The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

 The Spectacular

Book Summary

From the New York Times Bestselling Author of The Magnolia Palace: A thrilling story about love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of dreams, set amidst the glamour and glitz of Radio City Music Hall in its mid-century heyday.

New York City, 1956: Nineteen-year-old Marion Brooks knows she should be happy. Her high school sweetheart is about to propose and sweep her off to the life everyone has always expected they’d have together: a quiet house in the suburbs, Marion staying home to raise their future children. But instead, Marion finds herself feeling trapped. So, when she comes across an opportunity to audition for the famous Radio City Rockettes—the glamorous precision-dancing troupe—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 sixteen years by planting bombs in popular, crowded spaces. With the public in an uproar over the lack of any real leads after a yearslong manhunt, the police turn in desperation to Peter Griggs, a young doctor at a local mental hospital who espouses a radical new technique: psychological profiling. 

As both Marion and Peter find themselves unexpectedly pulled into the police search for the bomber, Marion realizes that as much as she’s been training herself to blend in—performing in perfect unison with all the other identical Rockettes—if she hopes to catch the bomber, she’ll need to stand out and take a terrifying risk. In doing so, she may be forced to sacrifice everything she’s worked for, as well as the people she loves the most.

My Thoughts

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis transports readers to 1956 when Marion Brooks tries out for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.  The story alternates between 1992 and 1956.  I thought the story was well-written with realistic, developed characters.  The author has a way of bringing history alive.  I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of New York City, Radio City Music Hall, Brownsville, and Marion’s childhood home.  I especially enjoyed reading about Radio City.  I had no idea there was so much going on in that building.  Fiona Davis brought history to life and made it interesting.  There was never a dull moment.  I enjoyed learning about the Rockette audition process (I wish there was a television show about it), the lengthy rehearsals, costume fittings, and daily shows.  I cannot imagine doing four shows a day.  

The “Big Apple Bomber” has been hitting New York City landmarks for sixteen years without getting caught.  When Marion’s sister is killed, Marion is determined that the bomber shall be caught.  Marion wants the bomber identified and caught.  Marion seeks help from Dr. Peter Riggs, a resident at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, in profiling the bomber.  It is something new and the police are naturally skeptical.  The mystery ramped up near the end.  I was up late quickly turning the pages to see how everything would turn out.  There were some great characters in the story.  I enjoyed getting to know Marion Brooks.  She had a special talent and Marion wanted to use it despite her father’s pressure to marry.  There is some repetition of details especially regarding the father, Simon, and Judy, Marion’s sister.  I appreciated the author’s note at the end of the book.  I like how the author brought the Rockette’s Christmas show to life, especially the wooden soldier number.  I had no idea that the kick line was accomplished without the dancers touching each other.  It is the details that elevate a story.  You will find yourself caught up in the case and wondering how Marion and her friends will help catch the “Big Apple Bomber”.  The Spectacular is a fascinating historical tale with an active audition, a straightlaced sister, old-fashioned dad, a baffling bomber, a brown-nosing boyfriend, a disobliging detective, and a dazzling dancer. 

The Spectacular is available from Amazon*.  You can find Fiona Davis's other novels here.  Also out today are Paint Me a Crime by Holly Yew and Q & A by Carolyn R. Russell.  Thank you for visiting today.  Tomorrow I am a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for Paint Me a Crime by Holly Yew.  It is the first A Rose Shore Mystery.  I am off to work in the garden.  I have raised garden beds down one side of my home.  Four of them are full of blooming plants.  The front planter is lacking.  It is the planter that gets the most sun.  I have planted native plants (that can handle the brutal Florida sun and drought), but they are not doing well.  I need to find another solution.  If anyone has any suggestions, please leave me a comment.  I hope that you have a sunny day!  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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Rockettes Barbie