Once more with feeling - the Brontë sisters are back for their final detective outing. It's not a total surprise - we've come up against 1847 and any further adventures would be overlapping far too closely with tragedy. Despite its lean towards the macabre, this has always been a series more about froth and fun than fatality and this final appearance is likely a wise choice. But will the trio be bowing out of crime-solving with a whimper or with a song?

The novel opens with its usual prologue in 1853, with a grief-stricken Charlotte contemplating the publication of Villette without her siblings. From there we flash back to 1847, with the siblings having foresworn detection after their fateful London expedition. More troubles lurk on the homestead however with Branwell still no better and poor Charlotte smarting after her novel The Professor was rejected for publication while Anne and Emily's were accepted. She suddenly has two obedient and highly respectful sisters as they try to be mindful of her feelings. Yet in the background, Jane Eyre is in gestation.

Stepping into this hive of literary production however is one Abner Lowood, odious and awful former workhouse master. Recently acquitted by the courts of killing his wife, he is nonetheless believed to be guilty by all and sundry. With an attempt recently made on his life, he demands assistance from the sisters and insists that whoever is responsible for his poisoning is also his wife's killer. Disgusted by his manner, they make excuses that they are done with detection but he spits back that if they refuse, he will disclose the secret of their crime-solving to all the county, including their father. With blackmail on the table, the sisters must turn investigator again.

The series has taken a turn since its last instalment. Branwell is no longer an active participant in the operation, too gin-sodden to be able to take up a disguise and mostly collapsed in a mumbling heap in the corner. Tabby is still a glorious supporting character but we also see a return appearance from the fabulous Mrs Catherine Crowe along with a surprise addition of Ellen Nussey to the detective squad roster.I had mixed feelings about her joining the team because her general lack of discretion in most other matters related to the Brontës rather burst the suspension of belief bubble. We are reminded in the author's note at the end that although there is no evidence that the Brontës solved crime, there is equally no evidence that they did not. But if they did and if Ellen Nussey had known about it, she would definitely have spilled the beans. And if they had solved crimes and she had actually got to join in too? Ever the fourth sister wannabe, she would have literally never shut up about that for the rest of her earthly existence. I did like the observation however that Ellen took detailed notes. Of course she would.

Another strange one was how Arthur Bell Nicholls took on a more significant role. My favourite aspect of the series has always been how amidst all the absurdity of the over-the-top Gothic crimes, Coleman (or rather Bella Ellis) has managed to somehow capture the dynamics of the family in a way that felt disarmingly 'true'. Tabby veers from affection and being aghast at the family's latest madcap plan. Emily comes in and wants to speak to Charlotte about something but glimpses her through a doorway utterly absorbed in her writing. Emily does not realise that she is witnessing her sister producing Jane Eyre but she does recognise someone deeply absorbed in creation and so she does not disturb. It was thought-provoking to imagine these three powerful writers in one house, understanding and respecting each other's processes and in that moment, Ellis conjured it up vividly. Similarly, I had read before about Bell Nicholls' crusade to stop the housewives of Haworth from drying their laundry in the church graveyard but Ellis' depiction of one such confrontation made it suddenly real. I was less convinced though by her version of his early declaration of his feelings to his future wife. Charlotte's description in her letter of his eventual proposal was very powerful - her sudden realisation, his emotion and her embarrassed response - and I felt that this 'prequel' lessened its impact. Real life was stronger than fiction.

