Death in the Aviary

The Charlotte Blood Chronicles #1

by Victoria Dowd

A ‘locked lift’ mystery for Golden Age crime fans, from award-winning author Victoria Dowd.

New Year’s Eve 1928 – In the grand residence of Ravenswick Abbey, isolated in the wilds of Dartmoor, nine members of the household step into an ornate lift. The power fails. The lift stops. In the darkness, a single shot is fired.

When the light returns, Charles Ravenswick — the heir to the Ravenswick fortune — is dead on the floor. No one could have got in or out. All have motives, and none have alibis.

A year later under the pretence of reporting on the family’s infamous ravens, sparky Charlotte Blood investigates. She finds a house haunted by suspicion and secrets. She must unravel the mystery and with it the terrible truth behind the entire Ravenswick family. Her search will not only lead her down a dangerous path, it will reveal dark secrets that lurk in her own life...

Genres: Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Historical Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

Victoria is a crime writer and her first novel, The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder, won The People’s Book Prize 2020/2021. It was also In Search of the Classic Mystery’s book of the year 2020. It’s the first in the Smart Woman’s mystery series. The second is Body on the Island and the third, The Supper Club Murders is out on 16th September. They are a dark comedy take on the classic whodunnit.

She is also an award winning writer of short fiction, having won the Gothic Fiction prize for short fiction by Go Gothic. She was the runner up in The New Writer’s writer of the year award and her work has been short listed and Highly commended by Writers’ Forum magazine. She was also long-listed for The Willesden Herald International Short Story Competition. She has had short stories published in various literary and arts journals such as BTS Literary and Arts Annual, Gold Dust magazine and Dream Catcher. She has spoken at various literary festivals, most recently in Bath, and at various schools and book groups. Her historical fiction, The Painter of Siena, was published in 2016.

After studying law at Cambridge University, she was a criminal law barrister for many years, but finally hung up the wig in favour of more fictional crimes.

Reviews

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prior to starting Death in the Aviary, I was fully expecting a classic Golden Age mystery filled with plenty of twists and a well-orchestrated dénouement. While I found that and more, I also fell in love with the protagonist, who was as original as she was quirky. Not only that, but she had the best partner-in-crime in her landlady, Mrs. C. Together, their amateur sleuthing was on-point and kept me hooked while learning the whos, whats, and whys of this seemingly impossible locked room—or lift—mystery crime.

The storyline was just as much of a home run. Intricately plotted and beyond immersive, the gothic feel and atmospheric setting had me feeling like I was physically there on the bleak moors of England. With a Dorothy Sayers/Agatha Christie-esque vibe, I quickly fell in love with the utterly suspicious and completely unlikeable pack of suspects. With long-held grudges and an equally long list of dark secrets, Charlotte peeled away the layers one by one until she finally exposed the unguessable truth.

All said and done, despite a slow-burning plot and a somewhat repetitive middle, I flew through this novel in well under twenty-four hours. A startlingly brilliant debut that introduced a feisty new protagonist who I utterly loved, the 1920s came alive on the page as the puzzle slowly unraveled. The first book in a brand-new series, I’m ready and waiting to see what’s coming next. After all, it had everything I adore: betrayals and lies, dysfunctional family dynamics, and one heck of a twist. Rating of 4 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

New Year’s Eve 1928 – In the grand residence of Ravenswick Abbey, isolated in the wilds of Dartmoor, nine members of the household step into an ornate lift. The power fails. The lift stops. In the darkness, a single shot is fired.

When the light returns, Charles Ravenswick — the heir to the Ravenswick fortune — is dead on the floor. No one could have got in or out. All have motives, and none have alibis.

A year later under the pretence of reporting on the family’s infamous ravens, sparky Charlotte Blood investigates. She finds a house haunted by suspicion and secrets. She must unravel the mystery and with it the terrible truth behind the entire Ravenswick family. Her search will not only lead her down a dangerous path, it will reveal dark secrets that lurk in her own life...

Thank you to Victoria Dowd and Datura Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: September 9, 2025

Content warning: gun violence, murder

[Hades ( Disney's version ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Datura Books for an ARC of this book!



