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The Magnolia Palace: A Novel by Fiona Davis
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The Magnolia Palace: A Novel (original 2022; edition 2022)

by Fiona Davis (Author)

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7863028,172 (3.95)7
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML:INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue, returns with a tantalizing novel about the secrets, betrayal, and murder within one of New York City's most impressive Gilded Age mansions.

Eight months since losing her mother in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, twenty-one-year-old Lillian Carter's life has completely fallen apart. For the past six years, under the moniker Angelica, Lillian was one of the most sought-after artists' models in New York City, with statues based on her figure gracing landmarks from the Plaza Hotel to the Brooklyn Bridge. But with her mother gone, a grieving Lillian is rudderless and desperateâ??the work has dried up and a looming scandal has left her entirely without a safe haven. So when she stumbles upon an employment opportunity at the Frick mansionâ??a building that, ironically, bears her own visageâ??Lillian jumps at the chance. But the longer she works as a private secretary to the imperious and demanding Helen Frick, the daughter and heiress of industrialist and art patron Henry Clay Frick, the more deeply her life gets intertwined with that of the familyâ??pulling her into a tangled web of romantic trysts, stolen jewels, and family drama that runs so deep, the stakes just may be life or death.
Nearly fifty years later, mod English model Veronica Weber has her own chance to make her careerâ??and with it, earn the money she needs to support her family back homeâ??within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into one of New York City's most impressive museums. But when sheâ??along with a charming intern/budding art curator named Joshuaâ??is dismissed from the Vogue shoot taking place at the Frick Collection, she chances upon a series of hidden messages in the museum: messages that will lead her and Joshua on a hunt that could not only solve Veronica's financial woes, but could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in th
… (more)
Member:WiserWisegirl
Title:The Magnolia Palace: A Novel
Authors:Fiona Davis (Author)
Info:Dutton (2022), Edition: First Edition, 352 pages
Collections:Your library, Currently reading, Wishlist, To read, Read but unowned, Favorites
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Tags:to-read

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The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis (2022)

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» See also 7 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 30 (next | show all)
The Magnolia Palace in the title refers to the Frick Mansion. Fiona Davis has written a book imagining that two famous women of the early 2oth met and worked together to plan the Frick Art Reference Library. Although the character of Lillian is based on the "supermodel" Audrey Munson, Davis writes that she and Helen Frick probably never crossed paths. Davis writes, "I like to layer a fictional story over the scaffolding of historical facts..." What results, in this case, is a very entertaining mystery that inspires one to find out more! It is like the scavenger hunt within the novel...how much of the plot is based on fact?I was also interested in the many pieces of art and sculpture mentioned in the story.
Also, although I visited the Frick years ago, I would like to revisit with a deeper understanding of the family's history.
( )
  Chrissylou62 | Apr 11, 2024 |
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. ( )
  Cathie_Dyer | Feb 29, 2024 |
simple story of lives of two girls. one famous Model from 19th century. she inadvertently becomes a private secretary to daughter of Frick....the second is a model in 1960's who accidentally gets locked inside the Frick Museum with a young black man apprentice. all ties up perfectly. very simplistic ( )
  evatkaplan | Feb 28, 2024 |
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The dual time line kept me immersed in the story! The characters are fabulous! They are full of depth and emotion. I especially enjoyed the artistic aspects of the book! A definite must read! ( )
  Sassyjd32 | Dec 22, 2023 |
This is only my second book by Fiona Davis. Not sure if I liked it as much as The Masterpiece but every book is different besides both being set in New York.

I've never minded dual timelines and for me it was easy to keep track of with the different eras. It was well written and I learned a lot about not only The Fricks but the museum as well.

I liked the characters and it held my interest enough to make it an enjoyable read though.

When it came to almost the end that's where it got interesting to me and how it got all tied up in the end and it definitely made it a better read than I thought in the beginning. ( )
  sweetbabyjane58 | Dec 6, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 30 (next | show all)
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Fiona Davisprimary authorall editionscalculated
Vacker, KarissaNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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In memory of Ed Berkeley
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Lillian Carter stood half naked, one arm held up like a ballet dancer, the other hanging lightly down at her side, and calculated how long she could avoid paying rent while her landlord was in jail.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML:INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue, returns with a tantalizing novel about the secrets, betrayal, and murder within one of New York City's most impressive Gilded Age mansions.

Eight months since losing her mother in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, twenty-one-year-old Lillian Carter's life has completely fallen apart. For the past six years, under the moniker Angelica, Lillian was one of the most sought-after artists' models in New York City, with statues based on her figure gracing landmarks from the Plaza Hotel to the Brooklyn Bridge. But with her mother gone, a grieving Lillian is rudderless and desperateâ??the work has dried up and a looming scandal has left her entirely without a safe haven. So when she stumbles upon an employment opportunity at the Frick mansionâ??a building that, ironically, bears her own visageâ??Lillian jumps at the chance. But the longer she works as a private secretary to the imperious and demanding Helen Frick, the daughter and heiress of industrialist and art patron Henry Clay Frick, the more deeply her life gets intertwined with that of the familyâ??pulling her into a tangled web of romantic trysts, stolen jewels, and family drama that runs so deep, the stakes just may be life or death.
Nearly fifty years later, mod English model Veronica Weber has her own chance to make her careerâ??and with it, earn the money she needs to support her family back homeâ??within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into one of New York City's most impressive museums. But when sheâ??along with a charming intern/budding art curator named Joshuaâ??is dismissed from the Vogue shoot taking place at the Frick Collection, she chances upon a series of hidden messages in the museum: messages that will lead her and Joshua on a hunt that could not only solve Veronica's financial woes, but could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in th

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