed story line. Davis masterfully combines history, fiction, and mystery to bring alive the Frick family and their amazing art collection. I highly recommend this to readers of historical fiction, especially those with an interest in art history and the amazing architecture of New York City.

I have loved all of Fiona Davis’s books, and this one became my favorite one right from the first page. It had everything you’d want in a historical fiction novel — a mystery that unfolds in different time periods, eccentric characters, unexpected twists, and love stories that make you feel all warm and fuzzy. This is a smart, dual time period novel with a scavenger hunt that spans decades. The descriptions of each era draws you in, and makes you think you know where the story is going. The ending is a surprise and a delight.

The Magnolia Palace is an intriguing and compelling historical fiction read. The story is told in dual time lines set in 1919 and 1966 in New York City at the mansion belonging to the Frick family. The time lines merge together beautifully. The Frick family is wealthy and famous, the home has an amazing art collection and is now a museum in NYC.
1919 Lillian has no job or money. By pure accident she gets a job with Helen Frick as her personal secretary.
1966 and Veronica Weber is doing a fashion shoot at the Frick museum and gets locked in.
So many secrets, murder, betrayal. Mystery involving the rare and expensive Magnolia diamond that went missing in 1919.
I grew up in NY and knew about the Frick family and the museum. Learned much more about the Frick family reading this incredible story. Never had the opportunity to go see it myself.
I love that Fiona Davis's books take me back to the place I grew up. She always pulls me in to the story and has me so engrossed that I find it very difficult to put the book down.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for giving me the opportunity to read this historical fiction.

Fiona Davis is a master of bringing the past alive. In this book, set in the Frick House, readers again find out a bit of history in a magical way. Alternating narrators from two time periods connect through a treasure hunt that culminates in a satisfactory ending.

This was a very enjoyable book by Ms. Davis. I have read other by this author and this one did not disappoint. The story follows two timelines one in the early part of the 1900 and sometime in the 1960. I had not heard of the Frick’s or the museum. The writing was very good and linked the two stories in a wonderful way. The story went to the past and solved a murder and helped the people involved I highly recommend this book. Thank you, Net Galley, for an advanced copy for an honest review.

This book took me on a great adventure through the art world of NYC in the 1910s! I loved the story and relationship between Miss Lilly and Miss Helen. It was interesting to watch their strange friendship unfold and then explode. I also loved the later timeline with Veronica and Joshua. The author did an amazing job of connecting the two stories and bringing everything full circle!

Set against the sumptuous backdrop of the Frick Collection, The Magnolia Palace is a delightful read featuring a cast of strong women during the dual timeline of 1919 and the 1960s. This novel is truly historical fiction at its best with a thread of mystery to bring it to the next level. Author, Fiona Davis, kept me captive for 24 hours as I devoured this book, my first of her collection, but definitely not my last. The pacing was excellent, the storyline was captivating, the author's note, true to genre, should not be missed.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton, Dutton and the author for an advanced e-copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Mark your calendars for January 25th when it will hit the shelves!

Another great historical fiction read from Fiona Davis! Based in New York City at the Frick mansion, the story alternates between 1919 inside the household of the Fricks and the 1960s when the house is now a museum. In 1919, an artist muse runs after she’s wanted for questioning related to the murder of her landlord and lands at the Frick household where there is much family drama. In 1960, a new model is stranded at the Frick museum after a shoot there. She and an intern for the museum discover secrets from the past.

I thoroughly enjoyed following these historical characters as well as learning about the Frick museum, which I did not know about prior to this book. While all of the characters are not always likable, the author gives you insight as to why they act as they do. The book kept me engaged from beginning to end and I very much appreciated the authors note at the end of the book which describes the historical piece and I immediately wanted to know which parts were fact versus fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Set with alternating points of view at the New York City Henry Clay Frick family mansion in 1919, and 1966, once it became a museum., the Frick Collection We are introduced to Lillian Carter, a sculptor’s model known professionally as Angelica, whose mother has recently died from the Spanish flu, her career floundering, and adding insult to injury, finds herself at the center of a murder in her apartment building. Unwittingly, she finds refuge from these troubles falling into a position as private secretary to Henry’s daughter, the intractable Miss Helen Frick - or so she thinks…

In 1966, another model, Veronica Weber, has flown in from London for a photo shoot at the Frick Collection, thinking her career is about to take off, allowing her to reunite with her beloved twin sister Polly, who has just been placed in a group home. What happens instead is after a tiff with the photographer, she's left behind by the crew and stranded in the museum when a blizzard hits and a blackout ensues, along with the museum’s young curator, Joshua Lawrence. As they pass the time until security reopens the museum, they stumble upon an abandoned scavenger hunt based on the various artwork throughout the Frick collection, giving them unique insight into the house’s former inhabitants, and a surprising discovery.

Lillian’s storyline is a bit more compelling, though requires some suspension of disbelief. Veronica’s backstory gives some motivation to her actions, though heavy-handed on the art history element, Joshua’s narration a bit overwrought. Eventually the paths of Lillian and Veronica cross, leading to a nicely tied, though perhaps a bit melodramatic and forced, ending.