If you like Agatha Christie, Sir Dole , etc, you're definitely going to want to add this to your TBR. This has everything you expect in an "old school" British mystery. The setting is just right, the one-liners are on point, the story itself was solid. This was a really good time. It's also a plus that the physical book is gorgeous! I will definitely be purchasing and recommending!!

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect locked-room (lift in this case) mystery with a closed circle of suspects that will throw the reader straight into the Golden Era of detective fiction! I loved the atmosphere, the attentive and detailed writing style and the care towards the protagonists and the characters in general.

I loved the setting in Dartmoor, with the desolate and bleak background perfect for a well laid out mystery in the winter of 1928! I honestly felt like I was in one of those detective books we all love by authors like Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle. The author manages to come across even the littlest details so that it truly feels the reader is in that era.

The main character Charlotte is fascinating as is broken, heavy with grief, first because of her husband’s death and then because of her estranged family. I really felt the drive and importance behind this investigation, not just to solve the mystery, but to prove to herself that all her choices were justified and right. I honestly loved her and I can’t wait to find her in another adventure again, together with the mysterious and resourceful Mrs C.
The only drawback for me was that at times some passages felt repetitive and could have been left out.

If you’re a fan of the original detective fiction and you fancy having a go at some literary sleuthing, this will do nicely.

Thanks to Angry Robot Books for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first in the Charlotte Blood Chronicles, Death in the Aviary introduces us to the world of 1920s England after the war. Charlotte Blood is a journalist whose husband, Archie, died after the war. She comes from the English gentry but left that world when she married. She's sent on assignment to uncover a murderer under the guise of writing about the famous ravens kept by the Ravenscrofts.

There are a few stories being told here - Charlotte's backstory and the characters there (Archie, her landlady Mrs C) and then the story of the Ravenscrofts intertwined. It's obvious that a lot of research has gone into this story and if that's your thing, this is right up your alley!

I found the resolution a little far-fetched but it fits within the genre and sets up the next book very well. If you're looking for a 1920s' cozy murder mystery series, look no further!

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would not recommend this book. The writing left a lot to be desired and the plot was weak. I felt compelled to write a review to give other potential readers a heads up. I only finished this because it was selected for a book club, otherwise it would have been a DNF after a few chapters.

The writing was juvenile, particularly the overuse of similes and metaphors. There are many examples but I’ll share one that stood out. The author had the character describe something as white as zinc. “Those wide penetrating eyes were white as zinc.” I don’t know who would think to describe something like zinc, do most people even know what zinc looks like? Seems like the author just googled what is white and that word popped up. Although did she even do that? Because a quick search of zinc and it looks silvery grey (to me at least), maybe it’s more white when oxidized. Frequently throughout the book the main character would make observations about herself. Here is one of my particular favourites “Although, how he could have come to such a conclusion was beyond Charlotte, given her natural ability to go undercover.” It was clunky and unnecessary.

This book is marketed as an Agatha Christie style mystery /whodunnit. It wasn’t executed well. Firstly, the main character who is supposed to solve the ‘unsolvable’ mystery didn’t have the skills to do so. She was obtuse, and unfocused. She had frequent outbursts and revealed her true intentions to the suspects she was investigating. It was difficult as a reader to continue with the book because I had no confidence she could do anything or think for herself. The main character didn’t uncover anything herself. Any clues that ended up in her hands were either told directly to her or given to her. She was aimlessly bumbling around, and admitted to being completely confused. It was exhausting to read.

A big issue I had with the plot was the character’s cover story. The character went undercover as a journalist, which was her actual profession, and she was visiting a family that made their fortune in the papers. The character also used her real name. Her reason for being invited was because a kid in the family asked their grandfather if someone could write about the family’s raven aviary. He allowed the visit which is maybe plausible because it is established that he was ill and frequently confused. However, it could’ve easily been stopped by literally any of the other adult family members. Also why would a family covering up a murder allow any type of journalist in?! The fact that the main character was a)allowed to be there or b) be allowed to stay beyond a day or two is completely unbelievable! She interviewed who she needed to within her first hour of arriving. Near the end of the book the author later lazily explains it away with the notion that the family kept her around longer to use the journalist to get publicity for some scheme. For a family that is covering up a murder, this felt like quite a stretch. You would think that their main priority would be not getting caught. It just didn’t make sense.

