Fiona Davis is one of my favorites and this one didn't disappoint.

I felt like I was transported back to the 1920s! The descriptions of old NY, the historical locations, the homes, the clothing and dress of all the characters -- I could visualize off of it! This story has a bit of everything, mystery, love, history, art and of course family dynamics. The story starts with Lillian, working as Angelica (a muse for sculptors), trying to untangle her from a murder that happens in her apartment complex. In her escape, she happens upon The Frick Estate and is hired as a personal secretary to Miss Helen. Lillian quickly learns that she is out of her element. She becomes involved in the Frick family history and trouble ensues. She is entwined in a love story, aa mysterious death, stolen jewels and again the family dynamics.

I am a huge fan of dual timelines, and Veronica's story (ironically also a model) connects to the Frick history and the mystery of the Magnolia Diamond lasting over 5 decades.

Pick this one up today!

I was thrilled to receive an advanced reader copy of The Magnolia Palace as I love Fiona Davis’ novels. The Magnolia Palace is fabulous historical fiction. I did not know about the Frick Family or the history of their house, which the patriarch bequeathed to the city of New York and which is now known as the Frick Museum. The story is told in two timelines from the perspective of two young women several decades apart and it is interesting to see events unfold in the same house in different time periods with some of the same characters. There is also a mystery that connects the two timelines. The main characters are so interesting and face similar issues including societal expectations of women, wealth, power and privilege and their impact on relationships, and finding one’s way in the world.

As referenced in the author’s notes, the author did a lot of research on the family, the house and the artwork it contains (the Frick Collection} and this is well captured in the lovely evocative descriptions in the novel. I have never visited the Frick Museum and after reading this book, I really want to! A novel that both informs and engages is a great treat and Fiona Davis knows how to do both well. Highly recommend!!

Historical house in New York City, a gripping 50-year old mystery; I loved this book! Veronica and Joshuas story is interwoven with the 50 year old mystery of the Magnolia diamond seamlessly. I couldn’t wait to find out what was happening to Veronica and Joshua and if Lily would be punished for a crime she didn’t commit. Sometimes an author uses this structure and I find the story disjointed- not here. Interweaving the Magnolia Palace two stories was beautifully written. Thank you for the early read!

Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, for the arc. I didn't love any of the characters but enjoyed getting to know them and Lillian had a great backstory. As usual, the writing was great. So many books use dual timelines and Ms. Davis employs the dual timelines perfectly. The different stories wind around each other until they come together in an unexpected way. If you like historical fiction or need a break from other genres, this book is for you.

This was the first book I have read by Fiona Davis, and it won’t be my last. I enjoyed this work of historical fiction, and learned much about art and the Frick family while reading it. The Magnolia Palace features several strong women forging their own way through society’s expectations of them,
Thanks to netgalley for granting my wish of an advance copy of this novel. Much obliged!

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis is just the kind of read I needed right now. A good solid page turning story with believable characters, colorful setting, just enough conflict and a hint of suspense are the ingredients for a satisfying read for me. Add in the glamor of a sculptor model, a family’s questionably earned fortune, a missing diamond and I’m hooked. Magnolia Palace takes place between the 1920s and 60 years later. The setting is the Frick Mansion/Library/Museum. I enjoyed reading the descriptions and background information about real works of art. I love stories based on real people and places and now I’m anxious to get to NYC and the Frick Museum. A book that satisfies, but makes you want to bask in its setting is a real winner for me.
I appreciate the opportunity for an Advanced Reader Copy.
#TheMagnoliaPalace #NetGalley

This book was amazing! Fiona Davis never disappoints. I loved the dual time lines and the mystery. I love historical fiction. Every book Fiona writes makes me research more the places and events in her book! I highly recommend!

I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the history of the Frick museum and the family behind it. I loved that the author weaved the history on top of the story. I was drawn into the characters and the circumstances and how the help interacted with each other. I loved how it flipped through the two time periods and gave me a sense of walking the halls of the museum again. And after so long of not being around art I could visualize the paintings. Such a fantastic story and I am glad I got an early copy of it!

