The Magnolia Palace is the third novel I have read by Fiona Davis and my favorite of hers so far. It was really well-told and I learned a lot about the Frick family, as I knew nothing about them until now. I loved both Lillian and Veronica. Their narratives were compelling and captivating. Helen was so feisty and I felt bad for her, while admiring her at the same time. Of course, she could be infuriating too! The descriptions really brought the story to life. It was easy to get caught up in everything that was going on and there was a mystery element that I enjoyed trying to figure out.

I felt like the story went on a little too long at the end and could have been wrapped up a different way, but it was still great overall.

This novel is perfect for fans of Susan Meissner, Camille Di Maio, and Renee Rosen.

Movie casting suggestions:
Lillian: Madison Lintz
Veronica: Ella Purnell
Helen: Alana Haim
Mr. Danforth: Luke Kleintank
Joshua: Kamil McFadden
Mr. Frick: Xander Berkeley
Mr. Graham: Eric Nelsen
Thanks to Dutton for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Love love love! Fiona Davis does it again. She was one of the first authors I read when joining bookstagram too!

This book was too slow for me. I wasn't really interested in the story nor the art aspect and the dual timelines were a bit confusing. Could be partially my fault as I probably wasn't paying attention. I would still give this author another try in the future.

Another wonderfully researched book with intriguing characters by this author. If you are interested in learning more about the Frick family this is the book for you. A mystery, romance, the art world, a dual timeline, and learning how to adapt to one’s surroundings all covered in this book. A good book club discussion title.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis.
I found the Magnolia Palace to be a slow read. The characters never fully developed, which left the story feeling flat. The dual timeline didn't add to the main plot; the storyline from the 1960s seemed to be created to add mystery but seemed unrealistic. I would have enjoyed the story more if it focused only on the 1920 timeline. I enjoyed the historical parts, learning about the Frick family and art collection, but the mystery didn't work for me.

Fiona Davis brings us another historical fiction novel set in New York City. This one takes place in the Frick Mansion. As usual, there are two different timelines. One is in 1919 and is the story of an artist's muse, Lillian, who takes refuge in the Frick Mansion after being suspected of murder. She becomes Helen Frick's personal assistant. The other timeline is in 1966 where a model , Veronica, gets trapped inside the mansion when there is a blizzard. The two storylines are woven together and come to a satisfying conclusion.

Fiona Davis is one of my favorite authors. I look forward to her next historical fiction novel. I highly recommend all of her novels.

As the other books written by Fiona Davis, this historical fiction focuses on a hidden treasure in a famous place. Set-in two-time periods, it follows two young women as they become involved with the Frick Mansion in New York City. In 1919, Lillian, a famous muse for sculptors and painters, is a person of interest in the murder of her landlord’s wife. Trying to hide while getting enough money to go to California to become a silent film star, she stumbles up the steps of the Frick mansion and is mistaken for an applicant to become Miss Helen Frick’s personal secretary. In the 1960’s a young British model becomes stuck in the museum during a blizzard after a photo shoot. The two time periods work well as it shows the transition from private home to art museum and sheds light on the wealthy lifestyle of the early 20th century.

What is it about the Frick family and their art museum? Lillian, hired to help Helen Frick with the reference library tells the story of intrigue and the search for the missing Magnolia Diamond.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Magnolia Palace. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel, and nothing has influenced my rating and opinion.

The Magnolia Palace is set-in two-time periods, 1919 and 1966 at the Frick Mansion in New York City. It follows several women, and several characters are based on individuals who were park of the Frick family. The pacing is decent, but it speeds up dramatically in the last half of the book. Ms. Davis has clearly done a great deal of research of the time-period and of the Frick family, making the novel an excellent read.

In 1919, Lillian Carter, AKA Angelica. She is the primary character, along with Helen Frick. She stubbles into the role of secretary for this woman and Lillian becomes a pawn between Helen and her father, Henry Clay Frick. Lillian’s tale is a sad one and I had empathy for her.

In 1966, a young model is at a photo shoot in the Frick mansion and accidentally gets locked in, along with Joshua Lawrence, an intern for the Frick mansion. I enjoyed the scavenger hunt the two undertake and liked both characters. While there is definitely an attraction between these two, the story is centered on the mystery of the scavenger hunt.

Ms. Davis handles the transition from one time-period to the other seamlessly without confusing the reader. Her descriptive writing adds a great deal to the overall enjoyment. She also manages to tie up the significant sub-plots. I would have enjoyed finding out more about Lillian’s escape from the Frick mansion and how the organist helped her.

If you enjoy historical fiction filled with individuals who lived in the era it covers, along with a fascinating mystery to solve, then you will love The Magnolia Palace as much as I did. I’m so glad I agreed to read this excellent novel. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Davis and look forward to reading others by her. Happy reading!

Fiona Davis has a very solid style. Her writing is consistent and brings historical settings to life so well. This book was a great mix of true history and creative fiction. The author's note was particularly enlightening after completing the book and really just brought everything all together quite nicely.

