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