I have been a big fan of Fiona Davis and her historical fiction. The Spectacular refers to the Rockettes and the Spectacular Christmas show they put on at Radio City Music hall in 1956. Marion Brooks is a nineteen year old dancer who tries out for the Rockettes as a lark after she loses her teaching job at a dance studio. When she makes the team she doesn't know how to tell her family who just want her to get married.

I really enjoyed the historical aspects of the book and the misogyny of the time was spot on. The life of a Rockette and living in that time were well done. And as in all of Davis' books, she takes real events of the time and fictionalizes them; in this book it is a mad bomber who has been terrorizing New Yorkers for sixteen years and who places a bomb at one of the Rockette's shows.

My problem with the book is with Marion herself. Over and over she talks about how important this time of her life was, in reality, it was all of two months. She also started out as the cowering young woman who couldn't say no to her dad, so I had a hard time buying into the choices she made to try to find the bomber. She just didn't seem to be a strong enough character to pull off the things she did.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Couldn’t resist this ARC (thank you NetGalley) as Fiona Davis is an author to whom I enjoy coming back, with her historical fiction always set in (my beloved) NYC during the early / mid 20th century.

The Spectacular centers on talented and bright Marion (my own mother’s name, which I loved seeing in print this way). It is 1956 and Marion is a part time dance teacher, living at home in Westchester with her dad Simon and sister Judy and on the brink of being engaged, when she has an opportunity to audition for the Rockettes, and to her surprise is offered the job. Her father is deeply opposed. Their mother had chased her own performer dreams and died too young; Simon is a traditionalist and wants his daughters under his wing. But Marion aspires to more, defying his wishes and embarking on an exciting new life living with fellow Rockettes and actresses in a boarding house in Manhattan, learning the challenging ropes of being this kind of precision dancer.

Then, a madman dubbed the Big Apple Bomber, who had been terrorizing the city for years, strikes Radio City Music Hall, and Marion becomes deeply invested in trying to find this man who the police have had no luck in identifying all these years. She enlists her new friend Peter, a psychiatric resident at Creedmore Psychiatric Institute to help, as Marion finds herself more and more at the center of these events.

I assumed this bomber plot was pure fiction; it turns out this really happened in midcentury NYC, and that case marked the beginning of the use of psychological profiling in police work. (I used to drive past infamous Creedmore in Queens on my way to school on Long Island growing up).

I love how Davis takes historical events and places from 20th century NY and infuses them with strong women characters, and usually a mystery of some sort that adds excitement and suspense to the plot. Even if it’s a formula each story is different, interesting and entertaining. I really enjoyed The Spectacular - releasing June 2023. And I will have new appreciation for Radio City and the Rockettes next time I see them.

The Spectacular was my first book by Fiona Davis and it was very enjoyable. I loved the chance to peak into a period in time, especially with a focus on the Rockettes. The bomb search and the fact it was based on a true story made it even more interesting. The ending was a little far-fetched but made for a satisfying conclusion to the plot. While not my absolute favorite, I definitely enjoyed it and found it very deserving of 4 stars.

I have read all of Fiona Davis’s books - and this one, based upon my favorite type of plot - entertainment industry, should have been a slam dunk.

I am unclear if I am in a reading burn out - but I was struggling to get engaged in the plot even 25% in. The writing didn’t feel the same as her other books, the flow almost stilted and “simple”. The progress for thr first 25% was slow and almost boring.

Unfort, I had to take a pause at 25%. I will return for another attempt when my mind is fresh.

Another spectacular book by Fiona Davis! Once again, she masterfully transforms a NYC landmark, Radio City Music Hall, into the most important character of the book. This particular story had me running to Wikipedia for more details about the events it was based on. The characters are well developed and the twists and turns are exciting! Thank your for the ARC in exchange for this review.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an early copy of The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

Enter the world of New York's Rockettes as main character Marion Brooks fulfills a lifelong dream and is chosen as a dancer for the famed troop. It will take an incredible amount of punishing rehearsal and sacrificing her personal life to meet the high standards of the Rockettes.

When a bomb goes off at Radio City Music Hall during the Rockette's Christmas Spectacular, Marion's sister Judy is killed in the audience. This tragedy will set Marion on a mission to discover who the New York Bomber is and put an end to his destruction. Marion will also come into contact with psychiatrist Peter Griggs whose expertise in the field of criminal profiling may help to identify the perpetrator. Davis has based these aspects of her novel on real events in New York City.

Interspersed within the story are chapters featuring Marion Brooks much later in life as she prepares for a reunion with fellow Rockettes. These chapters offer the readers a rich background into New York life through Marion's eyes.

Fiona Davis again has readers completely immersed in the workings of New York City, including the architecture of Radio City Music Hall, the ups and downs of big-city police departments and the treatment of those institutionalized with mental issues.

One very interesting side note is Peter Grigg's reference to Phineas Gage, the railroad worker in Vermont who suffered irreparable brain damage when a tamping iron shot through his head due to the misplacement of TNT. The book about Gage is in the curriculum of many middle schools today.

Fiona Davis is one of my all time favorite authors. Yet again in The Spectacular she transports the reader into the heart of the rockettes. The beautiful descriptions allow you to watch the timeless show even if you’ve never been. Ironically I went this December for the first time and truly felt like I was there all over again in the best way possible. On top of the wonderful Rockette experience there is a mystery twist that has you captured until the end to figure out “who done it”. I will read every one of Fiona’s books!!

Davis never disappoints and The Spectacular lives up to its name. While not my favorite in her repertoire ( and I’ve read them all ) it was solid. I love the ties between fact and fiction and that they always take place in the best city in the world.

One of the most historical novels I have read in the past. In There had been a "mad bomber" in the later 560's in New York City. Also included is the daily life of a Rockette in Radio City Music Hall. The author's note was the finishing touch of this amazing story.

It was so captivating with insights into relationships and delved into their reasonings which is rarely done.
One of the best reads of the year! Don't miss it!

I really enjoy Fiona Davis’ books—I love how she takes a particular time & place and really makes it come alive with realistic and relatable characters. I always learn something from her books, as well as being entertained. This one detailed the life of a Rockette in the 50’s. Having seen the iconic Christmas Spectacular several times, it was fascinating to get a behind the scenes look at what it takes to put a show on like that. The concurrent plot of searching for a serial bomber made it even more interesting. A great historical fiction read!

Such a great book with a wonderful setting and characters! It had me gripped from the beginning. Completely recommend

Marion Brooks loves to dance. This is the 1950s and her father is not so thrilled but she has been able to balance her love of dance and family by teaching in a dance studio. When an opportunity to try out for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes presents itself she decides to go for it just to say she tried. Problems arise when she succeeds - she is a Rockette. Meanwhile a serial bomber is targeting NYC. He has a grudge against Marion's Father's company. When the bomber strikes Radio City with tragic results, Marion and her friend Peter investigate.
This is a review of an ARC provided by NetGalley.

This book comes out in June and I'm very happy to have another Fiona Davis novel to put into the hands of historical fiction readers.

Full disclosure: I really love reading the historical fiction novels by Fiona Davis. I love having an author who isn't writing about wartime to hand to readers at my library. She is wonderfully inventive and makes the settings she selects come to life.

Having gone to Radio City Music Hall for the 2nd time, the first being about 40 years earlier, I was especially excited to read this novel. This book of hers feels a bit different than the others but I really enjoyed it. It kept me reading past bedtime which is very unusual for me lately.

I read every Fiona Davis book that comes out! I can't wait to see what amazing New York historical building she's going to write about next. The Spectacular does not disappoint. I learned so much about the NYC Rockettes and to be honest, I've never really been interested in them before---but as I was reading this book, I found myself going to YouTube to look up their routines, one in particular (I won't mention because it's talked about quite a bit in the book).

The story of young Marion trying to find her way and her own identity even as her father and sister keep trying to tell her to be sensible and marry the reliable boyfriend. As in all Davis' book, her protagonists end up writing their own future.

This book did not have as much past and present alternating stories, I missed that aspect a bit. But this is still a wonderful win for the author!

While her father expects her to settle down and get married, Marion has always been passionate about dance. When she is passes the audition to become a Rockette, she leaves home to follow her dream.
Her life will be forever changed when a bomb detonates during a performance . She is now consumed with identifying the bomber and is working with a young doctor interested in psychological profiling.
An intriguing read.
#TheSpectacular #NetGalley

Fiona Davis brings 1950's Radio City Music Hall a to life in The Spectacular. Blending together the story of Marion a young dancer instructor whi kands a job as a Rockette nd that of the true story of the 1950's "Mad Bomber of NYC " (taking fictional license with where some of the bombs were placed). Marion's family and fiancee were not happy with the choices she was making to pursue her dancing career, even less so when the bombings began.

The book is told by looking back at the career that Marion had as a Rockette during a special presentation of the Christmas Spectacular. We follow her life through the dangerous times in the city and see how a woman wanting a career of her own was nearly scandalous in the 1950's,

Through our the novel, we are treated to a behind the scenes look at the Christmas Spectacular and how the Rockettes work as team to get through rehearsals and a grueling performance schedule, which I enjoyed very much. Sadly, I did not really feel a connection to any of the characters, making the story a little hollow for me.

I know Fiona Davis to be a well loved writer and look forward to other works, but this one was not the match for me that it was for other readers.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I am a fan of Fiona Davis and I love historical fiction so I was delighted to have the chance to read her new book The Spectacular. The novel alternates between 1956 and thirty years later in the life of one of the Rockettes in the iconic dance line of Radio City Music Hall. Davis does an incredible job of recreating New York City in the post war era. She loves the city and apparently dance because she does a superb job of conveying the joys and the pains of pursuing a career in the theater. For me the novel fell short with the family and the romantic plot lines. She tried to turn the lead character, Marion, into a sleuth and a talented dancer, who almost single-handedly solves a decades old crime with ease. Hard to believe.. The tie in the bow ending was sweet and more of a Gothic novel feature. I was disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC ...

I was SUPER excited to read this book. Fiona Davis is the author I recommend to a lot of patrons looking for historical fiction, especially when they are over the abundance of WWII stuff out there (for the record - I am never over the abundance of WWII fiction).

I have loved all of Davis' stuff, and this is no exception. She always pulls from real historical buildings, events, and people to build her stories. This one gives us a behind the scenes look at the Rockettes in NYC in the 1950's. We also get to see the beginnings of criminal profiling as a procedure police departments will start to pick up.

One of the highlights of Davis's books is the swap between a more current time (here, in the early 90's) and the past. If I had only one complaint, it is I wish we could have seen more of Marion in the modern times, heard a little more about her life, and spread out the ending just a little bit longer ... but maybe I just didn't want the book to end! Recommended.

Thank you Fiona Davis and Netgalley for this ARC! As an avid fan of Fiona Davis and her historical fiction, I always look forward to her new releases and this book did not disappoint. Davis tells the story of a Radio City Rockette and how she deals with the Big Apple Bomber, who was terrorizing NYC at the time. The book goes back and forth between the narrator in the 50s and the 90s and sets the reader up with just enough knowledge to know we in for a surprise. Davis has done it again! I adored this book.

Fiona Davis amazes us again in 1950s New York. Marion has to choose between the high school sweetheart who would make her life comfortable and her dad happy OR choose to follow her dreams of dancing with the Rockettes. As she learns more of her mother who died young, she feels drawn to live her life as she chooses. Add in the Big Apple Bomber who has planted bombs around NYC for years, a quirky psychologist the she begins to have feelings for, and you have an amazing story of intrigue, budding love, of learning who you are and of what your parents have hidden from you. Marion learns to live through grief, fear, and trouble. Another hit for Fiona Davis!