The Address, The Dakota one of New York,s most famous residences home to many celebrities and especially John Lennon.
Be prepared to travel back in time to the days when it opened its doors to the upcoming New Yorkers who didn't quite fit into the American aristocracy of the time.
Meet Sara Smythe a young English women who was enticed to America by the charismatic young architect Theodore Camden to become the manager of the Dakota.
Then fast forward to the 1980,s and meet Bailey Camden a recovering alcoholic and drug addict whose life has been inexplicably linked to the Dakota and find out how her and Sara,s life are linked.
Fantastic book I just could not put it down.

The author of The Dollhouse (fictional tale of the Barbizon Hotel for Women in NYC) is back with her second book, this one focusing on the famous Dakota apartment building across the street from Central Park. Traveling between two time periods, Davis tells the story of the original architect of 1895 as he tries to convince people to move to the 'boonies' of the city and try out communal living in style, and a modern-day tale of a recovering alcoholic interior designer whose family ties have been embedded with the architectural family for generations. The character of Sara, the British woman who becomes the Dakota's first housekeeper is especially intriguing; dealing with the day-to-day business of the New York elite families who reside at the Dakota is some great historical trivia. As the tale unwinds into forbidden love, betrayal, and criminal behavior at the turn-of-the-century, Davis pulls in the characters of the 1980's to show the intriguing connections. At times, I found this book a bit formulaic, with few surprises and in need of some further character development, particularly of the architect and the reasons for his behavior. Yet, I would ultimately recommend this to anyone who is interested in the history of NYC; this book is definitely excellent brain candy and a compelling read.

Two timelines collide in this historical drama set in the famed Dakota apartment building in New York in 1883 and 1985. Two women each start their professional adult lives over again within the walls of the building, each finding that more than their professional lives are affected by their activities. The author does a good job of creating both eras with strong settings and characters; each easily credible as independent protagonists on their own. For readers with a yearning towards historical fiction, this book satisfies on multiple levels.

Love, love, love this book! I simply flew through it, and now want to delve into a little New York history.

I was fascinated with the history, architecture and descriptions of The Dakota, favorite part of the book.

I liked the tangled link between Sara and Bailey, messy enough to pique the story.

I felt for Sara, she trusted wrongly and was brutally betrayed. A true shame her life ended in its manner. I admired her choice in the end.

A few twists keep the story moving at a rigorous pace, the ending more than satisfactory although somewhat predictable.

A tale of betrayal, sacrifice and deep family secrets, you will undoubtedly enjoy this deliciously juicy plot.

The concept of this novel is fantastic. The famous NYC Dakota luxury apartment building in two different eras—1888s and 1980s. The story revolves around a mystery woman, Sara, in the past, who had worked her way up to head housekeeper at an upscale London Hotel. When the opportunity to emigrate to America emerges, she takes it, though not without some trepidation.

In the present, Bailey has just got out of rehab and is also looking for a second chance. She’s renovating an apartment in the Dakota for an extravagant cousin with bad taste, and this gives her a chance to investigate some old trunks left in the basement. In these, she meets a woman from the previous century who was imprisoned in the madhouse for the murder of her lover.

The alternating histories work really well here, as both women get deeper to the truth about themselves.

What I liked about the story is the similarities and contrasts between these two women as the narrative plays out. Bailey meets Sara between the pages and in pictures from the trunk and all these things not only make her curious, but affect her own future at the Dakota.

"The Address" by Fiona Davis is a well written piece of historical fiction, set alternately in 1884 and 1985 - in the infamous Dakota Apartment building. While this is the story of the lives of two women (whose story lines are, of course, connected), the true star of this tale is the Dakota itself. I found the Gilded Age story line far more compelling than the more modern one.

(1884) Sara Smythe is given the opportunity to be the female managerette of the newly built Dakota Apartments, which promises to be the greatest apartment house in the world. She arrives from London to a New York City that is on the cusp of expansion. The city, and Sarah's new life, are both full of new and exciting possibility.

