DNF'd at 15%. This was by no means a bad book, just not for me in this moment. I think if I read it in the future, I might actually enjoy it.

I read this a while back and forgot to review. This was a solid read. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. I don’t regret reading it.

I love Eve Chase! Her writing is eloquent and flows effortlessly. Her characters are complex and well-developed. And THE BIRDCAGE is just another example of this. The family dynamics and tension built with every page that flies by are simply perfection. I cannot wait to read what is next from this author!

I wanted to love this book based on my love of gothic, atmospheric fiction. However, I did not love it, not at all. I think we got to me was the writing style in general. It just felt choppy and overwhelming at times. Plus, the story was very confusing with all of the characters and the dual timeline. I also feel this was not a thriller. I’m sad to say this one just wasn’t for me.

I have tried three times. Sadly. After the third time I finally decided that it just going to be a DNF for me. Yes, I am sad as I normally do not DNF a book but I had such a hard time starting and connecting. Its not the genre nor the author. In another lifetime, I might have enjoyed it but I can’t finish this book at all.

The cover is what really drew me to this book! It is beautiful. This book was good and had me intrigued but it was a bit of a slow burn. I was wanting to read more and more to unveil the secrets.

Coming of age and dual timeline. This book will keep you up at night because you won’t be able to put it down. It’s very engaging with lots of plot twists. I highly recommend it. Goth vibes. :)

THE GOOD:
Very atmospheric and moody. The dual timeline makes for an interesting juxtaposition. The hot summer and the solar eclipse in the 1999 timeline add a simmering undercurrent that crackles. As does the parrot and her semi-spooky repetitions. And a Cornwall setting on the moors is a classic for a gothic novel; the scenery is really a character in itself here.

The story rotates through the points of view of the three sisters, who are all well-developed characters, each with her own "voice" and outlook, which adds a nice depth to the tale.

As with a quintessential gothic, there's a mystery that unravels in a slow burn.

THE BAD:
I wasn't completely shocked by the ultimate reveal. I could have used a little more surprise factor; or something more shocking. That said, there is a fine line between foreshadowing too little or too much; and I'd rather guess in advance than feel like something came out of left field.

CONCLUSION:
Great for fans of spooky mysteries, classic gothic lit, and/or book club fans. Recommended for a fab, absorbing novel.

Black Rabbit Hall was not just a 5-star read but has been a go-to rec of mine for YEARS. A gothic tale, dark family secrets, a crumbling estate that's every bit as much of a character as the humans, just *chef's kiss* It blew me away to the point where Eve is an auto-read author now.

Three half sisters share a famous artist father and a terrible secret. Grown apart after a devastating summer, the women have found themselves together once more, having been summoned to the family home one final time. THE BIRDCAGE has all the elements I love in a novel: an old house, a tragic secret, then/now storytelling, but this didn't grip me quite like BLACK RABBIT HALL. The reveals didn't come as a complete surprise, but I did enjoy the time I spent with it and I will absolutely be looking forward to what Eve does next.

The setting alone was fascinating, and the interplay between the siblings was interesting, but ultimately I wasn't invested in the story. Just an "ok" read for me. This was my first from this author and am interested in what they offer in the future.
2.5 rounded up

An ancestral home, an unspeakable tragedy, hidden family secrets - The Birdcage has all the best gothic trappings for a delicious mystery. Eve Chase never disappoints. For fans of Kate Morton and Diane Setterfield.

I did not really enjoy this book. I think it was too much out of my genre preference. It was okay, and I would give the author another chance.

This was an amazing book! I read it in one sitting. I loved the characters and the mystery and the setting. Highly recommend

It is 2019. Kat is the successful daughter. Flora is the one that married and has a four year old son who's a bit of a terror. And Laurie is the damaged one whose mother, Dixie, recently died. Charles Finch, their father, was a renowned artist and renowned philanderer. The women each have a different mother. Flora's mother was married to Charles when she was born. Kat was born five months later to Charlie's lover. Lauren was born thirteen months after Kat. During the summer, Kat and Flora joined Charlie and his parents at Rock Point, their Victorian summer home by the sea in Wales.. Lauren did not meet her Granny and Grandpa or her sisters until she was nine, when Dixie let her join them at Rock Point. Charlie has issued something of a command that the three of them come to Rock Point. Bertha, the African Gray parrot, formerly their grandparent's bird is back.

