I love NYC, Radio City, and The Rockettes, so I was really excited about reading this book. The first half of the book did not disappoint. We follow Marion on her quest to break from the mold of the path to being a 50’s housewife to becoming a Rockette. It was fun reading a “behind the scenes” of what goes into the performances. I liked Marion and her story and rooted for her carving a life of independence when it was something that was frowned upon by her family and society.

The second half took a bit of an unexpected turn and was largely focused on the storyline of the New York City Bomber. I didn’t dislike that part of the story, but it took away from the sparkle of the first half with the Rockettes. I know this author always writes about a historical NYC landmark and centers the story around an event that happened there. However, I think Marion’s story and budding romance with Peter would’ve held enough intrigue.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Fiona Davis's "The Spectacular" is a captivating dual timeline novel set in 1950s New York, centered around the world of the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. Marion Brooks, a determined aspiring dancer, finds herself entangled in a gripping investigation to catch the notorious "Big Apple Bomber." Teaming up with Dr. Peter Griggs, a young psychiatrist with an innovative approach to psychological profiling, Marion becomes an invaluable asset to the authorities. As she delves deeper into the dangerous pursuit, Marion must navigate family dynamics, societal expectations, and her own safety, all while hoping to expose the bomber's identity. Davis's meticulous research, vivid descriptions, and the compelling blend of history and mystery make "The Spectacular" an unforgettable reading experience.

"The Spectacular" takes readers on a journey through the behind-the-scenes world of the Rockettes, offering captivating insights into their grueling schedules and breathtaking performances. Davis's exceptional attention to detail seamlessly integrates historical facts and true events, bringing authenticity to the narrative. Marion's personal growth, struggles as a woman in the 1950s, and her complex family dynamics add depth to the story. While some aspects, such as the romance and police interactions, may feel contrived, the novel remains engrossing, urging readers to uncover the truth behind the bombings and Marion's fate. Despite pacing challenges and potential anachronistic feminist themes, "The Spectacular" offers a compelling premise, an immersive historical setting, and a touch of mystery, making it a must-read for fans of Fiona Davis and historical fiction enthusiasts.

One by one, iconic buildings in New York City are intricately woven into historical fiction novels by Fiona Davis: The Spectacular is a June offering focusing on Radio City Music Hall in the 1950s. A second timeline in 1992 revolves around an anniversary celebration bringing a retired dancer back to the music hall.

Marion Brooks has been either taking dancing classes or teaching dance for most of her young life. She goes to an open audition for the Rockettes where she nails a spot for herself at only 19. However, Marion lives at home with a domineering father and her older sister, and both take a dim view of Marion being a dancer when she should really either go for a career in nursing, teaching, or be a secretary until she gets married and has children. Not only has Marion’s relationship with her family become splintered, the city of New York has been plagued for 16 years with the "Big Apple Bomber."

Marion finds being a Rockette to be both grueling and satisfying, calling for the glamourous precision-dancing troupe to perform in four shows a day, three weeks in a row before having one week off. Out of the blue, her sister Judy contacts Marion who invites her to this spectacular art deco theatre to see a show. Unfortunately, the bomber explodes another of his pipe bombs in Judy’s row, right in front of Marion, who gets a good look at the man wearing a trench coat and carrying a black briefcase.

Marion cooperates with the police, frustrated that the bomber is still operating after 16 years. Through another dancer, Marion meets Dr. Peter Griggs who is a medical resident specializing in mental illness. His ability to profile Marion after meeting her leads to him offering up a psychological profile of the bomber to the authorities, who at first dismiss the whole idea until the arrest of a suspect is negated when bombings still occur.

How will Dr. Grigg’s profile of the bomber aid in identifying the criminal? How far will guilt-ridden Marion go to lure the bomber back to Radio City? How will she repair her relationship with her father?

Fiona Davis is a Canadian-born author who began her career in NYC as an actress. Upon earning a master’s at Columbia Journalism School, her writing career has embraced both journalism and fiction. Her previous novels have been about the Barbizon Hotel, The Dakota, Grand Central Terminal, the Chelsea Hotel, the New York Public Library, and the Frick Museum.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting May 28, 2023.

I would like to thank PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

Fiona Davis is best known for her historical fiction novels, which explore the history (and mystery) behind some of New York City's most well-known landmarks. I’ve read many of her books, and I can confidently say that this is her best book yet.

