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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Fascinating details about the construction and design of the famous Dakota Apartments in New York City.
I really like this author
History and intrigue all set in the Mysterious Dakota. Loved this book. Highly recommend it!
Feeds the imagination with images of what the Dakota was like when it was first built and the history that lives withing its walls.
Great historical background about a famous New York apartment building and lifestyle of late 1800s Manhattan. dwellers.
I loved this book!
At first the book was a little slow. I purchased it because it was about the Dakota apartments in NYC. I hoped it would give more history, but it didn’t.
Was an ok read.
Thoroughly enjoy this book it so many plots and all tied up at the end. Historical information of the hotel and its occupants. Bit about John Lennon was also interesting. Gives information about the area of New York when it was just like country. The information about how easy it was to have someone committed was also an eye-opener.
Superbly drawn characters. Perfect backdrop of a building forever associated with loss of an iconic character. Fascinating history of time and place. Not to be missed
I love
Not my favorite by this author, but enjoyable read.
I love history in the form of fiction
I loved the back and forth between two centuries. It was interesting to know what and why things happened to the characters in the 1880s. The characters in the 1980s had to guess or assume how and why events played out for the previous generations. In real life, we will never really know why our ancestors did certain things, so it is interesting in this story, to be aware of facts that subsequent generations will never know or truly understand. I found this to be a believable story, and as a woman, it makes me glad to be living in the 21st Century instead of the 19th Century.
it was a slow reading book!
Excellent book and also narration on Audible. Loved the characters and the story kept me intrigued.
Loved this book! It was hard to put down.
I do not like books that I can predict the outcome by the time I read the first chapter. This book was unpredictable. It also opened up a true part of history to me. I liked this book
I love books that split time periods- this one does it very well!
This is a wonderful view of an iconic building’s life; the many myths, and realities of its inhabitants, and its design. The main character is a working girl who ends up living in the exclusive Dakota due to her work ethic. She is always helping others, even though those she helps end up taking advantage of her. She even ends up going to prison and suffering much abuse for stealing, and well—that’s another story.
I LOVED this read- the time period- the building- that good triumphs sometimes- the ugly duckling to swan- the so close to reality feeling!!
Loved the characters, the setting, the story……great read!