A great historical fiction mystery.
The plot was intriguing and dark.
The back stories in this book were so interesting
I enjoyed this more than the first one

I haven't read the first in this series but found that The Diabolical Bones worked perfectly well as a standalone, especially as I'm familiar with some of the Brontes work and the setting.
The Diabolical Bones is a beautifully written and deeply atmospheric novel and I felt that the author really brought the Bronte sisters and the Yorkshire Moors to life. The sense of place is so strong that I really felt that I was there on those cold and windy moors and longed to visit Yorkshire again. It's a fairly slow paced novel but I feel that this added to the atmosphere and sense of tension.
As a big fan of Wuthering Heights, I loved the references to Emily's novel.
Recommended and I look forward to reading more in this series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This has sat on my digital to read shelf for a long time. I remember enjoying the first book in this series. Well, I finally started this one and I have to say it’s not for me. It is so slow! I’m 20% in and all that has happened is some bones have been found. This one does not grip me and I am DNFing it at 20%. It is simply too boring to continue. Apologies to netgalley, the author and the publisher for not reading and reviewing this sooner. As I DNFd it, I will not publish this review on my social media page.

I loved this book, it is beautifully written and I was immersed in the story from the very beginning. I was worried if I would find it believable to have such a well known figure in a work of fiction but Bella Ellis does it so well.

My first book, that I have read by this author, absolutely brilliant! Highly recommended, and I will definitely read others written by this author!

Oh Bella Ellis, you've done it again! What a joy it is to be back with the Bronte sisters.

Having absolutely adored the first in this series I was eager to return to see what delights the ladies got up to next. This is a worthy companion and the perfect follow up to The Vanished Bride, and dare I say, I enjoyed the romp of the mystery in this one even more.

I find these such comforting reads, and I cannot wait for more, on to book 3!

5 magnificent stars

Set a few months after the events of The Vanished Bride, this second novel in the Brontë Mysteries series finds Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and Branwell embroiled in a Christmas mystery the offers plenty of literary inspiration – but that, if not solved swiftly, could spell tragedy and danger for their community.

When the bones of a young boy are discovered hidden within a chimney at isolated Top Withens Hall, the Brontë siblings are soon drawn into complex tale of child labour, occultism, and missing children. Brutish Clifton Bradshaw, the master of Top Withens, is their most likely suspect – but rough as his manners might be, he swears he has no knowledge of how the bones came to lie within his house. As the sisters investigate, an old evil appears to be stirring around Haworth: one that puts the whole community – and the Brontë family – in danger.

Anyone familiar with the Brontë’s literary works will immediately recognise Top Withens Hall – supposedly the inspiration for Emily’s masterpiece, Wuthering Heights – and will delight in spotting the abundant references to other Brontë works woven throughout The Diabolical Bones. Indeed, the whole novel is infused with much of the wild, Gothic energy of Emily’s work – although, as with its predecessor, each of the Brontë sisters gets equal billing within the narrative.

Alternating between the perspectives of Anne, Emily, and Charlotte, one of the most wonderful – and poignant – aspects of this novel is the sense of character that Bella Ellis has been able to convey. Reading these novels, you get a real sense of the strength of each sister’s personality, and of their determination to succeed despite the limitations placed on them by their circumstances and by societal expectation. Anne, in particular, really lives on the page; her courage and kindness both coming across in equal measure. Reading these novels feels like being part of their circle – a true delight for anyone who has ever wanted to be friends with these extraordinary women – but also comes with a sense of poignancy when you remember that all that spark and brilliance was contained within such tragically short lives.

As for the mystery itself, The Diabolical Bones has a similarly taught and well woven narrative to its predecessor, often laying bare the grim realities of life behind the façade of respectable existence. The Gothic sensibilities infuse this second novel with a hint of the supernatural – and with a chilled and dark atmosphere that flits around the edge of the narrative and provides an ever-present sense of danger. This contrasts delightfully with moments of humour and warmth, such as Emily’s resignation when forced to cross the border into Lancashire, or the small yet meaningful interactions between Charlotte and her father’s curate, Arthur Nicholls.

There is also a wonderful sense of place within the book. Reading it transported me to the snowy moors – striding across them with Emily and Keeper, or brushing the snow off my hem and fussing over my hair alongside Charlotte. Having immersed myself once again in the world of the Brontë’s, I very much want to make visiting the landscape that so inspired them – and the parsonage that was their home – a reality in the not-too-distant future.

