Amazon.com: Customer reviews: The Magnolia Palace: A Novel

Top positive review

wonderful historical fiction

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2022

As always I really enjoy the switch between eras in the chapters and how they come together in the end. Great characters.

18 people found this helpful

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irishana

Very slow paced book

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2022

I found the book boring. I’m very familiar with the Frick museum history. It was difficult to finish this book.

15 people found this helpful

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suzanne moncure

My least favourite of the author's books.

Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2022

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A very weak plot and a slow read. The book would have been much better if the stories behind the works of art was developed and intertwined. The Frick is an amazing museum and this.book did.not.dpmit.justice.

2 people found this helpful

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Laurie

Great for awhile

Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2022

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I think there was some good twists that could have played out longer. The end was a bit too unpredictable and unrealistic. I loved some of her historical details.

One person found this helpful

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Kathleen

great history of the art at the Frick

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2022

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I love the Frick museum in NYC. This book gave a wonderful history of the art and building. The story was just so so

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Chris Moyer

Much preferred the story in the past.

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2022

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Historical Fiction. Much preferred the past story to current. More in depth characters and a great deal more story. As we Segway into the current day, actually 60’s, the story is a bit ho hum but the ending is worth staying with it.

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Laurel Tyler

Love the Frick! But this novel was a little too drawn out for me.

Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2022

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I liked learning more about the Frick family and collection, but the back and forth between the two time periods went on too long and the quick formation of deep bond of loyalty by Lillian for Helen seemed off for me.
I didn’t love any of the characters and the ending was pretty anticlimactic.

I enjoyed the historical information and the story was interesting enough for a weekend read.

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Amazon Customer

A Window of Intrigue into the Art World.

Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2022

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I appreciated the the character development and the twists and turns of the story line. While this was an interesting book, I wasn’t spellbound.

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Petunia

Interesting story partly based on real people and events

Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2022

I love historical fiction and enjoyed this book. It was set in the Frick mansion in NYC, which later became the Frick Collection art museum in 1935.

There are two timelines in the story. The 1919 story was about 21-year old artists’ model, Lillian Carter, known by her pseudonym, Angelica. Her story was based on a real person, Audrey Munson, whose likeness graced over 100 famous NYC buildings. The 1966 story was about 18-year old English model with a bad haircut, Veronica Weber.

Lillian was on the run when she ended up at the Frick mansion after police started questioning her about her pervy landlord, Walter Watkins, who had just killed his wife, Eileen, and had been trying to take advantage of Lillian for rent money she owed.

Veronica showed up at the Frick mansion for a Vogue shoot involving several other models and hotshot photographer, Barnaby Stone. After a tantrum, she was accidentally left behind and locked in as a snowstorm shut down the city.

I enjoyed Lillian’s story more than Veronica’s. It was much more interesting and believable. Lillian’s character was based on Audrey Munson, whose sculpted image graced over 100 NYC buildings (see the author’s notes). Veronica’s character was just a tacked on story used to solve a mystery.

The happily-ever-after ending was a little too much - kind of like an episode of Oprah where everyone gets a new car.

List of characters:
1919
Lillian Carter aka Angelica - 21, artists’ model
Kitty Carter - her mother who died of Spanish flu
Walter Watkins - her landlord
Eileen Watkins - his wife
Mr. Rossi - clay sculptor
Isidore Kente - sculptor
Henry Clay Frick - 69, steel magnate/art collector
Adelaide Childs Frick - his wife
Martha Howard Frick - their 1st daughter, died at 5
Helen Clay Frick - 31, their 2nd daughter
Henry Clay Frisk, Jr. - their son, died at 26 days
Childs Clay Frick - their son
Dixie Frick - his pregnant wife/mother of 3
Miss Winnie - Adelaide’s private secretary/companion
Daniel Farthington
Kearns - English butler
Archie Graham - organist
Bertha - 34, Helen’s lady’s maid
Richard Danforth - beau chosen for Helen
Mr. Broderick - Hollywood silent film producer
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney - artist/patron of the arts
Mr. Smith - Henry’s attorney
Mr. Dewitt - Child’s PI
1966
Veronica Weber - 18, English model
Polly Weber - 18, her twin sister w/special needs
Trish Weber - their mother
Donny Weber - Veronica’s uncle/pawnshop owner
Sabrina - Veronica’s agent
Barnaby Stone - hotshot fashion photographer
Tangerine - model
Gigi - model
Joshua Lawrence - 21, Fricks Collection intern
Helen Fricks - 79
———————————————————————

From the blurb:

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.

