I thought this was going to be another historic type chick lit and quickly found myself really enjoying reading this and that the writing style was an awful lot better than I had been expecting......so I investigated the author only to find that Bella Ellis is the Bronte-sationed pseudonym of one of my favourite authors Rowan Coleman! Her novel “The summer of imposssible things” made it into my five star list, I’m hard to please so there aren’t many there.
The story line is that the Brontë sisters become detectorists and investigate the disappearance of a young bride from a property near them where a school friend is the governess. I will say no more, whether you like reading the Brontë’s novels or not this is a very compelling plot, enjoy it. I do hope there are going to be more, keep writing Bella Ellis.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author for the opportunity to read this.

It's always a risky business to write fictional stories featuring people that have left a mark in our world. The Vanished Bride is the story of the Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, as they solve the mysterious disappearance of a young bride in 1845. This story is written in a way much like Sherlock Holmes, as the sisters take a keen interest in trying to understand what transpired in Chester Grange and bring justice to Elizabeth Chester.

However, this interest in becoming a "detector" is an unusual one for women in the 19th century as they are expected to know their place, i.e., to be obedient and leave serious matters to the men. This novel had some commentary on women's rights and the unfairness of their lives. While this is something I definitely agree with, for the context this takes place, I found the Brontë sisters to have a very modern voice and opinion on this issue, one that I don't think it's quite believable for the century they live in.

The sisters as Ellis portrays them feel very one-dimensional. I had difficulty sometimes in distinguishing between Charlotte and Anne's POV, and Emily seemed to be another version of Sherlock Holmes. When it came down to the characters, the writing was superficial and as I mentioned, it's particularly difficult to write a character based on a living person, who has been studied throughout the decades. And I don't know enough about the Brontës to comment if the portrayal was properly done, I can only say the writing wasn't quite right to me. Also, Branwell can quite literally choke. I hate him.

Overall, the mystery was interesting but the story dragged on as the sisters traveled from place to place. I am not familiar with the UK so every place felt the same, especially considering the lack of atmosphere and distinctiveness to each setting from the writing. It was also quite annoying how the Brontë kept referring to themselves as "detectors", how brilliant their "detecting" was or how easy it was to understand the clues do to their "detecting". After a few chapters, it feels very juvenile and irritating.

A little side note I'd like to mention is that, even though the sisters defend women's rights, they are very judgemental on women of "low virtue". As they were daughters of the parson of Haworth, and considering the time period, I can understand why they would be this way. However, I personally don't appreciate these comments and I hope that this won't contribute to the perpetuation of the stigma regarding sex workers of sexually active women. The author wants to show us the Brontë supporting women and giving them justice, but this support needs to involve all types of women and I hope we never forget this. Again, I know this is historical fiction but I just needed to comment on it.

I really enjoyed the idea of the Brontë sisters solving crimes and mysteries together but the execution fell flat to me. However, if you have a fondness for them and their books, I do recommend picking this one up.

In the Vanished Bride, Bella Ellis brings together the beloved Brontë sisters in a murder mystery full of twists and turns which will be sure to captivate and charm readers.

The novel is told through the perspectives of Charlotte, Anne and Emily as they try and figure out the truth behind the mysterious and sinister disappearance of young Elizabeth Chester who disappears one night, all thats left behind is a pool of blood. It’s up to the Brontës to find all the clues and uncover the secrets of Chester Grange and its inhabitants.

I loved the way each of the sisters was brought to life within the novel, each so distinct and personable. Charlotte is the romantic of the three, who is nursing a broken heart after indulging in a forbidden romance. Emily is the strong willed sister who is logical and follows the clues no matter where they lead. Anne is the youngest but she is not be under estimated, she is every bit as smart as her sisters and brave to boot, she takes on the role of investigating inside Chester Grange regardless of the dangers that lurk inside.

As well as the characterisations themselves, I really enjoyed reading how the mystery unravelled and how the smallest clues were decoded and contributed to the mystery as a whole. As the story progresses, the case goes from a puzzling disappearance to a dark and twisted story of buried family secrets. While you have to suspend your disbelief at certain points when the sisters are investigating, it’s still an entertaining read and I thought all the pieces fit together brilliantly.

I also loved that certain elements of Ellis own story, were connected to the Brontë’s other work. Ellis provides a fictional inspiration or explanation for characters and names that appear in Wuthering Heights for example or Jane Eyre and it was so great to see how she weaved these in. It was fun to think about where these ideas could have come from and Ellis exploration of the Brontë’s as detectors is one of the best I’ve seen for sure. I love these little details that were sprinkled within the story and they definitely furthered my enjoyment of the novel.