(1985) Bailey Camden, a former party girl and interior designer, is fresh out of rehab. She is also homeless, jobless, and penniless and unsure of what her future will hold. She winds up moving in with her cousin, and taking over the renovation of her co-op in the famous Dakota apartments. She discovers the secrets of the Dakota's (and Sarah Smythe's) past which affect Bailey's own present, and potentially, her future.

These two story lines are set 100 years apart, but both women are struggling to take control of their lives. Sara and Bailey are both tempted by and struggle against the golden excess of their respective ages.

I found the story to be fast paced, exciting, and well written. I would welcome the opportunity to read other novels by Fiona Davis.

Kudos to author Fiona Davis, author of "The Address" for her artistic descriptions, historical research, and her amazing research. The genre of "The Address is Historical Fiction, based on actual history, and written as a novel of fiction. 

The timelines of the story are set a century apart, 1884, "The Gilded Age" and 1985, also considered a time of partying use of drugs, and alcohol. In 1884, "The Dakota" one of the first luxury apartment buildings set on the Upper West Side was built, surrounded by farms and the countryside.  The architect Thomas Camden had visions of a new Upper West Side. The Dakota had every amenity. There was a dining room, a tailor and more on the premises to meet the residents needs. "The Dakota" will certainly be known as "The Address" where the wealthy and elite reside.

The author describes the characters as complex and complicated.  Sara comes from England at the request of Thomas Camden to assist with the grand opening of "The Dakota" and to assist with overseeing the staff in 1884.

In 1985, Bailey an interior designer, and just our of rehabilitation for Alcoholism, comes to The Dakota to modernize it for her cousin, a descendent of Thomas Camden. Bailey really would like to keep the original ornaments and accessories from a century before. There are twists and turns in this novel and there is also a mystery surrounding a murder.

Although it is a century apart, both Sara and Bailey meet with betrayal, SECRETS, and manipulation by other characters.

I love the way Fiona Davis discusses the relevant topics of the times. Around 1884, women could be committed to an insane asylum without any legal representation. It was worse for women that did not speak English. There was abuse and punishment and many of these women would just disappear. There was also the question of illegitimate children and how society viewed this. In 1985 there was drug and alcohol abuse, especially when the wealthy partied. Also the concept of testing for DNA was new. The wealthy had access to testing for DNA to prove inheritance issues.

I appreciate the way the author discusses the  importance of family, friends, love and hope.  I would highly recommend this intriguing, captivating novel for those readers that love historical fiction, suspense and mystery and romance. I received an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) for my honest review.

New York City in the 1880’s was on the brink of expansion. Wealthy families had built magnificent homes there, and more construction was underway. The Dakota, was a newly built grand structure. It was one of the first luxury multi family residences to be constructed on the Upper West Side of New York.

Into this setting, Sara Smythe arrives from London where she had been head housekeeper at an elegant hotel. She agreed to come to New York at the request of architect Theodore Camden. He has hired her to be the “managerette” of the Dakota. Sara hopes this new position will provide opportunities for a better life.

The Dakota in 1985 has fallen into disrepair. Bailey Camden, a recovering alcoholic, is trying to reestablish herself as a respected interior designer. Her cousin, Melinda Camden, has hired Bailey to redecorate her apartment in the Dakota. While sorting through items in the Dakota’s storage rooms, Bailey discovers that there are long buried secrets in her family. She decides that it is time to uncover the truth about her family’s history.

Author Fiona Davis’ well written novel evokes a real sense of place as she weaves together a story about two women whose lives are connected even though the distance between them spans a century. This is a fascinating story of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and family ties that is hard to put down.

Thank you to Net Galley, Dutton (an imprint of Penguin Random House), and author Fiona Davis for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this novel.

I enjoyed the first section well enough, but with the switch to the modern setting, it lost me and I gave up.

Fiona Davis uses New York City landmarks as the center piece of her novels and in The Address the historic apartment building the Dakota is the center piece. When the building is built Sarah Smythe arrives from England to become the manager of the building after rescuing one of the architects children from injury. Her life is tied to the architect and spins out of control. A hundred years later Bailey is trying to get her life back under control and in the Dakota finds evidence that she might be related to Sarah Smythe and her architect. A story of love, family, betrayal, and finding the truth no matter how painful.

