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.

I love Fiona Davis books because although they are historical fiction, they are written on a factual premise and generally occur in New York City. Her descriptions of the time period and geographical settings are accurate, and I have learned about actual events from the city’s past.

Her latest focuses on a Radio City Rockette in the 1950s. While Marion is excited to be part of this renowned group and their grueling performances, a mad person nicknamed the “Big Apple Bomber” is wreaking havoc all over Manhattan. So how is Marion involved in this mystery?

I never really had much interest in the Rockettes before reading this book. I only read it because I have enjoyed others by the author. However, I was sucked into the story and didn’t want to end. It kept my interest all the way through!

Round up to 4.5 stars

**Will post to Instagram on 05/30/2023

I’m running out of ways to express how much I love Fiona Davis’ writing. Seriously, if you haven’t picked up a book from her by now, YOU. ARE. MISSING. OUT. I am extremely grateful to have gotten an early copy of her newest novel, The Spectacular, which focuses on the historic Radio City Music Hall. Unlike some of her previous novels, there is only one protagonist, and the dual storylines are that character’s past and present narratives. All hail the wonderfully talented Fiona Davis!

Judge the book by the cover!! That alone is what caught my attention!!!

This was a really good story- family drama, bombers, psychological profiling, Rockettes. The back story is interesting-some flat spots where I found myself skimming. The brief chapters in 1992 are just okay except maybe the last one since it ties up all the loose ends and unanswered questions.

This is the second book I have read by Fiona Davis. Magnolia Place was just as good. I have another on my personal bookshelf I will make time to read.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for advanced reader e-book!!!

Fiona Davis certainly titled her new book appropriately - SPECTACULAR!!!! If I had had time to read this book in one day I definitely would have - again - it was SPECTACULAR!!! Then again, I have read all of her books and have not been disappointed yet. Thanks again Ms. Davis for a SPECTACULAR well written & well researched book.

Anything and everything I have ever read from author Fiona Davis has been absolutely amazing. This book is no exception. Her characters have a way of coming alive and feeling very real!

Bonus points, right off the top: The cover of this book attracted me instantly, as did the author, Fiona Davis. And, the book grabbed my attention from the first page. I love it when it doesn't take a long time to become invested in a book.

In a nutshell, this book is about Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes. It is also about The Apple City Bomber who terrorized New York City for 16 years during the 1940s and 1950s. I knew nothing about this. This is one of the reasons I love a historical novel, an easy way to learn about the past.

The book focuses on two stories. The one is about a young woman, Marion, trying out for and becoming a Rockette at Radio City. It is a gruelling schedule and very exacting rehearsals.

And, the secondary story is about the bomber. Marion teams up with a young psychiatry resident who tries to help the police catch the bomber by using criminal profiling. This was the first time profiling was used in police work. I found it quite interesting how seemingly insignificant details put together could create a persona. While this may seem to be far-fetched, it is a NOVEL which is lightly based on actual events. The author uses literary license to change the details in order to make it more appealing to the reader. In the Author's Notes at the end, she does set the record straight. I still learned about events that I had never been aware of.

Ms. Davis hits it out of the park with this book. All of her books are set in New York City. Each book has a different historical building as a main feature. The stories revolve around each building respectively. I found her books very enjoyable, easy to read and informative.

I'm sure there will be some readers who will find it somewhat contrived. But it is fiction. It is entertaining. For me, that’s what it's all about.

Great storyline, great characters and great outcome.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

I really enjoyed the majority of The Spectacular by Fiona Davis. I became a fan of Davis after I read The Lions of Fifth Avenue by her. This story details Marion, a nineteen-year-old who becomes a Rockette in the 1950s. While Marion is living her best life on stage and experiencing independence for the first time, there is actually a bomber on the loose in Manhattan. Unfortunately, Marion has a close encounter with the bomber and decides to hunt him down in order to save others from her heartache.

While I liked that Marion was independent and stood up for herself, I thought her quest to find the bomber was a bit unrealistic. I liked that there was romance but that it wasn't the focus of the story. It is always refreshing to read about women in historical fiction who have a backbone, but I think some of Marion's actions were more reflective of life in current society rather than in the 1950s.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I think there were a few pieces that kept it from being a great read.