Overall, The Vanished Bride is a really enjoyable and impressive mystery / thriller with a charming setting and three loveable main characters. Nobody can tell what the Brontë sisters reactions would be to this tale but it has all the best elements from their works so I’m sure they’d approve.

Review to be posted: 21st October 2019

An amazing novel and a solid mystery, well written and fascinating.
It was great to meet the Bronte sisters and see them in the role of detectives. They're well written and well researched characters and I love them.
The plot was engrossing and entertaining and the mystery kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading other books by this author and other instalments in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The Vanished Bride is set in 1845 and stars Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell Brontë. The story takes the basic premise that with their vivid and unique imaginations, the Brontës would be ideal detectives. So, when a local woman goes missing under violent looking circumstances, and the constabulary proves useless, the Brontës begin to make enquiries.

I liked the characterization of the Brontës. Branwell doesn't appear much, but the three sisters are all given a good amount of character development and page time. There might be a few points where each sister is a little bit of a caricature -- Charlotte is romantic, Anne is demure and Emily is wild -- but overall the Ellis creates believable representations of the sisters. They're also good, well-written characters in their own right, whether or not they are realistic. I think whether or not you've read they're work or know anything about the family, you'll be able to enjoy these characters.

I also liked the story of The Vanished Bride. There are lots of different historical elements pulled in and lots of different avenues for the sisters to explore. It does a really good job of the Victorian setting and atmosphere. One thing I especially liked was that, within the investigation and the mystery, there were lots of elements that you could see -- if this had actually happened -- might have inspired each of the best-known books the sisters would go on to write. You can kind of see the things that might inspire Jane Eyre, or Wuthering Heights or Agnes Grey.

The mystery was intriguing, with plenty of dropped clues and red herring to keep you guessing. I had a few different theories at various plots and I really liked the way the solution was achieved.

The Vanished Bride is a charming historical mystery, which should appeal to whether you're a fan of the Brontës or not. It's a good, strong start to a series and I'd pick up the next one when it continues.

Although it took me a while to get into 'The Vanished Bride' I was totally hooked by the end. The characters were warm and engaging and there was a nice balance between reveals that you could correctly guess in advance and extra twists to keep you on your toes.

The Vanished Bride is a joy to read. It follows the famous Brontë sisters who, as amateur detectives they attempt to solve the mystery of a young wife and mother who has disappeared from her home.

This book is well written and totally draws you in. This is the first in The Brontë Sisters mystery so I’m looking forward to future instalments.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for the chance to review.

Absolutely loved this book. It's a charming historical mystery that is compelling and perfect period fiction. A fascinating insight to the Bronte sisters,

The Vanished Bride by Bella Ellis
I must admit that I was initially sceptical about whether the author could make credible a story which involved the Bronte sisters becoming amateur “lady detectors” but I am very pleased to say that this is a very believable story. It is clear that the author has a very good understanding of the Bronte sisters their lives and interactions. The story is set at a time when the Bronte sisters have all returned to live together at the Haworth Parsonage. Branwell is busy bringing further shame on the family with his drunken and debauched behaviour and their father is suffering increasingly with his diminishing eyesight due to cataracts.
They learn of the disappearance of a young lady at a nearby house where a quantity of blood has been discovered in her bedroom. Her husband is immediately under suspicion of her murder but with the local constabulary in his control there seems to be no investigation of her demise. The Bronte sisters, using the excuse of their friendship with the family governess, decide to investigate and put their intellect to bear upon this terrible tragedy.
The period detail is thorough and interesting and the fact that they are strong independent ladies investigating the disappearance is covered by a clever ruse. It is an intricate and appealing story with many twists and turns until we arrive at the resolution. This is apparently the first in a series of books about the lady detectors much in the same vein as The Murder of Patience Brooks by J C Briggs, where Charles Dickens investigates murders in the Victorian period.
Many thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Thank you to Bella Ellis, Hodder and Staughton and Net Galley for the ARC of The Vanished Bride.
What a fantastic idea, the Bronte sisters as sleuths. I absolutely loved it. Okay, if you're a Bronte purist it might not be your cup of tea, but I enjoyed the premise, the historical settings and the exploration into the Brontes as individual characters. The Bronte's story is such a sad tale that I found it rather refreshing to envisage them as sparky detectorists with flawed and modern characteristics that showed bravery and spirit, rather than three girls who were of the genteel poor and who sadly died before their time living their short lives through their stories. The ending has given me hope that Bella Ellis will revisit the Brontes as detectorists and write more about them. Bravo! I loved it! 5 super stars.

