A crime to solve and my favourite writers turning detectives? Count me in! When I heard that The Vanished Bride, written by Bella Ellis (a brilliant pseudonym for author Rowan Coleman) featured Anne, Emily, and Charlotte Brontë together with their brother Branwell investigating a gruesome crime I knew I had to read it and I couldn’t put it down.

It’s the year 1845, and it’s the first time that all Brontë siblings are together at Haworth. Following the Robinson scandal, Branwell and Anne had to resign their posts and move back home, while Charlotte is back from Belgium and away from her feelings for Monsieur Heger. They still haven’t published their novels under the pseudonyms of Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, when they become involved in a mysterious case. Their school friend Mattie is a governess at Chester Grange. Following the suspicious death of his wife Imogen, Robert Chester remarried, but now his second wife, Elizabeth, has disappeared and in her room is found a worrying quantity of blood. Is she still alive? Curious and determined to find out the truth, the Brontë sisters start investigating even if it means putting their own lives at risk…

I am a huge fan of the Brontë’s novels. I have read all Anne, Charlotte and Emily’s novels and it was fun to see the famous novelists turn into detectives to solve a dark and creepy mystery. I loved how the author mixed well-researched real life events with fiction: Charlotte’s feelings for her professor, Branwell’s love for a married woman and his downfall, Anne’s resentment at being forced to leave her post as a governess following her brother’s scandal blend well with the mystery of the story. Emily is described as curious and impulsive, while Charlotte is more cautious and a leader of the family. Within Anne’s chest beats “the heart of a fierce warrior” and Branwell is fun and witty, although, following the scandal of his affair with Mrs. Robinson, he spends his nights drinking and gambling and his sisters are worried about him.

The plot is gripping, suspenseful and gothic and there are a few twists that will take you by surprise. Although, The Vanished Bride is mostly a mystery novel, the author perfectly manages to insert social themes in the story. Through the female characters in the novel, the author captures the frustration of the women who don’t have any status in society and are expected to obey their husbands or their father, to have no education or job.

I loved the surprising and well-executed ending, the bleak atmosphere and the slow pace of the story and now I am looking forward to read the next book in the series!

I enjoyed this and thought the story itself was very good, great twists, nice style, the only criticism I have is the characters felt a bit flat at times and the language couldn’t decide if it was in the past or present. An enjoyable light read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

A book with a difference and one I grew into. Taking famous authors of the Bronte sisters and giving them a new challenge. The author uses historical facts but then adds her own twist. So, follow the 3 sisters and their brother discover the disappearance of Elizabeth or is it a murder? I'll not tell you the end but once you get into the book you can't put it down as I certainly needed to know the truth and see it to the end

Yorkshire, 1845, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë are all at home at the parsonage when they hear that Elizabeth Chester has gone missing from her home, Chester Grange, leaving no trace, save a large pool of blood in her bedroom and a slew of dark rumours about her marriage. Desperate to find out more & to comfort their friend Matilda French, who is governess to the Chester children the sisters visit Chester Grange, where they notice several unsettling details about the crime scene: not least the absence of an investigation.
I was unsure about the Bronte sisters becoming detectors but I’m so glad I read this well written intriguing book. It does start slowly but the pace does increase & so did my interest. There are lots of twists & turns & I was surprised at the end. It also makes a believable read about the Bronte family. I thoroughly enjoyed it & hope there are more books to follow
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Bronte Sisters Mystery #1

Yorkshire 1845. Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte call themselves "the detectors". They are not offical law enforcement officers. Their friend Maddie tells them that her mistress has went missing and that there was quite a lot of blood in her bedroom. Maddie also tells them that Mr. Chester is a cruel man. The sisters are intrigued and decide that they will try and solve this mystery. The sisters brother, Bram is very supportive of his sisters and he helps them out when he can.

The story is told by Charlotte, Emily and Anne's perspectives. It took me a little while to get into this story. There's a strong underlying feminism theme. I quite liked the idea that the sisters were amateur sleuths before they were talented authors. It was nice that the author included their brother into the story. There are references to the books they wrote but you need to look out for them. The book is different to the historical fiction I normally read. An enjoyable story.

