Book Review: The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

I really do enjoy these tales by Fiona Davis. So far I’ve read several – The Masterpiece, The Address, and The Dollhouse – and on the whole they are a delight. The history-mystery genre she embodies is a fun way to combine historical study with a contemporary mystery. Each book introduces a famous New York City landmark and a woman whose life revolves around it in some mysterious way, coupled with a contemporary woman who stumbles upon said mystery and takes it upon herself to solve it. She melds historical figures with her own character creations, and does so in a way that feels seamless (usually). The mysteries are always handily resolved, but that’s part of the fun – we all know that in *real* life, such historical mysteries take decades to solve, if they ever actually are solved of course, but the wrap-up is an entertaining and satisfying way to tie all of the pieces together, so I never mind.

The combination of architectural History, New York City history, and women’s history is an entertaining one and in the hands of a talented writer like Davis, makes for an engaging and informative read. This time the subject is one near and dear to my heart, the New York Public Library, and the combination of historical information about the building and its origins as well as the family drama related through Laura Lyons and her granddaughter was delightful. I enjoyed the glimpses into the Heterodoxy Club and the burgeoning women’s rights movement of the early twentieth century. It’s a tale that felt resonant and timely right now and that feeling contributed to my reading enjoyment. The story was engaging and informative – a one-two knockout punch that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.