A fictional story about a Radio City Hall Rockette, Marion, her family and friends blended with the true account of the NY Apple Bomber. Well researched with interesting behind the scenes information about the Rockettes as well as wonderfully historical 1950s NY. Intriguing and suspenseful - a solid read. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another phenomenal book by Fiona Davis! I enjoyed this story so much and can not wait to hand sell it in our store! I also will be using it for our quarterly subscription boxes! I adore the depth of research, character development and mystery element in this story!

Fiona Davis is a masterful artist when it comes to historical fiction - “The Spectacular” is a brilliant addition to her many successful works!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC of Fiona Davis' THE SPECTACULAR.

Ms. Davis is absolutely one of the best historical fiction writers writing today. Having seen The Rocketts at Radio City, i was thrilled to read this book, learn a little more about them, and to learn a little NYC history i was unaware of.

3.5 ⭐️

Marion is a young dancer who gains the phenomenal opportunity to advance her artistic career as a dancer with the Rockettes. This launches her not only into a new job that allows her to pursue her dreams, but also into familial strife, a murder investigation, and a budding romance.

I was drawn to this book because I loved Davis’s The Magnolia Palace. The Spectacular similarly captures the grandeur of a New York City icon, Radio City Music Hall, incorporating glamorous, intriguing, and suspenseful elements of the city’s history. My favorite part of the book was the historical presentation, which took me back in time to the 1950s and made me feel like I was in the audience of a Rockettes performance.

I also really enjoyed the sisterhood relationship. Marion and Judy overcame their differences to rekindle a sweet friendship that they enjoyed as children. It reminded me a great deal of my own relationship with my sister and caused me to appreciate her in a new way.

Unfortunately, I did feel like the plot dragged on slowly at first, and the big events that did occur happened abruptly with little emotional buildup. In general, I felt like the writing lacked the emotional depth required for me to relate fully with the characters and story. I am also not a fan of the “missed opportunity” plot line because, despite being realistic, it makes me sad! Of course, that is purely a personal preference.

There were two swear words that I remember: a** and g**d***. No sex, just a few sweet romantic elements.

In her latest homage to New York, Davis sets this book at Radio City Music Hall, and what it takes to be a Rockette, along with a relatively unknown true story about the NY bomber, who for 16 years terrorized the city by setting bombs in very public places, and the start of criminal profiling. Her research is outstanding as she gives us an intimate back stage look at the building itself, and the details about what the dancers do for each show. I was fascinated by both, having spent many a holiday watching the Rockettes kick their way across the stage.
Set in the early 50’s, with brief chapters in 92’ , this is the story of Marion Brooks who loved to dance and refused to be pigeonholed by her fathers expectations of her, which only included getting married and staying at home. Trying out for the Rockettes opens a new independent and happy world for Marion until her life is marred by the bomber. A page turner that beautifully combines fact with fiction, I couldn’t put this down.

Having discovered Fiona Davis several years ago I have been a big fan of her books ever since, The latest historical fiction book takes place in 1956 and then fast forwards to 1992 in New York city and the surrounding boroughs. At 19 Marion is fired from her job at a dance studio and then becomes a radio city rockette.
For 16 years the city has been haunted by the bombings of a mystery person who eventually gets caught because of some things that she discovers with her friend Peter. Many sub stories within bring this book to life with very real details about her and her family.
I highly recommend this excellent book and look forward to more great stories by this author.

Marion is a 19 year old who lives with her father and older sister. She's just fired from her job as a dance instructor as the book starts. Her dad wants her to settle down and marry a man who is going to work for him. Her older sister already works for their dad as a dutiful secretary. Marion dreams of something different and tries out for the NYC Rockettes. At the same time, a mad man is setting off pipe bombs all over the city and the police have no leads. This is another great book by Fiona Davis!

To start--I am not a die-hard Fiona Davis fan. This is the first novel of hers I've read after years of meaning to. And I read it in one sitting.

I'm not going to say this was the best book I've ever read or anything . And to be honest, I am not itching to read everything else she has written. But I did find that the story drew me in from the get-go, despite some cheesy/cliche writing (please please please ctr-f and stop describing Peter as having "the bluest eyes [Marion] had ever seen" or talking about how his "curls stood on end"--once or MAYBE twice, fine. But I found that Davis repeated her descriptions similarly each time). I also found that anytime something would happen in regards to the bombings, the characters would just keep describing what happened to other characters, instead of the author just brushing over the conversations we as readers have already seen.

But like I said. One sitting. I'm a pretty avid reader, but that doesn't happen a lot to me. Take this all with a grain of salt.

