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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
This was such a good book! It got to a point where I just couldn’t put it down (unexpectedly stayed up until 2am to finish it). I’ve read quite a few books that go back and forth between two time periods and points of view, and I thought it was really well done in this book. I liked that it didn’t jump back and forth every chapter. I really got into the story in both timelines. I’ve really been enjoying historical fiction more and more lately, and now I want to read all the books by Fiona Davis, starting with The Lions of Fifth Avenue which I had a friend that couldn’t put that one down. If her other books are as intriguing as this one, I’ll definitely enjoy them. Oh, and there was room for a love story in here too, which always makes me happy.
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wasn’t enamored with the BOTM picks this month so I let my girlfriend pick for me and she went with this one. I’m very glad she did because it was excellent, so well written and entertaining that it barely took me a couple of days to read. I loved the alternating timelines, though I think I enjoyed the 1919 story just a bit more than the 1966 one. Lillian was just a fantastic main character and her POV was more enjoyable to me than Veronica’s, though I did like the parallels between the the two stories. Definitely worth the read, and probably one I’ll revisit in the future.
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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
I found this story pretty contrived and had a hard time getting through it. A similar formula to Davis’s other books and the wrapping up of the mystery at the end was just…odd.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
I always enjoy reading Fiona Davis's historical fiction novels as they teach me about various properties in NYC and some of the history of these amazing properties.
In this novel, told in dual timelines, Lilly is a model for various artists in 1919.when she becomes a witness to a murder. Wanting to escape this notoriety, she finds herself hired as a personal secretary for Helen Frick. Also, in 1966, Veronica, a British model is in NYC for a photo shoot at the Frick Museum when she gets trapped in the building during a blizzard.
There is a legend that the Magnolia Diamond went missing and was never found. This story, while imaginary, forms the basis for a mystery in this novel. Who stole the diamond and where could it be? There is also another death in the story, and a mystery surrounding who was responsible.
Fiona Davis has a gift in bringing these old buildings to life with an interesting story. I enjoyed it.
In this novel, told in dual timelines, Lilly is a model for various artists in 1919.when she becomes a witness to a murder. Wanting to escape this notoriety, she finds herself hired as a personal secretary for Helen Frick. Also, in 1966, Veronica, a British model is in NYC for a photo shoot at the Frick Museum when she gets trapped in the building during a blizzard.
There is a legend that the Magnolia Diamond went missing and was never found. This story, while imaginary, forms the basis for a mystery in this novel. Who stole the diamond and where could it be? There is also another death in the story, and a mystery surrounding who was responsible.
Fiona Davis has a gift in bringing these old buildings to life with an interesting story. I enjoyed it.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense