I was a little concerned at the beginning of the book as she was preparing to move to assisted living at 55 since I am 68 and haven't considered it. Things became clearer near the end. I was also a little concerned about some science referenced in the mid-50s but it does look possible. Other than that it is a compelling story - it kept me reading until I finished in about a day. I've never seen the Rockettes and still hope to sometime but the descriptions were excellent. I enjoyed the illumination of life in the mid-50w.

I think it is one of her stronger novels and feel fortunate to have received it to review.

Once again, Davis delivers a lovely piece of historical fiction. This story takes the reader back to the golden age of the Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes. This is the story of Marion who wanted to dance and becomes a Rockette. Her home life was dismal with an overbearing father and a mother who was dead.

Marion’s story intersects with the time NYC was terrorized by the MAD BOMBER. Davis dubs him the Manhattan bomber and puts Marion in the crosshairs when she is at the site of his most memorable attack, at the Music Hall. It is there she meets the love of her life.

Told as a memoir by Marion, returning to the Music Hall for an anniversary gala. It is there that the author manages to pull all the ends together with a timely and satisfying closing.

Thank you Netgalley for another great book by Fiona Davis.

Fiona Davis is one of the few authors that makes me love the genre of historical fiction.

The Spectacular is narrated by Marion, who's life dream is to become a dancer. She spontaneously auditions for a spot in The Rockettes. Against her father's wishes, she ends up taking the role. There, she is able to connect with other like minded individuals and she starts to discover her true self. Along the way, she also discovers that her deceased mother was a dancer as well. As the story unfolds, she learns much about her father and mother's relationship. Her family members are not the lovely people that she used to think that they were.

In her time as a Rockette, Marion is also personally affected by The Big Apple Bomber. This person has been planting bombs through the city of New York for 16 years and has never been apprehended. One day, this bomber plants a bomb inside Radio City Music Hall, that ends up killing Marion's sister, Judy. Marion makes it her personal mission to identify the bomber and bring him to justice.

Marion and her friend, Peter, work together with the police to create a criminal profile for The Big Apple Bomber. Historically, this was when criminal profiling was just beginning to emerge. The police were skeptical and didn't believe that this could be accurate. After they learn more about the case, and find that Peter's predictions are true, the police begin to take his predictions seriously.

The Spectacular has many themes that I love and I think many people can relate to. While we love our family members, we must realize that they are also human and make mistakes. True life fulfillment comes from following dreams, even if family may not agree. It's hard to go against family wishes, but sometimes that will lead to ultimate happiness. In the 50's and 60's, a woman's role was in the home. Marion had no wishes to be a homemaker. Although she wanted a family, she never had one and didn't focus her youth on finding love. As she ages, she realizes that some opportunities passed her by, but that she made the best of use of her life as she knew how.

I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to other! I am in appreciation to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Happy reading!

I really enjoyed this book. The story kept my interest the whole way through the book. It was neat to get a glimpse of the life of a rockette and the added mystery of who the bomber really kept me reading long past my bedtime!

Courtesy of Dutton/Plume Tiny Reparations Books and Netgalley, I received the ARC of The Spectacular by Fiona Davis. This well researched historical novel is set in 1950's NYC, focusing on the Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall, while introducing the true crime story of The Mad Bomber and the development of criminal profiling.. Woven together with relevant family dynamics, romance, secrets and lies, this book had me captivated from the introduction to the conclusion...highly recommend!

A Radio City Rockette by day, a super sleuth by night, Marion Brooks has no clue that following her dreams will help take down the infamous and elusive Big Apple Bomber! This book is an absolute delight that i’m so glad I had a front row seat for! With radio city music hall as its backdrop and characters that kick their way into your heart, be sure to save a space on your TBR shelf for the next big hit from Fiona Davis!!

Wow! It is so fitting that @fionadavisauthor’s next novel is called The Spectacular because it totally lives up to its title and then some! Now I have to admit, this is the first book I’ve read from Fiona but i knew that she picks famous buildings in NYC as backdrops to build a story around. While I’m excited to read about the others she’s chosen…you can’t get a bigger stage than Radio City Music Hall. You can feel the excitement within its halls, hear the orchestra warming up and envision the precision of the Rockettes as you turn each page! I also loved the little shout to Vera-Ellen!

I loved everything about this book, the characters , the time period, the story and the history, all written with the backdrop of New York City!

I found myself totally immersed into this fantastic book! Having being mesmerized at my first, New York City, Rockettes show at the age of five, I get the magic, the glamour, the history of Radio City !
Marion is a dancer, at a time when dancing is not considered respectable, she’s disowned by her family and her fiancé as she goes to pursue her dream of being a professional dancer . I instantly loved her, and I felt the struggle between her, wanting to branch out, and do what she wanted to do, and stand up for herself, and how much missing her family left a void, she is a strong and resilient lady.
However, for the past many years, there has been a madman, running around New York City, planting pipe bombs and hurting people, and it seems to have a connection to her father’s company, where her sister also works.
Maryann comes up with a plan to help the cops catch the bomber… Again something her father and her fiancé strongly disapprove of.

I absolutely loved this book, and I realized that this author. will forever be on my TBR list

I really got into the story and really found myself rooting for Marion. The setting will go over well with our patrons.

I was feeling disillusioned with books about dancers after one I just read (information overload down to the steps of ballet!) but this, THIS one was extremely interesting and actively moved forward even with providing details of steps. GREAT job to the author on that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

“The Spectacular” is just that. It’s a wonderful addition to the series of books Fiona Davis sets in landmark buildings around New York City. As in her other novels, Davis transports the reader between two time periods, though these are only about 35 years apart. She gives us a firm grounding in the history of Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes, who are the focus of the book. And, of course, there is a dramatic mystery, also based on real incidents of the era. Davis’ characters are fictional equivalents of real historic figures which gives the author greater literary license in developing their roles. It’s often a delightful puzzle to piece together what is fact and what is the imaginative creation of Fiona Davis! Another element of her books is romance and “The Spectacular” does not disappoint. It is a recipe that blends love, gender roles, artistic temperament, sibling relationships, parental struggle, crime and heartache, all under the roof of the glorious Radio City Music Hall. Marion Brooks is the protagonist who will take you on her journey of self-discovery, a route strewn with fantastic opportunities but detoured by 1950s’ morals and limitations. I had a very emotional but ultimately enjoyable trip.

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis Marion Brooks auditioned for the Radio City Rockettes program at Christmas in 1956 and was chosen for the troupe. Marion and Peter's investigations, which included the first psychological profiling of a criminal, aided in the capture of the New York Big Apple Bomber, who terrorized the city for 16 years. The story revolves around Radio City Music Hall, the history of the Rockettes, and a revolutionary new technique known as pyschological profiling. A very good and interesting read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton and the author for the opportunity to preview the book.

The Spectacular is spectacular, or mostly so. Fiona Davis writes top notch historical fiction in my opinion and she has done it again with The Spectacular.

The Spectacular is set in 1950’s NYC. Marion dreams of being a professional dancer, but also wants to please her father, who wants her to marry her high school sweetheart and stay home. After losing her job teaching dance to young kids, she finds herself auditioning for the Rockettes. Her dad and older sister beg her to quit, but she insists on living her dream. Her mom was also a performer and Marion has been told that her mom gave it all up to be a mom and wife. Her mom passed away when Marion was young never having realized her dream of being on Broadway. As Marion continues to forge ahead, tragedy strikes. NYC has a bomber on the loose and Marion inadvertently becomes entangled in the mystery.

As Fiona Davis always does, she paints a vivid picture of a time and place that is fascinating around a true event(s) not well known.

Thanks to Net Gally for this ARC.

Again Fiona Davis takes us to New York in this spectacular book! A Radio City Hall Rockette, the "Big Apple Bomber", and a new technique called phycological profiling come together to make this historical novel very intriguing. This book is based on the real NY Apple Bomber who for 16 years terrorized the city. Thanks you Fiona for another great book! Thank you NetGalley for opportunity to read and review this book.

I am a longtime fan of Fiona Davis, having the pleasure of meeting her twice at our bookclub discussions. The Spectacular is my favorite of all her books thus far! Fascinating story based on the events surrounding the very first psychological profiling of a criminal and the capture of the Big Apple Bomber.. As with all her works, I found myself researching “did this really happen?” Her flair for weaving events of the past with present day storytelling is highly entertaining. And the final chapters hit close to home with her own announcement of her Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Thank goodness medical treatments have improved since the 50’s as I hope she continues to have a prolific career ahead.

Fiona Davis has been on my radar for awhile now, but this was the first book of hers I read. I will now most definitely be going back to see what else she has written!

Davis certainly earns her reputation, as show in this carefully crafted historical fiction novel. The writing of this book was the perfect combination of conversation and prose, and I found myself equally drawn to the characters and the 1950s NYC setting.

I loved learning more about the history of the Rockettes, and the author’s spin on the true story of a sixteen-year unidentified bomber streak in the city, all shared through strong characters and storylines.

I also enjoyed the sub story of the history of mental health- we’ve thankfully come a long ways and I appreciated the authors reminder of how that has happened.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Fiona Davis! 4.5/5 stars.

Thank you to Dutton Books for my review copy.

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.