The Lions of Fifth Avenue

A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)

By: Fiona Davis

Narrated by: Erin Bennett, Lisa Flanagan

Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

A Good Morning America Book Club Pick and a New York Times best seller!

“A page-turner for booklovers everywhere!... A story of family ties, their lost dreams, and the redemption that comes from discovering truth.” (Adriana Trigiani, best-selling author of The Shoemaker's Wife)

In New York Times best-selling author 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.

©2020 Fiona Davis (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Davis delves into the history of the New York Public Library in this delightful mystery.... The characters and story are stellar, but the real star of the show is the library, which Davis evokes beautifully." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Davis gives readers a mystery and a historical novel all in one absorbing tale.” (Library Journal)

"The magnificent Fiona Davis has written a page-turner for book lovers everywhere! I was on the edge of my seat as Laura Lyons, the ambitious essayist, breaks down social barriers and finds herself adrift in her own life at the end of the Belle Epoque in 1913 New York City. Secrets are revealed 80 years later by her granddaughter, who found her way into the family business, working at the New York Public Library. This is a story of family ties, their lost dreams and the redemption that comes from discovering truth." (Adriana Trigiani, New York Times best-selling author of The Shoemaker's Wife)

Excellent Beach Read

This novel captivated me and kept me company on my solo vacation to Mackinaw Island this past week. Great author looking for more from her now.

Interesting Story

This was a pretty good story with interesting historical facts of the early 1900’s in New York. The story could have come to life with better narration however. The speaker sounded flat and not interested in the story, perfunctory. Once past dry narration I was able to sink a bit more into the story.

Good book

The narrator was great and the storyline good. I found my mind wandering during more sections than I would like to admit.

A Sleeper

Although I do appreciate the research Ms. Davis does with the buildings she writes about, this story put me to sleep. Sadly enough, the boring story made me wish for the end to come sooner than later.

Book thievery on another level

What a remarkable tale! The storyline includes two generations about 80 years apart. As it switches between the two, history is blended and enhanced forming a believable and rich mystery that will not be revealed until the final paragraphs. Great characters march along to an inevitable conclusion but keep the reader glued to each detail of the story.

enjoyable summer read

interesting two twisted tales of mystery. Never been a fan of this "back and forth" format.

Fascinating 5 stars

What an unusual and interesting subject. The backdrop of the NY Public Library and the involvement of a family intertwined with the books and the library was great. A story well told.
Note: I tried to give this an overall rating of 5 stars but the app wouldn’t let me

Great book, very much worth reading

wonderful characters that seem like they are right out of NY library history. The narration was outstanding and kept me involved with and believing in the characters

Lions Spoke

The lions was an excellent story. Characters were well developed and setting moving between the two time periods interesting. The book made a statement. Cared about the Lions. Well done

Historical fiction-library edition!

I love a good historical fiction novel and this one had everything! Read & enjoy!