From the New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue comes the compelling national bestselling novel about the thin lines between love and loss, success and ruin, passion and madness, all hidden behind the walls of The Dakota—New York City’s most famous residence.When a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house the … York apartment house the Dakota, leads to a job offer for Sara Smythe, her world is suddenly awash in possibility—no mean feat for a servant in 1884. The opportunity to move to America. The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota. And the opportunity to see more of Theo, who understands Sara like no one else…and is living in the Dakota with his wife and three young children.
One hundred years later, Bailey Camden is desperate for new opportunities: Fresh out of rehab, the former interior designer is homeless, jobless, and penniless. Bailey’s grandfather was the ward of famed architect Theodore Camden, yet Bailey won’t see a dime of the Camden family’s substantial estate; instead, her “cousin” Melinda—Camden’s biological great-granddaughter—will inherit almost everything. So when Melinda offers to let Bailey oversee the renovation of her lavish Dakota apartment, Bailey jumps at the chance, despite her dislike of Melinda’s vision. The renovation will take away all the character of the apartment Theodore Camden himself lived in…and died in, after suffering multiple stab wounds by a former Dakota employee who had previously spent seven months in an insane asylum—a madwoman named Sara Smythe.
A century apart, Sara and Bailey are both tempted by and struggle against the golden excess of their respective ages–for Sara, the opulence of a world ruled by the Astors and Vanderbilts; for Bailey, the nightlife’s free-flowing drinks and cocaine—and take refuge in the Upper West Side’s gilded fortress. But a building with a history as rich, and often as tragic, as the Dakota’s can’t hold its secrets forever, and what Bailey discovers inside could turn everything she thought she knew about Theodore Camden—and the woman who killed him—on its head.
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I love this book. I think is a well researched historical novel with lots of architecture information . Great characters and realistic personality dynamics. There are themes of exploration of values, sacrifice, grief and lots AA quotes and rehabilitation challenges and support. I recommend it.
Sara Smythe is a bold, wonderful, risk taking character who changes her whole life with one decision. I loved the rich setting and supporting characters.
I liked this book very much. The characters were very alive and it was interestingly writen. The past was incorporated into the future so the story was bursting with tie-ins from one generation to another. Good read
The book featured two women a century apart. It provided some interesting details about the design, architecture, and location of the Dakota, a masterful concept of apartment living in New York City. I only wish there had been more information about the famous people who lived in that building. The story’s concept was very easy to transition from 1885 to 1985 as the chapters were clearly labeled. The author even included a very good description of a woman’s insane asylum in all its dreadfully sad and disgusting misery.
Another fabulous Fiona Davis novel! If you are looking for a page turner, suspense, romantic, tragic, informative, and thoroughly entertaining book, you must read this. Fascinating background of the iconic Dakota Apartments. Two page-turning stories in one (one set in the late 1800s and the other in the 1980s). They both contain romance, mystery, and plot twists. Could not put down. And when I came to the last word on the last page, I quickly bought her other two novels, The Dollhouse and Masterpiece. All three are 5-star reads!
This book was fascinating as it tells the story of how the famous Dakota apartment building came to be. The Address is historical fiction so expect great characters and lots of twist. I couldn’t put it down!
The perfect summer read – the story of two women, 100 years apart, whose lives were impacted by New York’s Dakota apartment building.
Period pice in NYC. Such a delightful read.
Loved this book wanted it to keep going
I love historical fiction! This one did not disappointed. I loved learning about the famous Dakota grand apartment complex, famed for the shooting of John Lennon.
The story set in 1986 with Bailey Camden, recovering alcoholic trying to find out about her history and if, in fact, she is a true Camden. She is an interior designer working get her life back in order after a stint in rehab. And in 1884, the story of Sara Smythe, struggling housekeeper from London who is desperately trying to build a better life for herself. She has been hand selected by Theo Camden to be the managerette of the Dakota as it is being built. These are dual storylines that are interrelated. This was a fast read as I couldn’t wait to pick it back up again!
Fiona Davis takes you from the past(1885) to modern times (1985) so smoothly that you hardly notice. The two stories are about the same family and most interesting the Dakota building in New York City. I found it so hard to put down. You will be shocked, happy, oh so sad with this story but it will keep you glued to the pages. I will look at other books by Fiona Davis and recommend this book to all!
Excellent read, very engaging characters
Sara Smythe has come a long way in her young life. She began as a seamstress, but has made her way to head housekeeper at a lavishing hotel in London in 1884. When Sara saves a guest’s daughter from a nasty fall, Theodore Camden offers a job to Sara in New York. She jumps at the opportunity to move to a new country and expand her career.
Upon arrival, Sara is promoted to managerette, as a woman this is a huge accomplishment. Her tasks now include managing the Dakota, a communal apartment complex known as The Address of the West End. The Dakota has a large staff, many tenants and their staff.
