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The Birdcage Library
Spanning Gilded Age New York society to the 1930s Scottish Highlands, this gothic novel is a mystery within a mystery, featuring a compelling heroine, an engrossing puzzle with fiendish clues, and not one but three big twists.
It’s 1932: Scottish adventuress and plant-hunter (and surviving twin) Emily Blackwood, now living in Australia, accepts a commission from Heinrich Vogel, a former dealer of exotic animals in Manhattan. Vogel now lives with his macabre collection of taxidermy in a remote Scottish castle. Emily is tasked with finding a long-lost treasure that Heinrich believes has been hidden within the castle walls. But instead, she discovers the pages of a diary written by Hester Vogel, who died after falling from the Brooklyn Bridge on the eve of its opening in 1883. Hester's diary leads Emily to an old book, The Birdcage Library, and into a treasure hunt of another kind—one that will take her down a dangerous path for clues, and force her to confront her own darkest secret . . .
It’s 1932: Scottish adventuress and plant-hunter (and surviving twin) Emily Blackwood, now living in Australia, accepts a commission from Heinrich Vogel, a former dealer of exotic animals in Manhattan. Vogel now lives with his macabre collection of taxidermy in a remote Scottish castle. Emily is tasked with finding a long-lost treasure that Heinrich believes has been hidden within the castle walls. But instead, she discovers the pages of a diary written by Hester Vogel, who died after falling from the Brooklyn Bridge on the eve of its opening in 1883. Hester's diary leads Emily to an old book, The Birdcage Library, and into a treasure hunt of another kind—one that will take her down a dangerous path for clues, and force her to confront her own darkest secret . . .
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 22, 2023
About the author
Freya Berry
2 books90 followersFreya Berry always loved stories, but it took several years as a journalist to realise she loves the kind of truth that lies in fiction, not reality. (Or, to put it another way, making stuff up is more fun.)
Her first novel The Dictator's Wife, a high-stakes exploration of power, glamour and complicity, was shortlisted for the Authors' Club First Novel Award, a pick for the BBC's flagship book show Between The Covers, and The New European's 2022 novel of the year.
In her second novel, The Birdcage Library, an adventuress discovers an old book containing clues about the disappearance of a woman who vanished 50 years before. Set between a Scottish castle in the 1930s and an exotic animal emporium in Gilded Age New York, it's a twisting Gothic tale of obsession, murder and taxidermy.
Freya lives in London and graduated with a double starred first in English from Cambridge, though nobody in real life knows what this actually is.
Her first novel The Dictator's Wife, a high-stakes exploration of power, glamour and complicity, was shortlisted for the Authors' Club First Novel Award, a pick for the BBC's flagship book show Between The Covers, and The New European's 2022 novel of the year.
In her second novel, The Birdcage Library, an adventuress discovers an old book containing clues about the disappearance of a woman who vanished 50 years before. Set between a Scottish castle in the 1930s and an exotic animal emporium in Gilded Age New York, it's a twisting Gothic tale of obsession, murder and taxidermy.
Freya lives in London and graduated with a double starred first in English from Cambridge, though nobody in real life knows what this actually is.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
June 22, 2023
A deliciously gothic and utterly atmospheric, Daphne Du Maurier style historical mystery that will definitely have you on the edge of your seat.
It’s set in a remote Scottish castle, spanning two timelines and the lives of two women: Hester Vogel (who died falling from the Brooklyn Bridge during the gilded age), and Emily Blackwood, a 1930s botanist and explorer hired to hunt down a lost family heirloom by Hester’s reclusive brother-in-law, Heinrich.
Having lost a huge chunk of wealth to the financial crash, Emily needs the reward money that finding Heinrich Vogel’s prized heirloom will earn her—an heirloom which disappeared along with his brother after Hester’s untimely death.
But what Emily finds instead is an old journal of Hester’s which leads her to a book—The Birdcage Library—and a scavenger-style hunt that uncovers long buried secrets (both Hester’s and her own) that could lead her down a path from which there’s no escape…
I absolutely devoured this!
The clever, mystery within a mystery-style plot was incredible—I genuinely had no idea where things were heading 90% of the time, with the other 10% spent marvelling at how intricately devised even the smallest and inconsequential of details was.
I adored how rich and visceral the descriptions were and felt they definitely brought 19th C New York and 1930s Scotland to life. And was equally impressed by the depth and complexity Freya Berry manages to imbue her characters with. Even the more antagonistic characters, prone to bouts of cruelty and avarice were really well written (though not nearly as in-depth as Emily or Hester.)
Emily, our bright and determined adventurer had such an emotional story arc that I couldn’t help but root for her to succeed, and overcome her alcohol dependency, survivors’ guilt (surrounding her twin’s death) and distant relationship with her father.
Hester, (whose life we explore solely through the pages of old journals) was also a really compelling character who, much like the vibrant birds in her husband’s emporium, yearns for something more meaningful than the gilded cage she’s been thrust into.
We do encounter a lot of real historical figures such as Mamie Fish, Hyatt Frost and Lord Rothschild, which I thoroughly enjoyed—though historical purists should probably take note that there’s has been some creative licence taken with some of their stories/ personal lives.
Freya is clearly a master at her craft and I look forward to reading more of her work —She’s definitely a new auto buy author for me.
Overall, an immersive and exquisitely suspenseful, slow-burn historical fiction with twists and turns that mystery loving sleuths definitely need to add to their TBRs ASAP!
It’s set in a remote Scottish castle, spanning two timelines and the lives of two women: Hester Vogel (who died falling from the Brooklyn Bridge during the gilded age), and Emily Blackwood, a 1930s botanist and explorer hired to hunt down a lost family heirloom by Hester’s reclusive brother-in-law, Heinrich.
Having lost a huge chunk of wealth to the financial crash, Emily needs the reward money that finding Heinrich Vogel’s prized heirloom will earn her—an heirloom which disappeared along with his brother after Hester’s untimely death.
But what Emily finds instead is an old journal of Hester’s which leads her to a book—The Birdcage Library—and a scavenger-style hunt that uncovers long buried secrets (both Hester’s and her own) that could lead her down a path from which there’s no escape…
I absolutely devoured this!