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This locked-lift historical mystery harks back to the post-WWI Golden Age of crime writing, as acknowledged from the start in the heroine’s nod to Agatha Christie’s famous spy-sleuths, Tommy and Tuppence Beresford.

The main character of Charlotte Blood, gossip journalist turned would-be crime reporter, is immediately engaging and her mysterious backstory adds intrigue as it gradually unfolds behind the main mystery plot – why she left her privileged lifestyle to eke out a living in a tiny, whisky-scented flat on her meagre newspaper earnings; what secrets her late husband was hiding from her; the details of her short marriage and early widowhood. All formed an interesting backdrop as it interleaved with the main story of who fatally shot the Ravenswick heir a year earlier, in an impenetrable lift.

With a good cast of characters and a great plot hook, the only slight criticism I had here was the very slow pace of events. There were large chunks of the story in which time seemed to creep sluggishly along with plenty of beautiful descriptive prose but very little happening in terms of either action or investigation. Similarly, while Charlotte’s personal history deepened her character, in the present she seemed to flounder around mainly antagonising people and not actually working a lot out, leading to a climactic reveal where it felt like she was as surprised as the reader by the eventual solution!

And I was surprised! The finale really blindsided me with it’s parting twists, setting things up very nicely for the continuation of a series which I imagine will flow more smoothly now that the main characters and backstory have been fully established here.

I would definitely read more from Charlotte Blood and her indomitable partner-in-crime, as I do love a good Golden Age style mystery plot, and Victoria Dowd’s writing paints some beautiful pictures along the way, as long as you don’t mind the scenic route being a bit slower.

[The Honest Book Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A promising setup. 1929, a family manor, a locked-lift murder. The book fits somewhere between cosy and Gothic. The atmosphere was strong, with some element that left my feeling unease, and Charlotte Blood proved an engaging protagonist. And I do enjoy the other characters in the story, some more than others, depending on the care with their development. Through them you do feel a sense of constriction in the large house, a sense of menace as an undercurrent. And that adds to the atmosphere wonderfully. It made me wonder what could happen next.

Despite all the promising aspects of the book, the structure was uneven. Slow stretches dulled the momentum, and while the strong scenes hit well, there weren’t enough of them. The family inviting a journalist into their secretive world never quite rang true, and by the end I felt that element undercut some of the better aspects, including the Golden Age–style reveal of gathering suspects in a room. I do wonder sometimes if that gather and reveal element hits well with modern readers. But if the story is good, who cares?

A lighter touch on historical detail kept the story moving, which was fine for this type of story. Some darker or more shadowy hints about Charlotte’s late husband didn’t quite hook me completely, though they may develop in future and there's enough there to draw some interest. The book carried a certain charm and I do look forward to book two.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Rikke's Reading Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

My lovely partner bought me this book from our local bookshop, and it’s by a local author and it takes place locally as well!

This is my first time reading a murder mystery. I know the genre and living in Devon with a mother-in-law who worked at Greenway (Agatha Christie’s estate), as well as just living in England, you cannot escape the Golden Age of Whodunnit. With that said, I think Victoria captured the spirit of the time period as well as the genre perfectly, but written with more modern sensibilities but still keeping it true to the time its set.

How to review a murder mystery without spoiling a single thing? I’ll keep it short. I LOVED it, I loved who we had the whodunnit aspect while also exploring the character of Charlotte Blood. It’s like a 2-in-1. I thought I knew who the killer was at several points in the story, but in true murder mystery fashion, the author outsmarted me - to my delight.

I will definitely continue this series!

[aundrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75
the premise was great, the setting, perfect, the mood, excellent. however, the execution—worse than the actual murder.

the prose itself was very lyrical and set the tone well, but there was SO. MUCH. TELLING. 😭 and to add to that, certain parts were repeated over and over again, to the point where i just couldn’t care less. so that led to skimming the second half of the book 🥲

i did read the reveal chapter at a normal pace and i didn’t like it…not my fav, just to repeat myself.

cws: talk of murder, talk of magic and raising spirits, actually trying to do that?!? that was in the part i skimmed so idk what really happened but yeah, and one of the characters is super into that which i didn’t like either, characters have an affair…idk what else

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review*

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.com/2025/...

