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The Magnolia Palace
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Karissa Vacker
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Written by:
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Fiona Davis
About this listen
Instant New York Times Best Seller!
Fiona Davis, New York Times best-selling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue, returns with a tantalizing novel about the secrets, betrayal, and murder within one of New York City's most impressive Gilded Age mansions.
Eight months since losing her mother in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, 21-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 50 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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What the critics say
“Combining a mansion turned museum, a missing diamond, a mystery, and the lives of two young women separated by half a century, Fiona Davis stirs up a beguiling story that unfolds like a clever game of Clue. Suspicions abound, and an iconic New York City landmark stands poised to reveal a page-turning tale of wealth, family dynamics, and long-held secrets.”—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours
“Fiona Davis is at the top of her game in this intriguing, high-stakes novel about an iconic New York City landmark, the Frick mansion, and two women, fifty years apart, whose stories intersect within it. A family saga and historical thriller in one, The Magnolia Palace is a fast-paced, immersive delight.”—Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and The Exiles
“Rich with family drama, tangled romance, cryptic clues, and long-buried secrets, The Magnolia Palace is sure to be loved by Fiona Davis's devoted and new readers alike. A can't-miss for anyone who has sauntered through an art museum and found themselves tempted to peek behind a painting or two.”—Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
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What listeners say about The Magnolia Palace
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
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- JAG
- 2022-11-28
Great listening
I love the Frick Museum in New York. I love art, and this story intertwines the lives of several characters within the Frick family and art itself. That being said, the story can be a bit slow at times and the characters are a bit frustrating at times with some repetitive narratives and thoughts. Sometimes writers or their editors assume readers need reminding (several times) of why characters are the way they are… and refer to memories or events which should already be remembered by reader. This book does that… often.
Other than that, the narration and voices are well done. It’s easy to listen to and follow. The story intertwined people and places and times well.
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- Sharron padden
- 2022-02-06
The Magnolia Palace
I have always enjoyed stories that are set in two times. The story is so good that I could feel the feelings of the characters. The prose is very good as is he story.
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- LK
- 2022-11-12
The Magnolia Palace
What a find to secret away…
Having visited this museum three decades ago I wish I had known about the history- even a fictional version such as this would have enlightened me. Alas I can visit online.
The novel is beautifully written and narrated. I highly recommend this novel.
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- Rozmc
- 2022-03-01
A good mystery...
I enjoyed the historical vantage point of the story from the two different times - but enjoyed the more recent perspective wasn't too recent. Visiting two time zones. An excellent story that kept one wondering who done it. The narrator was so good that you didn't realize how good she was. Great characters but never taking away from the story.
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- JBR
- 2023-02-25
Pleasant light listening
Only slightly more complex than a teen romance but likeable nonetheless. It kept my attention because the characters were familiar but it is not a riveting tale. I believe that it has a wide appeal and those looking for a pleasant story with a happy ending will enjoy the listen.
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