Nearly fifty years later, mod English model Veronica Weber has her own chance to make her career—and with it, earn the money she needs to support her family back home—within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into one of New York City's most impressive museums. But when she—along with a charming intern/budding art curator named Joshua—is dismissed from the Vogue shoot taking place at the Frick Collection, she chances upon a series of hidden messages in the museum: messages that will lead her and Joshua on a hunt that could not only solve Veronica's financial woes, but could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in the infamous Frick family.

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Mostly enjoyable

Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2022

Overall, this book was mostly enjoyable. The characters and plot flowed and kept me reading through the pages at a comfortable pace.

Two drawbacks for me. The first, which seems to be a thing in most historical novels, is the assumption of the characters' intellect and maturity. They're almost always written as immature and lacking of common intelligence. It always annoys me. I don't understand this theme for characters in historical fiction.

The second is an editing issue. Now, had this just been one, maybe two, small instances? I probably wouldn't mention it. But, the lack of copy editing resulting in many inconsistencies drove me nuts and ended up taking enjoyment of the book away.

I will give two examples of them just to give you an idea of what I mean. I promise they aren't spoliers.

After Helen's father passes away, it is discussed that the family will hold a viewing/memorial for him in their home with him in his casket. Then, the day of the service Helen asks if his remains are back yet. When I turned the page, she and Lillian are standing at his casket with him in it.

Another example is when Helen discusses visiting a certain someone in a nursing home. She tells Lillian and others she visits every couple weeks. However, once they are all at the nursing home, it is said that she visits monthly.

The book is riddled with all kinds of errors like this. I would think this book being published by a bigger publisher, there wouldn't be so many errors.

If you can overlook the inconsistencies, this is an enjoyable book with a great story. The way the author entwines two stories from two time periods into one was very enjoyable.

2 people found this helpful

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Cath

Great insight into the Frick Museum

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2022

My first book by this author. Told in two timelines, 1919 and 1966. In 1919, the Fricks are living at what was to become the Frick Museum. Lillian is a model who posed (under the name Angelica) for several sculptors around NYC and even some statues within the Frick household. After running away from a murder to avoid becoming a suspect, she finds herself being interviewed to be Helen Frick's personal assistant. Through this position, she helps Helen set up a scavenger hunt for Helen's suitor.

In 1966, Veronica is a model doing a photo shoot at the Frisk Museum during which time a blizzard shuts down the city and she finds herself locked in and left behind. She discovers that a research intern is also locked in with her and they stumble upon the scavenger hunt clues and start following them.

This story has murder, mystery and love. It was really nice getting a peak into the Frick household, even if it's fiction but some truth interspersed into the story. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.

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Erikas_reading_corner

Historical fiction & mystery

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2022

The Magnolia Palace was a mix of then & now with the story volleying from the 1910s to 1960s. Lillian is a model who has been a muse for artists all over NY. She is forced to run from her home when she is wanted for questioning in connection to a murder. She ends up at the Frick mansion where she ends up meeting Miss Helen who is looking to hire a secretary. The wealthy Frick family lives in a mansion that will be left as a museum in Mr. Fricks will. When he dies, one of the most important art pieces, a cameo of his beloved daughter Martha goes missing. Accusations fly. Who took it from Mr. Fricks casket?

The book over all was a 3.5 for me. It would have been better if there was some clearer resolution to two plot points-Mr. Danforth for one as well as the murder of her landlords wife. I really enjoy books with an element of mystery but with the culprit had a bigger role throughout the book.

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