The clever, mystery within a mystery-style plot was incredible—I genuinely had no idea where things were heading 90% of the time, with the other 10% spent marvelling at how intricately devised even the smallest and inconsequential of details was.
I adored how rich and visceral the descriptions were and felt they definitely brought 19th C New York and 1930s Scotland to life. And was equally impressed by the depth and complexity Freya Berry manages to imbue her characters with. Even the more antagonistic characters, prone to bouts of cruelty and avarice were really well written (though not nearly as in-depth as Emily or Hester.)
Emily, our bright and determined adventurer had such an emotional story arc that I couldn’t help but root for her to succeed, and overcome her alcohol dependency, survivors’ guilt (surrounding her twin’s death) and distant relationship with her father.
Hester, (whose life we explore solely through the pages of old journals) was also a really compelling character who, much like the vibrant birds in her husband’s emporium, yearns for something more meaningful than the gilded cage she’s been thrust into.
We do encounter a lot of real historical figures such as Mamie Fish, Hyatt Frost and Lord Rothschild, which I thoroughly enjoyed—though historical purists should probably take note that there’s has been some creative licence taken with some of their stories/ personal lives.
Freya is clearly a master at her craft and I look forward to reading more of her work —She’s definitely a new auto buy author for me.
Overall, an immersive and exquisitely suspenseful, slow-burn historical fiction with twists and turns that mystery loving sleuths definitely need to add to their TBRs ASAP!
December 4, 2024
I started out with high hopes for the audiobook. The premise sounded interesting and I liked the idea of several strong women characters.
However (don't say you didn't know that was coming) my initial interest waned quickly due (in part) to the narrator, Lauryn Allman who narrated the action in an English accent, Emma in a Scottish accent and Hester in an American one. I got hopelessly lost trying to work out whose story I was in. This isn't helped by the two characters being so similar as to be almost interchangeable. I also found the accents rather trying - the Scottish faded in and out and the German reminded me of Meryl Streep's Danish in Out of Africa.
So I tried to ignore all this and concentrate on the plot. But there was no relief there either. It is unnecessarily convoluted - bouncing from one time to another with these two women declaring themselves to be strong and independent yet fluttering into hysteria and swooning in nearly every scene. As for the oft mentioned reading lots of detective novels hence being good at working out a mystery - I'm terrible at whodunnits (I don't read a lot of them) and yet I'd worked out by the halfway mark exactly what had happened.
Why carry on reading? In the vain hope that there'd be another twist before the end and I'd be wrong. The melodramatic narration pushed me close to quitting several times though.
However what I did get treated to was the most unbelievable escape ever. You'd have to suspend the laws of biology and credulity both to get over Emma escaping from the top tower of a castle by diving into a freezing loch (that she doesn't know the depth of) all while suffering from the effects of ketoacidosis - a condition that usually requires immediate hospital treatment.
I have to mention one last part that I even noted down as I listened: There's a bit where either Hester or Emma/Emily is crying and some "hero" or other licks her tears off her face? Definitely a step too far.
Parts of the story are based on fact but the whole is wrapped up in a story so utterly ridiculous that I'm cross with myself for continuing.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the audio advance review copy.
However (don't say you didn't know that was coming) my initial interest waned quickly due (in part) to the narrator, Lauryn Allman who narrated the action in an English accent, Emma in a Scottish accent and Hester in an American one. I got hopelessly lost trying to work out whose story I was in. This isn't helped by the two characters being so similar as to be almost interchangeable. I also found the accents rather trying - the Scottish faded in and out and the German reminded me of Meryl Streep's Danish in Out of Africa.
So I tried to ignore all this and concentrate on the plot. But there was no relief there either. It is unnecessarily convoluted - bouncing from one time to another with these two women declaring themselves to be strong and independent yet fluttering into hysteria and swooning in nearly every scene. As for the oft mentioned reading lots of detective novels hence being good at working out a mystery - I'm terrible at whodunnits (I don't read a lot of them) and yet I'd worked out by the halfway mark exactly what had happened.
Why carry on reading? In the vain hope that there'd be another twist before the end and I'd be wrong. The melodramatic narration pushed me close to quitting several times though.
However what I did get treated to was the most unbelievable escape ever. You'd have to suspend the laws of biology and credulity both to get over Emma escaping from the top tower of a castle by diving into a freezing loch (that she doesn't know the depth of) all while suffering from the effects of ketoacidosis - a condition that usually requires immediate hospital treatment.
I have to mention one last part that I even noted down as I listened: There's a bit where either Hester or Emma/Emily is crying and some "hero" or other licks her tears off her face? Definitely a step too far.
Parts of the story are based on fact but the whole is wrapped up in a story so utterly ridiculous that I'm cross with myself for continuing.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the audio advance review copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2023
I must say that this is very much a me thing. I honestly think the majority of people that read this because they love gothic stories will enjoy this; it is well written. I think that my tastes in books have changed radically over the years & while I used to enjoy gothic reads I seem to lose interest early in the stories now.
April 23, 2023
Rating: 1.8/5
"The Birdcage Library" is an historical novel which incorporates elements of the mystery genre. Events take place across two timelines: the 1930s with a castle in Scotland as the backdrop and 50 years earlier in an animal emporium in New York.
Freya Berry is clearly an eloquent and intelligent writer, but in spite of that fact, I struggled to get into this story. I hate not finishing a book, but I was tempted to give up on this on a number of occasions. However, I stuck with it and saw it through to the end, but ultimately this is one of those occasions when I can appreciate the abilities of the author without really enjoying the end product.
Although set in the 1880s and 1930s the style of the narrative often felt like that from a time some one hundred years earlier. I also never felt a convincing sense of the Scottish castle and New York settings either. This, combined with pacing that I found far too pedestrian, meant that I really struggled to engage with the characters and the plot. The mystery element - if you can stick with it long enough to witness its eventual unravelling - has actually been very cleverly constructed, but I was largely past caring by that point. Other readers may love this, but not one for me, I'm afraid.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
"The Birdcage Library" is an historical novel which incorporates elements of the mystery genre. Events take place across two timelines: the 1930s with a castle in Scotland as the backdrop and 50 years earlier in an animal emporium in New York.
Freya Berry is clearly an eloquent and intelligent writer, but in spite of that fact, I struggled to get into this story. I hate not finishing a book, but I was tempted to give up on this on a number of occasions. However, I stuck with it and saw it through to the end, but ultimately this is one of those occasions when I can appreciate the abilities of the author without really enjoying the end product.
Although set in the 1880s and 1930s the style of the narrative often felt like that from a time some one hundred years earlier. I also never felt a convincing sense of the Scottish castle and New York settings either. This, combined with pacing that I found far too pedestrian, meant that I really struggled to engage with the characters and the plot. The mystery element - if you can stick with it long enough to witness its eventual unravelling - has actually been very cleverly constructed, but I was largely past caring by that point. Other readers may love this, but not one for me, I'm afraid.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
September 13, 2023
A beautifully written story filled with secrets and surprises and books.
August 10, 2024
1932, Emily Blackwood receives a commission that takes her to a ruined castle in the remotes of Scotland. Here she is to catalogue a collection of taxidermied creatures for her new employer Mr Vogel. Yet soon Emily finds herself on a treasure hunt for a lost diamond, the trail set by a woman who lived and died decades before her, Hester Vogel. As Emily reads the pages of Hester's hidden diary she uncovers secrets of old. However, if Emily is to find any happiness for herself, she must first unburden herself of her own secrets.
My first read from Freya Berry, I went into this anticipating a gothic-style mystery, and that is very much what I got. The remote castle set on its own small island in the far reaches of Scotland made for an atmospheric setting. From the outset, Berry makes it apparent that Emily has a troubled past and when she discovers Hester's diary, we follow the stories of both these women, both of whom find themselves trapped in their own ways.
Hester's own story takes place mostly in New York during the Gilded Age, and Berry does a lot of name-dropping, with references to many real life figures during this time.
All the ingredients were there for me to enjoy this story, and yet I found myself very much struggling to engage with it. It was clear that Berry had done her research, and yet if often felt as if she was trying to show off that research too much, the writing, for me personally, often coming across as somewhat pretentious.
I didn't find myself caring for any of the characters, which made it hard to invest in either Emily or Hester's stories, and even the treasure hunt itself didn't really excite. The pacing throughout was too slow, and often the book just felt confusing and over-convoluted. The relationship dynamics were overly messy, the story too melodramatic for my own taste, and I guessed the major plot twists well in advance.
Overall, this wasn't for me.
My first read from Freya Berry, I went into this anticipating a gothic-style mystery, and that is very much what I got. The remote castle set on its own small island in the far reaches of Scotland made for an atmospheric setting. From the outset, Berry makes it apparent that Emily has a troubled past and when she discovers Hester's diary, we follow the stories of both these women, both of whom find themselves trapped in their own ways.
Hester's own story takes place mostly in New York during the Gilded Age, and Berry does a lot of name-dropping, with references to many real life figures during this time.
All the ingredients were there for me to enjoy this story, and yet I found myself very much struggling to engage with it. It was clear that Berry had done her research, and yet if often felt as if she was trying to show off that research too much, the writing, for me personally, often coming across as somewhat pretentious.
I didn't find myself caring for any of the characters, which made it hard to invest in either Emily or Hester's stories, and even the treasure hunt itself didn't really excite. The pacing throughout was too slow, and often the book just felt confusing and over-convoluted. The relationship dynamics were overly messy, the story too melodramatic for my own taste, and I guessed the major plot twists well in advance.
Overall, this wasn't for me.
July 9, 2023
This was such an enjoyable read. The Birdcage Library revolves around a treasure hunt for a missing diamond. The book is a treasure hunt in itself and I liked all the clues and reveals we got along the way. There were many times I was flipping back to the beginning realizing how an earlier clue connected to the current reveal. I appreciated the depth of the two main characters, Emily and Hester. They are similar in that they are both caged and trying to break free. There is a large emphasis placed on birds and cages and it factors in the story both literally and metaphorically.
There is a weird subplot with one of the characters being a Nazi which I felt was unnecessary. It didn’t really add anything to the story apart from identifying them as a bad person. The structure of the book is that it is told by two different narrators in two different timelines. Sometimes the pacing was a bit slow but overall this was a fun read and I liked how everything concluded.
There is a weird subplot with one of the characters being a Nazi which I felt was unnecessary. It didn’t really add anything to the story apart from identifying them as a bad person. The structure of the book is that it is told by two different narrators in two different timelines. Sometimes the pacing was a bit slow but overall this was a fun read and I liked how everything concluded.
November 26, 2024
I absolutely loved THE BIRDCAGE LIBRARY by Freya Berry! This gothic tale expertly weaves together a treasure hunt, dark secrets, and a dual timeline mystery. From Hester’s haunting diary in 1882 to Emily’s dangerous quest in a remote Scottish castle in 1932, the story is packed with rich historical detail and clever twists. It’s immersive, intricate, and completely captivating—perfect for fans of atmospheric mysteries. Highly recommend!
4.25 stars
4.25 stars
May 25, 2023
A really clever & very beautifully written dual-timeline historical mystery set in the perfect place for such a tale; a remote castle on the Scottish coast.
I was drawn in to this from the first page but the story doesn’t really get going until about half way through. Emmy Blackwood, scientist, is commissioned to help find some missing treasure belonging to Heinrich Vogel- an elderly reclusive man who has offered a high enough salary to Emmy to tempt her into spending a few weeks away from her invalid father. Throughout the book we are given clues to also help find the missing treasure & we are also let into the secrets of Hester Vogel and her life as well as finding out more of Emmy’s past demons & her reliance on alcohol.
I did find the two alternating women’s stories quite similar & often got them confused & it is also a very long book but the premise of the clue finding adds extra interest to an already interesting story & I particularly enjoyed how all the stories were neatly tied up at the end. Great writing by Freya Berry.
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I was drawn in to this from the first page but the story doesn’t really get going until about half way through. Emmy Blackwood, scientist, is commissioned to help find some missing treasure belonging to Heinrich Vogel- an elderly reclusive man who has offered a high enough salary to Emmy to tempt her into spending a few weeks away from her invalid father. Throughout the book we are given clues to also help find the missing treasure & we are also let into the secrets of Hester Vogel and her life as well as finding out more of Emmy’s past demons & her reliance on alcohol.
I did find the two alternating women’s stories quite similar & often got them confused & it is also a very long book but the premise of the clue finding adds extra interest to an already interesting story & I particularly enjoyed how all the stories were neatly tied up at the end. Great writing by Freya Berry.
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June 9, 2023
The Birdcage Library tells a story about people who lost themselves in one way or another, for different reasons. Told through two timelines, the mystery reveals itself piece by piece – this is a great example of slow-paced but suspenseful storytelling, which keeps the reader hooked. From the very start of the book until the last chapter, it is quite difficult to tell how the story will end, as the plot is full of twists and turns – exactly how I like it to be. Characters are well-developed with interesting and strong personalities.
While the treasure-hunting notion is not necessarily my favourite choice to read about, this book is so much more than that. The birdcage metaphor is so strong and persistent in this story, which eventually becomes a key component of the story and a huge clue in the mystery.
Okay, no spoilers! The book is a great read, entertaining and a page-turner. If you are into the mysteries, of the Scottish landscape, and wish to have a glimpse into adventurers’ lives – this book is for you.
While the treasure-hunting notion is not necessarily my favourite choice to read about, this book is so much more than that. The birdcage metaphor is so strong and persistent in this story, which eventually becomes a key component of the story and a huge clue in the mystery.
Okay, no spoilers! The book is a great read, entertaining and a page-turner. If you are into the mysteries, of the Scottish landscape, and wish to have a glimpse into adventurers’ lives – this book is for you.
December 3, 2024
Freya Berry's The Birdcage Library is pretty much a perfect Gothic: isolated setting, a supposed suicide, a missing diamond, questions of identity, baggage from WWI and WWII, and more. This is a two-timeline story, with one timeline beginning in 1882, and the other beginning in 1932.
Basically, that's it. If you enjoy Gothics, get this title ASAP and hole up in a place where you can read uninterrupted.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
Basically, that's it. If you enjoy Gothics, get this title ASAP and hole up in a place where you can read uninterrupted.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
March 18, 2026
This book is a dual timeline gothic thriller that whilst failed to surprise me (all the twists were quite obvious!) still entertained me.
I thought the plot pacing was excellent, and the characters, although a little clichéd still enjoyable to follow.
I thought the plot pacing was excellent, and the characters, although a little clichéd still enjoyable to follow.
May 22, 2023
The Birdcage Library is a beautiful and captivating read full of secrets and mystery.
I thought the dual point of view chapters worked really well and felt that both Emily and Hester were such interesting and well developed characters. Each of them had fought so hard for independence and self worth, it was interesting to make comparisons between the two of them as we learned more.
I loved the idea of the treasure hunt, and the remote setting of the island and castle certainly fueled the mystery and added such depth to the story.
I thought the dual point of view chapters worked really well and felt that both Emily and Hester were such interesting and well developed characters. Each of them had fought so hard for independence and self worth, it was interesting to make comparisons between the two of them as we learned more.
I loved the idea of the treasure hunt, and the remote setting of the island and castle certainly fueled the mystery and added such depth to the story.
February 5, 2026
What an interesting book. There were some things I liked about it. Some things I didn’t. I enjoyed the puzzle aspect of it, and it really was quite gripping.
But at the same time I felt like some things were incomplete. For one, there were a couple of creepy and icky villain characters that were supposedly Nazis and made the Jewish character feel uncomfortable, but that really didn’t play into the story at all. It felt like it wanted to ride the popularity of WWII era historical fiction but didn’t want to commit. (The present day story takes place in 1932).
I didn’t like that the extra-marital affair was seen in a positive light. There was one strong curse word that I didn’t think was necessary. Finally, the ending was unsatisfyingly vague. I’m sure that was the intent: to let the reader create their own narrative of what happened, but it bugged me. lol. It just seemed like there were a lot of loose ends and assumptions in the story that didn’t get all wrapped up.
I did enjoy the puzzles and the suspense. I also liked the way the Gilded Age was described. I did feel like I was watching a movie in the pages. It almost reminded me of a Mysterious Benedict Society for adults.
But at the same time I felt like some things were incomplete. For one, there were a couple of creepy and icky villain characters that were supposedly Nazis and made the Jewish character feel uncomfortable, but that really didn’t play into the story at all. It felt like it wanted to ride the popularity of WWII era historical fiction but didn’t want to commit. (The present day story takes place in 1932).
I didn’t like that the extra-marital affair was seen in a positive light. There was one strong curse word that I didn’t think was necessary. Finally, the ending was unsatisfyingly vague. I’m sure that was the intent: to let the reader create their own narrative of what happened, but it bugged me. lol. It just seemed like there were a lot of loose ends and assumptions in the story that didn’t get all wrapped up.
I did enjoy the puzzles and the suspense. I also liked the way the Gilded Age was described. I did feel like I was watching a movie in the pages. It almost reminded me of a Mysterious Benedict Society for adults.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2026
I really wanted to enjoy this, from the description this seemed right up my alley and totally different to anything else I’ve read.
In reality this was so unnecessarily confusing and slow-paced. I genuinely had no idea what was going on until about halfway through the book, at which point we snail paced through one of the dullest mystery plot I’ve ever read. I’m not sure why this fell so flat for me but I found that I didn’t particularly care about any of the characters and wasn’t shocked by any of the ‘revelations’ towards the end.
In reality this was so unnecessarily confusing and slow-paced. I genuinely had no idea what was going on until about halfway through the book, at which point we snail paced through one of the dullest mystery plot I’ve ever read. I’m not sure why this fell so flat for me but I found that I didn’t particularly care about any of the characters and wasn’t shocked by any of the ‘revelations’ towards the end.
January 31, 2025
Enjoyably gothic!
January 29, 2023
To the reader with a most inquisitive mind and a fearless disposition, you are invited to embark on a quest, a treasure hunt, if you will, down a path only a puzzler may dare tread, for the answers to such a perplexing and beguiling puzzle lie hidden within an old and long-forgotten book…
The year is 1932, adventuress and plant-hunter Emily Blackwood accepts a commission most unusual from a Mr Heinrich Vogel, once upon a time Mr Vogel was a dealer of the most exotic and delightful animals imaginable in Manhattan, yet many years have passed and along with his rather macabre collection, lives out his days in a crumbling and neglected remote Scottish Castle, isolated from society.
Emily is given the task to find a long-lost treasure which Heinrich believes has been cloistered, and concealed within the remains of the castle, but how can this be when he has been a resident for so many years for there cannot be left anything of note to discover, surely?
One day Emily discovers the pages of a diary, written by Hester Vogel, who it appears met her demise by falling from the Brooklyn Bridge, or so Emily has been led to believe, and as Hester’s diary entries lead Emily to an old book The Birdcage Library and into a treasure hunt of another kind, she must be careful as the path that is ahead of her could force Emily to confront something that she has kept locked away and secret for many years which could have dire consequences, all while keeping her new employer happy with whatever progress she can make over finding an apparently lost artefact.
Will Emily be able to unravel the mysteries that she has before her or will her own curiosity leave her fate in the hands of the unknown?
Gothic, heady with a sense of mystery, and utterly immersive in its storytelling, The Birdcage Library will haunt you long after you discover the secrets within.
The year is 1932, adventuress and plant-hunter Emily Blackwood accepts a commission most unusual from a Mr Heinrich Vogel, once upon a time Mr Vogel was a dealer of the most exotic and delightful animals imaginable in Manhattan, yet many years have passed and along with his rather macabre collection, lives out his days in a crumbling and neglected remote Scottish Castle, isolated from society.
Emily is given the task to find a long-lost treasure which Heinrich believes has been cloistered, and concealed within the remains of the castle, but how can this be when he has been a resident for so many years for there cannot be left anything of note to discover, surely?
One day Emily discovers the pages of a diary, written by Hester Vogel, who it appears met her demise by falling from the Brooklyn Bridge, or so Emily has been led to believe, and as Hester’s diary entries lead Emily to an old book The Birdcage Library and into a treasure hunt of another kind, she must be careful as the path that is ahead of her could force Emily to confront something that she has kept locked away and secret for many years which could have dire consequences, all while keeping her new employer happy with whatever progress she can make over finding an apparently lost artefact.
Will Emily be able to unravel the mysteries that she has before her or will her own curiosity leave her fate in the hands of the unknown?
Gothic, heady with a sense of mystery, and utterly immersive in its storytelling, The Birdcage Library will haunt you long after you discover the secrets within.
Read
July 15, 2023DNF about 50%? Picked this up on a whim at Waterstones based on the description but it didn’t meet my expectations. It might work for some people but I found this boring and uninteresting sadly :( I just couldn’t bring myself to keep reading
December 28, 2025
Could not put this down! There were some societal themes that are not typically my favorite but they weren't enough to detract from a truly excellent mystery. Every little detail was so well thought out, and the pacing and unfolding of every reveal was perfection.
June 2, 2026
my first ever book club dnf :(( could not get past the 60% mark
it felt like this book had invisible hands coming out of it and was actively chocking me. the most unbearable experience of my life
not marking it as a dnf as i needed to give this a one star rating x
it felt like this book had invisible hands coming out of it and was actively chocking me. the most unbearable experience of my life
not marking it as a dnf as i needed to give this a one star rating x
June 27, 2024
*Thank you to Headline for the review copy of this book!*
After giving my first Freya Berry book five stars, I was so excited for another dark and twisty mystery from her. And a historical gothic one at that! This sounded so juicy, but unfortunately just ended up being quite boring.
For the first few chapters, the setup was really solid. I think it smashed the eerie atmospheric nature of a remote Scottish castle with a mysterious elderly man who speaks in riddles. That was charming and intriguing. Other than the vibes, I don’t think I really enjoyed any other aspect of the book. It was well written to the extent that I enjoy Berry’s voice and her descriptions feel really vivid, but this time around her characters and the storytelling fell flat.
The main thing that killed this book for me was how I found it (for the most part) equally boring and confusing. And when you’re trying to unravel an unnecessarily convoluted mystery plot, those are not two things you’re hoping to experience along the way. It doesn’t help that the pacing of this one is painfully gentle so there’s no real kick in at any point, you’re just strolling along hoping something will start clicking and you’ll properly tune into it at some point, but me for that never happened. Reading this felt like listening to several hours of white noise, I have never felt so lost. It also felt a lot longer than it is because of how downbeat the pacing and story are, it was a bit of a drag to get through the last half.
Along with this, it didn’t help that Emily and Hester’s lives felt so similar I had no idea how to distinguish between the two a lot of the time. They blurred together in my mind, and I was constantly forgetting who w\s who, and what had happened or was happening to each of the women. It's a dual narrative, but neither of the characters had a really distinct voice. It felt very monotone to experience and their lives ran so parallel it was hard to tell them apart which made for a really repetitive reading experience. The intersections and similarities between their lives were too much, and I felt befuddled. It made it difficult to get excited when a ‘plot twist’ happened, because I was barely grasping what I was reading. It ended up having so many messy relationships with the same dynamics that I no longer had a clear picture. Maybe that was supposed to be the point, but as a reader it didn’t feel like a great artistic choice if so.
So with this one, I didn’t comprehend a thing. Well that’s an exaggeration, my understanding came in bits and pieces and small moments I thought were well handled and interesting, but my overall experience was really underwhelming. It felt like we went around in circles for the whole book, only to come to a conclusion that was wholly unsatisfying and felt pointless. All of that convoluted secret keeping and guessing games for a rushed, and very far reaching ending. I have no idea how any of the problem solving made sense, it was grasping at straws really to make those spontaneous connections that came to Emily all of a sudden believable.
I think the idea behind the book was great and somewhere amongst the chaos there’s a jaw droppingly good secret or seven waiting to be unveiled, but none of it landed.
After giving my first Freya Berry book five stars, I was so excited for another dark and twisty mystery from her. And a historical gothic one at that! This sounded so juicy, but unfortunately just ended up being quite boring.