I love the Rockettes and this gave a look behind stage and rapt an event I was unfamiliar with. Characters were interesting and the mystery element intriguing. Good read.

The setting of this book had me from the start- NYC, Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes. And the rest of the story lives up to the hugeness of that setting! I highly recommend with book with one warning be prepared to become totally immersed!

Marion has always dreamed of being a dancer but the men in her life want her to be the traditional 1950's wife. When she has the opportunity to audition to for the Rockettes she can't resist even if it means defying her father and boyfriend. The risk she faces is compounded by the Big Apple Bomber targeting popular New York City sites. Will she be able to make a life of her own and survive the Big Apple bomber? The story draws you in and as with all Fiona Davis books New York City play a role.

Fiona Davis is one of those authors where I can go into the book blindly and know I won't be disappointed. One of those authors who's book release you anxiously count the days down to. She's the auto buy you clear your calendar for the minute you get your hands on it. In my case, you stay up far too late into the night because you couldn't stop reading. That's how it's been for me with all of her books and her latest, The Spectacular, was no exception. Once again, I was putty in her hands and loved every minute of the story she told.

The Spectacular centers around Marion Brooks. Our main character has come of age in the 1950s. She's always felt like an outsider with her father and sister, Judy. Life after their mother's death was never the same. Judy took after their father, while Marion inherited her mother's love of performing. However, Marion's dream and that of her father's couldn't be more different. He has visions of her getting married to her high school boyfriend, Nathaniel, who will work alongside her dad. Her father envisions them all living under the same roof. Nowhere in her father's vision is Marion a Rockette. And when she dares to live out her dream, he refuses to support her.

On top of the grueling work, Marion finds out just how hard it is to achieve the illusion audiences look forward to seeing. While her father has next to nothing to do with her, she makes friends with some of the dancers. Life for everyone is brought to a screeching halt when the Big Apple Bomber sits next to Marion's sister for a performance. From the stage, Marion watches the devastation unleashed when a bomb her planted in a seat goes off. Marion's dream has now become a nightmare she blames herself for.

When the police don't seem to make any head way, Marion enlists the help of Peter, a doctor one of the city's mental hospitals. He's created something called a psychological profile- the first of it's kind. Based on information he's given, he's able to give the police a better understanding of who they've been trying to apprehend for 16 years. When they get a less than welcoming reaction from the authorities, Peter and Marion look for their guy on their own. But can they find him? And can they do it before anyone else gets hurt?

Once I started The Spectacular I was hooked. I loved every minute of the story. I loved seeing Marion choose to live the life she wants verses the life her father things she should have. I loved watching her come into her own as she navigated the unrelenting pressure that comes with being a Rockette. I especially loved all the behind the scenes history Fiona wove into the story. Watching Peter shape who the bomber would be was incredible. Watching he and Marion hunt their guy down was engrossing. Mostly, I loved seeing how seamlessly Fiona Davis has, yet again, woven fact with fiction.

If you love historical fiction, Fiona Davis is an author you want to read.

I was very excited to read this book, I love historical fiction, I love NYC, and I enjoy theater, whether Broadway or dance, like the Rockettes.

I thought the history included about the Rockettes was fun, and I didn’t know about the Mad Bomber, so this book introduced me to a new moment in history. That was the best part of it for me.

The story was really rushed but somehow the book was too long. The main part of the story took place over about two months, and the reader is expected to believe that so much happened to this one person and her family during that time. I won’t spoil it, but toward the end I found myself rolling my eyes at each new unlikely thing that happened to Marion. The book itself included so much unnecessary information and descriptions and at times it felt like the author was just cramming as many facts about New York in the 50s into the book as possible.

I also didn’t find the characters realistic or interesting. The book tried to make some of them morally gray, but they were just terrible. Marion was okay, but didn’t have much personality. She was also too perfect. She’s beautiful, an incredible dancer who can become a Rockette on a whim, comes from a well off family, meets the person she loves immediately, is able to figure out what is needed to solve a 16 year old case that the police haven’t figured out, and can easily do heroic things like fight off attackers and catch a bomb in her hands.

Finally, I found the sections of the book set in 1994 unnecessary and bland. All of those chapters only existed to make sure we knew she got with the love of her life eventually.