It has been twenty years since the daughters visited Rock Point. In 1999, the summer of a complete solar eclipse, something bad happened at Rock Point. 1999 was the summer the sisters sat for a portrait, now recognized as Charles' Finches' masterpiece, "Girls and Birdcage. Rock Point is atmospheric, the young teen aged girls' relationships with one another complicated. Kat and Flora have known each other from birth and are very close. They can be kind or terrible to Laurie. Laurie assists her father with his studio and hangs out with local girl, Gemma whose mother cleans for them.

Through the point of view of each daughter the stories of the return to Rock Point and the events of 1999 spool out in a dual timeline, Tension, some competitiveness and love play through the present. Everyone is worried about Lauren who was already fragile and now mourns Dixie. Flora is exasperated with her son's antics and loves him fiercely. Her husband wants a second child. It's obvious she is uncertain. Kat is on the phone constantly for business and seems lost in that world. Charlie explains why he has called them all there and it's unsettling. Throughout, each is thinking about 1999. How can they not, when they haven't returned since then? And someone is leaving them vaguely threatening notes. But why?

All in all I found The Birdcage an enjoyable read, particularly the characters, their interrelationship, their locale and the persistent air of mystery. Obviously that part of the book is not action packed. We are in the minds of each daughter. I like that. There is more action in the telling of the past and in the wrap up, but there are many ways to spoil the story, which I do not do in writing about my reads. I strongly recommend this if this description grabs you.

THE BIRDCAGE by Eve Chase is somewhat reminiscent of We Were Liars, with a deep sense of foreboding and a dysfunctional family dealing with a tragic event as part of their history. Chase, who also wrote atmospheric mysteries like The Wildling Sisters and Black Rabbit Hall is in great form here. Her writing jumps around in time and offers perspective from multiple characters which adds to the puzzle. The story revolves around three half-sisters, now grown women but still unsure of their relationship with each other and their artist father. Twenty years ago, it was he who painted a famous picture (containing a birdcage) of the half-siblings as young girls and that is the time - the summer of 1999 - when something awful happened. It seems to be why the youngest, Lauren, is afraid of birds and why the older sisters, Kat who is extremely driven, and Flora, a young mother with low self-worth, carry a heavy secret and the resulting guilt. The house, Rock Point in Cornwall, is another character of sorts and contributes to a sense of fear and menace in this excellent psychological thriller.

Charlie has three daughters and they are all half sisters. Each daughter has a different mother. They all want their Dad's attention. He also is an artist. He invites them all to a reunion at Rock Point. He has some news for them.
There are some terrible secrets that will be revealed. Someone is watching the house and knows what they did.

This one was a very very slow burn. Just not my kind of book. I was intrigued a couple of times. and kept waiting and waiting to find out what happens, and didn't find out until the end which was just late for me.
I didn't care so much for the characters. When reading a book like this I have to at least love one character. I just felt like I didn't connect with them.
All of the action is at the end. But I did not like the ending at all.
This is not a thriller. I would say that it is in the contemporary genre which I am not a big fan of this genre unless I love at least one of the characters.

This was a buddy read with DeAnn.

I want to thank Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons
for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is not one of my favorites by this author. Which i hate because I have really enjoyed her previous books. This one just had a slow burn in my opinion and I couldn't finish it. I'm sorry but I'm sure other readers will have different experiences with it.

This definitely has the goth vibes with a house on a cliff and the stormy weather. We also have an artistic father and 3 siblings who grew up so different. And let’s not forget the mystery.
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. **

3 for neutral, was unable to access my netgalley account for months, until today. Because of this, I was unable to see which books I needed to read. I apologize for the inconvenience and hopefully will not have any more issues in future.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A good women's fiction novel. Recommend