Sara assists Theo in creating a marvelous living space for all the residents. But life takes a twist when Theo is found murdered in his apartment.
Fast forward to 1984, the descendants of the Camdens are renovating The Dakota. Bailey has been tasked with removing the original architecture from the Camden’s apartment. Bailey has been close to the Camden family for years, her grandfather being a ward of Theodore Camden. She hates to see the beautiful work that they, but she is in desperate need of a job.
When the murder weapon is discovered in the basement of The Dakota, questions about the Camden trust begin to arise.
The Address by Fiona Davis is terribly predictable. I read the blurp on the cover leaf and knew EXACTLY what was going to happen. It’s pretty sad, and frankly boring, when I know how the story will end and I haven’t even read the first chapter.
I did love the historical aspect of the story (I always do!). It was interesting to see a young woman as a housekeeper and then have a prestigious position as managerette. It was really refreshing. But of course, as the way things were in 1884, being a woman in management is difficult.
The present day part of the story felt empty. We see Bailey as a recovering addict trying to get back on her feet. We are supposed to feel sympathetic toward Bailey, but I just couldn’t. She made her choices, and she had to deal with those consequences. She got help only because her employees dumped her in rehab after making an embarrassing scene. Then she goes right back to her partying friend for a job and willing goes out with them.
Overall, the writing was quite good, but the story was not very compelling for me.
The Address by Fiona Davis receives 3 stars.
Enjoyed learning the history of a New York City landmark.
A fascinating blend of fact and fiction.
I didn’t want to put this book down at all. Fiona Davis does an excellent job writing this book. As I was reading this book, I had to do research on the Dakota.
The first time I heard about The Dakota Apartments was when John Lennon was murdered. This book mentions that, but only in passing. The story itself covers two time periods, 1885 when the Dakota opened and 1985 during the roaring days of liquor, coke and Club 57. It follows the people who moved into the Dakota in its opening days, touches on the interim years and goes on to tell the story of the third generation in 1985. I found the descriptions of styles and furnishings of the 1880s as well as the damage time and residents have caused to the building. This is also a women’s rights story, not in the enfranchisement movement, but in the everyday treatment of women in that century and now. Its not as apocryphal as “The Handmaid’s Tale” but it tells of the mistreatment and lack of power both then and in our own time. Good book, a little wordy in places, but the reader wants to keep going. Enjoy!
The Address is the second novel by Fiona Davis. Sara J. Smythe is the head housekeeper at Langham Hotel in London in June 1884. Sara happens to notice a little girl walking on the ledge outside a hotel room and rushes to rescue her. Theodore Camden, the child’s father and an architect, offers Sara a job in New York at The Dakota. The Dakota is a fancy apartment house with hotel amenities. Sara, after some thought, accepts the position and sails for New York. She arrives at The Dakota and finds herself promoted to managerette. Sara works closely with Theo in getting the building ready for its new occupants. Life is full of possibilities in America. Will Sara find the happiness she has been yearning for in America?
Bailey Camden has just been released from Silver Hill, a rehab facility, in New York in 1985. She was hoping to return to her position at Crespo and O’Reilly, but it seems Bailey burned her bridges with them. Her last hope is her cousin, Melinda. Melinda and her twin brother, Manvel own an apartment in the Upper West Side of New York at The Dakota. Bailey has loved the building since she was a child. Her grandfather was a ward of Theodore Camden, who was murdered in that very apartment. Melinda is redecorating and offers the job to Bailey along with a place to live. Melinda’s “style” involves ripping out all the beautiful woodwork and vintage features of the gilded age apartment. In the storage area of the building, Bailey uncovers trunks belong to Theodore Camden and Sara Smythe. Secrets that have long been hidden are about to come to light. Bailey embarks on a journey of discovery. Dark family secrets have a way of coming forth into the light.
I felt that Fiona Davis did a notable job at capturing the historical time-period and setting of New York at it was being developed in 1884. The Dakota (which is a real building in New York and can be viewed online) was a unique apartment building, and I loved reading about the beautiful details put into the building (along with the gorgeous dress descriptions). I preferred Sara’s chapters over Bailey’s (especially in the beginning). In a way, I wish the whole novel had been about Sarah and what happened to her. It was interesting to see how Ms. Davis tied the past to Bailey Camden in 1985. I am rating The Address 3 out of 5 stars. The story is interesting but it has an expected ending (especially regarding Theodore). I was hoping the author would surprise me, but I was let down. I accurately guessed how the story would play out. I found the pace of the novel to be slow which can be attributed to the amount of detail provided by the author. While I love her descriptions and historical accuracy, the do make for a slow-moving story. Bailey’s chapters had a faster pace but they were less captivating (the 80s hold little appeal with the terrible fashions, party lifestyle, and the horrible Palm Beach/Miami Vice type décor). I am not enamored with the alternating chapters (the past and present) which seems to be very common lately in books. The Address ended up being a romance novel with a little mystery thrown in.