As always, the mystery is not the meat of the book but rather a side dish to the lives of the family themselves. The Lowood case owes some inspiration to the case of John Sagar, Keighley poisoner and a real life example of a man who likely escaped justice. Four books in though, I did find myself wondering if the sisters ever could have been involved in anything even remotely similar. I do believe that women have always had informal networks for providing aid. Never the innocent flowers that Charlotte (and Mrs Gaskell) would have pretended they were, the sisters do seem to have been pragmatic about the perils into which unprotected women could fall. They had the example of their brother but they also lived in a town with a high rate of illegitimate births. In letters, Charlotte openly discussed the unfortunate Mrs Collins, unfortunate wife of a drunken curate who gave her a venereal disease. Patrick Brontë advised her to leave her husband and she eventually visited to let them know that she had escaped and set herself and her children up respectably. Anne's writing makes it explicit that she believed it better to remain a spinster than shackle oneself to an unworthy gentleman and she also showed great sympathy to wives who quit their married state if their husbands made their lives unbearable. It would not surprise me if the sisters and their father had provided assistance to women in need and that these discreet acts had simply passed beyond history's record.

A Gift of Poison feels like a stronger novel than the original instalment, perhaps because it is back on the home turf of Yorkshire. Indeed, they are so close to home that the sisters are unable to carry out undercover work because everyone knows them. But it is also their station in life which is undeniable. When they meet a 'lady of the night', she recognises them instantly as unmarried clergyman's daughters. Perhaps this was deliberate, Ellis demonstrating that they can no longer hope to keep their detecting secret. There is also the further question of the sisters' literary future. If their books succeed and they become well-known, how can they possibly maintain both a literary and detective incognito? With so many looming complications, it feels right that they lay down their gumshoes.

Ellis walks something of a tightrope in this book, trying to end on a cheerful note while also foreshadow the impending tragedy. Branwell's steady decline can be seen by all but Emily also has an uneasy sense of what may be in store. At one point, the siblings discuss the forms that their ghosts might take. 'Your ghost will always be in the pub, Branwell," Emily said. "And yours up on the moor, singing with the wind," Branwell said, fondly. "Charlotte will be ordering everyone around, absolutely furious that no one is paying her any attention," Emily added. "And Anne will just be Anne, a light for others always.' I have such affection for Ellis' writing for the respect she gives to Anne in particular, always my favourite of the sisters. But I like to imagine that whatever shade of them remains - and truly, I wish for them only eternal rest - that they might look upon this highly sympathetic reimagining of their lives and find some enjoyment here. I am always apprehensive about reviewing Brontë-related books since whenever something strange happens related to this site, the answer is usually 'A Brontë fan did it'. But rather than the well-known schisms within the fandom, Ellis's novel ends with the reminder that above their writing, their walks on the moors and all the other parts of their myth that we remember, they were siblings who loved each other dearly and who passed their lives ensemble. I will miss The Brontë Sisters Mysteries - a gleaming jewel in the genre of historical crime.

A dramatic and gothic tale in the Bronte Sisters Mysteries that finds the sister's past detecting catching up with them and forcing them into a case that they would rather not have taken. This is the fourth in the series, and it's good to reacquaint with the cast of characters. The mystery is full of drama and twists, and the historical setting is immersive. I like the historical detail, the literary references and the atmospheric nature of the story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The fourth and final instalment of the Bronte mysteries - I've only read one of the others before reading this and it stands on its own without needing to read the others. Gothic, supernatural, mysterious and most of all, fun!

A Gift of Poison is the fourth and final book in Bella Ellis's historical crime series featuring the Brontë sisters. I've read and enjoyed all the previous books in the series - The Vanished Bride, The Diabolical Bones and The Red Monarch.

As in the prevous books, there is a very touching prologue, after which the reader is taken back in time to the summer of 1847 as Charlotte, Emily and Anne embark on what they are determined will be their final case. The sisters take it in turns to relate the story allowing the distinct personalities the author has given them to shine through. For example, Emily is all action, emotion and instinct, someone who doesn't suffer fools gladly. At one point she scornfully observes, 'This will take twice as long as it should now there are men involved'.  Anne is methodical, thoughtful, has a forgiving nature and is more inclined to see the best in others. Charlotte is adept at dealing with people and eliciting information.