Fans of the Brontë’s work will, undoubtedly, love The Diabolical Bones – and should definitely seek out The Vanished Bride if they have not already done so – whilst fans of historical mysteries will find a darkly brooding yet rewarding tale that’s perfect for the Christmas season. That Bella Ellis (the Brontë-inspired pen name for bestselling author Rowan Coleman) adores their work is clear from the depth of research she has clearly conducted – and from the spirit and energy she has captured on the page. Novels featuring famous novelists of yesteryear can be a daunting read for fans – having a beloved author misrepresented on the page is a frustrating experience – but reading The Diabolical Bones bought me closer to the Brontë siblings – and made me return, yet again, to their marvellous works.

I really enjoyed the first of the Brontë sisters’ investigations, The Vanished Bride, so jumped at the chance to read this next book in the series, and it is just as good.

Gothic tropes, good-humoured common sense, witchcraft and feminism all blend cosily together as Anne, Charlotte and Emily investigate the finding of a child’s bones with dogged determination and their instincts for murder.

Alert readers will easily spot familiar references to wild moors, dark-eyed angry men and other nods to the Brontës’ real-life writings, and enjoy how Bella Ellis brings the literary ladies to life in a new, cosy mystery context.

I did find it a little strange that the story began with the sole remaining sibling, and then was told in flashback style but alternating between the viewpoints of all three sisters. If this was a memory recounted, then how would she know her sister’s thoughts and feelings? It rocked my suspension of disbelief slightly, but didn’t shatter it, and I enjoyed the main storyline enough to make up for my qualm about the framing.

This is a series for lovers of cosy mysteries, Gothic drama and strong heroines alike, and I look forward to the next Brontë investigation.

A brilliant series that is a fabulous mix of fiction with real characters. This series would make a fascinating period TV drama!

I love this series with the Brontes solving mysteries. The personalities of each member of the family are so credible & really come alive. Very atmospheric. Beautiful covers too

This story is a mix of fact and fiction. the Bronte sisters who are the detectives in the fiction part also have aspects of their real lives included. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first, as the repetition was not as appealing.

The Brontë sisters return in this second part of Bella Ellis' reimagining of the famous writing family as amateur detectives. The first novel was a great introduction to them and tge premise and left me wanting more.

In this novel the sisters find themselves in the midst of a bitter weather and a fair amount of boredom. Then they hear shocking news. The bones of a child have been found within the walls of Top Withens Hall. The remote house is already notorious for its brutish and surly owner. The sisters soon find themselves embroiled in dark secrets and tragic history....

Another highly enjoyable mystery from Bella Ellis. Brontë fans will love spotting the references to their works and lives throughout the book but it can also easily be enjoyed by anyone with little or no knowledge of the sisters. I'm very glad to hear part three is already on the way!

I was looking forward to this sequel from more or less the moment I finished The Vanished Bride. It's a testament to the author's skill that rather than struggling to suspend my disbelief over the idea of the Brontë sisters as private detectives, my reaction was to wonder why nobody had tried to do this before. A second instalment was inevitable but less certain was whether it could maintain the same standard. To my great delight, it definitely has. Set in 1846, the sisters once again find themselves with a case to solve. There's been a grim discovery up at Top Withens. A set of bones have been found bricked up in a chimney breast, in a room that nobody has been in for years. And dark rumours swirl about the house's owner, Clifton Bradshaw, who is rumoured to have sold his soul to the Devil. Can the Brontës crack the case?

While Vanished Bride established the franchise, The Diabolical Bones feels like the series hitting its stride. The sisters have embraced their interest in detecting and have only been seeking an appropriate case. Having rejected various possibilities further from home, they are pleased to discover a mystery right on their doorstep. But with the murky reputation of the Bradshaws, there are those who would say it is not a suitable or safe business for them to be sticking their noses in. Among the loudest voices of dissent is the Brontës own housekeeper Tabby. Is it possible that there are occult forces at work?

As a Brontëphile, I find this series to be such an absolute treat. Rowan Coleman, the writer behind the pen-name Bella Ellis, really knows her stuff and has clearly done her research. She has managed in both books to weave in her own mystery very closely to the known events of the Brontë family's lives. And strangely, while I am aware that it is fairly preposterous that the sisters ever fought crime, Ellis' depiction of the trio is still one of the most convincing versions that I can ever remember reading. Charlotte is neurotic and seeking advancement, Anne is compassionate and has integrity and Emily ... well. She just steals the show with her every blunt utterance.

It's fascinating how Ellis has taken the little we know of the Brontë sisters' true characters and refashioned these traits to become useful in the art of detection. Anne's passion for social justice gives her a drive to seek the truth, Charlotte's desire to make friends in high places adds in twists and turns to the narrative and Emily's bland detachment from social norms gives her an insight that others miss. When they examine the scene where the bones were found, Anne notices various crow skulls in the chimney-breast. Emily flatly responds that this is a sign that the birds were attracted by carrion so the body was not put in the chimney as a skeleton. It's CSI: Haworth edition.