The Brontë sisters need little introduction. Appearing in what I believe (and sincerely hope!) is the first in a series, I absolutely loved seeing Charlotte, Emily, and Anne in a completely different light. Gathered together at Haworth parsonage, they are shocked to hear of the events at Chester Grange, situated a few miles away, from which Elizabeth Chester has gone missing. Knowing one of staff at Chester Grange, they begin to ask a few questions and to seek answers to her disappearance, driven by their insatiable curiosity, sense of justice, and at least partly inspired by a news article regarding "specially trained and educated policemen engaged entirely in the exclusive profession of “detecting” to solve crimes, using their wit and intellect to search out the guilty."

As characters, these three ladies work brilliantly. I loved the sibling rivalry between them, with two often siding against the third, allegiances shifting constantly. When one is in need, however, the other two are immediately there to support and comfort, and their companionship was always apparent. Ellis writes the three sisters as being highly intelligent and intensely curious – traits which serve them well in their new role as amateur sleuths. It’s clear that there are going to be some difficulties for them in the course of their investigation – particularly with the attitudes of men at the time – and yet they don’t feel that there is an option to leave this to the authorities. If they don’t investigate Elizabeth’s disappearance, it seems that no one else will, and I loved the tenacity shown by all three. Each of the them brings something a little different to the team, and while they all have their moments, Emily was my favourite. She is fearless, and cares little for the what is considered to be suitable behaviour for a young woman, and she was immensely fun to read. "I do not have time to waste on the weaknesses of men."

The official investigation into Elizabeth’s disappearance seems to have stopped after a half-hearted attempt to track down some gypsies spotted in the area at the time. While they cannot become officially involved, the Brontë sisters begin their own quiet investigation, believing that if they don’t, no one else will. While they do not have much experience in the area, they are extremely well-read and intelligent ladies, and they are prepared to do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of Elizabeth’s disappearance. It’s a particularly interesting crime, with a significant amount of blood found in Elizabeth’s chamber, but no sign of a body. As they investigate, they begin to find new clues and red herrings, and I loved their moments of speculation as they try to work out what is and isn’t important as the truth of the matter is gradually revealed.

Set in the mid-nineteenth century, Ellis highlights the inequalities of a society which sees women as little more than property. The sisters are fully aware of the unfairness of it all, and must occasionally rely upon their rather amusing and somewhat inept brother, Branwell, as men refuse to speak to them, demanding to know where their husbands are. Despite this, they continue to seek justice for a woman which might not otherwise be achieved. Ellis has written the Brontë sisters, and some of the other ladies in this novel, to be quite sassy at times, and there were so many quotes I made a note of about how little they care for the opinions of men. "It's as if the male of the species cannot bear that I have agency over my own life, and insist on meddling where no meddling is required or invited."

The Vanished Bride is set shortly before any of the sisters’ novels were written, and you can see hints of their forthcoming work here – there are some wonderful little Easter eggs for Brontë lovers. Even the author’s chosen nom de plume should ring a bell 😉 The Vanished Bride is a fantastic novel, and one that I fell completely in love with. Before reading it, I did have a slight concern that the presence of the Brontës might make it a little twee, but any concerns I had were swiftly dismissed. Ellis has delivered a fantastic novel that is beautifully written and with engaging characters who make perfect detectives.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is a historical mystery book, a bit like an Agatha Christie. I quite enjoyed it, was an easy read.

The Vanished Bride was my dream book. I love the idea of the Bronte sisters solving mysteries - in this first case it was the inexplicable disappearance of a young woman from her home in the middle of the night. The book was so well researched - I know a lot about the Brontes and have read so many biographies and in my opinion the depiction of the sisters is just perfect as is the representation of the relationships between themselves and with their father and brother.

The book was also well written and engrossing and I read it much more quickly than I expected given the length. I also liked how the author balanced the mystery aspect with the biographical details of the sisters lives. I would really recommend this book to both Bronte fans and historical mystery fans as you will not be disappointed. Thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this lovely book.

