Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - The Spectacular

There's just something about New York!
I got to tour Radio City Music Hall and learn the history of the Rockettes during my first trip to NYC six years ago. So I couldn't pass up adding The Spectacular by Fiona Davis to my BOTM box as soon as I saw the gorgeous cover and book description.
It's 1956. Marion Brooks is a talented dancer and is hired as a Rockette, despite her father's plans for her to get married and be a housewife.
Meanwhile, the "Big Apple Bomber" has been terrorizing the city with pipe bombs for 16 years. His latest attack in Radio City affects Marion way too close to home, and she enlists a psych resident friend to help. Dr. Peter Griggs uses profiling techniques that aren't yet well accepted in the medical or police communities, but might lead to capturing the bomber.
What a fascinating combination of elements in this historical fiction! The bomber is based on real events from the day, which sold it for me even more.
I was completely invested in The Spectacular - recommended!

Content Warnings

torturedreadersdept's review

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book was way better than the other book I’ve read by this author, The Magnolia Palace. The topic (the Rockettes) combined with other details (starting to use psychological profiling to solve crimes) and the time period (mid-50s) made it feel pretty compelling and unique! I found the main characters more likeable and was much more emotionally connected with the storylines. It was a page-turner - I wanted to stay up late and finish because I really wanted to find out what happened (not because I wanted to get it over with so I could get to my next read). I really enjoyed this book and definitely feel it is a strong historical fiction for this year so far!

Content Warnings

mmarlborough's review

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adventurous mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

When I saw that Book of the Month had a new Historical Fiction book set at Radio City Music Hall, I had to grab it! This was a fascinating look at being a Rockette in the 50s set against a compelling mystery. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to read more by Davis!

Marion is living her quiet suburban life outside of NYC, all geared up to marry her high school sweetheart and remain in the small town she grew up in teaching dance. But she risks it all and auditions to become at Rockette on a whim and gets it! Defying her traditional father, she takes the job and gets swept up in the hard work and glamor of Radio City. She meets a young doctor named Peter who specializes in psychological profiling, even though the rest of the world doesn’t put stock in this. The pair have ideas to stop the Big Apple Bomber who is targeting NYC landmarks, but will anyone take them seriously?

This was a very well researched novel- I was particularly impressed with the truth to backstage life! I cared about Marion and found Peter’s skill fascinating. I also really enjoyed the Author’s Note at the end that explained the facts that the novel was inspired by. The only reason this wasn’t 5⭐️s is because the middle was a tad repetitive. But overall, what a glitzy mystery!

✨Trigger Warnings: Death of a Parent, Murder, Sexism, Terrorist Attacks, Infidelity

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