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If Birds Fly Low
Since her mother’s death, Charlotte Scott has been reared by her Aunt Faith. But her childhood has been plagued by strange knockings on her bedroom door in the dead of night. A summons she never answers since she fears what might be waiting for her behind the door.
Meeting Noel Chandler, a tutor at the university in Cambridge causes tension, since Charlotte thinks him prejudiced against women. Noel is actually Squire Chandler and lives at Martlesham Manor a Tudor house in Suffolk.
It is while visiting Martlesham Manor with her cousin, Adele, that Charlotte learns the story of Prudence Chandler who, in the seventeenth century, was denounced as a witch by her husband and mother-in-law and consequently hanged.
Charlotte becomes absorbed with the story of Prudence and realises there are many mysteries at the Manor. Who is the woman who moves silently around the house at night? Why is there a terrible feeling of dread that permeates the old building? And why do the birds fly low since there is always a threat of rain hanging over the Manor?
As their love grows, Charlotte and Noel start to uncover the truth of his ancestral home. But the truth will involve Charlotte more intimately than she could possibly imagine.
Meeting Noel Chandler, a tutor at the university in Cambridge causes tension, since Charlotte thinks him prejudiced against women. Noel is actually Squire Chandler and lives at Martlesham Manor a Tudor house in Suffolk.
It is while visiting Martlesham Manor with her cousin, Adele, that Charlotte learns the story of Prudence Chandler who, in the seventeenth century, was denounced as a witch by her husband and mother-in-law and consequently hanged.
Charlotte becomes absorbed with the story of Prudence and realises there are many mysteries at the Manor. Who is the woman who moves silently around the house at night? Why is there a terrible feeling of dread that permeates the old building? And why do the birds fly low since there is always a threat of rain hanging over the Manor?
As their love grows, Charlotte and Noel start to uncover the truth of his ancestral home. But the truth will involve Charlotte more intimately than she could possibly imagine.
- GenresHistorical
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2013
15 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Julia Bell
13 books212 followersI'm a writer of historical romances mostly and I'm pleased to say my historical romance Songbird won a Chill Book Premier Readers' Award in March 2019 and in September 2020 it was the Finalist Winner in historical romance with Readers' Favourite. I've also been awarded a 5* review from Readers' Favourite for The Wild Poppy (2021) and A Cruel Suspicion (2023).
I've lived in Yorkshire, England for most of my life. I have two children and five grandchildren with lots more family in the North of England.
I've done many jobs in my time, including a nurse; training at St James's Hospital in Leeds and I've also done 'time' working for the Prison Service.
When my children were young I successfully completed an Open University degree studying psychology and sociology.
I'm now a proud member of Promoting Yorkshire Authors and love attending the get-togethers and meeting other authors.
As well as writing I love country walks and travelling abroad. I have great fun while waiting at bus stations, railways stations, airports and ferry ports - any place where people are on the move, as I'm a terrible people watcher.
I've lived in Yorkshire, England for most of my life. I have two children and five grandchildren with lots more family in the North of England.
I've done many jobs in my time, including a nurse; training at St James's Hospital in Leeds and I've also done 'time' working for the Prison Service.
When my children were young I successfully completed an Open University degree studying psychology and sociology.
I'm now a proud member of Promoting Yorkshire Authors and love attending the get-togethers and meeting other authors.
As well as writing I love country walks and travelling abroad. I have great fun while waiting at bus stations, railways stations, airports and ferry ports - any place where people are on the move, as I'm a terrible people watcher.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 8, 2018
I love a good ghost story and this certainly didn't disappoint. From a chance meeting on a train Charlotte is drawn towards her destiny. A visit to brooding Martlesham Manor is to have a marked effect on her. Why do the servants not stay overnight? Is it to do with the mysterious woman Charlotte sees on the stairs after being woken by knocking on her bedroom door during the night? The more time she spends there the more she feels a connection and has to unravel the mystery of the Chandler family.
The author has done her research well into the period for this historical romance and this is the second of her books that I have read, both very well written, I've got a third on my to be read list. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
The author has done her research well into the period for this historical romance and this is the second of her books that I have read, both very well written, I've got a third on my to be read list. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
November 30, 2016
This is a romance with a difference. Some surprising and unusual threads with well-developed, independent characters kept me intrigued and turning the pages. The author has a talent for weaving a number of themes into what I expected to be a straightforward historical romance. If you enjoy romance, mystery, and intrigue, you'll love this book.
July 13, 2015
Another great read from one of my favourite authors. Read it on holiday recently. Not having internet connection, I was unable to go online and read the synopsis so just had to start reading. As books may sit in my reading pile for months, I prefer to refresh my memory before starting them.
April 13, 2015
another great read, thanks julia
July 7, 2023
Very good
I liked this book a lot.a very good read. Good story and very interesting characters. Slow read at first but does it pick up you did a great job. Keep up the good work.
I liked this book a lot.a very good read. Good story and very interesting characters. Slow read at first but does it pick up you did a great job. Keep up the good work.
