The Address

By Fiona Davis, Dutton, 2017, 368 pages
Reviewed by Julie Bookman, June 16, 2020

Just finished this novel mailed to me by a friend who thought it was terribly exciting/exceptional, and she could not rest until I thought so too.Love! Madness! Scandal! Murder!

“The address” is The Dakota high-rise along Central Park West in Manhattan (where John Lennon was killed in 1980, but that’s only barely mentioned).

This is another one that jumps back-’n’-forth between two threads: one set in 1884-86, when the famed building was opening to its first tenants; and the other in 1985-86, with a story that involves descendants of characters in the early thread.

Geez, I wanted to love it. But, dang, I guessed everything from the onset. I knew who stole the ancient knife! I knew who really shot J.R. (OK, not J.R. in this story but…) And it took me way too long to like the heroines of each thread. (They made such dumb decisions, I wanted to tear their hair out.) Also, I felt that I came across too many details that just didn’t quite add up!

Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by enjoying plenty of top-drawer lit lately.