The Spectacular

A Novel

By: Fiona Davis

Narrated by: Rachel L. Jacobs, Kimberly Farr

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 in to 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.

©2023 Fiona Davis (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“This propulsive novel is a fast-paced race throughout 1950s New York City to stop a deadly bomber from striking again. Set against the backdrop of the legendary Radio City Music Hall, Fiona Davis brings some of New York City’s most memorable landmarks to life as a Rockette is entangled in the mystery of the “Big Apple Bomber” who is terrorizing the city.” —CrimeReads

"An engaging story…the novel is rich with historical details, and it comes most vividly to life in the passages about the Rockettes, with all the sweat, agony, and camaraderie that go into those miraculously perfect performances.” —Kirkus

"Fiona Davis just gets better and better! Nineteen-year-old dance teacher Marion, feeling trapped by her straitlaced father and her upcoming engagement, impulsively auditions for the Rockettes and is soon flung into a sequined world of grueling rehearsals, stage glitter, and four shows per day. When an anonymous bomber targets Radio City Music Hall, Marion's glittering new life reveals a dangerous dark side and she is flung into the search for a killer—but how can a kick-line dancer help save the city she loves? The Spectacular dazzles from start to finish." —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

Great story- strange narration

That was a well told story, I loved the protagonist’s strong sense of independence and justice.
However , the narration for her character was not good, with a stilted, very strange and distracting cadence, like when you take a pause in conversation because you have a small burp coning- it was just aggravating in its constant ness. The older voice was great. And the story and Author’s note at the end was great.

Always delivers!

As always Fiona Davis writes an interesting story surrounding a landmark. This one didn’t keep my at the edge of my seat but was still a good book.

Hits all the highs!

Loved this story based on real events ! Fast moving and interesting glimpse into the lives of the Rockettes back in the 1950’snand the birth of criminal profiling ! It got me interested in reading the true story it’s based on ! Fiona Davis never disappoints !!

Glamorous and Exciting

You get caught up and can imagine you are there in the story. You can feel the friendship, understand struggles of making difficult decisions and falling in love

Spectacular

Loved it was spectacular! Could not put it down. Love love love love love love

The Spectacular is Spectacular

This book blends my two favorite fictional genres of mystery & historical fiction. I loved rooting for the main character Marion!

excellent historical fiction of the NY bomber

Starts slow but really picks up and the characters really develop and the tie into the bomber and how it changes crime was perfect!

The best book by Fiona Davis.

The story was intriguing. As in her other books, it incorporates true historical events. I have been to Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular many times, and I enjoy the Rockettes.

The Spectacular - Audible version

The Spectacular is a wonderful books. I listen many books in audible. The reader of this book is outstanding.

Spectacular historical information

Characters were real, and the author intertwined historical circumstances with real emotions. Reading this book is a must!