The Lions of Fifth Avenue

A Novel

By: Fiona Davis

Narrated by: Erin Bennett, Lisa Flanagan

Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

A Good Morning America Book Club Pick and a New York Times best seller!

“A page-turner for booklovers everywhere!... A story of family ties, their lost dreams, and the redemption that comes from discovering truth.” (Adriana Trigiani, best-selling author of The Shoemaker's Wife)

In New York Times best-selling author Fiona Davis's latest historical novel, a series of book thefts roils the iconic New York Public Library, leaving two generations of strong-willed women to pick up the pieces.

It's 1913, and on the surface, Laura Lyons couldn't ask for more out of life - her husband is the superintendent of the New York Public Library, allowing their family to live in an apartment within the grand building, and they are blessed with two children. But headstrong, passionate Laura wants more, and when she takes a leap of faith and applies to the Columbia Journalism School, her world is cracked wide open. As her studies take her all over the city, she is drawn to Greenwich Village's new bohemia, where she discovers the Heterodoxy Club - a radical, all-female group in which women are encouraged to loudly share their opinions on suffrage, birth control, and women's rights. Soon, Laura finds herself questioning her traditional role as wife and mother. And when valuable books are stolen back at the library, threatening the home and institution she loves, she's forced to confront her shifting priorities head on...and may just lose everything in the process.

Eighty years later, in 1993, Sadie Donovan struggles with the legacy of her grandmother, the famous essayist Laura Lyons, especially after she's wrangled her dream job as a curator at the New York Public Library. But the job quickly becomes a nightmare when rare manuscripts, notes, and books for the exhibit Sadie's running begin disappearing from the library's famous Berg Collection. Determined to save both the exhibit and her career, the typically risk-averse Sadie teams up with a private security expert to uncover the culprit. However, things unexpectedly become personal when the investigation leads Sadie to some unwelcome truths about her own family heritage - truths that shed new light on the biggest tragedy in the library's history.

©2020 Fiona Davis (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Davis delves into the history of the New York Public Library in this delightful mystery.... The characters and story are stellar, but the real star of the show is the library, which Davis evokes beautifully." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Davis gives readers a mystery and a historical novel all in one absorbing tale.” (Library Journal)

"The magnificent Fiona Davis has written a page-turner for book lovers everywhere! I was on the edge of my seat as Laura Lyons, the ambitious essayist, breaks down social barriers and finds herself adrift in her own life at the end of the Belle Epoque in 1913 New York City. Secrets are revealed 80 years later by her granddaughter, who found her way into the family business, working at the New York Public Library. This is a story of family ties, their lost dreams and the redemption that comes from discovering truth." (Adriana Trigiani, New York Times best-selling author of The Shoemaker's Wife)

Fascinating read for Book lovers and newbies

The Lions of Fifth Avenue is a fascinating and educational read for all book lovers and those discovering a new passion in its pages. I especially appreciated the author’s respect for the conflicted feelings women grappled with as the controversy over women’s rights began to emerge early in the 20th century. For many of us older women, the conflict continues. Great research, well presented. Relatable characters.. another winner from a talented story teller.

But for one detail

Overall, this is excellent storytelling that weaves the real and the fictional so artfully that I often had to search for myself to see which details were real. In the process, I learned a great many things about many books, people, and events in history. You could say this book is a gateway for those curious enough to learn more.

I love these characters. They are painted with a vivid brush, such that you might even wish the ones who are fictional had been real people. Someday, I will visit the great library and wish Harry and Pearl had actually played in its halls!

Even though the author acknowledges that she took liberties with the security measures of the library, the story really challenges your suspension of disbelief on one potentially major plot hole. With such rare and valuable artifacts in the Berg Collection, wouldn’t the library have had security cameras on it in 1993? On that detail, the entire contemporary plot line unravels. Just be prepared to consciously put that aside.

Not as good as I thought.

There were a lot of great parts in the book, but for me it fell apart at the end.

I also found the character of Saide to be one dimensional and a bit boring.

Great book

I really liked this book and the references to many classics. The historical context as great and educational. The only twine for me was at the end because all the pieces seemed to come together a little too predictably. But it was still enjoyable.

Engaging story, but ultimately corny and ill-informed at times

Story is engaging and keeps you interested in what will happen. Functional beach read if that’s what you’re looking for.

Some significant downsides. Resolutions is disappointing. And the treatment of the criminal legal system is ill-informed and overly self righteous. As a researcher would have been nice to see some research on that. Love story and personal growth line is corny, predictable and uninteresting.

A bit too Harlequin Romance

Solid writing, some interesting plot twists but the characters were cliched. This is a book I would have loved when I was a teenager but now find a bit cliched & predictable. All and all, a bit too resonant of a Harlequin Romance.

Overall good story but corny at times.

At times the story seemed silly and the wording exaggerated. I was too far along with the book to give it up and found myself rolling my eyes at times. I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them.

lovely casual romp

such a fun way to breathe life in to architecture! It is clever and entertaining.

Good read

Enjoyed this book and learned a lot about the inner workings of a large public library.

Loved it!

This was our book club selection this month. Don't think I would have ever picked it on my own, but I loved it! Held my interest throughout and I fell in love with the main characters. Definitely recommend!