This is a novel which will most definitely divide it's readers. On the one hand if you are a purist and fan of Bronte novels then you may find this contrived and false. However the author has obviously done a deal of research and the historical and 'presumed' references, may add to your enjoyment.

Another group of readers may find that the writing here is too long winded, harking back to a time when novels contained a great deal of description and somewhat unnecessary dialog. I put myself in the latter camp. It was a sweet story, despite the gruesome crime portrayed, but it just took too long to get anywhere in my opinion.

Read it and enjoy if you like to take your time and savour the writing itself and get a story to go alongside.

I think this was supposed to be a cosy mystery? Hard to say because the tone kept shifting. It might be that I have read far too much about the Brontes themselves and the inclusion of them as characters in this way was distracting for me. While I am aware that we never really know historical figures, and we largely create our own head canon around them, the sisters here did not resemble anything I’ve read about them. (Except maybe Gaskell’s awful inaccurate Life of Charlotte Bronte…) It was a neat idea but I don’t feel it panned out. The dialogue swung between fore soothe-y in an attempt to be historical and then breaking into modern idiom. I suppose it was entertaining and if you’re not a Bronte scholar, you might really enjoy it? Not for me I’m afraid.

Something a little bit different to my normal reading. I'm not a big reader of the classics, but have read Jane Eyre.
I'm not convinced his works really, applying sleuthing to real authors. I know it says that we don't know whether they did or not.
There are a couple of incidences where the author refers to a character by first name and calls him Frank and then a short time later calls him John, this happened a couple of times and confused me.
As is the way of the Brontes the stories are descriptive and take a long time to get going.
As it all unfolds at the end it becomes rather predictable as to what the outcome will be.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in return for an honest review.

I usually enjoy reading plots that are a mishmash of genres, and I really dislike giving up on a book. Sadly I didn't enjoy this one and gave up part way through.
The idea sounded interesting, and was obviously well researched but I found the dialogue grating and the plot tedious.
I'm obviously in the minority judging from other reviews, so hope the book does well with other readers.
Thank you to netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an advance copy of this book.

What a delightful book!
An engaging tale set in a very different era to today. I feel that I know more about the Brontes than previously even though this is a work of fiction. It is a very good indication of life in those times too.
The characters were well drawn and the interactions between the sisters were very believable.
I would definitely recommend this book as an entertaining escape from modern life.

The Bronte sisters as amateur sleuths is something to conjure with. A really well written and exceptionally well researched book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more.

This has all the essential ingredients of a really good book. The main ingredient is a well written plot line, add in characters that you can visualise, fold in a tale that unfolds well and with clarity, add a dash of humour, wit and sibling banter, a soupçon of cleverness and intrigue, a large spoonful of mystery and secrecy, add atmospheric settings, a splash of ghostliness and stir well! The result? Hopefully, a best seller because this is truly what Bella Ellis deserves.

This is a terrific read and I love that this engaging story is embedded in truths about the Brontë sisters as they are the inspiration for this story. The sisters turn Lady Detectors when they try to learn of the intriguing case of Elizabeth Chester of Chester Grange, whose husband is cruel and vicious. Elizabeth’s room is found covered in copious amounts of blood but there is no sign of its occupant. What happens afterwards as the sisters doggedly pursue the truth is a tale full of menace, creepiness, intrigue and deception. I love the idea of the sisters detecting and Emily proves herself very adept and bold , Anne charms witnesses while fierce, independent Charlotte adds dryness and intelligence , aided and supported when sufficiently sober, by Branwell who proves to have perspicacity, wit and intuition. The family come alive before your very eyes as they traipse around the wildly beautiful Haworth location with their easy sibling camaraderie but also their brutal honesty to each other. Their father, Patrick is not for one minute deceived by the inventive lies they tell as the women travel across Yorkshire to search for the truth. He is not a man of his times in that he has almost modern views and allows his daughters latitude. There are some wonderful descriptions and some terrific macabre incidents that send shivers down your spine. There is one jaw dropping moment when Emily breaks into Chester Grange that is deliciously spooky. I like that the story is set in its historical context with real events such as the growth of industry and its effects on expanding West Yorkshire towns which the woman witness and is especially evident in Leeds. I like the inclusion of strong independent women (The Brontë sisters of course, Isabelle Lucas, Dr Prescott's wife] who refuse to be under the control of men as of course, was the norm. The ending is maybe a bit contrived but it fits with a Gothic Tale and so is a minor point.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a great deal and will definitely read subsequent stories as I love the premise. Thank you very much for the ARC.