Whilst being pleased that her sisters' novels have been accepted for publication, Charlotte can't help feeling a little hurt at the rejection of her own novel, The Professor. She is determined to protect her sisters from any hint of scandal - such as their role as 'detectors' - that might jeopardise their success.  And she is quietly working away at a new novel, one which will become her most famous book and an enduring classic - Jane Eyre, of course. What I loved is how the author captures Charlotte's compulsion to transfer her ideas to the page, as she snatches every spare moment to quietly work on the novel, sometimes becoming lost in 'a frenzy of creation'.

Branwell Brontë also features in the book although by this point, as in real life, he has become a rather pathetic figure in the final stages of an inevitable decline but still touchingly protective of his sisters. There is also a return appearance by real life novelist, Mrs Catherine Crowe ,who manages to charm everyone she meets, including the sisters' beloved Papa. Charlotte's dear friend, Ellen Nussey, also features in the story and proves to be, if not quite as courageous as the three sisters, extremely organised and adept at recording vital scraps of evidence. 

As with the previous books, part of the enjoyment is trying to spot references to people or places in the Brontë's novels. The obvious one is the surname of Abner Lowood but I bet there were others I missed. Some of the seemingly  supernatural happenings in this book evoke thoughts of Wuthering Heights and one quite dramatic event appears in Jane Eyre.   

Do the sisters find the solution to the mystery? You bet they do, although they have a convoluted journey to get there. The investigation involves the intrepid sisters visiting places young unmarried ladies would not normally be expected to go. And this is Yorkshire so they also have to battle the elements at times. There is also, to Anne's delight, a visit to the seaside resort of Scarborough although for those with any knowledge of the Brontës this will be tinged with sadness being the site of her grave.

In one touching exchange, inspired by the events they have been investigating, the siblings imagine their afterlives: "Your ghost will always be in the pub, Branwell," Emily said. "And yours up on the moor, singing with the wind," Branwell said, fondly. "Charlotte will be ordering everyone around, absolutely furious that no one is paying her any attention," Emily added. "And Anne will just be Anne, a light for others always." 

Although I'm sad to see what has been a wonderfully entertaining series come to an end, those familiar with the sadly brief lives of the Brontë sisters will understand, given the year in which the book is set, why this must be their final case.

An intricate and complex thriller written in a style that makes you feel you are reading an authentic Bronte novel. It is addictive and compelling and I can never get tired of reading Bella Ellis novels and always sad to get to the end conclusion. I really do hope that this is not the last in the series although it is of course inevitable as these clever, caring girls died far too soon. As a retired librarian I can only marvel at the skills of the author in not only good solid research but her way of bringing this family truly to life. If this is to be the end of a series I can only hope that the same treatment be applied again in the near future. Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author for the kind ARC.

This fourth book in the series is as delightful and well-written as the first three but this time there is more of everything. More interesting background information about the Brontë sisters, their writing and their family. More background about the society in which they lived. More snappy and funny dialogues and more mysteries.
Again, I reverted to Wikipedia to refresh my knowledge of these three wonderful authors whose books I’ve read and re-read. And again it strikes me how young they all were when they became famous authors. And how young they all died, leaving their father long before his own death in 1861. Bella Ellis did an incredible job in bringing the whole family, but especially the sisters, alive. It’s as if she shared their home with them for a while, something as Ellen Nussey is doing in this story. ‘Coming to visit’ had another meaning nowadays. You couldn’t just go over for a short visit, with the long distances and the lack of fast transport. On the contrary. Even young and well brought up young ladies did a lot of walking, as we can read in this story.
The story revolved around a horrible man, Abner Lowood – horrible even by today’s standards – and the workhouse where he used to be the boss (I think the word ‘manager’ wasn’t used then in the meaning we know it to have nowadays). It was horrifying to read how the poor people were called ‘inmates’ as is they were guilty of the most hideous crimes instead of just being poor. And even more horrifying was it when came to light what really happened with the wife of Abner.
In between all that, the sisters have to deal with their brother Branwell (Patrick jr.) who’s an addict to alcohol and drugs. It is heartrending to see how they are trying to help him, despite the fact they know by now that he cannot be helped anymore.
A wonderful, interesting book!

