Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

19 reviews

greatexpectations77's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I really really enjoyed this book, and I was even more excited to learn that it was based on a historical event. (How do we not learn about someone that terrorized NYC for like decades??) I was just in love with Marion, and omg I hated her father so bad.

Also! Omg that her sister died!! The trauma!!!!

I'm excited to read more by this author; I feel like her research was really intentional. And I really appreciate that.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Stalking, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Fatphobia, Terminal illness, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury

booksandbabble's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious 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? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Murder

Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment

loonaglow's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

shaking crying throwing up

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

vannahcabana's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

I picked this book up on a whim from my library’s new books bookshelf. I have to say it’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! Loosely based on a true historical event, it details the journey of Marion separating from her family and following her dancing dream. There were little twists throughout that kept me reading. It did not end like I thought It would. I really recommend if you’re into historical fiction with mystery and twists! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content and Dementia

serenas_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

silverhill's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Car accident and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

4.25

I loved learning about the Rockettes.  I had never heard of the Big Apple Bomber and enjoyed how the author worked the mystery into the story about Radio City Musical Hall and the dancers.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

imstephtacular's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, Medical content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Eating disorder, Vomit, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

oceanwriter's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

As expected from Fiona Davis, The Spectacular has a stunning NYC backdrop. I didn’t even read the synopsis when I picked up this book. I saw Radio City Music Hall on the cover and didn’t care to know more. Plus, having read The Magnolia Palace, I figured it was a safe bet. 

 

More or less on a whim, teenaged Marion auditions to be one of the Radio City Rockettes, figuring the audition would be as far as she’d go. Being accepted causes a riff with her father, but as time goes on, his disapproval becomes the least of her problems. After an explosion during a performance, Marion gets involved in the investigation. 

 

I didn’t love this as much as I thought I would. Of course I loved the setting and all, I just found myself disconnected from the characters and mystery. Even so, Fiona Davis’ writing style made me want to continue. I’m going to hang onto this and visit it another time. It’s been a while since I’ve visited New York. I can see myself getting a taste of Broadway and wanting to visit it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, and Murder

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, and Car accident

kcrockford's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious reflective 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? N/A

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Violence, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexism