The Magnolia Palace
- Downloads：6705
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-02-19 21:21:45
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Fiona Davis
- ISBN：B093GB94J3
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Roberta Miceli
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Everything was tied up too neatly for me with this book。 I've read all her other books and LOVED them and they more closely tracked to the historical truth - this one was lightly based in truth and then basically a fiction novel。 Everything was tied up too neatly for me with this book。 I've read all her other books and LOVED them and they more closely tracked to the historical truth - this one was lightly based in truth and then basically a fiction novel。 。。。more
Ccdemaio
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I love the Frick Museum so reading this book that takes place in the museum was fun。 But the main characters， Lillian and Veronica， are both less than interesting or admirable。 The book maintained my interest through the artwork at the museum and actually also Henry Clay Frick’s history。 I like how Fiona Davis tells about the disaster in Johnston PA as well as him donating the house/artwork to the city。 At least the reader can understand a clearer picture of the man。 Overall， the art wins the da I love the Frick Museum so reading this book that takes place in the museum was fun。 But the main characters， Lillian and Veronica， are both less than interesting or admirable。 The book maintained my interest through the artwork at the museum and actually also Henry Clay Frick’s history。 I like how Fiona Davis tells about the disaster in Johnston PA as well as him donating the house/artwork to the city。 At least the reader can understand a clearer picture of the man。 Overall， the art wins the day。 Now for the Frick to reopen so that readers can see it in situ！ 。。。more
Katherine
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This historical fiction is full of lively characters and straddles two time periods。 By alternating between the two narratives， you slowly unravel the mystery of the family drama that a young model turned potential witness/murder suspect gets tangled up in。 A beautifully written book with artistic imagery and historical references。 A great read that is hard to put down。
Catarina
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Couldn’t get into it。 Easier just to watch The Gilded Age at this point。
Luíza Marcino
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Just a beautiful read with two entrancing leads。
Julie
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I enjoyed this book and loved the different timelines throughout the book。 Fiona Davis weaves wonderful stories。
Mary
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3+Set against the backdrop of the art-filled Frick Mansion， a renowned sculptor’s muse， hiding in plain sight as a private secretary， finds herself in the middle of Frick family drama and entangled in a web of accusations。 Decades later a winter storm brings together an unlikely pair， a Frick Museum intern and a would-be model， who complete a scavenger hunt to unravel an almost 50 year old legacy of intrigue leading them full circle to where it all began。There were times this story slowed down a 3+Set against the backdrop of the art-filled Frick Mansion， a renowned sculptor’s muse， hiding in plain sight as a private secretary， finds herself in the middle of Frick family drama and entangled in a web of accusations。 Decades later a winter storm brings together an unlikely pair， a Frick Museum intern and a would-be model， who complete a scavenger hunt to unravel an almost 50 year old legacy of intrigue leading them full circle to where it all began。There were times this story slowed down a bit but a quick solid read for lovers of the gilded age。 。。。more
Lisa4piano Brown
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I liked the true art history about the Frick collection。
Amee Munson
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This book was a delightful read。 I enjoyed getting to know the characters。 I do wish there could have been more to the ending ending， but is just fine as is。
Tara
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Meh。 It was okay。 Not a book I would recommend but not a book I’m disappointed I read。
Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill
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My first Fiona Davis book！ I have already went out and bought two more！ Review to come。
Ali Bean
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Okay so this book took a direction I wasn't expecting。 It ain't sapphic for one and two well it wasn't sapphic。The Magnolia Palace truly had the potential to have been something great。 Set in the end of one of the greatest eras in New York's history while on the cusp of one of the most influential periods of human history I was going in expecting that old era rich people drama。And I got it kinda。 Honestly it feels like Fiona Davis rushed a lot of the scenes trying to get to her plots and sadly t Okay so this book took a direction I wasn't expecting。 It ain't sapphic for one and two well it wasn't sapphic。The Magnolia Palace truly had the potential to have been something great。 Set in the end of one of the greatest eras in New York's history while on the cusp of one of the most influential periods of human history I was going in expecting that old era rich people drama。And I got it kinda。 Honestly it feels like Fiona Davis rushed a lot of the scenes trying to get to her plots and sadly that made it hard to care for her characters beyond a "Oh yeah that's sad" level。 While I loved the plot and got hooked towards the end in the beginning it was a totally different story filled with flat characters and a messy story flow。By the middle it was entertaining and at the end it became messy again。 I also feel as though this could have benefited being longer just to see Lillian's life after she fled or to hear more of Helen's struggles after her Father's death。 Overall though I really enjoyed this book and if you want just a quick read to satisfy a desire to read about the Gilded Age of New York then I highly reccomend this。 。。。more
Ginny
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This dragged a little in places but overall I liked it。 Mystery elements， two main characters， two time periods。
Jan Pitts
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Art， mystery， two timelines， the gilded age make this a winner。
Joy
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I believe I’ve read all of Fiona Davis’s novels and I adore them。 This is definitely one of her best， full of her signature eye for historical detail， development of strong and unusual female characters， and an engrossing storyline。 A dual timeline novel is no easy feat， but Fiona Davis pulls it off seamlessly so that the reader goes back and forth in time without ever once losing interest in either story。 Marvelous。
Elisa
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This book took me foreverrrrrr to get through。 For being about an interesting woman （Helen Clay Frick） who lived during an interesting time （the dawn of the Jazz Age）， this book was decidedly uninteresting。
Debbie Mitchell