For the first few chapters, the setup was really solid. I think it smashed the eerie atmospheric nature of a remote Scottish castle with a mysterious elderly man who speaks in riddles. That was charming and intriguing. Other than the vibes, I don’t think I really enjoyed any other aspect of the book. It was well written to the extent that I enjoy Berry’s voice and her descriptions feel really vivid, but this time around her characters and the storytelling fell flat.
The main thing that killed this book for me was how I found it (for the most part) equally boring and confusing. And when you’re trying to unravel an unnecessarily convoluted mystery plot, those are not two things you’re hoping to experience along the way. It doesn’t help that the pacing of this one is painfully gentle so there’s no real kick in at any point, you’re just strolling along hoping something will start clicking and you’ll properly tune into it at some point, but me for that never happened. Reading this felt like listening to several hours of white noise, I have never felt so lost. It also felt a lot longer than it is because of how downbeat the pacing and story are, it was a bit of a drag to get through the last half.
Along with this, it didn’t help that Emily and Hester’s lives felt so similar I had no idea how to distinguish between the two a lot of the time. They blurred together in my mind, and I was constantly forgetting who w\s who, and what had happened or was happening to each of the women. It's a dual narrative, but neither of the characters had a really distinct voice. It felt very monotone to experience and their lives ran so parallel it was hard to tell them apart which made for a really repetitive reading experience. The intersections and similarities between their lives were too much, and I felt befuddled. It made it difficult to get excited when a ‘plot twist’ happened, because I was barely grasping what I was reading. It ended up having so many messy relationships with the same dynamics that I no longer had a clear picture. Maybe that was supposed to be the point, but as a reader it didn’t feel like a great artistic choice if so.
So with this one, I didn’t comprehend a thing. Well that’s an exaggeration, my understanding came in bits and pieces and small moments I thought were well handled and interesting, but my overall experience was really underwhelming. It felt like we went around in circles for the whole book, only to come to a conclusion that was wholly unsatisfying and felt pointless. All of that convoluted secret keeping and guessing games for a rushed, and very far reaching ending. I have no idea how any of the problem solving made sense, it was grasping at straws really to make those spontaneous connections that came to Emily all of a sudden believable.
I think the idea behind the book was great and somewhere amongst the chaos there’s a jaw droppingly good secret or seven waiting to be unveiled, but none of it landed.
January 8, 2023
I read an eARC of this book so thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing this.
The Birdcage Library is a historical novel with two separate perspectives told about fifty years apart. We meet Emmy, our protagonist as she is given a commission to catalogue a taxidermy collection at a remote property in Scotland.
I liked Emmy as narrator, she is intelligent and hardworking, but tormented by her past. She’s desperate to take care of her father, but has suffered setbacks due to the financial crash. She had spent the previous seven years travelling and exploring on the search for rare plants in Australia and several other locations. She’s forced back to the U.K. and has to take on this commission to earn enough to take care of her father. Her psychological trauma drives her to drink and she also has to take insulin, her diabetes often causing her serious problems.
While Emmy works on her commission she starts to learn more about Hester, whose story from the late 1800s we learn about as Emmy explores her diaries. The dual perspective worked really well in this book. It’s commonly used in historical novels but sometimes one of the perspectives can be far more interesting than the other. That’s not the case here where both stories were gripping.
There’s lots I liked in this book: it’s set in Scotland, strong female protagonist, scientific exploration, mystery. The creepy castle in a remote location was excellent, in spite of it being such a wide space, it felt very claustrophobic. The few but odd inhabitants created a constant, oppressive feeling of malaise. This book did atmosphere very well.
Character voices were distinct, they were interesting. Emmy is likeable but flawed enough to never feel dull. Her intelligence shines through and her inquisitive and empathetic mind helps her to unravel what has been purposely designed as a complex mystery.
I thought the mystery itself was clever, I won’t say too much for fear of spoilers. However, I enjoyed the intertwining of different elements to solve the clues.
There is some content that could be upsetting, including harm to animals and abusive relationships. It makes sense within the context of the story and never felt gratuitous.
My feelings on this book are highly positive, it was a gripping mystery. It was intelligently written and felt well researched. I thoroughly enjoyed the jewels of scientific discoveries scattered throughout the story. I did find towards the end that there were some narrative choices I found a bit jarring. I understood why the author made those choices, and how it tied in to the story as a whole. But it felt a bit unbelievable and took me out of a story I’d been fully immersed in up until that point. This is a very small negative in the scheme of an overall enjoyable read.
The Birdcage Library is a historical novel with two separate perspectives told about fifty years apart. We meet Emmy, our protagonist as she is given a commission to catalogue a taxidermy collection at a remote property in Scotland.
I liked Emmy as narrator, she is intelligent and hardworking, but tormented by her past. She’s desperate to take care of her father, but has suffered setbacks due to the financial crash. She had spent the previous seven years travelling and exploring on the search for rare plants in Australia and several other locations. She’s forced back to the U.K. and has to take on this commission to earn enough to take care of her father. Her psychological trauma drives her to drink and she also has to take insulin, her diabetes often causing her serious problems.
While Emmy works on her commission she starts to learn more about Hester, whose story from the late 1800s we learn about as Emmy explores her diaries. The dual perspective worked really well in this book. It’s commonly used in historical novels but sometimes one of the perspectives can be far more interesting than the other. That’s not the case here where both stories were gripping.
There’s lots I liked in this book: it’s set in Scotland, strong female protagonist, scientific exploration, mystery. The creepy castle in a remote location was excellent, in spite of it being such a wide space, it felt very claustrophobic. The few but odd inhabitants created a constant, oppressive feeling of malaise. This book did atmosphere very well.
Character voices were distinct, they were interesting. Emmy is likeable but flawed enough to never feel dull. Her intelligence shines through and her inquisitive and empathetic mind helps her to unravel what has been purposely designed as a complex mystery.
I thought the mystery itself was clever, I won’t say too much for fear of spoilers. However, I enjoyed the intertwining of different elements to solve the clues.
There is some content that could be upsetting, including harm to animals and abusive relationships. It makes sense within the context of the story and never felt gratuitous.
