Returning to the format of her other blockbuster novels, Fiona Davis once again highlights a New York City landmark building by revealing a fictional account of those who lived in and around it. The star of this show is Radio City Music Hall and features a fictional story of a real life criminal, known then as the Mad Bomber, who terrorized audiences of the most famous entertainment venues in the city. The inception of criminal profiling is also a compelling part of the story.

Opening with Marion Brooks, on her way to a 1992 Rockette Alumni ceremony, the bulk of the novel is a flashback to her time spent in the mid 1950s in the world famous kick line. Family secrets, old fashioned expectations and complicated relationships create an uphill battle for the young dancer in search of a dream. The meticulous research brought this novel to life in technicolor, and had this long time Rockette wanna-be soaking in all the details of the grueling and glamorous lifestyle.

Brief but very poignant passages about a character’s Parkinson’s challenges grace the final chapters. Ms. Davis quite elegantly described her own diagnosis in an essay featured on Good Morning America (January 2022) and her personal connection is reflected in the stunning writing in these pages.

I imagine other fans of this author join me in reiterating her own message, “Sometimes it’s okay to be the passenger, instead of the driver” as we anxiously await her next novel. Brava!

Thank you Penguin/Dutton Books and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The latest installment in Fiona Davis’s historic New York novels, The Spectacular is exquisitely researched and beautifully written. Drawing from the real events that surrounded a series of bombings in NYC in the 1940s and 50s, the book tells the story of Marion, a 19-year-old who has just left her family to pursue her dream of becoming a Rockette and performing at Radio City Music Hall. After tragedy strikes, Marion is determined to help track down the “Big Apple Bomber” (a character David derives from real-life criminal George Metesky, better known at the Mad Bomber). If you are a fan of historical fiction and thrillers, The Spectacular is not to be missed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Set primarily in 1956 NYC, this story follows 19 year old Marion as she chooses a different life path than expected by her strict father and instead becomes a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall. Alongside Marion’s Rockette life we also get a look at a manhunt for a serial bomber, based on a true story, who’s been at large for 16 years. There are a few chapters that jump forward to 1992 and that, along with the manhunt, really made this one absorbing and entertaining.

This is my second book by Fiona Davis, Magnolia Palace being the first, and both were exceptional reading experiences. I was fascinated to learn so much about the history and hard work of the Rockettes. My six year old has been in ballet and tap for a year now so I had some understanding of the moves but I had to google what “character shoes” were so clearly my knowledge is lacking. 😂

If you’re a Davis fan I know you’ll enjoy this and if you’re a historical fiction lover but have never read her books, definitely give one a try!

Thank you Penguin Group Dutton for the #gifted digital arc via Netgalley

THE SPECTACULAR by Fiona Davis is her latest engrossing historical novel featuring an iconic New York City landmark. This story focuses on Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes, the renowned precision dancing troupe that has performed there for decades. Set in the mid-1950s and based on several true-life events and people, the author has expertly blended fact and fiction to write an entertaining and informative story. In 1956, nineteen-year-old Marion has been let go from her job as a dance teacher. On a whim, she auditions for, and wins a spot with, the Rockettes. Despite her father and boyfriend being dead set against it, Marion takes her position with the troupe. Soon she will learn the grueling schedule and the exacting standards that are demanded of the dancers. She will also find the sisterhood she lacks at home and the strong bonds of friendship she develops with her fellow dancers. Meanwhile, for the past sixteen years, a person dubbed by the press as the “Big Apple Bomber” has been planting bombs around the city in popular and crowded venues. After a bomb explodes in Radio City Music Hall with tragic personal consequences, Marion winds up becoming part of the investigation to learn the bomber’s identity. The two storylines become seamlessly woven together and lead up to a suspenseful and dramatic conclusion. I have read and loved all of Fiona Davis’ novels and as always, her latest becomes my new favorite. I highly recommend THE SPECTACULAR. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Fiona Davis has been an auto-read author for me since her debut, The Dollhouse, and she has yet to disappoint! The Spectacular is her best novel to date (imho) and I couldn't put it down. If you love historical fiction, having light shined on women throughout history that tend to get overlooked, and NYC, you'll love Fiona Davis's books!

