The Brontë family venture south to London for another detecting tale. This book brings in Lydia Robinson (the eldest daughter of the Robinson family where Anne was a governess, and where Branwell fell in love with the elder Mrs Robinson) who eloped with an actor named Harry Roxby. In real life the Robinson daughters were very fond of Anne, so when Harry ends up in desperate trouble in London it is understandable that Lydia contacts Anne for help. This brings the Brontës, including Branwell, out of their familiar Yorkshire moors and into the filth and degradation of the capital. It appears that Harry has lost or stolen a jewel that he should have transported to the local criminal gang leader. He and Lydia will be killed if the jewel is not returned in seven days.
Although out of their depth in some ways, the sisters′ sturdiness in the face of danger, their intelligence, and, in no small measure, their kindness allows them to delve into the underworld and unravel the threads of the mystery, which lead them to the highest levels of British society.

Although the setting is a little more fantastical than their usual haunts (the descriptions of Victorian London are vivid and realistic, but would they really manage to navigate it so quickly?) the strength of this series is the interactions between the family and the foreshadowings of their novels and their own lives. Their personalities remain true to what has been gleaned over the years, and imagined interactions with other fictional people in the story suggests ways their characters may develop.
I found it another swift and excellent read and will continue to look out for books in this series.

I had a copy of this book early through Netgalley.

Book 3 in the Brontë Sisters Mystery and another wonderful read from Bella Ellis. I absolutely love this series of books; even the covers are special. An historical mystery set in 18th century London during times of great poverty when criminal elements ruled the slums through fear. The writing is evocative of the era and so descriptive you feel as thought you are walking amongst the slums with all their unpleasant sights and smells.

Briefly, the sister Charlotte, Emily and Anne and their brother Bramwell have gone to help their friend Lydia who’s husband Harry has been taken away by a gang, led by the infamous Noose, giving her a week to find and deliver a jewel they claim Harry has stolen. Living in poverty in a theatre Lydia is a shadow of the woman they remember but amongst the theatre cast they find support from the dashing Louis Parensell and the beautiful and enigmatic Kit. Amateur detectorists, the Brontës, are determined to find the gem and return Harry to his pregnant wife. But who is the Red Monarch, the man that scares even the toughest ruffian, Noose?

This was a real page turner for me. I just couldn’t put it down. As a theatre lover it was wonderful to feel the excitement of the show, the glamour of the front of house and at the same time the sadness and cruelty that was rife in theatres and the tawdry lives and unpleasant conditions backstage. Mystery, romance, suspense with a touch of humour all wrapped up in a wonderful historical setting. What more could you want? Oh and the reveal of the Red Monarch. Wow! Book 4 please ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set mainly in Victorian London, this third book the series captures the sinister ethos and poverty of the notorious underbelly of London succinctly. The Brontes travel to the capital to help a young friend whose husband is in grave danger. The motivations for this are many but mostly because they feel they can make a difference.

The Bronte's are portrayed believably with a relatable family dynamic. This is a twisty mystery with menacing undertones that captures the intrepid detectors investigation perfectly. Good use of sensory imagery brings Victorian London to life, making this an engaging read.

I received a copy of this book from Hodder and Stoughton via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

In The Red Monarch the Brontë sisters, along with their brother Branwell, leave their beloved Yorkshire Moors for the much less salubrious streets of Victorian London. As well as viewing it as a mission of mercy there is also, they have to admit, the thrill of having a new case to investigate and the prospect of ‘adventure aplenty and fiendishly difficult riddles to be solved’. Sounds good to me, and so it turns out.

Charlotte, as the last surviving sister, is once again given the role of custodian of the accounts of their hitherto unknown adventures as ‘lady detectorists’. There is a poignant moment in the book when Anne reassures Charlotte, ‘We shall always be at your side, irritating your every thought always, I swear it’ causing Charlotte to shudder ‘as if someone had just walked over her grave… an unwelcome message delivered from an uncertain future’.