[Tom Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death In The Aviary is the new Golden Age inspired mystery from Victoria Dowd (The Smart Woman's Guide To Murder). I had not read any of Road's previous novels but I am definitely going to exploring her backlist while waiting for the next book.in this series.

The story focuses on Charlotte Blood, a gossip columnist and aspiring investigative journalist. She's been struggling to make a go of it in her career after leaving behind her wealthy, controlling family. To make matters worse, she also is a widow. For a young woman living in the 1920s, these are difficult obstacles to overcome.

Charlotte is given an assignment that could make or break her career: investigate the Ravenswick murder case. New Years Eve 1928 the Ravenswick family are gathered at the family estate. The ailing Lord Ravenswick has decided to change his will and has asked the family and household staff to come to his room so that he can share the new terms of the will. Everyone climbs into the birdcage-shaped lift when the power goes out. A shot rings out and when the lights come back on, Charles Ravenswick, heir to the family estate, is dead. It is this puzzle that Charlotte must solve.

Fans of Golden Age detective fiction will, of course, immediately spot some of the familiar tropes that are found throughout the genre. Does manages to construct a fresh and baffling puzzle. More importantly, Charlotte Blood is a character of great emotional depth. In the early pages it felt as if I was finding out everything I needed to know about her backstory too fast. It was only when I reached the end that I realized there was far more to be discovered about Charlotte, her marriage, and her family.

Death In The Aviary marks a solid debut in a new Golden Age style mystery series. I can't wait to see where Charlotte Blood's adventures take her next.

Thanks to Datura Books and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book for this review. No other consideration was received in exchange for this review.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world of the landed gentry is one with which Charlotte Blood is very familiar. As the granddaughter of the Duke and Duchess of Rothesville, she grew up in it. But now nine years widowed by the aftermath of the Great War from her true love Colonel Archie Blood and estranged from her family, she makes a living as a gossip columnist for The Comet, under the pseudonym of Nosferatu. So, when the editor wants an undercover investigation into the, as yet, unsolved death of Charles Ravenswick, heir to the estate of bigger rival newspaper The Sunday Review, Charlotte is the perfect choice. A year ago, on New Year’s Eve 1928, nine people ascended in the birdcage like contraption, heading for the rooms of elderly frail Lord Ravenswick who wanted to share the contents of his revised will. Family members mixed with staff and the dark sinister spiritual advisor to her Ladyship. When the electricity failed (a not uncommon occurrence) the lights went off, a gunshot rang out in the darkness and Charles lay dead. Eight possible suspects. One killer. Disguised as an ornithologist (which appears to be fooling nobody), Charlotte heads for Dartmoor and the bleak remote Ravenswick Abbey, a place steeped in ghostly legends, gothic darkness and eerie mist. No one’s talking, not above or below stairs. They all know their place. So where can Charlotte start to learn more about that fateful night? Some help comes in the most unlikely of places but will she survive long enough to reveal the truth?
This is a perfect Golden Age locked room mystery, definitely worthy of the great Mrs Christie. It’s full of exquisitely painted characters in a chilling and beautifully crafted plot with an absolutely cracking ending. Charlotte is a great new invention but my absolute favourite is her landlady, the wonderful Mrs C! It’s a delicious dark treat and I hope we will be seeing more of this very likeable pair soon.

[Elizabeth Sirett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year after the murder of Charles Ravenswick, heir to the Ravenswick Newspaper empire in 1928, the case remains unsolved. He was shot in the dark when the lift broke down with eight other members of the family and household. Charlotte Blood is sent by a rival newspaper editor to investigate under the pretext of writing an article on the ravens kept in the aviary in the grounds on the bleak isolated Devonshire family estate of Ravenswick Abbey.

All those with the victim on that fateful night appear to have a motive to want him dead. Charlotte’s ‘disguise’ fools no one and she finds herself ostracised by the family and staff who seem determined to impede her investigation.

This superb whodunnit has all the hallmarks of the locked-room mystery of the Golden Age with the added gothic atmosphere of Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho. The ancient abbey with its long, dark corridors is surrounded by treacherous bogs hidden by dense mists.

