Fiona Davis, “biographer” of famous
buildings in New York City, has done it again with her latest historical
fiction, The Magnolia Palace, which will be published on January 25, 2022. This
time, the Frick House is front and center of the novel about the mansion that
was destined to house an art museum and the mysteries that occurred there.
The storyline follows two characters on two
timelines, typical of Davis’ work. Lillian Carter, a character based on a real
and much sought-after model of the early 1900s who was the muse for many New
York landmarks, turned to the job of the private secretary for the daughter of
Henry Clay Frick, an industrialist and art patron who had the Frick House
constructed and furnished with artworks with the intent of the home becoming an
art museum upon his death.
Lillian became a key player in a love triangle,
a missing diamond, and a possible murder before she mysteriously disappeared in
1919. Nearly 50 years later, British model Veronica Weber is on assignment in
New York when she becomes trapped in the Frick House during a snowstorm that
has knocked out the power.
Working with Joshua Lawrence, an archival
intern who was also trapped that night, Veronica uncovers clues to a treasure
hunt that leads them to one answer to the mysteries of the Frick House. An
improbable encounter with the elderly Ruth Clay Frick in the museum sends the
three – Ruth Veronica, and Joshua -- on the trail to solving a decades old
murder and finding out what happened to Lillian.
Fiona Davis is a Canadian-born author who has
developed a specialty in writing historical fiction set in famous buildings in
New York City. She began her career in NYC as an actress. Upon earning a
master’s at Columbia Journalism School, her writing career has embraced both
journalism and fiction.
My review will be posted on Goodreads starting November
2, 2021.
I would like to thank Dutton, an imprint
of Penguin Random House, and
NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.
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