It's 1956, and Marion, age 19, is anticipating a proposal from her boyfriend, but she dreams of being a professional dancer. She auditions for the famous Radio City Rockettes on a lark and lands a coveted spot. Her dilemma is telling her father who wants her to settle down. Meanwhile, a bomber has been terrorizing New York City for 16 years by planting bombs in public places. When Marion finds herself dangerously close to the bomber, she finds herself pulled into the investigation.

I enjoyed every minute of this, with its dual timeline, rich period detail, and iconic NYC setting! The plot combines fact and fiction with mystery, suspense, and romance against a glamourous backdrop of Radio City Music Hall and its famous Rockettes. I was fascinated by the behind-the-scenes looks at both The Rockettes and how criminal profiling came to be used to solve crimes. The way Davis writes makes you feel the time and place, and in this one, 1950s Radio City comes alive, both onstage and off, and the brewing romance and race to find the bomber had me immersed and riveted. Marion is full of grit, determination, and ambition and pushed back at the limited societal options she faced, and I rooted for her. The Author’s Note was fascinating, with information about the real bomber who terrorized NYC for nearly two decades. I loved this, and highly recommended it to historical fiction lovers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to review this ARC.

My review, as posted on Goodreads:

I am so incredibly thankful that Nicole Jarvis reached out to me to offer an e-galley of this book! I absolutely LOVE Fiona Davis and this is my third advanced read and review of her novels.

The Spectacular was amazing! I had not read the description closely (I mean, just being written by Fiona Davis was enough for me to jump on it) and I was so pleasantly surprised by how she weaved together NYC in the 1950’s, traditional family roles and expectations, the birth of criminal profiling, the Rockettes, loss and family secrets, and eventually, her father’s illness. This hit particularly close to home as my own father has struggled with a Parkinson’s diagnosis for several years.

This book has everything…fun, adventure, mystery, suspense, the glitzy and raw sides of NYC, love, deception…I’d highly recommend this as a fantastic summer read!

Wonderful read about The Radio City Rockets, with an underlying story about a mad bomber.
I couldn’t put the book down.. interesting how both themes came together for an enjoyable read!

This book was so good! It weaves the past and present day stories so well together. We get a glimpse into the life of a Rockette. We’re also treated to a real mystery and a little romance at the same time. It grabbed my attention from page one and held it to the very end. I read it in one day, it’s that good!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I am a huge fan of Fiona Davis. I love how she sets each book in an iconic New York City building and does significant historical research to find a story line that fits. This one is set at Radio City Music Hall during the 1950's. Although another great book, I felt like this one did not focus as much on the building but rather on the Rockettes and the investigation to find who is placing bombs around the city. Still a good book, just not my favorite.

Fiona Davis has an interesting way of bringing history and landmarks in New York City to life. I have always enjoyed this about her stories, as I had to travel to the Big Apple many times throughout my career. She continues to add in interesting characters and storylines, and it makes for a very enjoyable read!

In this novel, she focuses around the real life (and famous) Rockette dancers and the Mad City Bomber who terrorized NYC for 16 years in the 40s &50s. It also brings to light the real life person behind the very first “psychiatric personality profiling” used to help the police and FBI in a case, long before DNA findings were a thing. The liberties taken around the real facts created a nice mystery, and one that I have felt closest to because of my past life I was also a performance dancer. I could tell the research that had gone into this book and it felt genuine and accurate.

Marion has a complicated relationship with her family as is evident when I noticed, she never addresses her mother or father, with anything other than their first names. The 1950s also is evident in the relationship and role that women have in the house as depicted by her strongly opinionated father and boyfriend at the time. Our protagonist is equally as strong-willed, determined and poised— I found myself rooting for her. I also really enjoyed her friend, and side character, Bunny. Marion had lost her mother when she was very young, and when she found something in a box, hinting a her mother’s earlier life, it prompted her down a rabbit hole that set off a chain of events that kept me wanting to know more.

When liberties are taken for a novel, based on true facts, I expect that there will be some scenes that are far-fetched, or as I like to call them, “Hollywoodized”. You do get that here, which is why it’s never a five star for me, but that is not a bad thing. I had fun with this one, and I would highly recommend it! Fiona has easily become an Auto-Buy for me!