I really enjoyed this book. While I'm familiar with the Brontës, I haven't read any of their work in a very long time and couldn't tell you whether the portrayal of their characters was accurate, but it felt like a very real sister (and brother) dynamic. The plot was engaging and allowed Ellis to discuss a number of feminist issues such as the merits of marriage, domestic abuse and women's independence in an interesting way in keeping with the constraints of the time period. All in all a very enjoyable book.

This would have been a great read if it had just been fictional characters. The premise of young, intelligent and curious women turning to detecting, despite the constraints of mid-nineteenth century society, is fascinating and told with great skill and humour. However, the use of fictionalised versions of the Brontes as the protagonists is inspired! Using real aspects of their lives brought the characters fully to life, and renewed my interest in them and their novels. I highly recommend this, and look forward to more in the series.

I’ve always been fascinated by the Brönte sisters, especially the period of their lives at Haworth Parsonage (I really want to visit someday) so I jumped at the chance to read a book in which they have to solve a mystery. Though it is not a bad book by any means, I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. The writing in the style of the Brönte’s works was good, the mystery, though a bit predictable, was nicely handled and the nods to their future works and life facts were a nice surprise. The biggest dissappointment for me was the characterization of the sisters themselves, being a bit two-dimensional. Also, their constant bickering was too much at times.

Though it was not all I wanted it to be, my Brönte love will probably make me continue with the series.

I just adored this charming, enchanting and humorous novel based on when the Bronte sisters turn detectives. You are transported back to Victorian England and the lives of Emily, Anne and Charlotte who take it upon themselves to investigate the disappearance of Elizabeth Chester, a young wife and mother, who lived nearby. Identifying themselves as ‘lady detectors’ they start to look for clues and answers in places they think the local constabulary have missed.

The verbal inter-play between the sisters is brilliant and their different characters are beautifully realised, as is that of their somewhat feckless but charming brother, Branwell. The restrictions they face as unmarried women are cleverly depicted and feminist themes artfully drawn both by their characters and those of other women in the book.

It was great to read a novel set in that period where women take the major roles and, basically, it is all about them, the detectors or the detected. Whether it was purposeful or not (I suspect it was) the male characters are less well drawn and reduced to the supporting cast or in the case of Branwell the role of the annoying younger brother, to be tolerated.

This is a clever mystery with some nice creepy moments, some very funny but also serious observations. I was completely engaged and really hope that this is the beginning of a great series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley for sending me this. I absolutely loved it. The Brontë sisters as detectives sounded great to me. It starts of a little slow but well worth keeping with it. I highly recommend this one.

The Bronte sisters as amateur detectives is an inspired idea and has been brought to life beautiful by the hand of Bella Ellis, who has captured the style of the era perfectly. Each sister's personality is fully developed and is shown through their own point of view chapters and in their actions and dialogue throughout. The real lives of the whole family have been so thoroughly researched that their fictional escapades in their attempts to solve the dilemma of the disappearance of Elizabeth Chester are weaved into it seamlessly, with elements of the story even suggesting possible fictional inspiration for the Bronte's later works. If you're a fan of the Brontes, you will adore this book, but there's enough story there that even if the Brontes are not usually your thing, the loss of that subtle nuance won't impinge on your enjoyment of what is quite simply a great piece of mystery writing.

This was such a fun book to read, as a fan of the Bronte sisters I loved the way that Bella Ellis took them on as characters and created a well thought out mystery for them to investigate. I knew that I was in good hands from the author's choice of pen name alone , and I was not disappointed.
The book sees Ann, Charlotte and Emily investigate the disappearance of a young woman who lived nearby. She vanished in the middle of the night leaving behind a pool of blood in her bedroom , two young children and her husband. With this suitably Gothic set up, we follow the sisters as they try to figure out what happened that fateful night , and there are plenty of red herrings and distractions along the way to keep the reader interested.
One of my favorite things about the book was the way the author used what she knew of the sister's writings to form their characters, so Emily is more impulsive and emotional while Ann is quieter and more methodical, and Charlotte is more outgoing and sociable. The sisters are at times assisted, but more often hindered by their somewhat scatty brother, and the difficulty of being a woman who wants to do something outside the usual bounds of home and family is a common motif throughout the book. There are multiple allusions to their published works scattered throughout the book for fans to find. Aside from its appeal to fans of the Brontes, this book works well as a historical mystery, the plot is well crafted, the Victorian setting is vividly brought to life and the final revelations very satisfactory.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own .