Having read several other Fiona Davis novels based on historic NYC landmarks, her formula is still intact in The Magnolia Palace. The research is impressive, and offers insight into the genesis of the Frick Collection, though I have enjoyed some of her previous works more.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This author is a favorite of mine. I really like the way she melds a historical place with fictional characters and plot. I’ve said this before, but the only way you’re ever going to get this science gal to learn about history is via a fictionalization. The author has a style that is both highly immersive and engaging. This particular story was great in that I was equally invested in both the older timeframe and the modern day one. This is usually not the case for me with dual timeline books, I typically gravitate more towards one of the time periods and those characters. I also loved how the reader didn’t have to make it to the end of the novel to see how the two stories were going to overlap, it was evident fairly early on. I think that kept me more interested in both stories and the way in which they were connected. I thought the author did a great job with characters and setting, and while I’m not an art buff, it was interesting learning about the various pieces at the Frick mansion (now museum). I also found Angelica’s story of modeling for some of the iconic statues to be fascinating.

I can highly recommend this fascinating historical fiction look into Henry Clay Frick, his family and his art collection.

In the Magnolia Palace, Fiona Davis brings alive the history of the Frick Museum. Although the narrative is fiction, it brings us to a greater appreciation of both the art and cultural norms of the early 1900’s and the middle 1960’s. It encompasses a time shortly after the end of WW I when the very wealthy socialites built large mansions and hired many servants to support a lavish lifestyle. Women did not have many options available to them. The story revolves around Helen Clay Frick and her personal assistant Lillian, a former model for a series of sculptures. At the same time, we learn about Veronica, a model for photographers in 1966. During a blizzard Veronica is trapped in the Frick Museum along with the curator of the museum. Fiona Davis manages to bring the past into the present with these parallel stories. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. It also provides topics for a lively book club discussion.

The Magnolia Palace is a historical fiction with a mystery set in New York. Loosely based on true characters this dual timeline novel set in 1919 and 1966 it is the story of Lillian, Miss Helen Frick and Veronica. Lillian is a muse to many sculptors but still lives in a kind of anonymity because the society considers being a model unsavory whereas Miss Helen comes from money but still is trapped and Veronica is struggling to make the ends meet. The three ladies though of different strata and times have lot of things in common and the author portrays these struggles so well.
I read this novel in a day travelling for the holidays and it kept the interest alive throughout. The ending ties up the loose ends neatly. The author's note at the end sums up this novel wonderfully. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. 4.5 Stars

Fiona Davis is always reliable and spins a good yarn. I learn so much about New York, even though I already live here. She makes her characters relatable and likeable, even when they are historical figures who may not have been so. In MAGNOLIA PALACE, both the central women, Lillian and Helen are based on real people who had a huge impact in the New York City art world, Lillian as the model for numerous sculptures around the city, and Helen of the famous Frick family and museum. Their story, taking place in 1919, gets interwoven with that of Veronica, a struggling model who poses for a photo shoot at the Frick in 1966. Both stories move at a good pace and are filled with historical detail. It is also always interesting to read the author's note to learn which aspects are true and where poetic license has been taken.
My only issue is that Davis always uses the same formula-- two women, in different time periods, inhabiting the same New York City landmark. It's a good gimmick, but I might need to take a break and wait a while before I read the next one.

Once again, Fiona Davis has written an absorbing story centered around a New York City landmark that we know little about. She masterfully mixes historical figures with fictional characters managing to drop the reader into the time period and immerse them in a mystery. Using a dual timeline, we meet two models a half century apart. Lillian Carter, also known as Angelica, was a sought after artist model in the early 1900s and Veronica is an aspiring model on assignment for Vogue in New York City in 1960. Both spend time at the Frick mansion and through them we discover some of the secrets, betrayals and murder associated with this home which became an art museum. Rich in history, this story magnetically draws the reader in with well presented, interesting characters, art history and a glimpse into the challenges women models faced during these time periods. Riveting historical fiction with strong female characters, highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an historical fiction that focuses on Lily in 1919 and Veronica in 1969. They are both women without a clear path and how they forge on to make one for themselves. At times it was wordier than I would have liked, but it was interesting!

My first book by this author. Told in two timelines, 1919 and 1966. In 1919, the Fricks are living at what was to become the Frick Museum. Lillian is a model who posed (under the name Angelica) for several sculptors around NYC and even some statues within the Frick household. After running away from a murder to avoid becoming a suspect, she finds herself being interviewed to be Helen Frick's personal assistant. Through this position, she helps Helen set up a scavenger hunt for Helen's suitor.

In 1966, Veronica is a model doing a photo shoot at the Frisk Museum during which time a blizzard shuts down the city and she finds herself locked in and left behind. She discovers that a research intern is also locked in with her and they stumble upon the scavenger hunt clues and start following them.

This story has murder, mystery and love. It was really nice getting a peak into the Frick household, even if it's fiction but some truth interspersed into the story. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.