Fiona Davis does it again! Honestly, can the woman right a bad book? Is it even possible? I so deeply appreciate all the research and historical accuracy Davis puts into her work, which, as a fellow Journalist, I'd expect nothing less!! She is absolutely a treasure and every time a book of hers comes out, I cannot physically hit the 'request ARC' button fast enough. I'd love to write more, but I have to go binge read every wikipedia page about the Rockettes until 2 in the morning

Dare I say, this book is SPECTACULAR!

This is novel five from Davis that I have absolutely loved. Davis literally brings NYC history to life and the Big Apple is my favorite place to visit. I've learned historical facts about its landmarks simply by reading her books. I'm ready for a road trip to take in a show at Radio City featuring the Rockettes.

The authors notes are not to be missed as Davis outlines "how" she found the information on the Big Apple Bomber and the liberties she took with the story. This novel is truly a backstage pass to this world famous show, and the terror the city was under for 16 years.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the complimentary copy.

It is the childhood dream of almost every little dancing girl to grow up and become a New York City Rockette. This is the story of a young woman named Marion. Marion, who has grown up with her father and sister, is forbidden to even consider dancing as a profession. Her father wants Marion to maintain a certain standard, find a husband, get married, and have babies. Marion, looking to find and prove herself, has other ideas brought about by the changing times of women's roles in the 1950's.

Marion, having no mother, has the strong need to be independent and self reliant. On a last minute whim, Marion goes to a Rockettes dance audition. She has no intent of actually being chosen among such a vast number of talented and experienced dancers. The selection process is grueling, the physical specifications precise, and the requirements demanding and strict . Marion does her best, but she has no expectations. Much to Marion's surprise, she's is chosen to become one of the select few to join the Rockettes in Radio City, NYC. Only now her dilemma begins, how will she break this news to her father, boyfriend, and sister?

Marion marches on practicing her dance routines day and night. She and her new dance friends work until they can physically handle no more. They are expected to be perfect and professional in every way with no room for error or individuality. Stress builds for Marion, and even though she questions her decision, she has something to prove.

During this time, there is a murderer on the loose. The Big Apple Bomber is setting off bombs around NYC that will effect Marion's father's business endeavors. The people of the city are scared and nervous as to find out where the next attack will occur. Could it be? Yes, Radio City Music Hall.

I will stop right here as not to drop any story spoilers. Read the Spectacular and enjoy the history and background of the Rockettes. Get a behind the scenes look of what being a Rockette truly requires. Travel within to Radio City and Manhattan. This is a high energy, vastly interesting, and "spectacular" read.

Fiona Davis continues to "wow us" with her historical fiction novels based on New York City landmarks. In the Spectacular she meticulously portrays Radio City, it's famous inhabitants, the Rockettes, all while incorporating a true murder scenario going on at the time. Her characters are always that of a strong woman, smack, right in the middle of some brave feat. Marion is her woman this time, and she does not let us down. Well done Ms. Davis. You have just earned another 5 star review.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of The Spectacular by Fiona Davis in exchange for my honest review. It was an honor and a pleasure.

#fionadavis #thespectacular

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis takes us back to the early days of the Rockettes at Radio Music Hall in New York. Davis weaves history within her story of young Marion who defies her father and becomes a Rockette. Kicked out of her home, the dancers became her family. Meanwhile there are bombs being left after different areas about the city, all threatening Marion’s father’s workplace. A very interesting read, especially with the way Davis crafts her plot lines. Another great book by Fiona Davis. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

A stunning story combining historical fiction, thriller/suspense, and romance. The story follows dual timelines centered around the famed Radio City Music Hall: in 1992 as Marion is attending an anniversary celebration…and back to 1956 when at the age of 19, she was at the start of her career as a Rockette. As she navigates this new life as a performer, the city is grappled with a man known as the “Big Apple Bomber” terrorizing citizens and Marion quickly finds herself too close to the danger and investigation.
I’ve been a fan of the Rockettes since I was a little girl and nothing compares to seeing them perform. I went into this thinking it was the journey of a Rockette but quickly realized it was so much more, and found plenty of moments where I was holding my breath. Highly recommend!
Thank you to Penguin Random House & Dutton for the ARC. You can catch this in just a couple days…out Tuesday, June 13!

