It’s 1913 and Laura Lyons, her husband, and their two children have an unusual living accommodation: an apartment cloistered in the newly opened New York Public Library. In 1993, Laura’s granddaughter Sadie Donovan is also at the New York Public Library, but working rather than living amongst the books. Their histories are connected when a series of thefts occur, thefts which are eerily similar to incidents during Laura’s time in the library. The candle is burned at both ends as Laura’s story progresses and Sadie digs deeper into the past in order to save the library and her reputation.
Right from the start, the book gave massive From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler–vibes, because who hasn’t dreamed of living in libraries and museums? The Lions of Fifth Avenue was fun and interesting, combining the wonder and history of libraries with intriguing crimes and deception. Laura’s timeline deals with the struggle of women working in the early 1900’s as she works to enter the field of journalism and Sadie’s timeline addresses a life consumed with work and how one’s identity can get lost in it.
As you’re well aware by now, I love a good historical fiction. There were times that I felt the story dragged a bit in the middle and the ending wasn’t quite as much as I would’ve hoped for, but I enjoyed living in their worlds and now I want to revisit Mrs. Basil E.
Personal rating: 6.5/10
Recommend? To lovers of historical fiction – yes
Re-read? Probably not
Time: 1:33