I don’t read a lot of historical fiction but the blurb appealed to me and I really wanted to read this book. I’m so glad I did. I loved the premise of the book, a sinister mystery solved by the Brontës before they were famous writers. I loved the way the novel is structured, with each chapter told from the point of view of a different sister. This works really well, gradually drip feeding the story and the sister’s impression of the events. The book is so well written it was a real pleasure to get lost in it. This is the perfect example of a historical mystery. There are so many possibilities to explain Elizabeth’s disappearance and the author gradually reveals clue that lead you ever so carefully in the right direction. I get the impression the author has done a vast amount of research into the sister and the period. This does not bog down the book but enrichens it. I also get the impression the author is a fan of the sister as there are nods to their books scattered throughout. This was a treat.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for this amazing book

well where to start...the bronte family all together in a parsonage.....its a time when men were men and woman were second class citizens...possessions, without a man they are nothing and viewed as nothing...makes my blood boil

to say how women were treated back then...angers me no end and reading this story about those times and how they were in fact treated...it made me wonder if i was going to continue with the story...and yes i know its fiction but based on some facts....

the mystery part did indeed grab my attention...a young bride vanishes in the night and the bedroom is covered with so much blood that murder comes to mind...though the body has disappeared... the master of the house at first meeting is full of charm and pleasantries....but is there more to him...

and as the mystery continued i was hooked and very glad that i kept reading....what a book...no spoilers as if i say one thing it will reveal the outcome...

going to be watching out for more of this author and maybe more of this series, if there is to be a series

The love that Bella Ellis has for the Bronte sisters underlies all the magic of this book. Little snippets about their daily lives, their childhood and wonderful conversations that bring to life their characters are so cleverly woven into the story and made the book a delight from beginning to end.
The plot itself is worthy of any contemporary Victorian mystery, full of twists and turns, nefarious aristocratic members, secret lovers, disgraced family members and the conflict between the ruling class and servants. The setting celebrates the beauty of the Yorkshire Moors, but never at the expense of ignoring the hardships faced, nor the impact urban migration had on a towns sanitation. Again, this is all achieved with such a light touch, that these details only serve to enhance the story.
I am so glad to see that this is book number one in a series, I am looking forward to the next episode when I can curl up and enjoy another adventure into the past.

My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

A bride goes missing from her bedchamber. Enter Charlotte, Emily and Anne who are detectives determined to solve the case. I love the Brontes and this book brings them to life with true facts written into the fictional story. A great escapist read, capturing the haunting beauty of the Yorkshire moors. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Thought I would enjoy this novel as it is written in the Bronte style I’ve heard so much about. Sorry to say I didn’t enjoy it, actually couldn’t finish it which is most unusual for me, but I’m sure it will be well received by others.

This is a bronte sisters mystery, and I was quite intrigued to be honest, as I didn’t know anything about the sisters prior to their novels. After a quick check, the book does draw a lot on their past, but I’m making an assumption that the mystery in this book is completely fictional?

It’s a good holiday read, nothing too heavy, but it does have plenty of twists and turns and I really didn’t suspect anything that happened.

A good read.

To read full review visit my website: http://zoesreadingcorner.com/index.php/2019/10/23/the-vanished-bride/

The Vanished Bride by Bella Ellis is a historical fiction mystery inspired by the famous literary Bronte sisters. The cover of the book is perfect! The silhouettes of the Bronte sisters all huddled together, standing in front of an imposing silhouetted mansion.

It all begins in Charlotte's later life, being the last sibling standing, reminiscing about the eventful year that all four siblings are reunited under one roof after three return to their father's house under a cloud of scandal. Not long after, a bride goes missing from her home leaving behind a vast volume of blood that no human would be able to live without. Luckily, for the Brontes' the governess of the house happens to be an old schoolfriend thus they have their excuss to visit.

I'll have to stop here or I'll be giving out spoilers. As quirky as this book is it is a gem of a book and a 2019 favorite. I'm glad I came across it and very excited that the sisters will be back again with another mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An interesting novel. Warm engaging characters and an entertaining plot which holds the readers interest and keeps them guessing.
My thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.