This is the third book I have read by this author and once again the descriptions and style of writing is wonderfully evocative of the times in which it is set.
The London of the period is cleverly portrayed as is the relationship between the siblings.
My only niggle was that, whilst I could easily picture the Brontes detectoring in their home environment in Yorkshire, I found it harder to accept that they would be roaming around the grimy criminal infested backstreets of the London of the day.

The Red Monarch is the third instalment in The Bronte Sisters series by Bella Ellis.
This time the action moves to London, where the sisters, accompanied by the hapless Branwell , go to the rescue of Ann's former pupil Lydia. Having eloped with Harry Roxby, and now finding herself with child , Lydia is devastated when a violent crook breaks into their home, accuses Harry of stealing from him and snatches him away, leaving Lydia with the ominous warning that she has one week to return what Harry has stolen or they will all die. Desperate and with no one else to turn to, Lydia writes to Ann and soon the sisters are on the case, but this time they face a more dangerous foe than ever before, a man so deadly that he strikes terror into even the most violent criminals and toughest slum dwellers of the city, the Red Monarch.
I think it was a good move to take the sisters to a new setting, and the author has done an incredible job of bringing the slums of Victorian London to life on the page, the writing is so descriptive that you can almost smell the stench of the streets. The new setting also allows her to explore the very different personalities of the sisters, and I was pleased to see that Branwell had more of a part to play in this book, and consequently we got to learn more about him too. This is definitely the darkest of the books to date, and some of the crimes that are committed in the book are brutal and upsetting. The book is a real page turner, and we meet several new and fascinating characters who have a real impact on the sisters. The story is very well crafted, and I thought the author did a wonderful job of keeping the reader guessing about who to trust and what is really going on. This is a series that is going from strength to strength and I look forward to seeing where it goes next.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

In this third instalment of the Bronte Sisters Mystery series, we follow the Bronte siblings as they embark on another case as amateur detectives.

In The Red Monarch the Brontes are looking into the disappearance of a mysterious jewel in London, for which a man is being held hostage until it is returned to the hands of a dangerous criminal gang. That man is Harry Roxby, husband of Lydia Robinson who Anne previously taught as a governess and daughter of the infamous Mrs Robinson who Branwell Bronte had an affair with.

As in the previous two books in the series, this was an enjoyable and well paced story. I love how believable and well observed each of the Brontes are and how you can clearly see the author's fondness for and knowledge about the Brontes coming through in the writing.

I must confess that I liked the cases in the previous two books more than this one as they felt more gothic and darker in nature which was fitting for the setting on the Yorkshire Moors. With the action being moved to London in The Red Monarch, some of this atmosphere was lost. The dangerous streets of London, full of shady characters and crime, were well depicted in the story however I missed the connection between the Brontes and the moors in this book. I also didn't find the case as compelling and interesting as the previous books however I did enjoy the brilliant cast of characters introduced in the story so there was plenty to make up for that.

Overall this is another strong instalment in the series and, while there are some narrative threads running throughout the three books, they could easily be read as standalones too, particularly by readers who already know a bit about the history of the Bronte family.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.

Bella does it again.....she really cannot write a bad book! The writing style evokes the period so well that it subtly enables you to feel a part of the Victorian era without slowing down the involved plot or the wide range of characters. I have been so very much looking forward to meeting up with the Brontes again and it was as if I had not finished the first novel (although read at least a year ago) and was continuing on with their investigations and lives.

Thank you Netgalley, publisher and Bella for the opportunity to read this for an honest review.

I've really enjoyed all of the Bella Ellis stories so far, but I think this one is my favourite. I thoroughly enjoyed it, all the way through, and I was utterly caught up in the setting and the story. It's so well done - you really sense the period but without it being heavy handed or show off (you know...where an author is just desperate to demonstrate just *how much* research they have done! None of that here thank goodness, though clearly our Bella Ellis knows what she is writing!) So it feels right, and the plot is a good mixture of chilling and exciting. But what really makes these stories for me is the characterisation of the three sisters. Normally Anne is my favourite, but this time it was Emily, for me, that I just loved and really, really felt for. She's marvellous. I love the way the sisters interact together, and how unique they are. It also felt like there was a little more Bramwell this time, and I warmed to him a bit more than previously.
Being set in London they are, of course, far away from their beloved moors, but I enjoyed seeing them out of place, and in very real danger, and it was interesting to see how they remained true to themselves, even with everything London had to throw at them.
It's funny how easy it is to believe that the Brontes were detectorists! I have totally bought into this concept, and I'm already looking forward to their next adventure.