Lillian has lost her mother to the Spanish Flu, she does not have a way to pay rent since she has not been sitting for any modeling jobs, around the city and the world she is known as Angelica. When her landlord suggests meeting up to discuss rent Lillian writes a note suggesting a rendezvous even though she is disgusted the his actions. A few days later her landlords wife is dead and police want to discuss the note they found on her. Lillian, afraid they don’t believe her flees and finds herself as a private secretary for the one and only Helen Frick. With bad luck still following she ends up being accused of multiple things including stealing the families Magnolia Diamond that she did not perform.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher PEGUIN GROUP Dutton for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “Magnolia Palace ” written by Fiona Davis . All opinions are my own. Publication date:25 Jan 2022

Great interweaving story 1919 and 1966 New York exploring the wealth and heartbreak of a prominent family and their employees and the tremendous opportunity to share art with the community. Strong women characters with ideas and aspirations that are achieved in the 1920’s as well as 1966. Fiona Davis stories never disappoint, read it for the women, for the art, for the sheer pleasure of her words. Enjoy.

The Magnolia Palace is an enjoyable read for fans of interesting and well-researched historical fiction. The dual timeline story takes place in 1919 and in 1966 at one of New York City's landmark buildings - The Frick Collection building on the Upper East Side which was originally the Frick family home and is now a museum.

In 1919, an artist's model named Angelica begins work at the mansion as the private secretary of Henry Clay Frick's daughter, Helen, who is cataloguing her father's art collection and working towards the establishment of an art reference library. A mystery arises involving a missing diamond and this is how the two timelines merge as a museum intern and a young model are trapped inside the museum during a 1966 snowstorm and find a series of clues that helps solve the mystery of what happened in 1919.

The museum building is currently being restored, however, the novel has sufficiently piqued my interest about the Frick family and their art collection that I will plan to visit on a future trip to New York City. The author, Fiona Davis, was new to me but after reading The Magnolia Palace, I will definitely now read some of her earlier novels which are also set in historic NYC buildings.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Author Fiona Davis has become one of my favorites, as she introduces readers to major New York City landmarks through historical fiction interwoven with dual timelines and mystery. THE MAGNOLIA PALACE focuses upon the Frick Family, of Pittsburgh steel fortune and ultimately the Frick Collection Art fame. Although unmentioned, for those of us from Arizona, there is the added connection of our former Governor, Fife Symington, as the great-grandson of the original, Henry Clay Frick.

At her best, Davis interweaves two parallel tales, juxtaposing different mores and times and the outcome of one period influences the outcome of another. Usually one time period is present time which always works nicely for the story. In this book, the time periods are post WWI and 1969, so both seem historical. The upside of the close time is that some of the characters are still alive and that really is an exciting shift for the tale.

I found this book to be one of the author’s best and read it in one sitting. I was fascinated by so many aspects of the book: the discussion of art, the 1918 flu epidemic, the actual building itself with all of its architectural detail and the historical characters were all well described and vivid. This was a joy to read. I received my copy from th publisher through NetGalley.

While I found Fiona Davis' latest title as engaging as ever, I didn't find it as exciting and revelatory as her last book. The history was fascinating, but the characters in this one weren't quite as interesting, and the circumstances seemed a bit more contrived. The author states in the afterword that she overlays her fictional story on a framework of history, and in this case it was very evident. Instead of melding with the history, the characters and contrived story that she overlaid on the Frick family stuck out like a sore thumb. The two aspects didn't fit together all that well, and even though I did finish it to find out what happened in the end, I don't think I will be recommending this one to my library patrons.

Such a treat to be allowed a sneak peek at the newest Fiona Davis historical fiction. Thank you!

Another brilliant novel from Ms. Davis; whose brilliant research puts her books at the top of my list for faves.