I very much enjoyed her previous novel, The Lions of Fifth Avenue and found that The Magnolia Palace had a similar flavor. A rich family, old New York, and a missing valuable item. A story brought together using strong female protagonists and alternating timelines. Apparently all these things are my jam. I love the characters she creates and the mystery surrounding her narratives. I will admit that the mergings of Lillian and the Fricks as well as Veronica and the Frick Mansion were a little rocky for me, but the rest of the story was fun, enjoyable, and relaxing.

The pacing can be a little slow in places and there is some instalove mixed into the plot, but overall I just had a good time reading this and it was a great palate cleanser after reading some heavy and slow paced character novels. There was something light about this mystery that had me both intrigued and entertained in a way that really made reading pleasant.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

Fiona Davis does it again with her latest, The Magnolia Palace. In this story we have dual timelines running through the Frick household. Shortly after the Spanish Flu takes her mother, Lillian must find a way to survive. Having been an artist's model for many sculptures around the city known as Angelica she is finding she is a bit past her prime and lost without her mother there to help. When she finds herself the key suspect in a murder investigation she flees and finds herself claiming a job in service at the Frick mansion.

In modern times we have Veronica Weber on site at the Frick mansion with an opportunity to make her modeling career a reality. When she ends up locked inside the mansion in the aftermath of a storm she takes to poking about and finds clues from an ages old scavenger hunt. At the end of the scavenger hunt may be a prize that can solver her financial woes and help her family. With the help of Joshua, an art curator working at the Frick, can she find her way to the prize?

In this book I did find myself far more drawn to the past timeline. The past timeline felt believable and real while the present timeline felt more unrealistic. Would the book have worked without the second timeline? Probably but the structure would need to change and I do always appreciate when the timelines meet up at the end for the conclusion.

Lillian in the Frick Household is akin to a Julian Fellows production. I'd say anyone that is a fan of Downton Abbey of The Gilded Age would love this novel from Fiona Davis. I love the alternating timelines and how they come together to paint a complete picture of the plot.
The style I'm of Ms. Davis is always crisp and elegantly immersive. I would say a theme is female beauty vs. male society including murder, betrayal, love and acceptance- romance and art. The characters always have flaws and to me that makes them more realistic. This story was well written and just what I was looking for - the interesting story of the missing pink diamond!

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for my e-arc in exchange for.my honest review.

Like other books from Davis, this book circles around a hidden/ forgotten treasure in an older building. I enjoyed this book but not quite as much as Lions of Fifth Ave. For readers who enjoy historical dual timeline books, this one will satisfy their needs. Interesting perspective of what can make a person deemed unseemly vs adored in future years. There is links to current feelings of loss during a pandemic, due to the inclusion of the Spanish Flu. For those who like a mystery set in a museum, you'll get a taste from the inside. I listened and read the printed books. The last 1/3 is better than the whole, but you'll need to read it all to appreciate.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC which didn't influence my review.

A stunning work if historical fiction that cleverly weaves a mystery into the story of a woman's self-discovery. Readers will absolutely fall in love with Lillian, a famous artist's model in the run, as she navigates the strange, complicated world of the Frick family and their family house.

This book was fantastic! I really enjoyed the characters and their development throughout the story. I loved the how much reality the author wove into fiction and the art that was involved. A great read that I would highly recommend.

I feel like Fiona Davis’ writing just keeps getting better and better. Magnolia Palace is a winning combination of historical fiction and mystery in a tale set in NYC’s famous Frick museum. Alternate time periods reveal two down on their luck women whose lives do not intersect until the end. Characters are well-drawn and sympathetic and the mystery isn’t solved until the very end, making this a page-turner. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an interesting, enjoyable read.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A completely different direction than my usual historical fiction picks!

Set in the early 1900s in NY, Lillian has gone from being an in demand model to a private secretary for a wealthy woman. In the dual timeline, another young woman, Veronica, is in New York hoping for her big break. The secrets from the past come into play, connecting the two stories.

I originally requested a copy thinking the mystery sounded interesting, but I ended up really loving the time periods. After a LOT of WW2 (and some WW1 stories), a story not about any war but still historical fiction was a true delight.

I was lucky to receive an early copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. WOW! Fiona Davis knocks it out of the park!!! The Magnolia Palace is a fantastic read filled with art, drama, mystery, and love. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend you reading this! BTW - that cover is fantastic.

I’ve been big on Gilded Age era books recently, so I knew I would love reading about the Frick family and their gorgeous mansion built in that time frame. The bonus was that this dual-timeline story also featured a missing pink diamond!

The story of Helen Frick and her assistant at a formative time in Helen’s life that coincides with Magnolia Diamond’s disappearance is riveting. As is the later timeline, told 50 years later, when a model and a Frick Museum intern are locked in the mansion overnight and on the hunt for the missing diamond.

I couldn’t put this story down. It might be my first Fiona Davis, but it won’t be my last!

Thanks to Dutton for my review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.