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RelationshipsFiona Davis brings the Trick family to life in her historical fiction。 Having visited the Johnstown Flood Museum， it was interesting to read how Mr。 Truck's involvement was portrayed。 I always enjoy the development of the characters and the twists and turns in their lives。 RelationshipsFiona Davis brings the Trick family to life in her historical fiction。 Having visited the Johnstown Flood Museum， it was interesting to read how Mr。 Truck's involvement was portrayed。 I always enjoy the development of the characters and the twists and turns in their lives。 。。。more
SDBT
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The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis does not disappoint。 The description of the life and times in the early 1900’s captures the reader’s imagination。 Add the disparity in the impoverished and the rich to this story adds dimension。 The story of a muse celebrated by the art world of the east coast， who then is desperate etc earn some money to travel to be in the silent movies of the time。 Unfortunately， being in the wrong place at the wrong time has Angelique， finding work as a ladies secretary。 Th The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis does not disappoint。 The description of the life and times in the early 1900’s captures the reader’s imagination。 Add the disparity in the impoverished and the rich to this story adds dimension。 The story of a muse celebrated by the art world of the east coast， who then is desperate etc earn some money to travel to be in the silent movies of the time。 Unfortunately， being in the wrong place at the wrong time has Angelique， finding work as a ladies secretary。 This new employment is not pleasant and not without many twists and turns as the plot thickens。 The ending is quick and flushed out all the questions and mysteries that the muse turned secretary goes through。 I might add this is all flushed out thanks to a couple of art buffs 50-60 years in the future， who haphazardly meet and discover the secrets of a bygone era。 。。。more
Adrienne
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This novel has dual timelines， alternating between 1919 and 1966。 The 1919 timeline focuses on Lillian， a young woman who was a model for artists who created her likeness in many sculptures in New York City。 After her mother’s death， she is down on her luck， and stumbles into a job as private secretary to Helen Frick。 In 1966， British Veronica is starting a career as a model， and has an assignment at the Frick museum。 During a snowstorm， she is accidentally locked inside the museum with an inter This novel has dual timelines， alternating between 1919 and 1966。 The 1919 timeline focuses on Lillian， a young woman who was a model for artists who created her likeness in many sculptures in New York City。 After her mother’s death， she is down on her luck， and stumbles into a job as private secretary to Helen Frick。 In 1966， British Veronica is starting a career as a model， and has an assignment at the Frick museum。 During a snowstorm， she is accidentally locked inside the museum with an intern。 After discovering some clues， they hunt for the missing Magnolia diamond。I’ve visited the Frick Museum before， and I loved reading about its origins and the Frick family。 I was interested in both timelines， and thought the characters were well developed （especially in the 1919 timeline）。 The mystery and romance elements contributed to the plot but I thought they could have been developed more。 The ending was satisfying， although I don’t necessarily like it perfect with a bow。 This is the first novel I’ve read written by Fiona Davis， and I suspect it won’t be my last。 。。。more
Northumberland
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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 desperate—the work has dried up and a looming scandal has left her en 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 desperate—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 mansion—a building that， ironically， bears her own visage—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 family—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。 。。。more
Cynthia
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Not great writing。 I don't think a 1960s fashion model would use the phrase "。。。as if powered by a circuit board that was not up to code。" Not great writing。 I don't think a 1960s fashion model would use the phrase "。。。as if powered by a circuit board that was not up to code。" 。。。more
Ashley
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3。5⭐️
Madison Harland
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I wanted to love this book。 I felt like the plot was in development until the last 30 pages。 The setting was amazing， unlike anything I’ve read。 I’m some ways it reminded me to Downton Abbey mixed with the mystery of the Great Gatsby。 In the end I didn’t necessarily ‘love’ this book， but it was an engaging read。
Katherine Mary
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Fiona has done it again！ Centered around the Frick museum， this book focuses on the Frick family and the history and legacy of the art。 An incredible story！
Anna
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Good story with historical background。
Nicholas Martinez
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It was fine。 I certainly liked it much more at the end of the novel。 If I could give it like 3。5 stars I would。 There was really nothing wrong with it， just wasn't groundbreaking。 If you can get the chance to read it and you like historical fiction， mystery， and art， give this a read。。。。just try to get it for FREE！！！ It was fine。 I certainly liked it much more at the end of the novel。 If I could give it like 3。5 stars I would。 There was really nothing wrong with it， just wasn't groundbreaking。 If you can get the chance to read it and you like historical fiction， mystery， and art， give this a read。。。。just try to get it for FREE！！！ 。。。more
Caitlin
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This was a journey to read with eloquent writing & well developed characters。 The mystery and intrigue kept me turning page after page & I love that this was based on a real family with deep flaws and interesting quirks despite their wealth and status。 I rated this 5 stars because it was a really great read but it wasn't a gripping suspense or filled with heated romance so if you are looking for that it may not be the best pick for you。 Definitely recommend！ This was a journey to read with eloquent writing & well developed characters。 The mystery and intrigue kept me turning page after page & I love that this was based on a real family with deep flaws and interesting quirks despite their wealth and status。 I rated this 5 stars because it was a really great read but it wasn't a gripping suspense or filled with heated romance so if you are looking for that it may not be the best pick for you。 Definitely recommend！ 。。。more
Leila Kern
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Once again， Fiona Davis hits a home run with “The Magnolia Palace”。 She is a wonderful writer and brings history to the forefront！ I was transported to New York beginning in 1919 and felt I was in the midst of the events that were happening！ Well written and a tug at your heartstrings。 I also love reading the Author’s Note at the end directing the reading where he/she can find more information。 Great read for anyone！
Deborah
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Fun and quick read。 Enjoyed the 1919 story much more than the 1960s one。
Lexi Pasquale
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