As in the two previous books – The Vanished Bride and The Diabolical Bones – the individual characters of the siblings are carefully drawn. Indeed, the sisters themselves recognise one another’s strengths and weaknesses when it comes to their role as investigators of crime. Anne’s gift, in Charlotte’s words, is ‘to intuit revelations that are invaluable’, whilst Anne praises Charlotte’s ‘bravery and cleverness’. Emily is the adventurer of the trio, as she soon proves. And Branwell? Well, he comes in useful as a protector when he’s able to lift himself from his current melancholy state, the result of an unsuccessful (real life) love affair.

The bond between the sisters is touching, Charlotte declaring at one point ‘we are never alone when we have one another’. Their other shared passion is, of course, writing although at this point in their lives they are yet to write the novels that will make them famous and are eagerly awaiting the first review of their volume of poetry. Every author knows what that’s like! In one memorable scene Charlotte encounters a famous (male) writer who is dismissive of her literary ambitions. Fortunately, she receives a more sympathetic and encouraging response from a female novelist quite famous in her day but now, I suspect, little known. The said lady novelist proves a useful ally as well.

I had fun spotting allusions to people or places in the Brontë sisters’ novels, including one which refers to a misreading of the title of one of the sister’s poems. Full disclosure: I had to Google that one and I’m sure there were others that I missed! Such references demonstrate the author’s extensive knowledge of, and obvious affection for, the Brontës and their works, as well as acting as little gifts for the observant reader.

Of course there is also an intriguing mystery to be solved that involves Emily, Charlotte, Anne and Branwell exploring ‘the dark and undoubtedly dangerous underworld of the grimmest and most violent parts of the city’. I’ll say. What they uncover is a web of evil and depravity that reaches into the highest echelons of society.

The Red Monarch is another terrific instalment in what has become one of my favourite historical mystery series. It’s a book (and a series) I can highly recommended for fans of historical mysteries or of the Brontës.

https://lynns-books.com/2021/11/15/the-red-monarch-bronte-sisters-mystery-3-by-bella-ellis/
4.5 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Yet another winning detectorist novel

The Red Monarch is the third novel by Bella Ellis and is a story that. again, easily captured my attention. This time the three sisters, accompanied by their brother, make their way to London to help a friend who finds herself in dire straits. Lydia Roxby (formerly Robinson) finds herself alone and destitute. Lydia has been disinherited by her family after eloping with Harry. The two live in poverty in London and Harry is driven by circumstances to a life of crime. As the story begins Harry is taken by notorious crime lord, Noose, having stolen a valuable jewel. Lydia has a week to return the missing item or both will suffer the consequences (involving lead boots and a watery grave perhaps). Anne is the only friend that Lydia can turn to and consequently the family soon find themselves travelling to the Capital to help.

As with the Diabolical Bones I’m not going to elaborate on the plot. Instead, I will again focus on those elements of the story that worked really well for me.

Firstly, the setting. This time we are taken away from the wilds of Howarth and the moors that inspired their works. We find ourselves in a London roughly around the year 1846 (the sisters having recently published their poems). London was a place of extreme contrasts. Home to royalty, nobles and the upper class with their opulent lifestyles and extreme wealth but on the opposite side of the coin overpopulated by those suffering deprivation and poverty. This is a city with a seething criminal underbelly. Dirty and unsanitary, people lived in dilapidated slums and were driven to lives of crime. Ellis uses the period well utilising the infamous slums of the period known as the Rookery. A seething mess of alleys and a twisted warren of streets where unsuspecting visitors could easily become targets for pickpockets and much worse. We spend a good portion of time in a theatre where Lydia and her husband lived in a small apartment. I just loved this setting. The theatre is an inspired choice, it almost has a world of it’s own contained beneath the stage and seating. Twisted corridors, rickety staircases leading to the precarious heights of the building and below the bright lights a warren of secret tunnels created for the rich and famous as a way to come and go in secret. It’s a wonderful contrast between the gilded public side of the building and the worn and dark interior that hides many secrets.

Ellis manages to take the siblings into the very heart of danger as they explore London looking for answers.