In this dual timeline story, we meet Marion, a nineteen-year-old whose thrilled when she lands a spot in the Rockettes, even if her father isn’t. Davis takes us on a journey not just behind-the-scenes of the grueling dance life but imagines a dancer that is such a showstopper that she fails to blend into the dance ensemble.

However, amidst the glamour and grueling routines, the “Big Apple Bomber” is on the loose and Marion, tragically, becomes entangled. The bomber has been relentlessly planting explosives all over New York, even where Marion is performing.

As the police turn to psychological profiling for the first time, Marion finds herself drawn into the investigation with an unlikely man tied to the case, and she must decide if catching the bomber is worth risking everything she holds dear, including her hard-earned dreams and the safety of her loved ones.

Most people are unfamiliar with the true story of this bomber Davis was surprised to uncover the details herself, bringing an astounding amount of research to this story along with beautiful historical elements to those beginning days of the Rockettes. What she does well is making this easy-to-digest so the reader is never too bogged down with the details.

Davis also excels at writing captivating dance sequences with perfectly captured frenetic energy. The true showstopper to this story isn't just Marion's earlier life, it is how she weaves a surprisingly personal and profound ending for her that beautifully connects these two timelines.

It was so satisfying and moving that I encourage any reader to have a box of tissues accessible for a good cry after you finish it.

Historical fiction, to me, is like the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down. I love to learn about different eras in history, but I don’t love to read dry, scholarly works with millions of footnotes. Instead, with historical fiction, I can be thoroughly engaged, entertained, and transported to another time and place.

Best-selling author Fiona Davis writes stories that center around famous historic buildings and landmarks in New York City, bringing them to life. The Spectacular immerses us in the world of the Rockettes in 1956 through the story of Marion Brooks, a 19-year-old dancer who wants more out of life than to settle down with her high-school sweetheart, get married, and start a family right away, which is what her father thinks she should do. Marion defies her father’s wishes and society’s expectations for a young woman at the time, and auditions for a spot with the prestigious, world-famous dance troupe, the Rockettes of Radio City Music Hall.

While Marion tests her new freedom in the theater, the city reels from a string of bombings in busy, popular New York Landmarks carried out by a terrorist the press refers to as the Big Apple Bomber. When the bomber hits too close to home, Marion takes it upon herself to defy expectations yet again and help the police find him before he kills again.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for lovers of historical fiction, New York history, and the Rockettes!

Thank you to @netgalley and @duttonbooks for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Engaging story of one of the most iconic dance groups ever! The NYC rockettes capture the imagination of young girls and grown women who wish and wonder what it would be like to perform the magical numbers see onstage. Author Fiona Davis puts the reader right in the midst of the performance life and then adding a little known historical crime to the story. Enjoyable read!

I always love Fiona’s books for the history lesson they give. Being from New York, I’ve never heard of the Big Apple Bomber, so I of course went down the rabbit hole after I read the book to learn all about this! Out of all of the books of Fiona’s I’ve read, this would fall in the middle for me. I enjoyed it, there were some parts I found a bit rushed that I would’ve enjoyed more from, especially since the first third of the book was a little slow for me. Once I hit the 40% mark I was fully invested and it went quicker.

Marion I both liked and didn’t like at the same time. She felt a little immature at times, so it wasn’t always easy for me to root for her. I really liked Peter and would’ve loved more insight into him and his time at Creedmoor.

I’m not a historical fiction fan, but I’ll always read Fiona’s books in the genre!

I’m not sure what I expected but it wasn’t this. And it was FABULOUS. I loved Magnolia Place when I read it last year and I adored this one just as much, maybe more. The dance plot line is SO fun. She does historical fiction so so well. This will tug at your heartstrings while also delivering an unforgettable story. I will also say that I have never heard of the Big Apple Bomber until this book but was a really interesting plot.

This book was beyond fascinating. Not only does this showcase the start of how criminal profiling became a thing to help the police. So interesting what you can find about a person based on psychology.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such an interesting historical fiction. I love how the author picks a place in New York and builds a story around it.

This book was so engaging. I really enjoyed watching Marion work towards a dream of dancing and her journey to being a Rockette. It was interesting to see it move into a mystery with Marion and Peter working to solve the bomber case. It was frustrating to read about the police officer who wouldn’t take them seriously.