In addition to its intriguing plot with its many twists and turns, the characters are masterfully drawn especially its headstrong protagonist. Determined not to be shackled by the expected role of a dutiful wife and mother with no will of her own as expected as the granddaughter of a duke, Charlotte marries the man of her choosing. All too soon she finds herself a widow when her husband becomes a victim of the Great War. Determined to make her own way in the world, she becomes a gossip columnist. Her new assignment is her chance to be taken seriously as a reporter which gives her a vested interest in solving the case.

I have read and enjoyed many of Victoria Dowd’s earlier Smart Women series but with Death in the Aviary she has reached new heights. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. I look forward to more books in this series and hope I don’t have too long a wait for the next one.
------
Reviewer: Judith Cranswick
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)

[ᒚᘿSS ᒍᗩY · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ★

Thank you to Datura Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Death in the Aviary !

Set in the early 1920s, Death in the Aviary draws readers into a world where social class and family names dictate your worth, and where women struggle to carve out meaningful careers. I was particularly drawn to the atmosphere Victoria Dowd created; moody, restrained, and steeped in the tensions of a post-war England still clinging to its hierarchy.

The synopsis intrigued me, and I was excited for a classic whodunit, but I found the pacing occasionally sluggish. Some sections felt unnecessarily prolonged and didn’t contribute much in terms of clues or tension-building, making it harder to stay fully immersed.

That said, two standout characters helped lift the narrative during these slower moments. Celeste, an observant young girl often dismissed by her family, brought a quiet defiance and unexpected insight. And Mrs. C, the self-assured landlady, added strength and reassurance, not just to the protagonist, Charlotte, but to the story as a whole. Her grounded presence and refreshing habit of speaking plainly were a welcome contrast to the book’s more reserved characters.

While the structure occasionally felt padded, the final reveal was worth the wait. I didn’t guess the culprit, and I always appreciate a mystery that keeps me on my toes.

A solid read with memorable characters and a rewarding conclusion! Perfect for fans of historical mysteries with a slow-burn feel.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Blood is mourning the loss of her husband, after a short 4 years together, a marriage she gave up her family name and wealth for.
I loved Charlotte from the beginning. A woman who knows her mind and is willing to fight for it even if she suffers as a result. She seemed naive at times, believing she was good at subterfuge and going undercover yet everyone at Ravenswick knew why she was really there.
The mix of staff and rich family made for great characters and interactions. The story around the ravens is interesting. Ive seen them used a lot lately in books and I can see why.
I loved little Celeste. Children are so often overlooked and made out to be stupid and too young to understand. Here Victoria shows that isnt the case, and also how much impact behaviour can have on a child.
One of the stars is of course Mrs C, Charlotte's landlady. Lots of secrets there to uncover and hopefully means many more books to come.
I'd love to see this as a film, the setting and story would work brilliantly. I think partly because I want to see that lift! If you like Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle then this is right up your street. If you love a gripping twisty mystery, then this is also perfect for you.

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Victoria Dowd delivers a captivating blend of Golden Age charm and sharp modern storytelling in Death in the Aviary. Set within the remote grandeur of Ravenswick Abbey on New Year’s Eve, 1928, a gathering turns tragic when the lift halts in darkness and a single gunshot echoes. The heir, Charles Ravenswick, lies dead—and none can account for their actions.

A year later, the irrepressible Charlotte Blood arrives under the guise of investigating the family’s ravens, but soon finds herself untangling a far deeper nest of secrets. Dowd’s writing is richly evocative, capturing both the elegance of the period and the dark undercurrents of family dysfunction. The setting drips with gothic allure, and Charlotte emerges as a fresh, compelling sleuth—sharp, bold, and delightfully unconventional.

This is a mystery to savour: clever, atmospheric, and laced with emotional depth. Fans of Agatha Christie and Sarah Waters will find themselves at home here, as will anyone who loves a locked-room puzzle wrapped in velvet prose.

