“The Lions of Fifth Avenue” by Fiona Davis: Book Review
Two women. Two eras. One enduring library.
The Lions of Fifth Avenue unravels the mystery of valuable book thefts from the New York Public Library in 1913 and again in 1993. A light, beach read with an exciting climax and a unique historical backdrop, this was a fun story to listen to.
Summary
In 1913, Laura Lyons lives contentedly in a caretaker’s apartment hidden away in the New York Public Library (doesn’t that sound like a dream?). With her husband and children, she’s built a happy, domestic existence. A journalism class and a chance encounter with a college friend draw her out of her traditional caretaker role into a new world of feminist thinking, challenging her to rethink her needs and desires. Just as she begins to figure out what she wants in life, a series of valuable book thefts lead to tragedy, upending her family’s life and forcing her to decide what matters most.
Eighty years later, in 1993, Laura’s granddaughter Sadie Donovan works as a curator at the very same library. The 1913 thefts, still unsolved, are a distant memory. While Sadie’s team prepares for an upcoming exhibit, valuable books again go missing. Sadie fears that her family connection to the 1913 book thefts, as yet unsolved, could make her a suspect. Her love for the library forces her out of her comfort zone to help a handsome detective investigate the thefts and recover the stolen books.
Review
A well-crafted mystery, The Lions of Fifth Avenue was an enjoyable but light read.
What I enjoyed most about the book was the way threads of clues were woven together, so that the reader gradually pieces together what’s happened and why. Details about people that initially simply seemed like character building turned out to be important to solving the mystery. The story builds to a page-turning climax, with an unexpected outcome.
The characters, especially in 1993, felt like normal people any one of us might encounter. Sadie herself is 43, good at her job but with an unsatisfying personal life. Close to her brother and his family, she still feels anxious about imposing on them. When she feels attracted to the detective investigating the book thefts, the relationship develops with the fumbles and awkwardness we’ve all experienced.
In 1913, the story showed an interesting moment in history, when women’s roles were changing quickly. Laura wakes up to new possibilities for what she can want and expect from life, yet feels guilty because those desires create tension in a world where others, from her husband to her professors, don’t make room to accommodate them.
What disappointed me was that this lacked the rich atmosphere that draws you into the world of a book. I started this hoping to inhabit the New York Public Library for a few hours, but never felt that brought to life in the way that I hoped. Admittedly, my expectations are partly to blame, since I was looking for atmosphere when the author was focused on story.
In summary? If you’re looking for a fun, light mystery with an interesting historical setting, this is a good pick.
Rating
Overall rating: 4. Pleasant, story-driven mystery, but missing the rich atmosphere and characters I hoped for.
Audiobook rating: 4. The narration was enjoyable but not exceptional.
About the author: Fiona Davis
Author Fiona Davis has many careers to her name. She began her career as an actress, including roles on Broadway. Later, she got her master’s degree at Columbia Journalism School, the same school Laura attends in 1913 in The Lions of Fifth Avenue. She’s written a few others books, including The Chelsea Girls.
