I always love a Bronte spin-off and this didn't disappoint. It's a quirky little whodunnit, not too taxing but with plenty of tension and Gothic atmosphere as well as lots of references to the Brontes' lives and elements which may have influenced their later writings. Branwell comes off as comic relief, rather than the depressing failure he is normally portrayed as and the whole thing works pretty well. I would read more in the series, should it evolve into one.

DNF 50% (my third dnf this week...)

I'm afraid that in spite of the many glowing reviews singing this book's praises I'm not going to finish reading it. I started The Vanished Bride hoping to read a Gothic tale featuring the Brontë sisters...soon I realised that the story and writing of The Vanished Bride were closer to those found in a cozy detective novel.
The sisters themselves were perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Bella Ellis' book. I'm sure that it's not an easy endeavour to attempt to create a fictional tale featuring such literary icons however giving them one note personalities is not the solution.
Charlotte is the serious one, Anne is the sensitive one, and Emily is the supposedly headstrong one. Ellis' portrayal of Emily does the woman no favours. Ellis' Emily is rude and arrogant, and most of her actions seem very unbelievable as she is somehow learned on detective methods that were yet part of the 'popular' knowledge. Just because she's read one article mentioning the appearance of a certain type of policeman in London doesn't mean that she should know what a murder investigation would entail. Worse still is that she was so very grating. The typical child-detective that is a little more than a busybody know-it-all.
Their views regarding the female question were handled in such a heavy-handed way. They seemed walking-and-talking manifestos rather than real women...the way they comment on the gender inequities seemed far too modern...their language and opinions seem far too current and representative of the feminist movement today (perhaps a bit of wishful thinking on the part of today's readers).
There are many cheesy references that make it seem as if the events taking place in The Vanished Bride influenced the Brontë's own novels (for example 'the woman in the attic') that seem so clumsy as to lack any sort of subtlety. I struggled to reconcile Ellis' Brontë sisters with the real ones...
The writing is as simplistic as its story and its characters often resorting to cliché phrases such as “Their world was at once very small and also infinite” and “Charlotte was quiet for a very long moment—a moment into which she compressed a lifetime of agony and rage”.
If you enjoy light-mystery-reads, and you are not as a punctilious reader as I am, you might be able to find The Vanished Bride to be more entertaining than I did.
DNF 50% (my third dnf this week...)

I'm afraid that in spite of the many glowing reviews singing this book's praises I'm not going to finish reading it. I started The Vanished Bride hoping to read a Gothic tale featuring the Brontë sisters...soon I realised that the story and writing of The Vanished Bride were closer to those found in a cozy detective novel.
The sisters themselves were perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Bella Ellis' book. I'm sure that it's not an easy endeavour to attempt to create a fictional tale featuring such literary icons however giving them one note personalities is not the solution.
Charlotte is the serious one, Anne is the sensitive one, and Emily is the supposedly headstrong one. Ellis' portrayal of Emily does the woman no favours. Ellis' Emily is rude and arrogant, and most of her actions seem very unbelievable as she is somehow learned on detective methods that were yet part of the 'popular' knowledge. Just because she's read one article mentioning the appearance of a certain type of policeman in London doesn't mean that she should know what a murder investigation would entail. Worse still is that she was so very grating. The typical child-detective that is a little more than a busybody know-it-all.
Their views regarding the female question were handled in such a heavy-handed way. They seemed walking-and-talking manifestos rather than real women...the way they comment on the gender inequities seemed far too modern...their language and opinions seem far too current and representative of the feminist movement today (perhaps a bit of wishful thinking on the part of today's readers).
There are many cheesy references that make it seem as if the events taking place in The Vanished Bride influenced the Brontë's own novels (for example 'the woman in the attic') that seem so clumsy as to lack any sort of subtlety. I struggled to reconcile Ellis' Brontë sisters with the real ones...
The writing is as simplistic as its story and its characters often resorting to cliché phrases such as “Their world was at once very small and also infinite” and “Charlotte was quiet for a very long moment—a moment into which she compressed a lifetime of agony and rage”.
If you enjoy light-mystery-reads, and you are not as a punctilious reader as I am, you might be able to find The Vanished Bride to be more entertaining than I did.

~ I was given an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review, I'm not associated with the author or publisher in any way and the views expressed are completely unbiased and entirely my own. ~

My rating: 3*

'The Vanished Bride' is the first and as yet only published book in the Bronte Sisters Mystery series by Bella Ellis.

It's a suspenseful, atmospheric mystery set in 1845 Yorkshire with fictionalized versions of Emily, Charlotte and Anne Bronte as the main characters. Here they play the part of 'lady detectors' when a gruesome crime is committed near their home and they feel compelled to get the the bottom of the mystery.

The story is told in the third person, however it switches between each sisters narratives which felt a little unnecessary given the latter. I think maybe the story overall wouldve benefitted from one main narrator as the sisters characterisations felt one dimensional, and it was impossible to distinguish between each. Fortunately the plot was compelling enough that this didn't prevent me from wanting to see it through to it's conclusion. It will be interesting to see what the sisters get up to in future insallments as well.

~ Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this title ~

You can tell that this author loves the Brontë sisters and has done a lot of research about them. It is clever the way she has woven in known facts into this very fictional story. If you are a fan of the Brontë's then you will love this book. I am not too sure as I cannot see the three of them acting in such a 20th century manner.

What an utterly delightful read! I was totally enchanted by the Bronte sisters and their little adventure as 'detectors'. As well as the lighthearted premise, there is also a very good 'whodunnit' running alongside. This book would be a wonderful Sunday evening costume drama.

Chances are high that you’ve never though to yourself “What if the Brontë sisters were amateur detectives before becoming famous authors?”, neither did I but after reading the premise to this book I knew that I had to read it.

I’m really happy that I did that as the story is a very well-crafted mystery with enjoyable character and settings. It kept me guessing and trying to solves the clues alongside the characters, and it wasn’t until the very end that I discovered who had done the murder. It was a real page turner and it clung to my mind, as even when I had to go and do other things my thoughts were still on what would happen next in the story.

One thing that made the book really connect with me was, besides from the mystery itself, the three main characters. It really added to the whole thing to experiencing the events trough these sisters eyes as the POV changed between them. I highly enjoyed Emily parts as she’s the most adventurous sister with a affection for dogs, but all three sisters added something good to the mix.

The book is a bit slow at the beginning but gets gradually better, with the last third of the book being such a thrilling read. I was afraid that I would grow bored after a while because it seemed that the whole thing was solved in the beginning. But instead of just dragging on there was always some new twist or turn that kept the story feeling fresh as it progressed.

This is a unique historical mystery
I loved this book. I loved being able to live alongside the Bronte sisters for a while.
Intriguing, well written and great fun

This is a clever idea based on the author's fascination with the Bronte sisters. The basic story of domestic abuse and murder rolls on acceptably but the real attraction of the book is in its reflection of the attitudes to women at that time. It deals well with the Brontes' rebellion against these assumptions. The interaction between the sisters and with their alcoholic brother adds humour to the story but it is actually more serious than just that. These scenarios add to the understanding of the frustration of intelligent women at that time. The book has an Agatha Christie feel to it. It is well written and carefully researched.

Whilst this type of book is not my usual go to genre, it did not disappoint and I am grateful to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the premise of the story is simply brilliant

While I love to watch costume dramas on tv I rarely read anything prior to late 20th century so this was a wee change for me. I have limited knowledge of the Brontë family but the story worked okay despite that and in contrast the authors knowledge of the family fall shone through. In this age of DNA and CCTV it highlights how much effort was involved in being a ‘detector’ historically. A good read which I would think fans of the Brontë sisters would appreciate.

I've been looking forward to reading this story ever since I first heard about it. I studied English Lit, so have read all the Bronte works (Anne was always my favourite), and so throwing them into a gothic horror detective drama seemed an inspired idea. I wasn't disappointed! This is very, very readable. The chapters just slipped on by as I thought I'd read 'just one more'. I loved the chat (and arguments) between the sisters, and they were all just as I had imagined them for myself in my head (Anne still being my favourite!) It's a real romp of a crime story - the sisters are lying and sneaking and doing everything they can to try to discover the truth of the mystery. I had half an idea part way through, but I couldn't put my finger on it exactly and so I was kept guessing, which is just how I like my crime stories.
It is fiction, obviously, but it's very much based in fact with regards to the life & times & location.
I'm looking forward to more crime-solving adventures for the sisters.

3.5 stars


I don't know enough about the real life Bronte family to know accurate these characters we're,but each of them stood out as a fully rounded person.
The ladies did well to detect what had happened to the vanished bride,given the restrictions on the fairer sex during that era.

A good plot that revealed itself slowly,and I never fully guessed what was going on,which is always a pleasant surprise.
Definitely be looking out for and reading any more of these books.

This novel by Bella Ellis is an impressive debut in the new "Bronte Sisters Mysteries."

Although any story that follows the formula of "legendary author solves crimes" requires a hefty suspension of disbelief, this one had much more to offer. For one thing, the characterizations of each Bronte are spot on! This is an author who knows the facts, but who has also been mesmerized by the Brontes to the point where she has a feel for each independent spirit. Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell come to life on the page. The depiction of Emily in particular has a compelling sense of both humor and passion that can't fail to win over the reader.

The mystery itself was not very complicated, and a careful reader will latch on to at least a partial solution before too many pages are past. Still, the mystery isn't the raison d'être for this series. The best part is getting the chance to watch these beloved but mysterious authors walk and talk on the page, thanks to the authenticity of the author.

The is the first book in The Bronte Mysteries series.
In this story Charlotte Bronte and her siblings become amateur detectives when a young mother is found missing in their neighbourhood.
The story was set in 1945 and reflects the views and language of that time period.
I was invited to read this book by the publisher and found this an interesting change from the books I normally read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review

What a delightful entertaining book. I'm a fan of the Brontë sisters, and always wished they would have lived longer to give us more beautiful books and poems.
Although this story is sometimes a little over the top (profiling? Seriously?) it is a good read not only because of the characters but also because there is an interesting crime to solve. It is always amazing to see how women were treated then, and so very recognizable how some of them did escape their fate.
I'd love to read more in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.

Well, I was a little doubtful when I received this from Netflix. The Bronte sisters acting as private detectives? Really?

Anyhow, I was completely won over.

First of all - the plot - a great riff on gothic horror, complete with scary dogs, evil villains and plucky heroines. Throw in a touch of feminist sensibility and an awareness of the restricted lives of intelligent women with no money and no prospects, and you have a great read.

On top of that, there's the Brontes themselves, and Bella Ellis cleverly lets their characters develop through the book - wild Emily, determined Charlotte, quietly powerful Anne. They are a great trio. Even Branwell makes an appearance, just starting out on his downward slope, the remnants of his charisma intact.

There's a great sense of place, too, and Ellis obviously knows the area well.

What I liked best, though, was the way the different strands of the plot prefigured the great novels of the trio. You could see how a creative imagination would take these events and turn them into gold. I have to admit that I haven't read anything by a Bronte for years, but even so, I had little thrills of recognition. A real buff would have a great time here.

This is a cute idea, featuring the Bronte sisters (with the dubious help of Branwell) as "detectors" of crime before they embarked on their novel-writing careers. There are many true biographical facts interwoven into the story which add interest. The personalities of the sisters and brother, their interactions with each other and their father are quite charming. The crime itself is a Victorian gothic style melodrama involving murdered wives, gypsies and madness. There are many references to the plight of women at that time. I thought this had potential but it was actually boring to read, with little depth.

I assume you have all heard of the 3 Yorkshire Sisters called Bronte, Charlotte, Emily and Anne plus their brother Barnwell. This is a novel that tells a fanciful story of their curiosity in the new force in London the Metropolitan Police Force with the creation of detectives now the fashionable or sexy side of Policing well from the outside anyway..
So the story starts with the news that one of Charlotte's school friends who is a nanny for the wealthy Mr Robert Chester and his wife Elizabeth but whilst talking a cup of tea in the morning to Elizabeth she sees blood seeping from under the bedroom for and then no body inside the bedroom, So after visiting their friend of hero's decide to give this detective thing ago. It appears that they have a knack ("gift" probably a more Bronte word in fairness) as the clues begin to build up with the hot tempered Mr Chester a very obvious suspect. They get to travel all over Yorkshire but not as quickly as you or I now a day's, and so they slowly but steadily collect clues and a ability I'm told of many sisters to wind each other up but still get along and gather facts. It's the putting them all together that takes the time.
This is clearly a fun work that shows a possible way for the Ladies to grow up into adulthood and set a path that could lead them to the great works they are famous for, It is a work of fiction however with a few dark moments so not all just fun i guess, but has a credibility that snares you and before you know it your hooked. There is great drama fanfare and a escape from their romantic stuff but a clue as to why they remained single which was a major relief for me..
I loved this book and feel it is more than worthy of five stars and I'm looking forward to reading more books from Bella Ellis.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and I loved reading it and trying to keep up with the Bronte sisters- what characters they were, strong willed, determined and highly intelligent.

I love the idea that, although, "spinsters", they were off gallivanting across the moors in search of the truth, They found a bit more than they bargained for in trying to solve the disappearance of Elizabeth Chester. Was she murdered, kidnapped or has she run away? Follow the twists and turns of this mystery and meet brother Branwell and follow his despair in the story.

I admit that I am not altogether familiar with the lives of the Bronte family and loved how Bella Ellis turned them into sleuths determined to catch a killer. I am currently reading a children's book about their lives called The Fantastically Feminist (and totally true) story of the Astonishing Authors, the Brontes. I have also just purchased Glass Town Game which is a work of fiction about the real game the siblings played together.

This book kept me hooked and engaged and I hope there will be a second in the series.
I can't wait to see what trouble they get into next.

A joyous novel with the Brontë sisters as amateur detectives, read in a few fun hours. Their characters are clear and bold, echoing the different styles of their books. The claustrophobic isolation and boredom of their lives before they become "detectors" is well drawn, I have always wondered if we would have their novels had TV been invented in the 1840's. The biographical details are used to good effect, although we are told once too many times that Branwell has red hair.
The story moves at a rapid pace and contains many of the features of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, mysterious strangers, figures in the attic, passion, madness, and fire; its not a pastiche, but I had fun spotting how this "real life" made it into the sisters novels. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am hoping this will be a series.