Secondly, the characters. Again, the family are really well portrayed. The love between them all is apparent even as their differences shine out from the pages. All the sisters have alternating chapters but Emily in particular enjoys the limelight. Their characters really stand out, Charlotte’s shy yet bold nature, Emily’s complete desire to follow her own singular route, Anne, just maturing enough to have her own voice and Branwell who comes across even better in this instalment as he enjoys a period free from other influences. On top of this we make the acquaintance of two very enigmatic members of the theatre who help the family stay safe and guide them through the perils of London. These two characters really play into the story, particularly the actor Louis who is undoubtedly being portrayed as inspiration for Emily’s future writing. The Machiavellian underworld has some very seedy characters that come from all walks of life, stooping to despicable acts and taking life without thought or regret.

Again, I loved the writing. Ellis manages to really conjure the period, her pacing is great and after a little set up I found myself glued to the page.

In terms of criticisms. Well, I haven’t elaborated on the plot for good reason. I would say it’s fairly obvious what is going on here in many respects, but, I don’t really think that’s a negative to be honest – you have to remember the time and the characters themselves. Reading from a different and much more cynical period it’s much easier to think the worst unlike these genteel and sheltered young women.

Overall, I’m loving this series. There’s the mysteries, the period, the amazing characters and some small fantastical elements that play into the sensibilities and superstitions of the period. My only quibble is (knowing the short lives of the Brontës I worry how many more novels we can expect and enjoy (hopefully at least a couple more).

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

The Red Monarch is another brilliant addition to this series starring the Brontë sisters as detectors. This time the sisters are far from their home in Haworth, flung into the dark underbelly of Victorian London, where they find more than they bargained for when answering a call for help.

With each new book, the character of each of the Brontë sisters is developed further and this entry also features a delightful cast of supporting characters, both those who are there to aid the Brontës and those who are there to thwart them.

The setting is described vividly and brought to life for the reader almost as an additional character. From the grand houses and elaborate theatre down to the slums of the Rookery, I felt like I was personally visiting every new place.

I felt this one was a little more predictable than the previous ones, although there are still some shocks to be had. It was, however, fascinating to see the sisters in a new location and so somewhat out of their depth.

Overall, a highly enjoyable read.

Lydia, the daughter of Branwell's married ex-lover, eloped with a young actor, Harry Roxby, & they have been living in dire straits in London ever since. Harry is now being held for ransom by the leader of a notorious criminal gang & his safe return depends upon Lydia finding a missing jewel. Lydia contacts the Bronte sisters & begs for their help & the three sisters plus Branwell head for London.

The third book in this series is slightly darker in tone involving the kidnapping of young girls for nefarious purposes. Again, the incorporation of people such as Victorian authors Charles Dickens & Catherine Crowe lends itself well to the story. There was also the author's take on what could possibly have sparked the beginning of Wuthering Heights in the imagination of Emily Bronte. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first two books so I have rated it 4 stars. I recommend this series for any historical mystery fans.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this engaging novel

think bronte sisters and sherlock holmes and this gives you an idea and hint as to what to expect...

the bronte sisters receive an urgent letter asking for help and as they have decided that they are detectors they go to help their friend

their friend eloped and has been disowned by her family, her husband has been kidnapped and she only has a few days to find the jewel that her husband hid away...

with the help from the bronte sisters finding the jewel and getting her husband back should be easier...the game is a foot...

an enjoyable read for anyone who likes reading about the bronte sisters and a little bit of detecting

I always read the books in this series so quickly, and this third instalment was no exception.

I had to remind myself as to how the last book ended because it is referenced in this one but there’s not a lot of detail. Not that it takes away anything from this novel - I think it can easily stand up on its own but the other two add a lot of substance to this one which is something to bear in mind.

This novel differed to the others in the way that the villain is revealed as someone we the reader are not introduced to explicitly. In the last novel the twist was who did it, this time I found myself accusing so many different characters and in the end it was still a surprise. I really enjoy a well done mystery and the other has managed to do just that with this novel as well as the other two. I especially liked that it felt fresh and not a copy and paste job as some sequels can verge on being.