I have been a fan of Fiona Davis since I read The Dollhouse, and I was thrilled to read an advance e-book copy through NetGalley. Thanks! Magnolia Palace alternates between two timelines, both set in New York City. The first timeline is 1919 and focuses on the fictional Lillian/Angelina and her dealings with the famous Frick family. The second features Veronica and takes place in 1966. The characters converge as a mystery is revealed. I never give away too much plot in my reviews as I believe it takes away a great deal of the fun of reading a novel like this.

I must admit that historical fiction involving two timelines is very enjoyable to read, especially when they feature strong female lead characters. This book was no exception. The characters are likable and genuine, and I did not find the plot to be overly predictable. Ms. Davis’s writing is crisp, but also includes many details which demonstrate that she used a great deal of research to write the book and contains descriptive prose that enhances one’s ability to visualize the action taking place. I always love reading her author’s notes which include nonfiction books and authors on which/whom she relied to tell her tale.

I highly recommend this book. It is extremely well-written and creative! Thank you again, NetGalley, Ms. Davis, and the publisher.

Lillian Carter (known in the art world as Angelica) finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and through some strange circumstances becomes the private secretary to Helen Frick, whose family home will become the Frick Museum. Lillian becomes entangled in a plot to marry off Helen and in the midst of a family tragedy, a magnificent magnolia diamond disappears.
In a dual timeline, Veronica, a Young English model, accepts a modeling job that takes place in the Frick Museum. Because of a snowstorm, She inadvertently becomes locked in the museum after closing and finds the only other person in the museum is a Young intern. While touring the museum, she notices a stack of papers that lead the two on a scavenger hunt.
The parallel timelines intersect when Helen Frick makes an appearance and Veronica confronts Helen with their findings.
The history of the Frick family and museum is well-researched and the story is well-written. The plot is very similar to The Lions of Fifth Avenue. Angelica is based on an actual model living during this time period. Helen Frick was every bit as eccentric as she is portrayed in the book.
Recommended for fans of historical fiction.

Fiona Davis has done it again. Another interesting story, fictional, but so much fact and has combined them perfectly. The author writes so well and the dual time line is easy to follow. Characters are all very interesting and they bring you right into the story and keep you there. It is so fun to look up all the interesting facts that are written about in Ms. Davis' novels.

Fiona Davis is truly a master at her craft. She continues to amaze me with each and every book that she publishes. I learn so much from her novels, and I find myself just completely enraptured in them. Truly, when I start a Fiona Davis book, there’s this itch inside me, that’s begging to get to the end, because you have to learn what the connection is with her two timelines. Her writing, such beautifully crafted, just draws you into the story and you don’t want to set the book aside.

The Magnolia Palace is no exception, her four previous novels having all done this to me. I thought that she had outdone herself with the master level she reached with The Lions of Fifth Avenue; but she has managed to pull me in once again and just impress me with page after page. As with all Davis books, they center around a New York City landmark, that I usually know nothing to very little about, and this particular book surrounds The Frick Museum and the life of Helen Clay Frick, a woman whom I had not heard of 72 hours ago, but I wish to learn more about fiercely, because in this novel that woman is a true spitfire, and I just completely fell in love with the way Fiona wrote her.

The Magnolia Palace has a 1919 timeline where a young model begins to work as a private secretary for Helen Frick, and a timeline in 1966 when another model is working at The Frick Museum and she gets stuck inside during a storm...........and the two timelines just merge absolutely beautifully.

I just finished it. And I want to read it again. Yes, it’s that good.

"The Magnolia Palace" is an enjoyable read with dual timelines and set in New York. The main location (as per the title) is the Frick Residence of the 1910s which then became the Frick Museum when the owner died. On the back of wealth accumulated from steel manufacturing in Pennsylvania, Henry Frick amassed a fortune in art which he planned to leave to "the nation". This novel is a fictional story about the family, although some parts are fact-based. Henry Frick may have been good with money and art but, in this narrative, he is not great at personal relationships, especially with women.

This is an inventive story with some interesting characters.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

Engaging historical fiction that features two characters from different time periods. A fascinating, original plot. I look forward to recommending this to readers who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of romance.