Fiona Davis is a favorite author of mine and she has written another spectacular novel! She has combined the relatively unknown story of the Big Apple Bomber of the 1950’s with a colorful history of Radio City Music Hall. The novel spans over 40 years as we witness family life, love, loss and independence. It is a well imagined story that incorporates a terrifying time in New York’s history along with a history of the iconic Rockette’s. Well written! #TheSpectacular #FionaDavis #NetGalley

I love Fiona Davis books, and The Spectacular did not disappoint. I loved reading about the Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall. I didn’t realize there would be a muster involved which felt like a bonus. There was a lot going on with the mental health expert, family relationships, the bomber, being an independent woman, living in NYC, criminal investigations, and the dancing,….but the story flowed pretty quickly! I enjoyed it!

4.5 stars rounded up. Fiona Davis is a queen of historical fiction. This book is the third I’ve read by her and my favorite one yet. I loved that she found an obscure event in New York City’s history and created her own events from it. Placing the action at such an iconic place as Radio City Music Hall and putting a Rockette dancer right in the middle of it all was brilliant. Marion was a strong and ambitious woman in a time when those kind of women were not well-embraced by society. She wanted more for herself than to keep a home for her husband and raise children. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be a homemaker and stay at home mom, but in the time period the majority of this novel was set, it was an expectation rather than a choice. It took a lot of courage to go against that, particularly for a career as risky as being a dancer.

When it came to the bomber storyline, was it a little far fetched that Marion would play as big of a role in solving the case as she did? Sure. Did that make the book any less of a page-turner? Definitely not. I really loved Peter’s role as a fictional originator of criminal profiling because I find the subject fascinating. Their story together was also something I enjoyed reading as it unfolded.

This book was another win for Fiona Davis.

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis is yet another home run from one of my favorite authors. As a NY native, I've been to Radio City Music Hall to see the Rockets perform many times over the years, so I was thrilled by the setting. The novel alternates between two time periods (though primarily the mid-fifties. And having lived in NYC during 9/11, the "Big Apple Bomber" subplot had be glued to the pages. Ultimately though, The Spectacular is a story about a woman risking everything to choose her own path. Truly triumphant, highly recommend!

Thanks to Dutton and NetGalley Another terrific bio of New York landmarks. The Rockettes share the stage with the Rehearsal Club as well as some interesting people. NYPD, a few dancers, a mad bomber and a sweet and talented doctor. I hope (no spoilers) Fiona Davis keeps writing for a very long time.

This is the third book I have read by this author. They are all set in New York City, and since that is a place that I love, they usually really work for me. This one was no exception.

This one, as the others by her that I have read, is dual timeline, though most of it is set in the earlier timeline. It was such a good read. I was interested throughout and really invested in the characters. There were a couple of parts that were a little over the top. And, I really would have liked an epilogue for Piper, to see how her career was going a year or two out.

All in all, this was a great book. Now, I'm just waiting for her next one!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC.

In a word.....this was Spectacular! It had a little bit of everything...historical fiction, mystery, romance, drama, and who didn't want to be a Rockette when they were growing up? I felt like I was on stage doing the dance of the wooden soldiers along with them. I can't recommend this book more highly!

Loved it, then again I love Fiona Davis novels. Loved the detail in researching the Rockettes as well as the storyline. I am sure it will be a hit here at this library when it comes out. I give it 5 stars because of the story as well as the research completed around Radio City Music Hall and the history of the Rockettes as well for the history of the surrounding area, the housing complex and hooking the reader into the writing. Nice job, Fiona!! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This book IS Spectacular! Fiona Davis has done it again and actually made history come to life. Her beautiful and exciting stories bring color to real events and her plots include drama and interest even when the focus is something I have not had any interest in! Fiona always highlights the issues that women faced (and face) in an interesting way. I truly loved this book and am ready to visit Radio City immediately!

The Spectacular refers to the Radio City Rockettes program at Christmas and in 1956 Marion Brooks has auditioned. Marion is on the cusp of adulthood and about to become engaged and give up her beloved dancing. and her safe homelife. However, when she is chosen for the troupe she cannot believe her luck, nor can she share the news with her family. In the background, there is a terrorist, in NYC called the Big Apple Bomber. The bomber closes in on Radio City all the while Marion is trying to make a choice on dancing or following her father's wish to be married. Read on to find out what happens next, you won't be sorry! If you like history, dance, glamourous New York or just love the story of a woman bucking tradition, The Spectacular is for you!

#Penguinbooks #Dutton #FionaDavis #TheSpectacular