Thank you to Victoria Dowd, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

[M Steinbrink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death in the Aviary is the first in a new series by Victoria Dowd. I loved this book!!! I would like to give it more than five stars! I was drawn in immediately and could barely put the book down until I finished it. I read a lot and I enjoy most of what I read, but there aren’t that many that I would call real pageturners. This is a real pageturner! The heroine Charlotte Blood is a complicated, but very likeable character that has many layers to her personality and is a joy to get to know. The characters in the murder mystery she is trying to solve are all very interesting and any one of them had a reason to commit the crime, so it is fascinating to watch Charlotte solve the crime and get to know these awful people. The crime turns out to be very complicated and I had no idea who had committed the crime, so it was really a pleasure to watch Charlotte put all the pieces together. This book is exactly the kind of gothic mystery I enjoy and I am looking forward to reading more about Charlotte, her landlady and the mysteries they solve.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

[Jen Moyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creepy gothic setting? -Check
Mysteriously appearing clues? - Check
Dangerous near misses? - Check
Crazy impressive deductive reasoning? -Check

Victoria Dowd’s Death in the Aviary promises readers a locked-room mystery that should keep them guessing and on the edge of their seats. But the problem is that she creates such an interesting main character that none of the potential villains can come even close to competing.

For me, the highlight of the story is really Charlotte. A grieving widow with a streak of fierce independence, Charlotte is struggling to make her way in a world where women are expected to be seen and not heard. As she slowly reveals details about her family and her marriage, the mystery at Ravenswick unintentionally seems to take a backseat to the mystery of Charlotte herself.

As the first book in the series, perhaps this approach was needed to lay the groundwork for the future, and I hope that in doing so, it will allow Charlotte’s story and the featured mystery to achieve a better balance.

3.5 stars

Thanks to Datura Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death in the Aviary is the first installment of a brand spanking new Golden Age mystery series. The post-war World War I world is a much different place, including England. Journalist Charlotte Blood is grieving the loss of her husband. Her boss sends her on a fascinating assignment, one which could be her big break in a man's world. Ravenswick Abbey was the scene of an unsolved murder a year earlier. On a crowded lift, a shot rang out, hitting its mark. Charlotte becomes a temporary ornithologist on a pretense of studying the home's ravens. She inveigles the desolate Dartmoor manor and household which are both cold in equal measure. While Charlotte learned about ravens, so did I which was fun.

The atmosphere has a brilliant gothic feel, dreary and damp but hauntingly beautiful. My favourite aspect is the writing which is vivid and fresh and enabled me to easily visualize the characters and story. What didn't appeal to me are the spiritualist bits and implausibility. There is too much telling as well. Folklore and superstition contribute to the eerie atmosphere. The novel pricked my sense of curiosity about future novels in this series.

[chelsea :)]

I picked this book on a whim at the library. I really wanted to like it. The premise was interesting, felt like it could be akin to Agatha Christie. But then I started reading and I just couldn’t understand why Charlotte would be chosen to investigate the murder. She seemed so not competent. I just couldn’t get into her as a character. And why even lie about trying to visit the birds? I’d have rather she been a detective they hired a la Knives Out or something because at least that would’ve been more plausible as to why she was allowed to come and stay.

Also the middle of the book was SO repetitive. It just wasn’t propelling the story forward imo. I also was not very intrigued by Charlotte’s prior life as a rich girl or her life with Archie. To me, not sure it added much to the story/didn’t seem to tie in to the mystery at hand.

I was a little over halfway and just got impatient with it so I read the ending which wouldn’t have made it worth slogging through the latter half of the book anyway.

I can see how this may be for someone else who is more patient and maybe if they liked Charlotte, they’d have a better time with it. But it wasn’t for me. DNF at 56%.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Victoria Dowd for an arc of this book!

In this suspenseful and engaging mystery you will be guessing until the very end. There is so many clues that are unraveled from a character who is most often forgotten. I found that our main character Charlotte Blood was a very interesting detective with the ability to have you cheering her on in solving this murder mystery. We learn that she has recently lost someone of her own which spurs her to a career that find answers for others. I found the intertwined story of her love life/home life to be one that is integral to the plot and her reasons for such a task. The Ravenswick family is an interesting and messy one for sure. There is so many secrets and tests between these family members that you might have a suspect at one moment then be second guessing at the next. I am really interested to read more from this author, because her writing keeps the readers eyes open to the clues and setting. This book is great for anyone who loves a murder mystery involving family secrets and legacy.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Death in the Aviary.