May 6, 2025
If Birds Fly Low by Author Julia Bell presents a haunting tale that intertwines historical mystery, romance, and supernatural elements. The Author crafts a compelling narrative that will especially appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, with its similar approach to connecting past and present through spectral encounters.
The story follows Charlotte Scott, raised by her Aunt Faith following her mother’s death, whose childhood has been marked by mysterious knockings on her bedroom door—a phenomenon she’s too frightened to investigate. After meeting Noel Chandler, a university tutor who is actually the Squire of Martlesham Manor, Charlotte’s life takes an unexpected turn. While visiting the Tudor house in Suffolk with her cousin Adele, Charlotte becomes enthralled by the tragic story of Prudence Chandler, a 17th-century woman executed as a witch after being denounced by her husband and mother-in-law.
The Author maintains an engaging pace throughout, gradually revealing the Manor’s secrets while building the tension between Charlotte and Noel. The narrative skilfully balances the developing romance with increasingly unsettling supernatural occurrences, creating a natural progression that keeps readers invested in both storylines.
Charlotte stands out as a particularly strong female protagonist—independent, intelligent, and unwilling to accept the gender prejudices of her time. Her initial friction with Noel, whom she perceives as biased against women, creates authentic tension that evolves believably into deeper feelings. The supporting characters, particularly Charlotte’s cousin Adele, contribute meaningfully to the narrative without overshadowing the central relationship.
The Author also creates compelling historical figures, particularly Prudence Chandler, whose tragic story resonates across centuries and connects profoundly with Charlotte in unexpected ways.
The novel explores several powerful themes: the persecution of women throughout history, particularly those labeled as witches; the enduring impact of historical injustices on present-day lives; and the nature of inherited trauma and psychic abilities. The title’s metaphor—birds flying low as a harbinger of impending storm—serves as an effective motif throughout the narrative, symbolising the constant sense of foreboding that permeates Martlesham Manor.
The Author creates an atmospheric prose that brings both the historical and contemporary settings vividly to life. The dialogue feels authentic to the characters and their period, while the descriptions of the Manor evoke a tangible sense of dread and mystery. Particularly effective is the Author’s handling of supernatural elements, which are presented with subtlety rather than sensationalism.
If Birds Fly Low is a richly textured novel that successfully combines historical fiction, romance, and supernatural elements. While the childhood knockings that plagued Charlotte could have been more fully explored and resolved, this minor oversight doesn’t significantly detract from the overall quality of the storytelling. The Author has created an immersive, atmospheric tale that lingers in the reader’s imagination long after the final page.
I award 5 stars
The story follows Charlotte Scott, raised by her Aunt Faith following her mother’s death, whose childhood has been marked by mysterious knockings on her bedroom door—a phenomenon she’s too frightened to investigate. After meeting Noel Chandler, a university tutor who is actually the Squire of Martlesham Manor, Charlotte’s life takes an unexpected turn. While visiting the Tudor house in Suffolk with her cousin Adele, Charlotte becomes enthralled by the tragic story of Prudence Chandler, a 17th-century woman executed as a witch after being denounced by her husband and mother-in-law.
The Author maintains an engaging pace throughout, gradually revealing the Manor’s secrets while building the tension between Charlotte and Noel. The narrative skilfully balances the developing romance with increasingly unsettling supernatural occurrences, creating a natural progression that keeps readers invested in both storylines.
Charlotte stands out as a particularly strong female protagonist—independent, intelligent, and unwilling to accept the gender prejudices of her time. Her initial friction with Noel, whom she perceives as biased against women, creates authentic tension that evolves believably into deeper feelings. The supporting characters, particularly Charlotte’s cousin Adele, contribute meaningfully to the narrative without overshadowing the central relationship.
The Author also creates compelling historical figures, particularly Prudence Chandler, whose tragic story resonates across centuries and connects profoundly with Charlotte in unexpected ways.
The novel explores several powerful themes: the persecution of women throughout history, particularly those labeled as witches; the enduring impact of historical injustices on present-day lives; and the nature of inherited trauma and psychic abilities. The title’s metaphor—birds flying low as a harbinger of impending storm—serves as an effective motif throughout the narrative, symbolising the constant sense of foreboding that permeates Martlesham Manor.
The Author creates an atmospheric prose that brings both the historical and contemporary settings vividly to life. The dialogue feels authentic to the characters and their period, while the descriptions of the Manor evoke a tangible sense of dread and mystery. Particularly effective is the Author’s handling of supernatural elements, which are presented with subtlety rather than sensationalism.
If Birds Fly Low is a richly textured novel that successfully combines historical fiction, romance, and supernatural elements. While the childhood knockings that plagued Charlotte could have been more fully explored and resolved, this minor oversight doesn’t significantly detract from the overall quality of the storytelling. The Author has created an immersive, atmospheric tale that lingers in the reader’s imagination long after the final page.
I award 5 stars
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews