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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Actually giving it a 2.5/5
While the writing of this was phenomenal and kept me coming back, the plot was boring and lacked any real punch. Moments meant to be jaw dropping fell flat, and when things felt as if they were picking up, they’d fizzle out just as fast as they heated up.
These characters also interested me a lot, but I felt they weren’t used to their full potential. Lillian had so much going on and essentially never saw consequences for any of her actions. While I know she was undeserving of punishment, at the very least there could’ve been some kind of negative effect other than the constant fear of potentially being found out.
The plot progressed at a sickeningly slow pace. There were times I thought we would never get to the point, and when I hit about halfway through I almost gave up on it altogether. There was no real climax, no crescendo to ever come down from. And while I always root for a happy ending, like I mentioned before, I DO believe in consequences, which there didn’t seem to be any of in this book.
Overall, I wouldn’t pick this one up again. I also would recommend others against reading it, as it didn’t immerse me the way it should have. So much potential, but so little payoff.
While the writing of this was phenomenal and kept me coming back, the plot was boring and lacked any real punch. Moments meant to be jaw dropping fell flat, and when things felt as if they were picking up, they’d fizzle out just as fast as they heated up.
These characters also interested me a lot, but I felt they weren’t used to their full potential. Lillian had so much going on and essentially never saw consequences for any of her actions. While I know she was undeserving of punishment, at the very least there could’ve been some kind of negative effect other than the constant fear of potentially being found out.
The plot progressed at a sickeningly slow pace. There were times I thought we would never get to the point, and when I hit about halfway through I almost gave up on it altogether. There was no real climax, no crescendo to ever come down from. And while I always root for a happy ending, like I mentioned before, I DO believe in consequences, which there didn’t seem to be any of in this book.
Overall, I wouldn’t pick this one up again. I also would recommend others against reading it, as it didn’t immerse me the way it should have. So much potential, but so little payoff.
If you enjoy historical fiction and mystery, and have a penchant for art, this book is for you. Fiona Davis juices up the real lives of the legendary Frick family, and Audrey Munson, who was the inspiration for Lillian Carter’s character. One of the most enjoyable aspects of reading this book was going online to research the lives of these characters. Don’t worry, though, I’m not a spoiler. You’ll have to find out for yourself. Dual narratives are tricky, but Fiona Davis does a fine job jumping between the Twenties and the Sixties, both fascinating decades. I have several of her other books on my TBR list, so I’m glad I enjoyed this one. 4 stars.
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. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a galley of this book for review.
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
A very enjoyable and interesting read. I found this just as intriguing as The Lions of Fifth Avenue, though as with that book, the storyline in the past was much more engrossing.
I knew basically nothing about the Fricks before starting the book, but the mixture of fact and fiction definitely made for an intriguing story. The family themselves were rather hard to like, but I loved Lillian’s model-turned-secretary character. I will say I think I was expecting much more of a murder mystery based on the synopsis, but the mystery of the missing diamond and Lillian was great.
The ending was rather neat and pretty, but that’s a much happier result than the real life ending Davis explains in her note at the end.
I knew basically nothing about the Fricks before starting the book, but the mixture of fact and fiction definitely made for an intriguing story. The family themselves were rather hard to like, but I loved Lillian’s model-turned-secretary character. I will say I think I was expecting much more of a murder mystery based on the synopsis, but the mystery of the missing diamond and Lillian was great.
The ending was rather neat and pretty, but that’s a much happier result than the real life ending Davis explains in her note at the end.
I fell in love with historical fiction thanks to Fiona Davis. She’s an incredibly talented storyteller; she’s able to blend actual history with a fascinating imaginary tale. This novel of an artist’s model trying to make ends meet while grieving the unexpected loss of her mother had me immediately sucked in. Lilian meets Helen Frick and begins working in the Frick Mansion. Surprising opportunities unfold and Lilian is tasked with making some very challenging decisions that impact the direction of her future. The novel also tells the story of a model, 50 years later, trying to make money to care for her family back in England. There are so many parallels to these women’s lives with lessons about family, grief, and women’s independence. Excellent read!
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Light and easy to read. Enjoyed reading it at night before going to bed, pace and overall story was not over stimulating except for the maybe the last 5 chapters. Interesting enough if you are into art & history esp during the gilded age.
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes