Set in 1950s Manhattan, the narrative follows Marion Brooks, a young woman who defies her father’s expectations by auditioning for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. As she masters the grueling precision of the dance line, a series of bombings attributed to the "Big Apple Bomber" terrorizes the city. When the police investigation stalls, Marion utilizes her insider access to the theater and her unconventional observational skills to assist a psychological profiler in identifying the culprit. The story anchors itself in the technical rigors of mid-century professional dance and the early development of criminal profiling techniques used to track a real-life historical serial bomber.
This book serves readers interested in the intersection of women’s professional history and mid-twentieth-century urban crime. It attracts those who value specific details regarding technical choreography and the inner workings of iconic New York City landmarks. Readers finish the book with a clear understanding of the physical demands placed on professional dancers and the societal pressures regarding domesticity and career independence in the post-war era. It functions as both a historical workplace procedural and a study of early forensic psychology.
Practical and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2023
- Language
- EN