Basically this book was very engaging and would definitely recommend for fans of historical fiction, especially set in NYC.

The newest historical fiction from Fiona Davis follows Marion, a dancer. After getting fired from her job teaching dance, Marion auditions for the Rockettes on a whim. She ends up getting it and decides to follow her heart, despite protests from her dad. Marion finds herself questioning whether the traditional life is even for her when a bomb at Radio City Music Hall changes her life forever. Pairing up with psychologist, Peter Griggs, they work together to find the culprit.

I enjoyed this one a lot! Fiona Davis is a master of creating characters that just come to life. I also had never heard of the Big Apple Bomber so that historical part was interesting to learn about too. I do wish that Marion had gotten her happy ever after earlier but I do appreciate that she still lived a more unconventional life for a woman in the 50s and 60s.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For readers who enjoy the glamour of the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, this novel gives a birds-eye view into the behind scenes of the production. When a bomb is set off in the Hall, Rockette, Marion risks her life to find the bomber. Loosely based on events during this time, the author creates a believable scenario in this enjoyable tale. Highly recommended!

This was a fascinating read!
I will wholeheartedly admit that any book touting the 20s-50s in New York City is likely to pique my interest. I honestly just saw that this was a historical fiction connected with the Rockettes and I jumped on it. I didn't realize that there was an entire plot line of a bomber in the city that the protagonist would quickly jump into trying to find/stop. Marion, the protagonist, didn't really strike me as a likely "crime solver", so it felt a little forced initially. Eventually, I let it be, and it didn't stop me from enjoying the novel as a whole.

The mix of present and past chapters flowed nicely. I liked both Marion and Peter, as well as Bunny. The tidbits of information about the early days of the Rockettes combined with the start of criminal profiling was perfect.

If you like mystery, historical fiction, dancing, criminal profiling or early New York -- this one is for you!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the early read of this spectacular book!

This was such a fun read. I loved getting to learn about Radio City AND the beginning of criminal profiling. I was totally absorbed with Marion's story from the get go, and I was drawn even more into it as the bombings and Peter were introduced. I loved how Fiona focused on Marion's struggles with wanting to be her own person as a woman in the 50s, and how she navigates stereotypes, stigmas, and her father's version of how her life should look. Fans of historic fiction with unorthodox female heroines will thoroughly enjoy The Spectacular!

Fiona Davis is my #1 favorite author and so I was beyond excited to read her newest book, The Spectacular! Each of Fiona’s books is about a famous NYC landmark and this new one is about Radio City Music Hall!

Marion decides on a whim to try out for the Radio City Rockettes against her father’s wishes. She’s shocked to find out she’s been chosen. Her father wants her to marry Nathaniel and settle down in their hometown of Bronxville. But Marion dreams of the big stage and defies him. She meets Bunny, another Rockette who get her set up with the Rehearsal Club, a boarding house for women in the performing arts. Marion’s mother was an actress who gave it all up to become a wife and mother, but she died when Marion was 7. She thinks she’s making her mother proud. Her father is a bigwig at Metropolitan Power and he’s dealing with a disgruntled former employee who is exploding small bombs at all the famous landmark’s around NYC. She also has a sister Judy, who doesn’t understand Marion’s dreams and also wants her to settle down.

Because of this, Marion’s father is even more adamant that she move home where she’s safe. He won’t lose her like they lost her mother. After Radio City is targeted, Marion helps the police figure out who has been doing these horrible things. A lot of the book is Marion’s family dynamic after the loss of their mother. It’s also about two very different sisters and doing what’s expected of you. I loved Marion’s gumption and ambition to see her life’s dreams play out.

While this book has so much of Fiona’s signature style, she leans more into the mystery of the Big Apple Bomber and I enjoyed that a lot. There was still the dual timelines, but it was much less than her previous books. I was also fascinated by Peter’s profiling and I liked that it was part of the true story. The author’s note is a must read as she explains what parts were true and what she added for the story. I have grown up watching the Rockettes on the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and I loved learning more about them. They lead grueling schedules and have 4 shows a day!

