THE MAGNOLIA PALACE by Fiona Davis - Review
One of our favorite historical fiction novelists, Fiona Davis has a new novel that takes place at another historic New York City building, The Frick. Her novel THE MAGNOLIA PALACE (Dutton) is filled with romance, secrets, murder and betrayal in one of Manhattan's most significant landmarks, The Frick Mansion. It originally was the home of industrialist, Henry Clay Frick and his family during the Gilded Age.
Once again Davis uses dual timelines, one present day and then back to early 1900s when the Frick's lived. Lillian Carter, best known as Angelica, the model for over one-hundred sculptures in the city loses her mother and then is wanted for questioning in a murder. She escapes, roams around the city, when by chance she is in front of the Frick Mansion, which has a sculpture of her and is whisked into the mansion. Unknown to her, the business magnet's mercurial daughter is seeking a private secretary. She is offered the job and jumps at the chance, knowing she'll be out of the city's spotlight. Once she is working for the Frick family, she is sucked into the family's drama, neurosis, jealousies, lies and is once again, accused of murder.
Almost fifty years later, British model, Veronica Weber has a job modeling for Vogue at the Frick Museum. She hides in a small room when she's dismissed from the shoot. But then, a massive snow storm hits NYC and she's locked in the Museum. In the dark with no electricity, she tries to find a way out. Instead she runs into an intern of the Museum and together they experience much more than they ever could have predicted.
I love reading Fiona's novels. I always learn something truly extraordinary about a NYC building. Her characters are well developed and her plotting is flawless, which lays out an extremely enjoyable story. I can't wait to read her next book. Which NYC iconic landmark could be the subject? Could is be the Chrysler, Empire or the Flatiron building? We'll have wait for publication.
F I O N A D A V I S is the New York Times bestselling author of six historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including The Dollhouse, The Address, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her novels have been chosen as “One Book, One Community” reads and her articles have appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and O the Oprah magazine.
She first came to New York as an actress, but fell in love with writing after getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and she's based in New York City.
www.fionadavisbooks.com
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