The Spectacular – Fiona Davis

Fiona Davis does it again! I’ve enjoyed every one of her novels, all set in two eras and centered on a building in New York city. In this case, while a building matters (Radio City Music Hall), “The Spectacular” is about a Rockette, Marion, who danced in the 1950s and is now, in the 1990s, invited to a sixtieth anniversary celebration of the troupe. In other words, in this two era book, the same character is featured, first in her youth and now at 55. It is also loosely inspired by the “Mad Bomber,” who terrorized New York over a sixteen year period and who had a vendetta against the local electric company. A really interesting part of this novel involves a psychiatrist who is experimenting with what makes people behave violently. Marion’s father works for Metropolitan Power Company. Her sister Judy works there too, as their father’s secretary. Marion’s decision to audition for and become a Rockette sits very poorly with her father, Simon. Her mother Lucille died many years ago and Simon is a proper and overprotective father. As is usual, part of the novel requires acceptance that every protagonist does something insanely dangerous. For me, these parts read like a nod to Nancy Drew, which is not a negative comment: I always buy into it. These scenes help make these novels fun. The characters that matter are three-dimensional. The writing and plotting terrific. I will read this series until Davis decides to hang up her dancing shoes.