I also loved how the sisters' lives as writers bubble away in the background. Anne remarks that she finds someone frightening because 'his voice creaks like an open coffin' and Emily comments, 'Oh that's good. I'm having that'. Ellis does an excellent job at balancing the literary with the mystery. As with the previous book, there are obvious points of 'inspiration' for the sisters' later writings as well as a heavy helping of social context such as the inhumane treatment of Irish labours. As an added background, we see Branwell slowly slumping into his alcoholism and pining for Mrs Robinson. The contrast could hardly be more pronounced between Diabolical Bones and Brontë's Mistress. Where Mistress was bafflingly plotted with unconvincing characters who were all consistently unpleasant, Bones is witty, fun and has an engaging cast and compelling plot.

As a further point, having found the Mistress depiction of Anne Brontë to be rather cruel, I was particularly pleased by Ellis' more nuanced and effective portrayal of Anne's character. When asked to speak to a potential suspect on the grounds that she is the 'nice' sister, Anne wryly observes that 'nicest of the Brontës' is likely to be her epitaph. It is so easy to dismiss Anne as merely 'nice'. Ellis' defence of Anne is underlined by another conversation between Emily and Anne where the former tells the latter:

Why wouldn't your honest and true reflections have merit equal to any words ever written by anyone?' Emily asked, 'What greater merit is there than the communication of the experience of one human soul to another? In this world of men, the literary types seek to elevate themselves above the ordinary. Their thoughts must be superior, their feelings more important than yours or mine. It's all artifice, Anne. Your thoughts, your feelings, your sentiment, as you put it, will ring true with those who read it. They will see honesty and integrity, and though you may never know their names, you and they will be connected somehow, not only now but for all of time. Besides, if I am honest, it is you who have the greatest courage of us all, you who speaks the truth and will not flinch from it.'

This passage made me want to punch the air in celebration - finally, someone else saw it too! I was so appalled by the snide remark in Mistress that Anne Brontë lacked courage in her writing and for that she deserved to be forgotten. Anne's courage was that she wrote novels that attacked the very foundations of the patriarchy. In Agnes Grey, she argued that as a governess, she was not so far beneath her charges as society would have her believe. She portrayed incredibly vividly what it is like to try to teach children who have been brought up to despise education. In Tenant, she argued that a wife might have a moral duty to leave her husband to protect her children - blasphemy for the era. She did not write Gothic fiction because she was more interested in the dramas of real life. Thank you, Bella Ellis, it is so good to see Anne given the credit she deserves.

Of course, the book is not without its minor faults. I spotted the wrong 'un early in the novel because they were the only 'friend' character who I did not recognise from any of the biographies that I have read - reading a book like this as a long-term Brontëphile is a double-edged sword. As with the previous book, I found the actual mystery to be the weakest part of the novel. It's definitely a book that is more about character than plot. Despite this however, I finished it thinking excitedly that Ellis can surely slot in at least one and maybe two more mysteries into the family timeline before things get a bit depressing with all the consumption and death.

Ellis noted in her afterword that recent global events have left us all in greater need than ever of a good story. This is a statement which I strongly agree with - a combination of fiction and my own stand-up comedian of a toddler have got me through the pandemic - but yet the Brontë feel like unusual protagonists in this piece of warm-hearted 'cosy crime'. But in many ways that's why it works. We are so used to seeing the Brontës as tragic. Their lives were short, their works unfinished, their promise not quite fulfilled. But because of that, there is a particular joy in seeing that narrative flipped -  to read a version where rather than wasting away on the sofa, they instead kick up their heels and head off an adventure. Written with overwhelming affection and the greatest respect, The Brontë Mysteries series feels destined to run and run.

The second book in The Bronte Mysteries series has a distinctly noir and gothic theme. The Bronte family investigate the death of a child. As they attempt to discover the child's identity and how they died, they uncover sinister practices and prejudices. The North Yorkshire setting is stark and unforgiving and contributes towards the story's menacing ethos.

The vividly portrayed characters combined with good use of sensory imagery bring the Victorian era to life, immersing the reader in its culture, deprivation and prejudices. The family dynamic is believable and makes the story relatable. The author's love of this period and research makes this an enjoyable read.

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

This was everything I never knew I wanted! I honestly thought this sounded a bit wacky and silly when I requested it but oh my goodness, it was amazing! I was also so pleasantly surprised to find that it's part of a series, so I can in fact have more.

