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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
After reading Anderson Cooper's book about his family I wanted to read gilded age historical fiction. I had been seeing this book everywhere and I received a copy from NetGalley. I was expecting a little more from the description. It talks about murder in the Frick Family. I looked up the Frick family while reading and there was nothing about a murder in the Frick mansion. A murder does happen at the beginning of this book, but not in the Frick mansion. This book has two timelines, 1919 and 1966. We follow two models. This book is actually loosely based on an actual model named Audrey Munson from the early 1900s, which to me is more fascinating than the Frick family. Audrey Munson's sculptures that she posed for were all over New York back then. I am more plot driven and this book was more character driven. I was just waiting for more to happen. I did enjoy the author's note at the end though as I had never heard of Audrey Munson. I would love to go see the Frick Museum if I ever visit NYC.
Classic Fiona Davis, weaving together a story of historical fiction decades apart in a perfectly plotted time slip. While many people, events, and the Frick collection/home itself is real, many of the characters are not but together tell a story peeking new interest into this New York Museum and its past.
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I wish goodreads had a half star option. 4.5 stars to this beautiful read. History meets Art. A ride of a story including people you rooted for, people who annoyed you, and a lot of omg moments. But what a beautiful ending!
I enjoyed both the historical fiction and mystery elements of this novel. All of the characters felt deep and like real people you can sympathize with even through their bad moments, and the duel timelines connected together perfectly to move the mystery along. The ending was also feel-good and heartwarming without feeling fake or unearned. This is only the second book I've read by Fiona Davis and definitely my favorite of the two.
The book follows a 1900’s artist’s model named Angelica (née Lillian Carter). Despite being the most sought-after model in NYC of her time (she’s been dubbed “America’s first super model”), a scandal forces forces her to leave her life behind and she finds refuge at the Frick mansion. Somehow she scores a job as the private secretary of Helen Frick, the daughter and heiress of industrialist and art patron Henry Clay Frick. During her short time there, she finds herself involved in another scandal where she’s forced to escape again.
The mystery stays unsolved until the year 1966 when a British fashion model somehow finds herself locked in the Frick mansion and chances upon a set of hidden messages from 1912. With the help of a Frick intern, Joshua (also stuck in the mansion), they set out on a scavenger hunt that leads them to solve the decades-long murder mystery at the mansion.
Can I just say that Davis’ writing is fantastic! The dual timelines were written brilliantly and I loved the plot and the mystery storyline. When it comes to historical fiction, historical accuracy is the utmost importance and I always appreciate a well-researched book. Obviously, there are some fictional elements in the book, but the rest of the book was highly accurate (I did fact check, lol).
I don’t want to give away too much of the book, but I just encourage you to read it! The book has a little bit of everything! A sordid history filled with lies, scandal and greed; high fashion and famous artwork; and of course, a bit of romance. If you do read the book, I highly encourage you to research the real-life model that served as the inspiration for Angelica: Audrey Munson. She lived a truly heartbreaking and tragic life.
Rating: 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5).
The mystery stays unsolved until the year 1966 when a British fashion model somehow finds herself locked in the Frick mansion and chances upon a set of hidden messages from 1912. With the help of a Frick intern, Joshua (also stuck in the mansion), they set out on a scavenger hunt that leads them to solve the decades-long murder mystery at the mansion.
Can I just say that Davis’ writing is fantastic! The dual timelines were written brilliantly and I loved the plot and the mystery storyline. When it comes to historical fiction, historical accuracy is the utmost importance and I always appreciate a well-researched book. Obviously, there are some fictional elements in the book, but the rest of the book was highly accurate (I did fact check, lol).
I don’t want to give away too much of the book, but I just encourage you to read it! The book has a little bit of everything! A sordid history filled with lies, scandal and greed; high fashion and famous artwork; and of course, a bit of romance. If you do read the book, I highly encourage you to research the real-life model that served as the inspiration for Angelica: Audrey Munson. She lived a truly heartbreaking and tragic life.
Rating: 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5).
Not my favorite Fiona Davis. Both female main characters were awful, silly, and naive, where I feel Davis usually portrays much stronger women. I didn’t know anything about the “first American supermodel,” though, or the Frick family, so that was interesting to know they were real. Not enough NYC scenery for my liking either. The black intern, Joshua, was probably my favorite characters and, besides him, most of the men in this novel were abhorrent (not surprising for historical fiction bros). It’s an ok story, but lacked all around. I definitely enjoyed The Chelsea Girls MUCH more.
This is an excellent page-turner of a story, spanning multiple decades and featuring three fascinating women characters, as well as an intricate plot of mystery, intrigue, and art. I love the cross-section of history and fiction, and Fiona Davis does a remarkable job at weaving the two into a beautiful story.
Probably a four except reader error! I listened to it and its difficult for me to switch back and forth between two time periods whole listening not reading! Good historical fiction!!
My favorite thing about book of the month is that I have the opportunity to find books that I never would have thought of reading. I chose The Magnolia Palace for the month of January 2022 and I’m so glad I did!
I was riveted by the stories in both timelines. Each was enjoyable enough to be the focus of its own book, but the connection of the two heightened the book even more. When one ended I couldn’t wait to get back into the other. The parallels between the two were so well done and aided to the progression of the story as a whole. I also found myself so invested in the lives of all of the characters and couldn’t wait to see how their story ended.
The connection at the end was so well done and the whole book wrapped up wonderfully. It was fun to see all the characters from both timelines together to finally solve the mystery of the magnolia diamond. I was also so glad to see Helen and Lillian both got the closure they needed and rekindle their unique friendship.
I was riveted by the stories in both timelines. Each was enjoyable enough to be the focus of its own book, but the connection of the two heightened the book even more. When one ended I couldn’t wait to get back into the other. The parallels between the two were so well done and aided to the progression of the story as a whole. I also found myself so invested in the lives of all of the characters and couldn’t wait to see how their story ended.
The connection at the end was so well done and the whole book wrapped up wonderfully. It was fun to see all the characters from both timelines together to finally solve the mystery of the magnolia diamond. I was also so glad to see Helen and Lillian both got the closure they needed and rekindle their unique friendship.