My feelings on this book are highly positive, it was a gripping mystery. It was intelligently written and felt well researched. I thoroughly enjoyed the jewels of scientific discoveries scattered throughout the story. I did find towards the end that there were some narrative choices I found a bit jarring. I understood why the author made those choices, and how it tied in to the story as a whole. But it felt a bit unbelievable and took me out of a story I’d been fully immersed in up until that point. This is a very small negative in the scheme of an overall enjoyable read.
August 7, 2023
4.5 stars
THE BIRDCAGE LIBRARY, by Freya Berry, is a novel that combines a Gothic atmosphere, mystery, thriller, treasure hunt, and Historical Fiction all in one. Told in two timelines, Emily is hired to categorize the taxidermy collection of a wealthy, dying man, in a remote castle. Once she begins, she quickly realizes the real motive for her being there--not unlike a treasure hunt, she is to help search for clues to the whereabouts of a missing diamond. When she comes in contact with part of a diary that belonged to Hester, the woman accused of hiding the diamond some 50 years prior, we begin to get the story from each woman's point of view and place in history.
"The best most of us can hope for is to find comfort in our cages."
The allegory of birds and cages is all throughout this novel. In a physical sense, the birds that were kept in stylish cages (Hester's time), and metaphorically, a woman's place in society/home/the world. I found both Hester and Emily to have much in common, and genuinely enjoyed each woman's chapters. They were both emotionally potent and riveting in a thrilling/survival sense.
"... No cage will hold a creature that insists on dying . . ."
So many of these comments can be taken both at face value, and in a more profound, mental state. The more we learn of Hester's past, the closer Emily gets to her secrets (and the more we learn about Emily, herself). There were a few twists I found very easy to guess at early on, but this didn't detract from the novel itself. I felt a strong compulsion to keep reading each time I picked it up. The atmosphere was perfect, in my opinion, for both timelines, and I have to say that I enjoyed each equally. There was only one part (the personality of one of the characters), that I felt gave "unnecessary drama" to the tale, in a way that it didn't need.
". . . The strongest cages are the ones we make for ourselves . . ."
Recommended.
THE BIRDCAGE LIBRARY, by Freya Berry, is a novel that combines a Gothic atmosphere, mystery, thriller, treasure hunt, and Historical Fiction all in one. Told in two timelines, Emily is hired to categorize the taxidermy collection of a wealthy, dying man, in a remote castle. Once she begins, she quickly realizes the real motive for her being there--not unlike a treasure hunt, she is to help search for clues to the whereabouts of a missing diamond. When she comes in contact with part of a diary that belonged to Hester, the woman accused of hiding the diamond some 50 years prior, we begin to get the story from each woman's point of view and place in history.
"The best most of us can hope for is to find comfort in our cages."
The allegory of birds and cages is all throughout this novel. In a physical sense, the birds that were kept in stylish cages (Hester's time), and metaphorically, a woman's place in society/home/the world. I found both Hester and Emily to have much in common, and genuinely enjoyed each woman's chapters. They were both emotionally potent and riveting in a thrilling/survival sense.
"... No cage will hold a creature that insists on dying . . ."
So many of these comments can be taken both at face value, and in a more profound, mental state. The more we learn of Hester's past, the closer Emily gets to her secrets (and the more we learn about Emily, herself). There were a few twists I found very easy to guess at early on, but this didn't detract from the novel itself. I felt a strong compulsion to keep reading each time I picked it up. The atmosphere was perfect, in my opinion, for both timelines, and I have to say that I enjoyed each equally. There was only one part (the personality of one of the characters), that I felt gave "unnecessary drama" to the tale, in a way that it didn't need.
". . . The strongest cages are the ones we make for ourselves . . ."
Recommended.
May 30, 2023
The beautiful cover atteacted me to this book, the storyline kept me intruiged enough to read it.
An atmospheric gothic novel with a treasure hunt twist.
Emmy arrives in the wilds of Scotland to document Mr Heinrich Vogel's stuffed animal cillection. After travelling around the world she had returned to the UK to care for her ailing father but finances forced her to take this job. There she finds a diary written by Hester and she discovers secrets held for years.
I enjoyed this book although I did find it a slow read. I loved the setting, the writing was almost poetic at times. I enjoyed the dual timeline and the links to real events.
An atmospheric gothic novel with a treasure hunt twist.
Emmy arrives in the wilds of Scotland to document Mr Heinrich Vogel's stuffed animal cillection. After travelling around the world she had returned to the UK to care for her ailing father but finances forced her to take this job. There she finds a diary written by Hester and she discovers secrets held for years.
I enjoyed this book although I did find it a slow read. I loved the setting, the writing was almost poetic at times. I enjoyed the dual timeline and the links to real events.
January 5, 2023
3.5 stars
An enjoyable read, that had some great moments that for me added a touch of magic to the story.
Always good to have a strong and likeable character leading the story.
The whole treasure hunt added a fun aspect to a tale, that by the end I was racing through those last chapters just to have it sll sorted.
I was thoroughly entertained.
An enjoyable read, that had some great moments that for me added a touch of magic to the story.
Always good to have a strong and likeable character leading the story.
The whole treasure hunt added a fun aspect to a tale, that by the end I was racing through those last chapters just to have it sll sorted.
I was thoroughly entertained.
June 20, 2023
A 5 star read - loved this book. Dual timeline story based back and forth between the US and a remote castle in Scotland. Great characters, clever plot and beautifully written. Lots going on to keep the reader hooked to the very end. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC
October 8, 2023
4,5⭐️
March 16, 2024
Whilst I enjoy historical fiction I’ll admit that I’ve been lax in picking it up. So when my mum recommended that I read the birdcage library I ordered it from my library.
A mystery in a castle in Scotland around the time of the world wars? Sold.
At first I’ll admit, I wasn’t invested. The pacing was slow, the characters hard to engage with. The flow of the writing took me a while to get into and when the previous timeline with the diary came into play I felt like I was reading one of the books you get at school where you have to pick out the metaphors because this book was littered with them.
Bird cages. Plants. Taxidermy. The human blight across this planet for no other reason than selfishness.
And then somewhere along the way it hooked me.
I can’t pinpoint when it was, but it went from enjoying it enough to finish the book but I could easily put it down to reading the last half in one sitting.
