A Charm of Finches

by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett

* A Dr Nell Ward Short Story*

The very first short story by the bestselling author of the Dr Nell Ward Mystery series.

This year, you are cordially invited to join us at Finchmere manor where many a mystery has been solved by the fabulous Dr Nell Ward. Come along and join the Finchmere Flash!

Guests lucky enough to stay at Finchmere's Love Nest in the Victorian Folly are invited to take part in a cherished Ward family a treasure hunt like no other.

I set out not just to befuddle -
But to bedazzle, with my puzzle.
No soul could declare it balderdash
To call this prize the Finchmere Flash.
For this is not merely earthly treasure
But a token of love's pleasure.
And, through the mists of history,
It now becomes your mystery.

Born from the devotion of Finchmere's original landlord, Lord Beaumont, to his beloved wife, the Finchmere Flash has challenged generations of guests to follow in his footsteps -darting from clue to clue, solving riddles, and chasing a mysterious prize.

Nell knows better than anyone how fiendishly tricky the Flash can she's been stumped more than once! But now, she isn't hunting alone. With Rav by her side and fierce competitors like Shannon and James, Sylvia and Connor hot on her trail, the race is on.


Readers love A Charm of Finches!

'This short story was another wonderful addition, whetting our appetite for the next book, An Ambush of Tigers!' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars

'It was a delight to catch up with Nell, Rav, James, Shannon, Sylvia and Conor in this Dr Nell Ward short story... entertaining, full of twists and turns, humorous and unputdownable. I look forward to the next book An Ambush of Tigers!' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Crime, Short Stories

65 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2025

About the author

After spending sixteen years as an ecologist, crawling through undergrowth and studying nocturnal habits of animals (and people), Dr Sarah Yarwood-Lovett naturally turned her mind to murder. She may have swapped badgers for bears when she emigrated from a quaint village in the South Downs to the wild mountains of the Pacific Northwest, but her books remain firmly rooted in the rolling downland she grew up in.

Forensically studying clues for animal activity has seen Sarah surveying sites all over the UK and around the world. She’s re-discovered a British species thought to be extinct during her PhD, with her record held in London’s Natural History Museum; debated that important question – do bats wee on their faces? – at school workshops; survived a hurricane on a coral atoll whilst scuba diving to conduct marine surveys; and given evidence as an expert witness.

Along the way, she’s discovered a noose in an abandoned warehouse and had a survey de-railed by the bomb squad. Her unusual career has provided the perfect inspiration for a series of murder mysteries with an ecological twist – so, these days, Sarah’s research includes consulting detectives, lawyers, judges and attending murder trials.

Reviews

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have read this before book 7!

[Pers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is fun and has a unique format. It covers multiple timelines that span the timeframe of all of the prior books in the series. The premise of the story is that an ancestor of the main character, ecologist Dr. Nell Ward has left clues on the estate to a hidden treasure. Nell and her fiancé are working to solve the clues, but so are two other couples. The search for the treasure is told from multiple points-of-view. It's an interesting search that ends with an intriguing cliffhanger that sets up the next book in the series. I can't wait to read An Ambush of Tigers to find out what happens next.

I received an advance copy this ebook for review consideration from Embla Books and NetGalley, but my review is voluntary and unbiased. 

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a delight to catch up with Nell, Rav, James, Shannon, Sylvia and Conor in this Dr Nell Ward short story. It begins with an invite to join a treasure hunt at Finchmere Manor. Lord Richard Beaumont organised this hunt for hir wife Catherine in the Victorian Folly called The Love Nest. They need to solve the puzzle clues till they find the last clue which reveals the treasure. The three couples - Nell and Rav, James and Shannon, and Sylvia and Conor are in a race against each other to to win the prize and solve the riddle. But will solving it change their lives for good? It was entertaining, full of twists and turns, humorous and unputdownable. I look forward to the next book An Ambush of Tigers!

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved listening to the previous books in this series, and this short story was another wonderful edition, whetting our appetite for the next book, An Ambush of Tigers!
We meet Nell and Rav, as well as Connor and Sylvia, and Shannon and James, again, and this time, they are all trying to solve a family riddle which has never been solved, in search of a worthy prize left by one of Nell's ancestors.
There aren't murders in this short, but the result leaves it wide open for a cracker of a next book, when I am guessing we will be off to India!

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

The three couples in this series, Nell and Rae, Sheila and Connor and Shannon and James, all are working at figuring out a series of difficult puzzles set by the original owner of Finchmere. Clues are found on the estate, but also rely on a knowledge or ornithology, which naturally gives Nell and Rae a bit of an edge.

The solution leaves Rav in shock, and very worried about the effect it will have on his family, which will be addressed in the upcoming instalment, Ambush of Tigers. Looking for the next obstacle thrown in Nell’s and Rav’s way in the upcoming novel

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun addition to the series. Meeting again with Nell and Rav, James and Shannon and Sylvia and Conrad has been great, and I’ve loved following them try and work out the clues of the treasure hunt. The puzzles and clues a clever spin on the house’s heritage and the family’s obvious love of all things bird.
Learning about Nell’s ancestors was interesting and I’m so intrigued about where the ending will take us next.

[karla_bookishlife · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun Dr Nell Ward short story, which spans through Nell's ancestral past and through the time frames of all the other books in the series, as she tries to solve a mystery treasure hunt. It ends on an ominous cliff hanger which sets us up for the upcoming novel An Ambush of Tigers and may pose a threat to the upcoming nuptuals of Nell and Rav.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightfully full of art history for a short story

[Jgrace · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Charm of Finches - Yarwood-Lovett
3 stars

This is a short story that fits like a jigsaw puzzle piece between each of the previous books in this series. Each section of the story features one the romantic couples of past books attempting to solve a centuries-old Finchmere riddle. The riddle makes good ecological use of a variety of finch species, even name dropping Darwin into the competition. It was nice to visit with the familiar characters in this story which is an obvious lead-in to the next book.

[Heyer 100 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read in that it provided some background to the various relationships within this series, plus some context for actions and emotions expressed in next full novel: An Ambush of Tigers.

[Mary A Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Wish I read this before I read An Ambush of Tigers.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and easy read that had a mystery that led to another. A good way for me to catch myself up on how the characters and their relationships developed throughout the series

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great, but fun! TImeline spans several of the regular mysteries.

[Rachel Eidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this before the latest book!

Somehow I missed this one! It was a great little speed read. I love how it connected some dots and was lighthearted.