Death in the Aviary - by Victoria Dowd (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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...

Review Quotes

"Steeped in grief and darkness, Charlotte Blood is a compelling heroine. Deliciously dark and gorgeously gothic, Dowd's twist-filled puzzle positively drips with menace."
- Antony Johnston New York Times bestselling author of Atomic Blonde

"Historical crime doesn't get much better than this - a vivid world, characters that leap off the page, all wrapped up in a delicious whodunnit. Just fabulous."
- Jonathon Whitelaw, author of The Bingo Hall Detectives

"I adored this fantastic first book in the new series by Victoria Dowd. I raced through Death in the Aviary in a matter of days and was gripped all the way to the fiendishly-clever reveal. Dowd's characters leap off the page, and her humourous touch makes Death in the Aviary not just a superbly-clever puzzle but also a thoroughly entertaining read. With this brilliant innovation on the "locked room mystery", Dowd firmly establishes herself as the modern queen of "golden age" detective fiction. I cannot wait to read the next instalment of Charlotte Blood's adventures."
- Phillipa East, author of Dagger short-listed Little White Lies

"Utterly brilliant. Victoria Dowd proves yet again that she's in the top tier of mystery fiction writers, with wit, a fabulous puzzle, and the odd frisson of spookiness."
- Tom Mead, author of Death of the Conjuror

"Fun, touching and really exciting."
- Barbara Nadel, author of the BBC's The Turkish Detective

"Victoria Dowd's brilliant evocation of 'Golden Age' crime with her 'locked lift' mystery wonderfully captures the spirit of the age without ever reading as pastiche. Certainly, I detected echoes of the 'queens' of the genre, especially the aristo vibe of a certain Miss Sayers (although also the 'whimsy' of a certain Mr Waugh) but Death in the Aviary remains very much Ms Dowd's book, not simply a celebration but a compelling and ingenious reimagining very much on her own terms. A very bright beginning for Miss Blood!"
- Tom Benjamin, author of the Daniel Leicester series

"Charlotte Blood is a wonderful new heroine set to take the world of detection by storm. Feisty, intelligent, and deeply sensitive, she jumps off the page in a beautifully written, terrifyingly atmospheric gothic page turner, that keeps you guessing to the very last line. Family feuds, hidden secrets, windswept moors and talking ravens, an irresistible combination!"
- Sam Blake, author of Three Little Birds

"A beautifully-crafted ode to the Golden Age of detective fiction. There's much here for fans of the classic genre: a forbidding stately pile set on windswept moors; imperious aristos; viciously-loyal servants; a sinister occultist; and even a 'locked lift' mystery. Hugely entertaining! I look forward to the plucky Charlotte Blood's next exciting adventure!"
- Phil Lecomber, author of the Piccadilly Noir series

"An atmospheric, gothic deep-dive into the Golden Age of crime fiction, Death in the Aviary is a thrilling start to the Charlotte Blood series. Dysfunctional families, lies, betrayals, ravens galore and a 'locked lift' crime scene make this a brilliant puzzle of a story that keeps you guessing to the end. Perfectly executed!"
- Eleni Kyriacou, author of the Between the Covers book club pick, The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou

"A richly characterised detective story with a haunting atmosphere and a terrific puzzle at its heart. Delicious!"
- Daniel Sellers, author of Murder in the Gallowgate

About the Author

Victoria Dowd is the award-winning author of the bestselling Smart Woman's Mystery series. In 2021, her debut novel in the series, THE SMART WOMAN'S GUIDE TO MURDER, won The People's Book Prize and was In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel's book of the year. Since then, Victoria has gone from strength to strength; in 2023 she was shortlisted for the CWA Dagger. She has spoken at many literary festivals, including The International Agatha Christie Festival, Harrogate, Crimefest, the Malice Domestic (the Agathas) in Washington DC and the Jaipur Literary Festival with Vaseem Khan. Originally from Yorkshire, she was a criminal defence barrister for many years and is now a board member of the Crime Writers' Association and head of the London Chapter.