The Magnolia Palace and more ...

After having praised the deserving January 2022 Library Reads selection titled The Maid, here are a couple of other selections from this month – with female protagonists – that may well appeal:

THE MAGNOLIA PALACE by Fiona Davis is a wonderful work of historical fiction from this very popular author. Like her other novels (The Masterpiece, The Lions of Fifth Avenue, etc.), this story features an iconic New York City location (Henry Clay Frick’s mansion in this case) and two time periods (1919 and the mid-1960’s).  Based on a real-life model, Audrey Munson, the character of Lillian Carter (or Angelica) has been a sculptor’s muse in New York – her position changes dramatically after the deaths of her mother and of her landlady. Through some fortunate coincidences, she ends up becoming the social secretary for Helen Clay Frick, the businessman’s daughter. It is fascinating to read about the family dramas and that Gilded Age time as well as the art collection with which a subsequent model, Veronica Weber, poses decades later. Locked in the mansion, Veronica and a young intern discover clues to a mystery that lead to a murderer from the earlier time. History and mystery – especially appealing to fans of the new HBO series. THE MAGNOLIA PALACE received starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly (describing this title as “Davis’s best work to date”).

THE DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS by Eva Jurczyk is a debut work which seemed to move a bit slowly for me, but which was yet another a LibraryReads Selection for January. Professional reviewers tended to enjoy it as well, with Kirkus describing this mystery story as “The perfect gift for librarians and those who love them—and doesn’t that include just about every reader?”

As the story begins, Liesl Weiss has assumed responsibilities as acting as head of the Department and soon discovers that a recent rare book acquisition has gone missing. Was it somehow mis-shelved or stolen? The university President actively discourages police involvement while requiring a reluctant Liesl to “schmooze” with the donors. Soon a fellow librarian goes missing and theft looks more likely as the donors apply increasing pressure. Poor Liesl struggles to gain respect and find the valuable text. Book groups might well enjoy debating her predicament in the face of ageism and male chauvinism.