A Good Morning America Book Club Pick and a New York Times bestseller! “A page-turner for booklovers everywhere! . . . A story of family ties, their lost dreams, and the redemption that comes from discovering truth.”—Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Shoemaker’s Wife In New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis’s latest historical novel, a series of book thefts roils the iconic … Fiona Davis’s latest historical novel, a series of book thefts roils the iconic New York Public Library, leaving two generations of strong-willed women to pick up the pieces.
It’s 1913, and on the surface, Laura Lyons couldn’t ask for more out of life—her husband is the superintendent of the New York Public Library, allowing their family to live in an apartment within the grand building, and they are blessed with two children. But headstrong, passionate Laura wants more, and when she takes a leap of faith and applies to the Columbia Journalism School, her world is cracked wide open. As her studies take her all over the city, she is drawn to Greenwich Village’s new bohemia, where she discovers the Heterodoxy Club—a radical, all-female group in which women are encouraged to loudly share their opinions on suffrage, birth control, and women’s rights. Soon, Laura finds herself questioning her traditional role as wife and mother. And when valuable books are stolen back at the library, threatening the home and institution she loves, she’s forced to confront her shifting priorities head on . . . and may just lose everything in the process.
Eighty years later, in 1993, Sadie Donovan struggles with the legacy of her grandmother, the famous essayist Laura Lyons, especially after she’s wrangled her dream job as a curator at the New York Public Library. But the job quickly becomes a nightmare when rare manuscripts, notes, and books for the exhibit Sadie’s running begin disappearing from the library’s famous Berg Collection. Determined to save both the exhibit and her career, the typically risk-averse Sadie teams up with a private security expert to uncover the culprit. However, things unexpectedly become personal when the investigation leads Sadie to some unwelcome truths about her own family heritage—truths that shed new light on the biggest tragedy in the library’s history.
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I’m a big fan of Fiona Davis’s books, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue is no exception! Two women across two different timelines come into their own and find their truths in this story centered around the beautiful New York Public Library building. There’s plenty of mystery with twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end. A wonderful read!
Enjoyed and don’t think it is as good as most of her others
I was totally entertained & taken in by the characters & story line.
Really wonderful read!
Liked it a lot!
I really enjoyed this story set in the NYPL. In the story, in 1913, the Lyons family lives in the library. Jack, the superintendent of the library, is working on a manuscript. His wife, Laura, wants to become a journalist. She is accepted to Columbia Journalism School. However, Jack believes she needs to stay home with the children. Another storyline takes place in 1993, with Sadie Donovan being named interim curator of the Berg Collection, which houses rare books and artifacts at the NYPL. Interestingly, Sadie is a descendant of the Lyons.
In both timelines, rare books go missing, and the Lyons/Sadie are suspects.
I enjoyed the parts of the story about the architecture of the NYPL, the work that goes on in libraries, the interesting collections, and the story of women’s issues in 1913 vs. now.
Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
I loved this book because the scene was the New York Public Library! Such a good story line.
What I love most…a mystery and an historical novel. Fiona Davis has given us a another page turner. One of my favorite authros!!!!
Very interesting book. Enjoyed reading about the library
It truly was a page turner. Characters were realistic and interesting. The conclusion did not disappoint. A good read.
Great read!!
I have always been fascinated with libraries so I found this a very interesting story.
I have loved every book by Fiona Davis. Such a reverence for the history and iconic architecture of NYC. I don’t often like books that jump timeline to timeline but she’s an exception to that rule.
I rated this book with 4 stars because of the well researched history of the New York public library and the building where the events take place. However the plot is slow and repetitive and in some sections plain boring. I recommend it because I learned about the role of the librarian and their influence in the propagation of the arts. There were some interesting thoughts about discrimination and poverty. However, don’t expect a thriller. The plot was intended to be profound and dramatic but it was not consistent. There were parts of the book that I found very superficial and far fetched. I give the author credit for the building history research. That was worth my time.
The Lions of Fifth Avenue tells two stories both set in The New York Public Library . One set in 1913 is of Laura Lyons and her husband, who’s is the superintendent of the Library, and her two children. They live in an apartment in the Library and so we are introduced to the secrets of this iconic structure. Laura enrolls in the journalism program at Columbia and her assignments take us to New York in 1913, its neighborhoods and its problems.
The second story, set in 1993 of Sadie Donovan, Laura’s granddaughter, who is a curator at the Library. As these two stories develop. each with mystery and intrigue, they are effortlessly intertwined by Fiona Davis to give us an entertaining but informative view of life in New York, life at the library and lessons in love an perseverance. Great for both personal reading and book clubs.
Read in 2 days. A little bit of a mystery and family revelation, plus history of New York Public Library. Not too heavy, and fun to read. Like the way this author writes and the 2 time lines.
The jumping back and forth between the two timelines (1913 and 1993) didn’t work for me in this one. In fact, until about 80% of the way through, I felt that Sadie (1993) and her story were unnecessary, that more focus should have been given to Laura and the women’s movement as the stronger story.
The 1993 library exhibit seemed forced and artificial, contrived. I think that perhaps there could have been a better way to conclude the Tamerlane story without involving a third generation. But then, I’m not an author.
A mysterious historical fiction that takes place at the New York Public Library and is told in two eras and two points of view as the quest for missing books occurs. Throughout 1913 and 1914, the reader gets a close up look at women trying to advocate for their rights and their ability to work in male heavy professions; a tenet of 1993 with Sadie’s role also. Fiona Davis captures the reader and takes them on time travel to historic New York. I could envision myself walking down Fifth Avenue and throughout New York with Laura.
How can you resist a book set in the New York Public Library–the famous branch located at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, the one with the lions. Hence the name of the book.
The story alternates between 1913, the year the library opened, and 1993. The details about the library are fascinating, especially to someone like me who lived in NYC as a child. There’s something for everyone in this tale–famous books, famous authors, a love story, architectural details, and of course, a mystery. In the midst of all that is the story of how one woman discovers her potential and pursues her dreams in a time when society had rigid views and rules for women.
I loved it for the history and the mystery.
I loved all of Fiona Davis novels. Look forward to more.