The Birdcage Library: A spellbinding novel of hidden clues and dark obsession

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What would have constituted a Philip Larkin summer read? He enjoyed the works of Thomas Hardy, Barbara Pym and, improbably, Beatrix Potter. During the 1940s he even managed to obtain a copy of the then-banned Lady Chatterley’s Lover by DH Lawrence (“mine eyes have seen the glory of the Coming of the Lord,” he wrote to his mother) and even owned a Lawrence t-shirt in which he would mow the lawn on sunny days. When looking beyond the new I try to choose books from a few specific categories: a prize winner, a book of short stories and one of the classics, for example. 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? There are references and glimpses of real people in this fictional tale PT Barnum, Mamie Fish, Hyatt Frost and Lord Rothschild, which also gave the story real interest. The characters were well drawn and the various plot lines kept the interest high. But, of course, what would a blindingly good mystery be, or a mystery within a mystery, if there weren’t broken, fallible people at its core?

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. Discover a mystery within a mystery in The Birdcage Library, a novel that will hold you in its spell until the final minute. Authors, if you are a member of the Goodreads Author Program, you can edit information about your own books. Find out how in this guide. The Birdcage Library is at its heart a treasure hunt, drawing Emily across the world in search of a prize men would kill to find. Researching and writing about fantastic locations was so immensely important to the plot, and I’ve tried to capture a kind of savage beauty in the locations I wrote about, both familiar and strange. I hope you enjoy it! When dreaming up my next novel, I’m always thinking about location, location, location. Scotland’s wild west coast has captured my imagination for years now, with its huge skies, hidden coves and dark sea lochs. I go every year – I even got married there! – so when I first began planning The Birdcage Library, I knew it would involve a Scottish castle. I love the gothic genre, and the castles of the Highlands teem with mystery and secrets.Freya 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.)

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. Pretty much everyone in the novel has a secret of some kind, and while some are highly destructive and some are desperately sad, they are all the product of people making what they believe are the best decisions at the time, blinded by either character flaws, traumatic situations or a need to preserve a particular perspective to avoid hurt or loss.Her second novel, The Birdcage Library, is out now: 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 secrets, obsession and murder. Oh, and taxidermy. 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. No decision, especially ones made under stress of any kind, has no consequences, and so it is in The Birdcage Library which is an instructive lesson in how a momentary twist of the existential knife or a caving into the demands of the heart can have far-reaching repercussions down the decades, so much so that dealing with becomes both a thing of sorrow and terror, depending on where you are standing when the consequential birds of your flawed decision-making come home to roost. A captivating story of women’s power, love and secrets. As timely and profound as it is unforgettable. The ending left me breathless’ LARA PRESCOTT

I thoroughly enjoyed this and could not put it down. Complex plot lines, a number of mysteries to solve with some unexpected plot twists thrown in what more could you want?I have not heard anyone with a bad word to say about this book so am looking forward to it very much. I read an eARC of this book so thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing this. I was drawn into this powerful book. D ark and multi layered... Claustrophobic and clever storytelling' JANE SHEMILT