Number four in the Brontë Detectorist Series and the authors notes indicate it may be the last. I really hope she reconsiders. I adore this series so much. Pretty much as I expected, I absolutely loved this book. They are not just a good read the book covers are joyful! Brontë lovers are going to enjoy it, but if you think it’s just for them it’s not, give it a go. It’s really well written, and I feel like I know the Brontës personally. Set in Haworth in 1847 and, whilst Charlottes book The Professor has been rejected, both Anne and Emily have had books accepted. Charlotte is trying to feel pleased for her sisters, as she starts writing a new novel that she calls Jane Eyre.

Briefly, a man, Abner Lowood, who has been acquitted of the murder of his wife and family, approaches the Brontës, asking them to investigate, as he believes someone is trying to poison him and he wants them to prove that he really was innocent of his family’s deaths. Although they don’t want to come to his aid he threatens to reveal their unladylike detecting secrets to their father, and the rest of the village, so reluctantly they agreed to help. Alongside Charlottes closest friend, Ellen Nussey, the investigation starts.

Abner really is one of the most despicable characters I’ve read recent, he made my skin crawl. There all sorts of strange and eerie goings on in this book with a number of people experiencing visions and sightings of Abner’s dead wife at the witching hour. Superstitions were rife at this time. It was sad to see the downfall of Bramwell continue as he is gradually drinking himself to death. I love how this writer’s attention to detail with regards the factual nature of Brontës lives is so seamlessly incorporated; it’s hard to know what is fact and what is fiction. A wonderful historical detective fiction book, full of suspense, and I never guessed the ending at all, not even close. A fabulous read.

I have read all in this series and I think it has got better and better. I thoroughly enjoyed the 3rd one but I think this is the best book yet. The plot is great and has a really good end. The historical detail is brilliant. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers and the author for giving me access to an early copy of this novel.

This book is part of a series, but the first one I've read. It works very well as a standalone novel. Overall the book was well written. Great attention to detail overall, the Bronte family are well portrayed and the storyline captured my interest from the start. Overall a solid 4 stars. it appears from the author's note that this is quite possibly the last of these books but I will be keeping an eye out for the others in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The mystery is well thought out and has a distinctly supernatural and gothic vibe. The best parts however are the historical details which are well researched and the characterisation of the sisters and their very different and individual personalities makes them come to life for me which is great as I come from their neck of the woods. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Gift of Poison is the fourth and last book in this gripping series that features Charlotte, Anne, and Emily Brontë as they mix their lives as debut authors and detectives of mysteries.

It is set in 1847. Anne and Emily’s novels, Agnes Grey and Wuthering Heights, are about to be published and they are busy editing their manuscripts. On the other hand, Charlotte’s novel, The Professor, has been rejected by publishers and she tries to not feel jealous about her sisters’ success by being excited for the imminent visit of her friend Ellen Nussey.

The Brontë sisters think they have left their detecting days behind, but someone blackmails them into one last investigation. Everyone in Haworth knows that Abner Lowood is responsible for the death of his wife and children, but he’s been acquitted. Now, he claims that someone has tried to poison him and he wants the sisters to investigate and clear his name or he will reveal everyone about their detecting adventures. With the aid of their friend Ellen, they start their investigation that it turns to the supernatural when there is talk of dead coming back to life.

I am sorry that this is the last book in the series as I have really enjoyed seeing these three fantastic authors coming to life not only as authors, but also detectives. The supernatural elements perfectly mix with the mystery and the suspense kept me on edge. It is thrilling and twisty and it took me often by surprise.