I particularly liked that this novel focused more on Emily and what the author imagines to be the back story for her literacy works. I also really liked how Branwell is written. He is a main character but not once does he become toxic or try to take the focus off his sisters. I like to imagine this is how he really was!

As with the other books, the world of the Brontes is written as if it were their first hand accounts, and it feels like the author stumbled upon their diaries. Something as far fetched as Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell solving mysteries could have been done so poorly. But we the reader hang off of every word as though it were the truth penned by them and not an imagined alternate reality written over a century later.

This is the third book in the Bronte Mysteries series and I think it might just be the best one.

The Bronte sisters receive a letter from a friend. Lydia Roxby us in London and desperately needs someone she trusts to help her. Her husband has gone missing having become involved in a deal with a criminal gang in London. She has a week to find the lost jewel, return it to the gangster and save her husband’s life.

The Brontes, accompanied by Branwell, head to London, a place they find both fascinating and repellent.

As they begin to investigate they find themselves drawn deeper into the world of Victorian organised crime: protection, prostitution and poverty. The Brontes are shocked by very little having witness such things in Yorkshore, but even they are taken aback by the juxtaposition between rich and poor and the dangers they face just walking through the city.

The story is complex and multi-layered involving theatres and inns, the rich and poor. The Brontes see the reality of the grim behind the glamour if the capital city.

As with previous books in the series, The different personalities of the sisters are clear and distinc; in this booknit is Anne’s turn to shine as she reveals herself to be a compassionate, optimistic and intelligent woman.

If you like historical fiction and fantastic mysteries you will definitely enjoy this.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for my gifted copy of The Red Monarch.

I really like this series and was looking forward to this new book. And I wasn’t disappointed! The old characters in new environment is always an interesting idea, and London in the 19th century is quite a treat ( not really, of course) I found the story quite interesting, the character development was again well done and easy to follow. Each sister acquired some new nuances and that’s why some more depth. Also the new characters were interesting and helped to understand the story better. I liked the twists and can only completely recommend this book!

This is the third in the Bronte Sister Mysteries and it is just as good as its predecessors. The sisters and their brother, Branwell, forsake their beloved Yorkshire for the perils of London in order to try and find the kidnapped brother of one of their friends.

There is a really clever plot set against the dark underbelly of Victorian London. The characters are so well created, Emily is still my favourite with her dry sense of humour and caustic observations. The pace of the story telling is just right. The social observations of poverty, criminality and abuse of the poor are pitch perfect.

The Red Monarch can be read as a standalone but you are really missing out if you don't read the previous two books.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m really enjoying this series which imagines the Brontë sisters as detectors helping to solve mysteries and right some wrongs where they see injustice around them. The Red Monarch is the third instalment in the series and follows on from The Vanished Bride and The Diabolical Bones, and while each one works as a standalone, you’d be missing out on some of the background and build-up of the characters (as much as the Brontës need building up!) and so I do recommend reading the series from the beginning and in order to get the most out of it.

The Red Monarch sees the sisters taken out of their comfort zone when Lydia Roxby, née Robinson, writes to Anne for help. They head to London – unfamiliar territory to them all – and find themselves in a race against time to prevent the deaths of Lydia and her husband, Harry. It’s a complex mystery as the Brontë siblings come up against some shadowy underground figures in pursuit of a missing jewel that Harry was supposed to procure and has now been accused of stealing. The novel takes a dark turn as they come to understand exactly what Harry – and now themselves – are involved in. I like that this case is particularly challenging in that they initially have very little information to go on. Lydia knows nothing, and no one knows what the missing jewel looks like or where it’s hidden. I do think that the plot occasionally relies upon some slightly too convenient developments, and yet I found myself caught up in the events as the sisters race against the clock to save Lydia, Harry, and indeed themselves.