Thank you to @duttonbooks and @fionadavisauthor for my gifted ebook.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book but I was pleasantly surprised! The Spectacular does a great job of teaching readers about the Rockettes and their history, and includes a lot of interesting facts and information I didn't know before reading. I would say this book is a mystery first and a historical fiction second, which is opposite from what I was anticipating, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

I liked reading about Marion's struggles and personal growth being a woman in the 50s, which was realistic and therefore extremely frustrating. I liked her as a character a lot, but some aspects of the story didn't work as well for me as I wished. The romance was sweet at the end but very insta-lovey and too full of poor communication for me to get invested. In addition, the scenes with the police officers didn't feel all that realistic (not in terms of their ineptness but in terms of their communication and information sharing with Marion and Peter).

Overall, I think people will enjoy this book if they love mysteries or historical fiction. I haven't read any books about Rockettes, so that was an interesting niche to me as well. Will definitely be on the lookout for more Fiona Davis in the future!

I love anything Fiona Davis writes and The Spectacular was no exception. This was a fast-paced historical read with a mystery woven in and was the perfect rainy afternoon read. Like all of her books, Fiona Davis had me dreaming of New York City for days after

Fiona Davis has done it again. She uses Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes as the centerpiece of her historical tribute to New York City icons. Davis recreates New York in the 1950s with believable characters facing issues of feminine independence, corporate ethics, family dynamics, male and female relationships. As with her other novels set in New York City, Davis uses real events to construct an engaging and entertaining fictional story. There is a crime to solve and romances to resolve. There were times the storyline appears a bit contrived but the overall effect is still sufficiently satisfying. Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for an advanced readers copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

In her novels, Fiona Davis brings the world of New York City to her readers. I have spent time at the Frick Mansion, the New York Public Library, the Chelsea Hotel and other locations with her as a guide. Each time Ms. David brings the landmark to life, sharing some of its history and mystique. This is exactly what she does in The Spectacular, where readers go to Radio City Music Hall and spend time with the famous Rockettes. As usual, Ms. Davis tells an involving story with not just the intriguing setting, but also good characters and an involving plot.

Readers get to know the members of the Brooks family. The father is a widower with a prosperous business and strong opinions. Judy is the less beautiful daughter, the one who works at her father’s company and seems to mostly do exactly what is expected. For her part, Marion is expected to be and do the same; she is supposed to marry the right sort of young man and he has just proposed to her early in the novel. However, Marion is more like her deceased mother who was artistic. Marion loves to dance and decides to take a chance, auditioning for the Rockettes. This decision to become a Rockette affects Marion’s family relationships. She wants their support but is not sure that she can count on them.

Marion also meets many new people, including Bunny (another dancer) and Peter, a psychiatrist, among others in her new life. Readers not only learn about these people, they also get to witness the grueling rehearsal schedule and indeed spectacular formations of the Rockettes.

At the same time there is a bomber in the city. How will that play at Radio City? What will be the impact on Marion and what role will take on in events?

The novel opens with Marion when she is older. It then goes back and takes readers on her journey. They will watch Marion as she faces real threats and emotional ones, all the while deciding what kind of life she wants for herself.

Here is yet another very good read by the author. Recommended for historical fiction and women’s fiction readers. It is a delight.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this title. All opinions are my own.

New York City, 1956: Nineteen-year-old Marion Brooks, after losing her job and feeling trapped by the predictable path her life seems to be taking, tries out for the famous Radio City Rockettes. After securing a spot with the glamorous precision-dancing troupe she begins to spread her wings and exploring her new independence. Fiona Davis has done it again and it is truly spectacular! Taking the readers backstage of a true NYC landmark, Radio City Music Hall, we learn not only the history but the incredible dedication it takes to perform in that historic venue. This book has it all: history, glamour, mystery, terror, family drama and a little romance. If you enjoyed her other books, you'll love "The Spectacular" by one of my favorite authors, Fiona Davis!

1950's New York City, the Rockettes, glamour, magic, the golden age of Radio City Music Hall. Growing up in New York the Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall always fascinated me.
Marion Brooks gets fired from her job as a dance teacher. Her mother has passed away and she lives with her overbearing father. She tries out for the Rockettes and becomes a member of that high kicking line.
New York City has been the victim of a mad bomber for 16 years, no one knows when the next strike will come.
An attack occurs while Marion's sister is sitting inside Radio City waiting to watch Marion dance on that famous stage. Finding the bomber has just become more personal to Marion.
I loved the story, the psychological profiling I found very interesting. I was so excited for another trip to NYC and Fiona Davis did not disappoint me!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Dutton group for the opportunity to read this totally engaging book.