The Lions of Fifth Avenue

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.

Exhilarating

Slow to start and to get used to the narration building to two delightful mysteries. I found myself looking for opportunities to listen as I couldn’t bear to turn it off!!! Haven’t enjoyed a fiction so much for a long long time.

Exactly my kind of story

This was just as entertaining as The Address. I love Fiona Davis books and had been anxiously awaiting this latest release. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the setting. It takes place in NYC, with a mystery focused on books and some family lineage.... terrific! I recommend it to anyone interested in: NYC, libraries, books. A great historical fiction read!

love books and nyc...and mystery...

lived it...so many of my favorite topics..history, nyc, feminism
with all tied togetger through the timeline
will read more of Fiona for sure

Rambling on and on

When I read historical fiction I expect there to be a fair amount of history in the story. That certainly wasn't the case with this novel. As far as I could tell, other than the location, there was very little history involved. The author does tell us that at the end of the narrative. If I had known this before I would not have listened to this . I felt that the idea was good and original, but the story got bogged down with too many sidelines. The narrators were very good, but there is only so much they can do with a rambling narrative.

Just Bland

I have listened to several of Ms Davis' books and really enjoyed them but this one was just bland. In her other books I have always wanted to travel to New York to see the setting for the book. This time the writing did not light that fire.

surprises everywhere

li loved it! this is a really great boodbook. narration was excellent . Looking forward to more from her.

A book to pick up and put down.

Quirky and pulled me in. The idea of living in a library is beyond, beyond. places the reader in a never ever land of wishing. Perhaps shd have been two different books!

Must Read!

Amazing story! Didnt want it to end! Will be on lookout for more books by Fiona Davis! Would be a great movie too!

My favorite author gets better and better!

Fiona Davis is both an amazing novelist and a detailed researcher. Her historical details add such richness to her stories and have even led me to do my own independent research. Hopefully she’ll have the patience and fortitude for many more books.

Thank you, Fiona!

An enjoyable book

I mostly very much enjoyed this book. I'm not always convinced that some of the characters playout in the way that I'd expect/prefer, but nonetheless, I enjoyed it.

For book lovers

My first job was working in a library and I loved it! This brought back happy memories as well as taking me on a new journey. Loved it!