The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

 One by one, iconic buildings in New York City are intricately woven into historical fiction novels by Fiona Davis: The Spectacular is a June offering focusing on Radio City Music Hall in the 1950s. A second timeline in 1992 revolves around an anniversary celebration bringing a retired dancer back to the music hall.

Marion Brooks has been either taking dancing classes or teaching dance for most of her young life. She goes to an open audition for the Rockettes where she nails a spot for herself at only 19. However, Marion lives at home with a domineering father and her older sister, and both take a dim view of Marion being a dancer when she should really either go for a career in nursing, teaching, or be a secretary until she gets married and has children. Not only has Marion’s relationship with her family become splintered, the city of New York has been plagued for 16 years with the "Big Apple Bomber."

Marion finds being a Rockette to be both grueling and satisfying, calling for the glamourous precision-dancing troupe to perform in four shows a day, three weeks in a row before having one week off. Out of the blue, her sister Judy contacts Marion who invites her to this spectacular art deco theatre to see a show. Unfortunately, the bomber explodes another of his pipe bombs in Judy’s row, right in front of Marion, who gets a good look at the man wearing a trench coat and carrying a black briefcase.

Marion cooperates with the police, frustrated that the bomber is still operating after 16 years. Through another dancer, Marion meets Dr. Peter Griggs who is a medical resident specializing in mental illness. His ability to profile Marion after meeting her leads to him offering up a psychological profile of the bomber to the authorities, who at first dismiss the whole idea until the arrest of a suspect is negated when bombings still occur.

How will Dr. Grigg’s profile of the bomber aid in identifying the criminal? How far will guilt-ridden Marion go to lure the bomber back to Radio City? How will she repair her relationship with her father?

Fiona Davis is a Canadian-born author who began her career in NYC as an actress. Upon earning a master’s at Columbia Journalism School, her writing career has embraced both journalism and fiction. Her previous novels have been about the Barbizon Hotel, The Dakota, Grand Central Terminal, the Chelsea Hotel, the New York Public Library, and the Frick Museum.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting May 28, 2023.

I would like to thank PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.