But just as they were about to go out again, there was a knock at the front door. ‘ You stop where you are,’ Tabby ordered them. ‘If that’s fancy people at the door, you can deal with them. I can’t be doing with fancy people on a Wednesday.’
‘Isn’t it a Thursday?’ Emily muttered.
The Diabolical Bones is full of this sort of very funny little scenes, which made me laugh out loud several times. Even for someone who’s never heard of the Brontë sisters or never read any of their books, it must be clear that the author did a great job in giving each sister her own voice – and we get to know brother Branwell a little better too.
What can I say? It is almost Christmas, so it’s dark and cold, very cold. Despite that, the book has a lot of warmth, the warmth of the love between the three sisters who go out on a new adventure. This story leans heavily on the fact that people in those days were more religious than nowadays, and it is up to Charlotte, Anne and Emily to distinguish between beliefs and real events.
Reading this book was an absolute delight, for lovers of the Brontë sisters or just lovers of historical crimes and I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I found the first Brontë mystery story by Ellis to be good fun, and this continued in a similar vein, with the story beginning at a good pace and continuing that way throughout, to the exciting conclusion.

Ellis clearly has a great deal of affection for the Brontës and their lives and times - there are plenty of random historical allusions scattered throughout, and threads of the sisters' stories are found in the mystery itself, which is satisfying for a fan of their works.

The characters of the sisters move beyond the biographical stereotypes, and Ellis has clearly continued to do a great deal of research to make the setting believable while keeping the story itself fun and fast-paced.

I found The Diabolical Bones by Bella Ellis to be a really entertaining read. I didn't know that it was the second book in a series featuring the Bronte sisters as detectives, but I definitely want to read the first one now!
The Diabolical Bones is really atmospheric and had a definite Wuthering Heights vibe to it. I found the characters to be intriguing and well developed. It was full of suspense and I was both rushing towards the end wanting to find out what happened, but also not wanting it to end. It is the perfect read for a cold, windy night!

This is a novel featuring three of the most famous Victorian female writers, the Bronte sisters.
The book has well rounded characters who feel accurate, in terms of both the place and the period, and also according to what is known historically about the family. It has a compelling plot that lives up to it's dramatic title.
I enjoyed the plot , and also the little hints of how their adventure and detective work inspired the Bronte novels. The tone and language gives a nod to the period but with a contemporary feel that makes it easy to read.
My thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another enjoyable adventure written by Bella Ellis about the Bell brothers ;-) Very well and thoughtful written. I liked both the characters, and the lack of loose ends, everything being nicely wrapped up in the end.
I highlighted quite a lot, let me give you just one example:

'Anne smiled; despite the grave circumstances, it was uplifting to see the simple pleasure the dog took in life. It gladdened her heart to remember that for every dark corner and unjust hurt in the world, there was a place of light, hope and goodness.'

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

We return to Haworth Parsonage for the much anticipated second book in this series featuring the Bronte sisters. It’s December 1845, extremely cold, there’s snow, ice, frost and wind, it’s chill gripping like a vice on the moors. At Top Withins Hall, after hearing some blood curdling screams, father and son Clifton and Liston Bradshaw make a diabolical discovery in the chimney of a room that has been closed for thirteen years since the death of Mary Bradshaw. The Bronte sisters don their detecting bonnets, wrap themselves in their cloaks and apply their skills in this chilling Gothic Mystery of high quality.

There is much to praise in this book but in my opinion it’s the depiction of the Bronte family which is its greatest strength. They are brought to life and it feels so natural and authentic with their individual personalities perfectly captured. I have an especial liking for Emily whose more straightforward, feisty personality appeals to me!! The whole book is full of atmosphere created by the characters, the cold weather is used very effectively, the unsettling and disturbing events and settings with the Parsonage at its epicentre. The novel is extremely well written and evokes the area and times with accuracy. Particularly moving is the inclusion in the storytelling of the life of poverty and subsequent malnutrition of large sections of the population and the treatment of the Irish is heartbreaking but sadly all too accurate and of course, where Patrick Bronte is from. The story flows and the plot is intriguing with an abundance of strange and mysterious happenings, a feeling of malevolence and the unmasking of a monster. This is not a huge surprise as there are some warning signs but other parts are surprising which I like. There is much darkness in the story as it is revealed. Finally, I really like that the author includes Emily at the end thinking of a new and shocking novel. I wonder what that will be called??!!!

Overall, this is another very good historical mystery, it’s enthralling, full of atmosphere and suspense. The way that it’s written is prefect for a gothic tale featuring these three famous great authors and is an excellent reflection of the times. If you are a Bronte fan you may love this book too and also if you are a fan of historical fiction.

With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated ARC for an honest review.

Another Bronte mystery for the siblings to unravel. This time bones of a child are found and they want to find out who they belong to. Depicting some of the hardships of Victorian times coupled with the romantic, wild spirits of the Brontes, this book truly is an historical treat. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Another great story from Bella Ellis. about the Bronte sisters and Branwell.. I love these stories but I can see that purists may not appreciate them. I think they're great fun although I note with some sadness that Bella begins THE DIABOLICAL BONES with the deaths of Emily, Anne and Branwell, leaving Charlotte very sadly alone. I'm hoping there will be more of these because they are very enjoyable.

This is the second mystery involving the Bronte family but can easily be read as a standalone.
Bronte fans will love the authentic references to their lives and the way the book is written, mystery lovers will puzzle over the origin of the diabolical bones of the title.
The author knows her Bronte family well and I felt like I was transported back into a 1845 Yorkshire winter. A good book to read by a roaring fire to compensate for the chill of the snow covered Yorkshire moors.

The Diabolical Bones is the excellent second book in the Bronte Mysteries series. It is every bit as entertaining and suspenseful as its predecessor The Vanished Bride.

The bones of a long dead child have been discovered at the remote and foreboding Top Withens Hall and the Bronte sisters, along with brother Branwell, reprise their roles as ‘detectorists’ in order to identify the child and the cause of death. In the course of their investigations they uncover some very unsettling activities and events.

The plot is very well constructed and the tension builds cleverly. There are some shrewd red herrings which lead the reader down some interesting paths. It is a darker story when compared to The Vanished Bride and it explores a number of themes ranging from child exploitation to the treatment of the Irish residents of the village.

The narrative is shared between the three sisters and it really brings to life their individual characters; the feisty Emily, the reflective Anne and the occasionally insecure Charlotte. Their interactions with each other and the other personalities in the book are very realistic, sometimes humorous and sometimes profound. They really brought to life a sense of the Victorian era. The secondary characters are equally well drawn.

The description of winter on the Yorkshire moors enhances the sinister nature of the storyline and you really feel the cold and frost which create a disturbing background.

This is a well written novel which had me gripped from the outset. It can quite easily be read as a standalone but you are missing a treat if you don’t consider The Vanished Bride too. In essence The Diabolical Bones is a real treat and a homage to the wonderful Bronte sisters who would have made brilliant ‘detectorists’.

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

Wow! I am a huge fan of the bronte mysteries by bella ellis, and read the vanishing bride last Christmas and so i was thrilled to get an advanced copy of this!

This book, just like her previous one, created a warm comforting atmosphere that the Bronte’s would have loved. I felt like i was in Haworth, and the characters felt full of life.

The story was gripping from the first page, as she hooked me with a mystery that left me wanting to read on. I found that around 30-40% way through it felt a big slow, but it picked up again and when it did it was incredible. I thoroughly loved the twist at the end, and the justice the author gave to the characters, especially for the irish, as an irishwoman myself. Cant wait to read this again when its published, and for the hopefully many more books about the brontes!

I absolutely loved this book-it’s even better than the first in the series.It’s so cleverly written, and the characters of the three Bronte sisters come through beautifully, along with all the little references to things that appear in their novels.
The plot is dark and Gothic, with a story of murdered children linked to the occult, which the sisters are asked to investigate with the help of their brother Branwell. It’s full of twists and turns, but also some very poignant scenes when the sisters visit an orphanage (run by Mrs Grace Poole!) It’s clearly been very carefully researched by a writer who loves the Brontes.
Highly recommended for all Bronte fans-it’s a delight.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

The Diabolical Bones is an absolute treat for a Bronte fan. The authors love of the Brontes, their work, Haworth, and the era oozes out of every page.
As an admirer of the Bronte sisters and someone who has been to Haworth, I could visualise each scene.

Bella Ellis' detective novels are a love letter to the Brontes. I love how each sister is given their own chapter and we are able to delve more into their characters. It's such a treat to find out more about them on a personal and historical level. The addition of characters named after or inspired by those from the Bronte novels is a welcome addition too.

This is a spooky tale synonymous of those once told around the Christmas period. I enjoyed the cosy feel that jarred nicely against the macabre, just like a Bronte novel. I geeked out a little when Emily began getting ideas for my favourite novel too!

I won't rehash the plot as that can be found in the blurb. I will say the bones and where they are discovered leads to a detailed and interesting plot. Much of the landscape is explored through the snowy moors.

This is the perfect Christmas tale for those who don't want the usual Hallmark saccharine sweet offerings. It's not horror but it will give you delicious chills, especially when the origins of the bones are erevealed!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this early copy.

As usual with my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (as I always think "Why bother to read a book if someone's already told you exactly what happens?).

Having read "The Vanished Bride", I was delighted when this - the second book in the series - came out. This book could be read as a standalone, as there is plenty of background information, and a whole batch of new characters as well as those we've already met.

The characterisation of the Bronte family is excellent; as the author is clearly knowledgeable about the lives of Charlotte, Anne, and Emily, their brother Branwell, and father Patrick, their "fictional" versions and interplay between them and other characters feels very authentic.

The plot itself is well conceived, with many a red herring to throw the reader off the track (I felt quite pleased with myself for realising who the villain of the piece was!). There are hints that characters, names (Earnshaw, Poole) and events from this novel are to be used as fuel for (future) writings by the sisters - again a nice touch.

I'm feeling buoyed up by the expectation of further novels in this series - and look forward to reading them!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.

Having read The Vanished Bride, I was really looking forward to this book and it didn't disappoint! I really enjoy the crime within the book - this one kept me guessing (which I like) and also felt consistent plot-wise (which I also like!) so even without the fact that it's the Bronte sisters, I enjoy the story. But having the famous sisters adds an extra layer of enjoyment. The interplay between them is so well done, and you really believe that they're the *real* Brontes! I think I came away last time preferring Anne of all three, and I felt pretty much the same this time, though I do also enjoy Emily for her wild streak.

You can feel the chill of the wind and weather up on the Yorkshire Moors, and I like all the peripheral characters around and about the Brontes too. It feels like you're living a bit of their life with them, and it was exciting in this one that they had sent off some of their work to try and get it published.

I'm now fully convinced that the Brontes clearly were detectives...I think it would take a lot to convince me otherwise now! Heartily recommended, and I'm already looking forward to their next outing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy. Having read The Vanished Bride, I was excited to read the second in the Bronte mysteries series and I was not disappointed. As I had listened to the first book through audible, I read this sequel alternating with the audible copy- reading ahead when I was desperate to know what happened next. I cannot recommend the audible version enough as the narrator captures the Yorkshire voices of the characters brilliantly and makes the words of the text come alive. I hope Bella Ellis continues this series for some time as I have throughly enjoyed her novels.

This is the second in the Bronte mystery series and although it is a stand alone story it is probably best to have read The Vanished bride first to get some past understanding. Yet again a murder mystery is investigated by Anne, Charlotte and Emily , it’s so clever, linking a made up tale with historical fact and places. Highly entertaining and highly recommend.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

The Diabolical Bones is the second book in the Bronte Mysteries series in which the Bronte sisters' (and their brother Branwell to some extent) are amateur detectives solving crimes in their small village. In the Diabolical Bones human remains have been found at the mysterious Top Withens house and Emily, Anne and Charlotte are determined to find out who they belong to and what happened to them - even if if puts them in great danger!

I really enjoyed this book and the first book for two reasons. Firstly the mystery aspect is very well done and I enjoyed trying to solve the crime alongside the characters - looking for clues and being wary of red herrings. But most enjoyable for me was the representation of the Brontes and how they interact with each other and the world around them. I love the Bronte sisters and have read a lot about them and in my opinion Bella Ellis portrays them perfectly and they act just how I would expect them to. It was also interesting to see how the Irish villagers in the story were treated at that time; I am of Irish ancestry so it was quite sad to see how they were abused and blamed for everything they went wrong in the community. Indeed Patrick Bronte was from Ireland so this gave an interesting slant to the story.

I really recommend this series if you like historical mystery.

The Diabolical Bones (The Bronte Mysteries) by Bella Ellis
Genre: Historical Fiction and Mystery & Thriller
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publish Date: 5 November 2020
Star Rating: 5/5

The book cover of the first novel in The Bronte Mysteries series really captured me and now so has the second. When I reviewed the first book, I said that this type of book is the type of book I would hunt down special editions of to display on my bookshelf and now there is another. I just really love the Gothic feeling - and now it's in burgundy. But, The Bronte Mysteries is more than just pretty covers, they are a strange concoction of Gothic, mystery, and the Bronte sisters living in a parallel universe that is their own but they are detectives while going about publishing their poems and eventually books. It's so odd and it works so so well due to Ellis’ genius way of storytelling.

The Diabolical Bones, is darker than the first novel which I approve of. First, the novel opens with a poem written by Emily, which is full of foreboding and sets the tone of the book perfectly. As, this time round we have a child’s bones bricked up in a chimney, a spectator in a graveyard, mentions of the infamous Hellfire Club, a visit to the last of the Pendle Hill witches and maybe, the devil himself. The mixture of old Yorkshire superstition, the science and rationality of the 19th century with a healthy dose of religious morality truly drives the story forward. Moving on from this we get to continue being enveloped in the complicated but loving relationship between the four Bronte siblings: Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell. Their relationships were complex in real life which is mirrored in this novel. Emily still remains my strong favourite but my stance on Branwell has moved slightly. I’ve often been frustrated by Branwell - but how he is presented in this novel I believe him still to be his own worst enemy - but now I pity him for not being born a girl. The distance, loneliness and some conversations in the book all seem to reach back to this great dividing point and it's not hard to believe this could be the reality of it.

Ellis litters the novel with references from the sisters' infamous novel. As the sisters go about their detecting we meet characters, visit institutes, houses and landscapes that all lead the reader into thinking, we are being given special insight into the influences of the Bronte’s world on which they based their characters and novels on. Which I loved. Then I remembered that this is a fictional work but it's too late, they hold a fictional place in my heart now.

I hope we will not have too long a wait till the next instalment…

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Brontë sister go detecting, à body is found buried (hiden) in a chimney stack and the home owner is the main suspect. But no-one can prove it or identify the body
With their Papa (as they call him) going blind and there brother Barnwell going of the rails with the help of the bottle. The girls have a lot of space not often given for girls of any standing in society, there Papa was the vicar aided by Mr Nichols who greatly admires Charlotte much to her sisters Emilly and Anbe's amusement and her distain.
Anyhow the sisters having set out to rescue the bones that have been discovered decide this needs looking into by someone else as the constable send very inept and it seems only fair that the body has a name as in life so should it be in death to give him or her some dignity. This proves a tough call and Tabby's knowledge is needed more than they expected, Tabby is the house keeper not a cat who knows the old ways as she calls them. Help comes from many sources and delightful characters and some more sinister which all adds to the tension and suspense which comes full-bodied right to the last sip.
I enjoyed this novel I'm not a Brontë connoisseur pride and prejudice doesn't do it for me, however Bella Ellis isn't writing romance but a whodunnit set in the mid-1800s and she knows the era and I hope you love this as I did.