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A review by inliterarylove
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
4.0
I have completed my first book of the year (Goal- 52, right on track!) and what a book it was! I was especially pulled into this book because of the family in the story. One of America’s most infamously wealthy families, the Fricks made their fortune in steel. I currently live in Pittsburgh and knew almost nothing about the Frick history, believe it or not. I moved here and found there is a gorgeous Frick Park and a place known to yinzers simply as The Frick, which was the family’s home and is now a collection of museums and historical buildings. Other than those things, I knew nothing. Fiona Davis changed that.
The Magnolia Palace is told in dual timelines, 1919 and 1966. The story focuses on our 1919 protagonist, a muse turned private secretary to Miss Helen, Mr. Frick’s daughter. Our muse’s name is Lilly. She is smart, beautiful, and would do anything to work in film. Our 1966 gal is Victoria, a new model flown in from England who is stuck in the famous home/museum with intern Joshua after a snowstorm causes a blackout and locks them in. This actually takes place in NYC at their other home, where all the families erected their own “Vanderbuild”.
Mystery, scandal, murder, and money, Davis includes it all. Weaving her own storyline into the history of this well-known family, she gives us an historical novel impossible to put down.
I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The Magnolia Palace is told in dual timelines, 1919 and 1966. The story focuses on our 1919 protagonist, a muse turned private secretary to Miss Helen, Mr. Frick’s daughter. Our muse’s name is Lilly. She is smart, beautiful, and would do anything to work in film. Our 1966 gal is Victoria, a new model flown in from England who is stuck in the famous home/museum with intern Joshua after a snowstorm causes a blackout and locks them in. This actually takes place in NYC at their other home, where all the families erected their own “Vanderbuild”.
Mystery, scandal, murder, and money, Davis includes it all. Weaving her own storyline into the history of this well-known family, she gives us an historical novel impossible to put down.
I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.