The third in the excellent Brontës-as-detectors series is, I think, the best yet. The story takes the sisters - and the lovelorn Branwell - away from the Yorkshire moors and into the London theatre district, where young Lydia Robinson - Anne's former pupil and daughter of Branwell's erstwhile lover - is in more than a little trouble. Heavily pregnant, living in a squalid room at the theatre, cut off by her family and with a missing husband who is paying the price of getting mixed up with some very unsavoury people, Lydia is certainly in need of help. And, as it turns out, she's not the only one.

The Red Monarch turns an unflinching eye on a London where powerful people trade in misery. It's perhaps the Brontës' most dangerous adventure yet and it's hard to see how they are all going to escape with their lives (though of course we know they will).

There are some nice references: in a surprising turn of events Emily finds herself unexpectedly beguiled by a young actor named - in a satisfying in-joke - Louis Parensell. Another character - ego has Charlotte similarly intrigued - has the stage name "Celine Varens" - later, of course, used by Charlotte for a character in Jane Eyre. Charlotte also has a brief meeting with Charles Dickens and the writer Catherine Crowe, and there's some interesting stuff about how she, Catherine, not Edgar Allan Poe, had a claim to having written the first detective story. Still, Catherine remarks, "I'm sure history will record the facts accurately.". (Spoiler: it didn't.)

Socially conscious Anne remains, as ever, my favourite. "I shall never believe in minding only for myself and looking away. This world will never be a place of equity if we count only our own blessings and never seek to share them."

A captivating read. Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy and provide an honest review.

This is the third novel featuring the Brontes from Bella Ellis and yet again she has managed to deliver an entertaining read. The sisters and their brother go to London to help Lydia Robinson (Branwell had an ill fated affair with her mother), Lydia ran away from home to marry an actor and he has become involved in a dark affair featuring some of the worst criminals in London. With lots of vivid description of the poverty faced by many in London and the dangers of the criminal underworld. Ellis is very knowledgable about the history of the Brontes so the timelines always work well A great series.

This series, featuring the Bronte Sisters as ‘detectorists,’ is going from strength to strength. In this third outing, the sisters, accompanied by brother Bramwell, swop the wide, Yorkshire moors, for the narrow alleys and notorious, poverty ridden slums, of the Rookery in London.

Bramwell is still bemoaning his lost love, wallowing in drink and self-pity, when a note comes from Lydia Roxby, previously Robinson and the daughter of the woman who he is obsessed with. The letter comes to Anne, saying that her husband, Harry, has been snatched by criminals and that ‘Noose,’ Lord of the Rookery, is demanding back a jewel he believes that Harry has stolen, or he will kill them both. To make matters worse, Lydia is pregnant and staying in the theatre of her unsympathetic father-in-law.

Without even waiting to read the review of their recently published collection of poetry, the siblings set out to help. The sisters for altruistic reasons and Bramwell in the hope that he can prove himself to Lydia’s mother. This novel makes great use of the setting, both of the theatre and of the slums. We have some great characters, such as Kit Thornfield, an actress, and Louis Parensell, who befriends Emily. We learn a great deal about Emily’s character in this novel. A very enjoyable addition to the series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Another excellent book in the clever series, depicting the fictional lives of the Bronte sisters . This time set in London, it’s a must read for those who have read the first two books. It’s fairly brutal in its description of Victorian England but probably unfortunately fairly accurate.
Do read the other books first then you will really enjoy the growth of personality and characters.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

These books by Bella Ellis are a wonderful treat for any Bronte fans - or anyone who enjoys a good mystery that isn't gory or gratuitously violent. I loved the humour and interplay between the siblings and enjoyed the little in-jokes - I googled the name Louis Parensell on a whim for example. The mystery is well-thought out but it is the characters that I enjoy most, and the historical details of Victorian London. Nice to encounter Mr Dickens as well.

Light-hearted fun, whether you have any clue who the Bronte sisters were, or not. The storyline, of kidnap, rescue and the realisation of how utterly miserable life can be for those born into poverty isn't exactly unique, but Ellis gives it a spin that sets it apart. Her characterisation of each of the Bronte siblings might be based on what students of their work and lives already know, or it might be completely imagined, but it doesn't matter, as it's all so ridiculous that it's quite gripping. A light read that won't try your intellect, just what's needed sometimes!

I really enjoyed this third book in the series about the Brontë sisters and their brother. For me, it was the best yet. The descriptions of London were so atmospheric and the plight of the poor from the mid 1800s was so graphically written that it felt in places that the reader was there too. It is clear the author is really knowledgeable about the family. My only negative point was that I didn’t feel any difference really in the characters of Charlotte, Anne and to a slightly lesser extent Emily. The chapters were written alternating between them but I really struggled to tell them apart. The plot and story held me gripped and it was a true rollercoaster of a tale. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview copy of this novel.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (plenty of reviews like that already).

I've read and enjoyed the previous books in this series, so was delighted to be invited to read this latest addition.

