‘Death in the Aviary’ by Victoria Dowd

Published by Datura Books,
9 September 2025.
ISBN  978-1-91552353-2 (PB)

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.
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Reviewer: Judith Cranswick  

Victoria Dowd was born and raised in Yorkshire and after studying at Cambridge, went on to be a successful criminal law barrister for many years.  Victoria’s debut crime novel, The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder (published by Joffe Books) is the first part of a dark, humorous crime series that is a modern take on the Golden Age of crime fiction and authors such Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh and Josephine Tey. She is an award-winning short story writer, winning the Gothic Fiction prize for short fiction 2019 by Go Gothic. Victoria has had short stories published in BTS Literary and Arts Annual, Gold Dust magazine and also by Stairwell books in their literary and arts journal Dream Catcher. Her work has also been selected for publication in an anthology entitled A Ghostly Challenge. She speaks at various literary festivals, most recently in Bath, and at various schools and book groups.

https://victoriadowd.com/

Judith Cranswick was born and brought up in Norwich. Apart from writing, Judith’s great passions are travel and history. Both have influenced her two series of mystery novels. Tour Manager, Fiona Mason takes coach parties throughout Europe, and historian Aunt Jessica is the guest lecturer accompanying tour groups visiting more exotic destinations aided by her nephew Harry. Her published novels also include several award-winning standalone psychological thrillers. She wrote her first novel (now languishing in the back of a drawer somewhere) when her two children were toddlers, but there was little time for writing when she returned to her teaching career. Now retired, she is able to indulge her love of writing and has begun a life of crime! ‘Writers are told to write what they know about, but I can assure you, I've never committed a murder. I'm an ex-convent school headmistress for goodness’ sake!’ Her most recent book is Journey to Casablanca.