"Nineteen-year-old Marion Brooks knows she should be happy. Her college 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 ...
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"Nineteen-year-old Marion Brooks knows she should be happy. Her college 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 years-long 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."--
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Add this copy of The Spectacular to cart. $21.30, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2024 by Penguin Publishing Group.
Add this copy of The Spectacular to cart. $29.68, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2023 by Random House Large Print Publishing.
The Spectacular by Fiona Davis transports readers to 1956 when Marion Brooks tries out for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. The story alternates between 1992 and 1956. I thought the story was well-written with realistic, developed characters. The author has a way of bringing history alive. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of New York City, Radio City Music Hall, Brownsville, and Marionââ?¬â?¢s childhood home. I especially enjoyed reading about Radio City. I had no idea there was so much going on in that building. Fiona Davis brought history to life and made it interesting. There was never a dull moment. I enjoyed learning about the Rockette audition process (I wish there was a television show about it), the lengthy rehearsals, costume fittings, and daily shows. I cannot imagine doing four shows a day. The ââ?¬Å"Big Apple Bomberââ?¬Â? has been hitting New York City landmarks for sixteen years without getting caught. When Marionââ?¬â?¢s sister is killed, Marion is determined that the bomber shall be caught. Marion wants the bomber identified and caught. Marion seeks help from Dr. Peter Riggs, a resident at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, in profiling the bomber. It is something new and the police are naturally skeptical. The mystery ramped up near the end. I was up late quickly turning the pages to see how everything would turn out. There were some great characters in the story. I enjoyed getting to know Marion Brooks. She had a special talent and Marion wanted to use it despite her fatherââ?¬â?¢s pressure to marry. There is some repetition of details especially regarding the father, Simon, and Judy, Marionââ?¬â?¢s sister. I appreciated the authorââ?¬â?¢s note at the end of the book. I like how the author brought the Rocketteââ?¬â?¢s Christmas show to life, especially the wooden soldier number. I had no idea that the kick line was accomplished without the dancers touching each other. It is the details that elevate a story. You will find yourself caught up in the case and wondering how Marion and her friends will help catch the ââ?¬Å"Big Apple Bomberââ?¬Â?. The Spectacular is a fascinating historical tale with an active audition, a straightlaced sister, old-fashioned dad, a baffling bomber, a brown-nosing boyfriend, a disobliging detective, and a dazzling dancer.
