The Spectacular

A Novel

De: Fiona Davis

Narrado por: 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

Reseñas de la Crítica

“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

Another great story around a NYC Landmark

A story about a NYC landmark by Fiona Davis? You can never go wrong.
The plot lines about becoming a Rockette were very informative, as was the history of the Rockettes. it brought back nice memories for me all those Christmases I went to Radio City for the Christmas shows.
The storyline of the beginning of profiling criminals was very enlightening.
My only complaint about the book is the always typical scene where the main female character does something stupid that could result in harm. Even tho we know the main character will be okay, it still bothers me that it is always the one way they show some stupidity in an otherwise intelligent female. But that said, it did not take away from the enjoyment of the book.
Very good audio.

NY, NY

Love these stories based on historic New York! Such background about familiar places and events.

Loved it- start to finish!

Another book with a great story, setting, and characters from Fiona Davis! I Highly recommend!

Memories

We bought this book for my mom. She danced at the Roxie when she was young. She could have danced with the Rockettes, but chose the Roxie because they didn't have to take that week off after 3 weeks on. She said what she really wanted was to get married and have children and she could make and save more at the Roxie. She is loving the book, mainly for the parts involving dance. I got the audio book so we could talk about it. And in talking about it and her life, found that the book really captured that time and place from a young dancer's perspective. Now I'll be looking for that book on the bomber and the start of profiling. I'd never heard of this case. I'll also be checking out other books by this author.

It was SPECTACULAR

This is my third read of Fiona Davis and she pulls me right into the story, the time period and the landmarks. This was a favorite as it depicted the Great Show as I have seen it so many times.
I was surprised about the bomber as I hadn’t heard of him even though my mother had worked at Rockefeller center for many years.
I can’t wait to read another of her books
Fiona is becoming a NYC icon herself
Renee Ives

Can’t put down.

Loved the personal story and learning about history at the same time. This was a book club selection and I am very happy I have been introduced to Fiona Davis.

The story within the story

loved the history of the Rockets and New York in the 1950's. loved the story within the story.

Easy read, very entertaining

Great summer read. Story twists characters develop. Recommend for a vacation read, has good background on Radio City

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.

Good story but…

The story, at times, had too much detail/description, as if the reader/listener was unable to use their own imagination. It made the story drag. I finally upped the speed to 1.2 and things moved along better.