This one pulled me in from the very first page with its rich, atmospheric setting—so vivid and immersive. The descriptive writing is absolutely one of the book’s strengths, creating a moody and suspenseful tone that kept me hooked throughout.

I found the main character both likeable and grounded, the perfect lens through which to untangle a mystery full of secrets. The suspects, on the other hand, were deliciously unlikeable, each with their own motives and hidden agendas. The tension between characters added another compelling layer to the mystery.

There’s a great balance of twists and turns, with enough surprises to keep you guessing but not so many that it feels overdone.

A strong, engaging read—I'll be keeping an eye out for more from this author!

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Year’s Eve, 1928. Nine people enter an ornate lift in Ravenswick Abbey… the power cuts, the lights go out, and a single gunshot rings through the dark. When the lights flicker back, Charles Ravenswick is lying dead and no one could have entered or escaped.

A year later, Charlotte Blood arrives under the guise of writing about the family’s infamous ravens, but really, she’s there to dig into the murder.

What she finds is a tangle of suspicion, long held grudges, and secrets that refuse to stay buried , including some in her own life.

I really enjoyed this concept, the “locked lift” twist was fresh, and the whodunnit pacing kept me hooked.

The cast of characters felt well drawn and wonderfully shifty, like every one of them had a secret to hide.

If you love classic locked room mysteries with a dark, atmospheric setting, this will hit the spot.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death in The Aviary is a multi-layer murder mystery with a nostalgic old time who-dun-it feel, perhaps with a bit of Hitchcock macabre feel.

The setting, atmosphere, twists, and most of the characters were all very enjoyable. I did not expect the final reveal, and the twisty bits were also unexpected. Definitely enjoyed the ending.

The pacing was a bit slow to start, and I felt that the books revelation of one character being there mayhaps could have had more insights to them on the premises.

While bits of the story may have been rough around the edges, I would def recommend this as a slower paced, twisty, and mood mystery book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book before its release.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Blood (Charlotte is a widow who lives her landlady, Mrs C, in London) is given an assignment by her Editor in Chief, J H Fulman, The Daily Comet, to visit Ravenswick Abbey on Dartmoor in Devon, and to write an article for a bird magazine about the infamous ravens. However, Charlotte cannot resist looking into the mysterious death of the heir, Charles Ravenswick. The story is set in the Golden Age, where we have upstairs and downstairs and never will they mix! It was well written and very descriptive in particular the house and the surrounding areas especially the aviary with the ravens. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns, with a bit of the locked room vibe and the ending was completely unexpected. It was an unputdownable read!! More please.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Death in the Aviary” entices the reader with a dark mystery and suspicious cast of characters. This murder took place in a locked lift, with almost every member of the family present. Charlotte, originally from the upper elite, is now a working class reporter tasked with uncovering this mystery. She must visit the family estate undercover as an ornithologist studying ravens. This was not the typical cozy mystery I usually read. This was darker and more suspenseful. It was a refreshing take on a historical mystery and interesting that Charlotte had a harder time getting the family to open up to her with clues.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victoria Dowd for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death in the Aviary coming out September 9, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’m obsessed with murder mysteries and this one sounded right up my alley. I love the old dark house theme mixed with the dinner guests and chaos. It felt very Agatha Christie. I loved it! I would definitely check out more books by this author!

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

On New Year’s Eve 1928, an heir is found dead in a stalled elevator at Ravenswick Abbey. A year later, investigator Charlotte Blood delves into the family’s secrets, uncovering a web of suspicion and a dark truth connected to her own past.

This Gothic mystery is atmospheric and intriguing. The writing is beautiful, and the characters are quirky and well-developed.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit more gritty than I usually like in a cozy but the lure of the setting in a grand manor house in the 1920's drew me in. There were some pretty heavy descriptive passages that I skimmed but I was thoroughly involved in the novice detective's case. The ending/reveal was a bit out there but in all a solid story. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of an eArc in exchange for a review.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Victoria Dowd is an award winning genius. This is a brilliant read. It's a very atmospheric gothic drama with creepy characters and "mimicking" ravens, who are always there lurking in the shadows. I loved it. A who done it, locked lift drama!
I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.