The Magnolia Palace

 

This isn't the 1st book I have read from Fiona Davis. I like her books. They are history with some fiction intertwined into a story.

Most of what she writes on is something I have seen, or heard of.

Of the two storylines I believe I like the one with Lily, who of her own bad luck ran away from something to accidentally wander and the staff thought she was there for a job. And got the job to be private secretary to daughter of Henry Clay Frick. His daughter, Helen was a hard one to please. As it turns out Lily was able to get along with her.

The house that they were staying at was the residence of Henry Frick in 1914. He was a steel magnate who collected and loved art. He built his home to one day leave, with the large art collection to the city as a museum.

Lily although got in trouble after the death of Henry Frick. She ran and married the person who helped her escape. Had a good life. In the very distant future she finally got her time to explain what really happened to Helen about her father. Some foal play I believe.

Mrs. Frick and Helen lived there til 1931 and than the house was renovated and opened in 1935 to become the museum it is today. There was also a Magnolia diamond it was said it was given to another daughter before she died. And are known for the Magnolia trees on the front lawn. Strange the diamond was said to be stolen but never a report on it. No one has seen it since.

The second storyline about Veronica Weber a model, was doing a shoot at the Frick mansion things got said back and forth and she was told she was done. Veronica wandered, being that there was a snowstorm and she couldn't go anywhere. She found secrets and hidden clues to the pink diamond called Magnolia diamond. As she did this, with the  help with a fellow she saw and learnt about the history of the building. This was in the 1960's.

The connection to these storylines is art. Being that Lily was a muse for artist and living in the Frick house that had an art collection. She learnt of the history of art and was appreciative of it.

As for Veronica, also a model found art collection intriguing .

With the relationship with Lily and Helen it gives me as the reader the original version how things came to be. That's why I prefer the first storyline over the second.

I give The Magnolia Palace (which the author named it) 5 

Hope to read more of Fiona's stories

The Overnight Guest

My first thoughts on this book were it took too long to get interesting, I was confused at first as to what this story was trying to say, and it was hard in the beginning to follow the two periods of time. Anyway it was toward the middle of book the events were getting clearer to understand.

Heather did a wonderful job lying out what the characters were about, doing, and the descriptions of things actually put you in the book.

I can understand why Wylie Lark changed her name. At the end it all comes together and you go "Ah I see now. She's been through a lot"

There are these three mysteries going on different times but linked together. I try not to try to figure it out. When I do I spoil the story for myself. Although the one I did figure it out. Now come on who doesn't question a person, Randy of why is he in the barn of people he hated? After answering that he wanted to help, please all of a sudden he wanted to help the people he hates? There was more to Randy as we see at the end of the story.

There are a lot of characters in this story to keep up with. A vibe of Agatha Christie going on there. She had a lot of characters in her books too. It gives the reader more to sink their teeth into of who dunit.

Scary that this takes place in a blizzard. Which I would never just go out to see where a sound was coming from, or someone out there that shouldn't be. I was frustrated with Josie because of that. For a true crime writer she was naive. Although Josie was a fighter. She wouldn't give up. Even for a friend that was still alive.

Some of things I do highlight that I saw worthy to connect me with the story more.

I give The Overnight Guest 4 

I though it confusing in beginning. I have another book of Heather Gudenkauf's and look forward to reading it.