Unfortunately I couldn't get myself to finish The Address. It started off with great promise! The story moves between the late 1800s when The Dakota was being built in what was then an area quite remote from the center of New York City, and 1985 when a young woman fresh out of rehab discovers information while helping renovate an apartment in the Dakota which could lead to a better understanding of a murder that took place in the other timeline. The book is written reasonably well, and I was interested in the characters but about half way through it shifted and suddenly people were acting out of character, heavy handed descriptions of the horrors of insane asylums were added and events occurred which were there to move the plot forward but did not feel realistic. Characters became extremely two dimensional and I couldn't get myself to finish. It was very disappointing because literally the first half was great!

Wow! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!!! --My thought as i finished this amazing book. This novel had me captured from the get-go. I loved the history of this book and the tie-in with the "current day" mysteries. I fell in love and sympathized with both female characters and their issues, past and present! The mysteries of the heirlooms found in the basement of The Dakota were enthralling... I was eager to know about them as the story unfolded. This is a book I will recommend to all of my historical fiction readers!

The story follows two women in different centuries who both reside in different centuries (if briefly) at The Dakota apartment house in New York. I was hoping for more history of the building and the residents, but the womens' stories were well-crafted, if somewhat dark and at times disturbing. Not all the characters are likeable. This is a story of greed, home wrecking, drug abuse, helpless women committed to an asylum, baby snatching and murder. Not a light read, if that's what you're looking for.

What a great story! I loved this book from beginning to end. I have to admit it was a little confusing at first because I didn't realize that the story moved from the past to the present, but once I figured that out it was easy reading.

This book starts out as an interesting read, especially for someone interested in NYC history, especially the iconic Dakota located on West 72nd Street in Manhattan. Somewhere along the way, the author gets lost in trying to combine too many stories and plotlines.

There is the historical fiction piece, a mystery, Gothic (set in a mental institution), science, as well as a modern drug addict coping with being sober...just too much and too unlikely. There were parts I liked and parts that were absurd. There are too many stereotypes and too much confusion. The events really are too unbelievable and the happy ending must have been written a long time ago to make the reader believe that a legacy of 3 million dollars is worth all the wrangling or that such a family could live in the Dakota, even in 1985.

This is simply a mishmash which needs a great deal of cutting and reworking.

Sara Smythe can hardly believe her good fortune when she is hired on as a head housekeeper at The Dakota, a new apartment house in New York City in 1884. After leaving her native England, Sara quickly succeeds in her position and is even promoted to managerette.

Fast forward to 1985 New York, where Bailey Camden, newly out of rehab, is seeking to reestablish herself as an interior designer. The only person who will hire her is her cousin Melinda, the direct descendant of Theodore Camden, the architect of The Dakota. Unfortunately for Bailey, her grandfather was the ward of Mr. Camden so she stands to inherit none of his fortune, while Melinda will get most of it

As Melinda hires Bailey to remodel her apartment at The Dakota, Bailey becomes accustomed to Melinda’s difficult demands though she is disturbed by how Melinda wants to alter the integrity of the beautiful apartment.

But when Bailey uncovers clues to the murder of Theodore Camden by Sara Smythe, she believes that there may be more than meets the eye. Bailey’s quest to use the new technology of DNA testing to see if she was actually a blood relative of Mr. Camden may lead her to discover more about herself and her ancestry than she ever dreamed possible.

Davis’ deftly alternates between 1980’s New York and its counterpart of one hundred years prior as she reveals the similarities between Sara and Bailey who are desperately trying to survive in a world where they have been dealt a difficult hand. As she highlights how the two women’s lives are inextricably intertwined, Ms. Davis develops a story that is a mesmerizing as it is haunting. https://sherimelnick.wordpress.com/

Haunting, chilling, and thoroughly absorbing. I didn't want to put it down.

A great read, detailing the lives of those who designed, built and worked at one of the first condominiums in New York. The back story of the architect and his mistress and his lies are fascinating. The history of undercover reporting and the lives of women in prison are covered in this story based on fact.

I love historical fiction and so do many of the patrons of our library. Well done with the story lines moving back and forth in time. I will look for Dollhouse by Ms. Davis and keep her on my list of authors to watch for.