“The Magnolia Palace” by Fiona Davis

With her mother by her side Lillian Carter has become the muse of the most elite New York artists scattering her likeness all over the city for all to see but when the Spanish flu takes her mother’s life, Lillian is left floundering. When trouble comes knocking on her front door Lillian is forced to flee her apartment. Standing outside the Frick Mansion she is mistaken for another woman arriving for a job interview. Desperate for shelter and a place to hide out, Lillian decides not to correct them. After impressing Helen Frick with her art knowledge she is hired on the spot. Fast forward fifty years, model Veronica Weber finds herself in a tight situation after getting accidentally locked inside the Frick Museum, along with the museum’s curator, when a photoshoot goes wrong. The two stumble upon decades old clues leading them on a scavenger hunt tour of the Frick art collection. Veronica’s mind races with the possibility that she may just discover the hiding place of the long missing Magnolia diamond and what it might do for her life if she could walk away with it. I have become one of Fiona Davis’ biggest fans. I haven’t met a book that she’s written that I didn’t love and “The Magnolia Palace” is no exception. Told through dual timelines and POVs, Davis expertly weaves history and mystery throughout this well developed story built on the shoulders of two strong, engaging female characters. I highly recommend adding this and other Fiona Davis titles to your TBR lists. A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Dutton for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. (I liked it so much I made it my January @bookofthemonth pick!)

Purchase a copy of “The Magnolia Palace” here.