The book started in a melancholy fashion, so I wasn't sure what to expect. However a satisfying mystery soon presented itself. The plot was well thought out, with the action taking us to London. I have no doubt at all that the dark underbelly of London described in this novel is authentic for that time (and indeed probably persists in some fashion today!) - life was harsh, unpredictable, and probably short if you were poor.

In this novel, more so than the previous ones in the series, we get to know the characters of the Bronte sisters more, together with their brother Branwell. They are all so different, yet unite in common cause to make a difference; rather than giving up the ghost at the first setback, they fight for what is right. Stirring stuff.

I hope that there will be further books in this series!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

There is always a yell of happiness in this house when a new Bella Ellis book lands on the kindle. I read this pretty quickly as I was so keen to be taken into the world of the Brontes again. Fancy then trying to help the mistress of their drunken brother Bramwell? They head to London and so the scenery and landscape feels very different but very fresh too.

Always recommended as it's a real treat to be back in the Bronte world.

This is the third book in the Bronte Sisters Mysteries and it is just as brilliant as the previous books . The sisters and their brother Branwell are asked to find the husband of a dear friend who has been kidnapped .Set in London in 1852 this is a London of poverty ,crime and something even more sinister .The characters they meet are interesting and well written ,I felt I knew them and could feel the vibrancy of life in that era .The story is fast paced ,gripping ,atmospheric and I absolutely loved it .I think this is my favourite book in the series so far, I do hope that more will follow. Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

Again, another book by Bella Ellis about the Bronte sisters that I thoroughly enjoyed. Despite it being about harsh conditions and humans in despair. Lovely to see how the three sisters differ, having their own opinions yet still being very attached and respectful to each other.

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

With her powerful storytelling and immersive world-building, Bella Ellis has done it again. This third installment of the Bronte Sisters Mysteries will keep you speeding through the chapters as the suspense and drama build.
This time, the Brontes are summoned south to London by an acquaintance who has recently eloped, only to have her husband kidnapped by a band of rogues who give her one week to find and return "the jewel" they have lost.
The Bronte sisters are accompanied by their brother Branwell. I like that this series humanizes Branwell and draws out from the reader a feeling of regret for what he could have been. And the characterization of all three sisters is brilliantly done, particularly Emily in all her antisocial glory.
The suspense and pacing are excellent.

Content note: The evil that the Brontes encounter is very grim, involving dens of iniquity and child trafficking. Readers should be aware that there are a couple of brief moments that involve the supernatural, though these are not central to the plot.

I've read a previous book in this series by Bella Ellis and found that the Bronte sisters' personalities shone wonderfully. However in "The Red Monarch" I felt as if they were outshone by London. The descriptions of London were wonderful, as was the plot of discovering where the "jewel" was and who the Red Monarch was. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different sister and there wasn't much to differentiate them in this book. Hoping for another though to prove me wrong!

A very different book to the ones set around Haworth where the family live. Knowing the area well i enjoyed the books set around their family areas, Haworth, Wycoller etc but just didn’t enjoy the characters in London. I found myself skimming through some sections. Having said that, the descriptions of the area of London they found themselves in was very powerful and highlighted poverty and power. A well written book that I am sure will appeal to many readers. I’m sorry but it just wasn’t for me.

The Red Monarch is the third book in this delightful series featuring the sisters Brontë: Emily, Anne and Charlotte. In this fourth book their brother Branwell plays more of a role than he did in the first books.
Well now, only recently I visited the Fries Museum who currently have an exhibition with a great number of portraits on loan from the London Portrait Gallery. There they were, the famous sisters, painted by their brother Branwell in 1864. I would love to copy the picture here but I don't know how. I'm sure you can find it ;-).

At the start of this story, the sisters are at home, writing and working as always, when they receive a message from Lydia Robinson, who eloped with her boyfriend Harry and is now married and pregnant and living under horrible circumstances. Harry began working for a criminal which led to more criminals which again led to heavier crimes. Apparently Harry now has stolen a jewel and the sisters need to help Lydia to find this jewel before Harry will be killed by someone called The Noose. All very frightening, and above that the sisters have to travel to London to ‘detect’ the solution to this big problem.
The book is filled with descriptions of the late 19th century London, a place where three young ladies from York are absolutely not wanted or needed – or so some unsavoury types try to tell them. And not only tell, the sisters have to literally fight for the freedom of Harry, Lydia and themselves. There is a lot going on in this story and I liked this book just a little more than the first two. There were some interesting characters and we get more insight in the different characters of the sisters. After all, they are three very different personalities. It was not very hard to guess what Harry was supposed to have stolen, and this added an interesting idea to the plot.

Thanks to Hodder&Stoughton and Netgalley for this review copy.