Fiona Davis is one of my favorite historical fiction writers, I love how she focuses on one building in each of her novels. In The Spectacular she focuses on Radio City Music Hall and incidents that occurred during the 1950s. In this story we follow Marion in the present day at a celebration honoring former Rockettes, and we learn something awful happened to Marion in the 1950s. That was just the hook I needed to dive into this story and want to know what happened to her and how she ended up as a former Rockette. I loved reading about how she eventually becomes a Rockette and all the work that went into performing.

Davis is so good at creating a strong sense of time and place. I loved visiting 1950s New York City through Marion’s eyes. And that cover! So pretty. If you enjoy a good historical fiction novel with a strong sense of place that will also teach you some interesting history, this novel is for you.

Davis is absolutely an auto-buy author for me and I was so excited to receive and ARC of her book. Thank you to #netgalley and #dutton books.
#thespectacular #fionadavis

Marion loves to dance - and she defies her father to join the Rockettes. Little does she know how her life will change, especially after the first Christmas Spectacular, when a bomber who has been plaguing Manhattan sets a pipe bomb off in the theater. This moves back and forth in time between 1956 and the more or less present when Marion, who now has Parkinsons, goes to a reunion. She's able to see her old pal Bunny, who was her roommate at their boarding house. Bunny introduced her to Dr. Peter Griggs, a psychiatrist and pioneer in criminal profiling. It's Griggs who develops a portrait of the bomber, who will eventually go after Marion. Marion's father is twined into everything in this novel and he will even impact her relationship with Griggs (golly what a stupid man in some ways). If I have a quibble it's that the "present day" parts are superfluous and could have been cut to add more details of life as a Rockette (fascinating details). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Fans of Davis know that she's a master at bringing real events to life using dynamic female characters and this is one of her best. A good read.

I am new to discovering Fiona Davis, having only read The Magnolia Palace before her latest, The Spectacular. She is quickly becoming a fast favorite with 2 books I absolutely loved!

To those newbie readers of Davis, she's known for setting her books at a historical building in New York City. Readers will find themselves at Radio City Music Hall in The Spectacular, a place I have walked by and now wish I had purchased a ticket to see a show.

Synopsis: New York City, 1956: Nineteen-year-old Marion Brooks future is marrying and staying home to raise her children. It's the life of a proper lady and yet Marion finds herself feeling trapped. So when she comes across an opportunity to audition for the famous Radio City Rockettes, she jumps at the chance to exchange her predictable future for the dazzling life of a performer.

Meanwhile, the city is reeling from a string of bombings orchestrated by a person the press has nicknamed the “Big Apple Bomber,” who has been terrorizing the citizens of New York for 16 years by planting bombs in popular, crowded spaces.

I will start saying I love a good historical novel. I am always amazed about all the things I have never heard about. The Big Apple Bomber is definitely that for me! Who knew bombs were left in public places such as libraries, phone booths, offices, and theaters for over 16 years! This case also includes the use of criminal profiling in police work and led to the examination the role of severe mental illness plays a role for such crimes.

I loved having a backstage pass at Radio City and seeing the Rockettes through Marion’s eyes. It was fascinating to experience her joy of being on stage, the fear of disappointing her family and the new friendships of a young woman living independently during that period of time. Davis shares a compelling story showcasing the Rockette's grueling schedules and breathtaking performances. It all felt so vivid and alive!

With themes of conformity, societal expectations, and the pursuit of one’s dreams, The Spectacular is sure to resonate with readers. I also enjoyed watching Marion's growth. Her determination, drive, and ambition were inspiring.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this dazzling story of a kick-line dancer and her determination to uncover the truth of a decades old and continuing crime.

Two things I can't get enough of this time of year are picnics and great books. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗥 by Fiona Davis was the perfect one to take on our first outing of the summer.

Davis's books all revolve around a famous location in New York City, and this may be my favorite of hers yet. It focuses on Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes in the 1950s when a serial bomber terrorized the city. It's meticulously researched historical fiction with a compelling mystery and a sweet romantic subplot, and I couldn't put it down.

I'm pretty sure I read the author's next book is about The Metropolitan Museum of Art and I cannot wait. The Met Gala is like my Super Bowl so I'll be first in line to read it.

Thanks to Dutton Books for the copy to review.