Yes, there’s a lot of set up and dreary weird hobbies in the beginning but it all links. When the pieces start coming together it’s extremely clever and I was in awe of the authors ability to do this.
The diary entry stories were by far the most intriguing but then somewhere along the way I was invested in Emmy’s story too.
This book had secrets. So many of them.
I guessed one or two but didn’t guess the majority and that’s a feat because I love figuring out plot twists.
This book had all the gothic vibes of the Scottish highlands with some clan tales. It had ghost stories. It had a murder mystery. A treasure hunt. A love story.
This book surprised me, which hasn’t been done in a long while.
So it’s a solid four star from me.
A mystery in a castle in Scotland around the time of the world wars? Sold.
At first I’ll admit, I wasn’t invested. The pacing was slow, the characters hard to engage with. The flow of the writing took me a while to get into and when the previous timeline with the diary came into play I felt like I was reading one of the books you get at school where you have to pick out the metaphors because this book was littered with them.
Bird cages. Plants. Taxidermy. The human blight across this planet for no other reason than selfishness.
And then somewhere along the way it hooked me.
I can’t pinpoint when it was, but it went from enjoying it enough to finish the book but I could easily put it down to reading the last half in one sitting.
Yes, there’s a lot of set up and dreary weird hobbies in the beginning but it all links. When the pieces start coming together it’s extremely clever and I was in awe of the authors ability to do this.
The diary entry stories were by far the most intriguing but then somewhere along the way I was invested in Emmy’s story too.
This book had secrets. So many of them.
I guessed one or two but didn’t guess the majority and that’s a feat because I love figuring out plot twists.
This book had all the gothic vibes of the Scottish highlands with some clan tales. It had ghost stories. It had a murder mystery. A treasure hunt. A love story.
This book surprised me, which hasn’t been done in a long while.
So it’s a solid four star from me.
March 3, 2024
Two timelines, one set in 1930s, one in 1880s.
Both about a Scottish woman taking care of their ailing fathers, both forced to work, one set mainly in Scotland the other mainly on the US east coast.
In 1930s, Emmie has come back to the UK from Australia, where she got a doctorate in botany and spent time discovering plants in jungles and deserts. On one of her trips to the tiny islands in the Pacific she encounters a shaman, who gives her a stuffed bird of paradise that a ghost left with him about 50 years ago. Now Emmie is supposed to work at a remote Scottish castle to classify the collection amassed there. But it turns out that job is a ruse, Emmie is supposed to help find a treasure and she has a key to it in her possession.
Emmie starts her treasure hunt and finds the diary of Hester, written 50 years ago. It tells how Hester grew up in the castle, then moved to the USA and then had to run for her life.
A story about a treasure hunt and about hidden identities, because no one seems to be who they pretend to be.
The audiobook is read by two narrators. Annoyingly, the 1880s timeline about the Scottish woman who grew up in the Scottish Highlands until she was 9/10 years old then moved to the US with her Scottish father was narrated by an American. Why? This child and later woman would retain some of her Scottish accent, especially since she lived rather isolated with her father for quite some time. It pulled me out of the story every time Hester told her story.
Both about a Scottish woman taking care of their ailing fathers, both forced to work, one set mainly in Scotland the other mainly on the US east coast.
In 1930s, Emmie has come back to the UK from Australia, where she got a doctorate in botany and spent time discovering plants in jungles and deserts. On one of her trips to the tiny islands in the Pacific she encounters a shaman, who gives her a stuffed bird of paradise that a ghost left with him about 50 years ago. Now Emmie is supposed to work at a remote Scottish castle to classify the collection amassed there. But it turns out that job is a ruse, Emmie is supposed to help find a treasure and she has a key to it in her possession.
Emmie starts her treasure hunt and finds the diary of Hester, written 50 years ago. It tells how Hester grew up in the castle, then moved to the USA and then had to run for her life.
A story about a treasure hunt and about hidden identities, because no one seems to be who they pretend to be.
The audiobook is read by two narrators. Annoyingly, the 1880s timeline about the Scottish woman who grew up in the Scottish Highlands until she was 9/10 years old then moved to the US with her Scottish father was narrated by an American. Why? This child and later woman would retain some of her Scottish accent, especially since she lived rather isolated with her father for quite some time. It pulled me out of the story every time Hester told her story.
March 4, 2025
I have to agree with other reviewers that this book has some significant issues of plot messiness and plausibility, but on the whole I still found it to be an enjoyable read.
The plausibility issues are the biggest problem, ranging from the absurdity of multiple people faking their own death and masquerading as someone else to the incident in which a character could only have survived an event by what can only be described as a medical miracle. The former bugs me because it feels like clunky writing, and the latter because it could so easily have been avoided with a bit of research and a minor rewrite.
Also, while I’m fine with the taxidermy and specimen collecting (and even the discussion of the cruel realities of people killing birds for fashion), I really did not care for the multiple pet bird murders and incessant discussion of them.
That said, the bones of the story here were quite good, the pacing is a bit uneven but mostly successful, and the atmosphere and setting were well rendered. I enjoyed both parts of the dual timeline as well as how they fit together. That last bit too has a touch of implausibility to it, but no more so than most dual timeline Gothic novels.
In all, much tighter editing and less murdered pets would have gone a long way toward improving this, but the story is a good one, and I enjoyed reading it.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The plausibility issues are the biggest problem, ranging from the absurdity of multiple people faking their own death and masquerading as someone else to the incident in which a character could only have survived an event by what can only be described as a medical miracle. The former bugs me because it feels like clunky writing, and the latter because it could so easily have been avoided with a bit of research and a minor rewrite.
Also, while I’m fine with the taxidermy and specimen collecting (and even the discussion of the cruel realities of people killing birds for fashion), I really did not care for the multiple pet bird murders and incessant discussion of them.
That said, the bones of the story here were quite good, the pacing is a bit uneven but mostly successful, and the atmosphere and setting were well rendered. I enjoyed both parts of the dual timeline as well as how they fit together. That last bit too has a touch of implausibility to it, but no more so than most dual timeline Gothic novels.
In all, much tighter editing and less murdered pets would have gone a long way toward improving this, but the story is a good one, and I enjoyed reading it.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
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