As with the previous two novels, Emily remains my firm favourite of the three sisters – she stands out for me because of her sense of adventure and her absolute fearlessness. That said, all three sisters contribute to each mystery – they all have their strengths and their individual skill sets complement each other nicely. While they clearly love each other dearly, I do enjoy the hints of rivalry between them which evolves into bickering at times – it makes them seem human, relatable, and utterly normal and I like that Bella Ellis hasn’t simply put them on a pedestal in using them as characters but has presented them as mere mortals. I also like that they allow their brother, Branwell, to tag along. He likes to think of himself a detector and while he has his uses, he’s never allowed to steal the limelight and he adds a touch of comedy to the narrative more often than not.

The Red Monarch is another intriguing mystery for our detectors, and one that is yet again quite different to the earlier novels in the series. I like the way in which the social commentary draws parallels with the present day, and particularly the corruption of the so-called elite and the way that the rules seem to be different for those at the top. As with the earlier novels in the series, there are some wonderful Easter eggs for fans dotted throughout the novel (Thornfield, anyone?) and I really like the way in which the events can be taken as influence for the novels that these three sisters go on to write. Recommended.

I really enjoyed this third volume of the series, though it would work equally well as a stand alone novel. The Bronte sisters are detectorists again, trying to save their friend’s husband and find a jewel of unknown description. The three sisters, with brother Bramwell, travel to London for this mission. I missed the Yorkshire setting, with the wonderful descriptions of the wild moors, but the evil depraved slums are depicted equally vividly. I do hope there’s another one to come….

I enjoyed the two previous Brontë books by Bella Ellis but unfortunately I did not enjoy this one. Whilst the previous two were fanciful this one crossed the line and, in my opinion, verged on the ridiculous. I persevered and finished the book but I felt that it was overlong. As a result I am afraid that I could not recommend this story.

Lydia has eloped with a young actor, Harry Roxby, and following her disinheritance, the couple been living in poverty in London. Harry has become embroiled with a criminal gang and is in terrible danger after allegedly losing something very valuable that he was meant to deliver to their leader. The desperate and heavily pregnant Lydia has a week to return what her husband supposedly stole, or he will be killed. She knows there are few people who she can turn to in this time of need, but the sisters agree to help Lydia, beginning a race against time to save Harry's life.
This is the third out for the three famous detectorists & the series just keeps on getting better. The characters have wonderful depth & the descriptions of the locations made me feel that I was actually there. The sisters & Bramwell have just a week to find the jewel ‘Nook' thinks Harry stole. A page turner of a read, which I thoroughly enjoyed & my favourite of the series so far
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This is the third book in the Brontë mysteries series by Bella Ellis and quite possibly the darkest yet. We're thrown into a web of intrigue and murder in deepest London in the latest escapade involving the sisters. What captures my heart most about these books is the uncovering of the real women behind the demure skirts and writing desks of the Haworth Parsonage. As a fan of the Brontë sisters I've always wondered where their passion, force and determination came from, surely three spinsters weren't able to describe these feelings with such realism from a small town in Yorkshire. Bella Ellis' books open a whole new Brontë world to us overcoming death, destruction and being women in a male dominated world. Emily has always been my favourite sister and to see her come alive in these pages has filled me with joy, she's precisely how I imagined her. I would read these books all day everyday if I could.

Second in series and even better than first, this one is interlaced with historical facts and scenes of Victorian London. Horror of children being stolen away and murder. All told in the form of three sisters and a brother namely The Brontes

These Bronte adventures are proving rather gruesome but I like to think that the sisters might have had a few adventures outside of their writing desks. This one leads them to London slums and the theatrical world. This is the third book and may be better to start with number 1, as there are other recurring characters apart from the Bronte family. A clever premise and thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks to Netgalley.

Another fantastic offering from Bella Ellis! I really enjoyed this one with the narrative taking place in London and the heightened stakes.

Charlotte, Anne and Emily are brilliantly written, each with their own distinctive personality even though they are often, historically, thought of as very similar. I particularly enjoyed the added information we get in terms of their individual thoughts, especially those that hint towards events to come.

The plot was well fleshed-out and there were many dark and unexpected twists that were perfectly written so as to move the story along, rather than provide shock value.

All in all, an excellent read and one that I was very pleased to have been sent after enjoying the previous two instalments!

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for sending me this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.