I'd say that this would be perfect for fans of Theodora Goss' Athena Club trilogy.

This book was so enjoyable. The mixture of the Brontë sisters and the goth and macabre worked perfectly for me. I was sucked into this story, and I loved the complete ride.

I read the first of this series and absolutely loved it. I couldn’t wait to read this.

The writing style is similar to the first one, it’s written as if it were a book from the 1900s and I really enjoy the point of view switching between the three Brontë sisters.

The author has a real ability to hide “Easter eggs” as it were throughout the novels. Little details that relate to the real life works of the three sisters. It’s all done so naturally that it almost feels as though you are reading about the real life inspiration for wuthering heights etc.

I also love how each sister is written exactly as I had imagined them to be, and their relationships with one another are written so well.

I really enjoyed all the supernatural elements in the novel, which again related a lot to the works of the Brontë’s, and also how some of it is explained so simply later in the novel. The author is really skilled at creating a lot of twists and turns so that when the end is revealed, it feels like it’s come out of nowhere but also like you were a fool for missing it!

Overall, I have nothing but praise for this book and it’s predecessor and will continue to read the series as long as they are written.

I think it takes someone brave to take well known authors, the Bronte sisters, and give them a new lease of life in modern day fiction but this author, Bella Ellis, has pulled it off. This time the sisters are intrigued by the discovery of a child's bones, hidden in the walls of a local house (one that they used for their own stories) and their investigation uncovers the truth. The story is atmospheric, the sisters are brought to life and it's a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Roughly a year ago, I read The Vanished Bride by Bella Ellis, a pen name of Rowan Coleman and I knew I would definitely want to continue reading The Bronte Mysteries series. This month I finally got around to picking up book two – The Diabolical Bones – which is set several months later over Christmas 1845.

This series follows the three Bronte sisters – Anne, Charlotte, and Emily – and their brother Branwell as they investigate mysteries in and around their home village of Haworth in Yorkshire. In book two, the bones of a child are discovered bricked up inside the chimney of a bedchamber that has not been opened in the thirteen years since its mistress passed away. Clifton Bradshaw, the master of the remote farmhouse where the bones were found, is the immediate and most likely suspect being a drunkard believed by many superstitious locals to have dealings with the devil, but the sisters cannot find enough evidence to be without their doubts. As their investigations continue, more and more bizarre evidence begins to mount up: a Catholic locket, strange and demonic symbols carved into stones, and a lady in black hovering near the graveyard. Soon, it becomes clear that whoever is responsible for hiding the bones intends to strike again, can the sisters solve the case before it’s too late?

This was a great sequel that captured the same spirit as the first book but didn’t feel as if we were retreading the same ground. The mystery here is very different from that of the first book and the sisters have grown in confidence as well as having a more extended circle of confidants to assist them in their endeavors. I did find that I figured out “whodunnit” early in the book, probably no more than 25% of the way through, but this honestly didn’t hurt the story and I still didn’t figure out some of the other elements until closer to the end.

As with the first book, you can see elements of the Bronte sisters’ famous novels throughout, this is because these books are written as accounts of the events that inspired the sisters to write their own books. The Vanished Bride had strong connections to Jane Eyre, but The Diablocal Bones is clearly set up as the story which inspired Wuthering Heights, as the isolated house of Top Withens, frequent descriptions of desolate moors, and even a few of the character names themselves will testify.

This was a great book that really captured the isolation of Haworth when it is gripped in a snowy winter and feels so remote and cut off from the rest of the world, making the concept of a murderer stalking the area that much more terrifying. I loved the vivid descriptions of the sisters’ walks to visit their neighbors and their occasional trips to the nearby big cities of Halifax and Keighley; these are especially meaningful to me as my own family was living in Keighley and even Haworth itself at the same time the Brontes were alive and I love to think they may have met!

The third book in this series is already underway (the case that inspired The Tenant of Wildfell Hall perhaps?) and I know that I will be picking it up as soon as possible. The Bronte Mysteries has become one of my favorite ongoing book series and I hope to read plenty more from it in the future.

The Diabolical Bones is just as entertaining and suspenseful as its predecessor The Vanished Bride and I absolutely loved It! Once again, the Bronte sisters reprise their roles as ‘detectorists’ in order to unc0ver the truth behind the death of a child. The plot is very well constructed and the setting is perfect - the description of winter on the Yorkshire moors brilliantly mirrors the sinister nature of the crime and I loved being once again in company of the fascinating Bronte sisters. Highly recommended escapism & perfect lockdown reading!