Anne, Charlotte, and Emily are well-portrayed. The story is set a few months before the death of their brother Branwell, whose mental health is now deteriorating fast, and the sisters are aware that the end is now close. Emily and Anne are about to publish their novels, while Jane Eyre is taking form in Charlotte’s mind. We also glimpse the beginning of the courtship of Arthur Nicholls towards Charlotte and her initial rejections.

Well-written and well-researched, A Gift of Poison is immersive and evocative and the perfect ending to this fantastic series.

This is the fourth and, possibly the last, in the series which shows the Bronte sisters as 'Detectors.' Charlotte, having recently published, 'Villette.' looks back to 1847. Her novel, 'The Professor,' had been rejected, while Anne's, 'Agnes Grey,' and Emily's, 'Wuthering Heights,' have been accepted for publication. Wounded and sensitive, Charlotte is in the midst of writing, 'Jane Eyre,' and awaiting a visit from her dearest friend, Ellen Nussey.

The sisters are so wrapped up in their writing that they had not thought of another case, when the notorious Abner Lowood appears at their door. A former workhouse master, he was acquitted of murdering his wife. Now he asks the sisters to clear his name, or threatens to make public their unladylike detective activities. With her sisters about to be published, Charlotte insists they must assist the infamous poisoner and it soon becomes clear that Abner has learnt of their adventures through an inebriated Branwell.

This is an extremely interesting investigation involving tales of ghosts, visions and ruin. For those who know any of the Bronte's history, it will be clear why this may be the last in the series. However, it is positive that this ends with Charlotte completing her most famous novel. Having visited Haworth last year, I was pleased to think I could at last visualise the parsonage and it did make the novel more alive for me. An excellent addition to a greatly enjoyable series.

I'm so sorry I've picked book 4 in a series without checking out the book first. There was no mention in the description.
I would much rather read from the start than at the end so I'm going to put this on hold before I leave a review

Big THANKYOU for sending me the copy

I love this series and think this is the best book yet. The plot gathers pace as the book goes along, coming to a magnificent end. The historical detail is brilliant. I sincerely hope this is not the last of the sisters’ detectoring adventures!

Whilst I was pleased to read another Bronte mystery by Bella Ellis, I am a little sad to think that "A Gift of Poison" may be the last. Each book is written during downtime when the Brontes weren't writing their own books and this one sees both Anne and Emily with publishing deals but Charlotte rejected. What I liked about this book was that they are back detecting on home turf, as I found the last book, set in London, not as strong as the other books. The strengths of these comes not only from the description of the sisters, their detecting but also the wonderful description of the beautiful surrounding countryside. Being a big fan of "Jane Eyre", I could see how this case heavily influenced the writing of her masterpiece: the poisoner Abner Lowood and Bramwell's fire are two obvious incidents that crept into her book. It was nice to see their friends Ellen Nussey and Catherine Crowe detect with the sisters too.

This fourth, and seemingly final, instalment of the Brontë Sisters Mysteries is perhaps the most dramatic to date. Peril haunts the sisters from the start as they are coerced into detecting at the behest of a man widely believed to have murdered his wife and continues to haunt them as the story unfolds towards its electric conclusion.

As with the previous books in the series, Ellis really brings the sisters to life on the page. Their different personalities are portrayed with clarity, as is the deterioration of their brother, Branwell. This time they are accompanied in their detections by Charlotte's childhood friend Ellen, who brings an extra dimension to the tale; the return of Mrs Crowe brings some additional energy to the proceedings; and we see more of the Reverend Brontë than we have previously, which was very welcome.

There's a decidedly gothic feel to this one and it was more reminiscent to me of the first in the series, The Vanished Bride, than the two which more directly precede it. We're provided with foreshadowing of real-life events which were to come for the sisters without this bringing the telling of the story down, but these forthcoming events do perhaps explain why the author's note at the end suggests we will not be returning to Howarth for another Brontë mystery. This is totally understandable but I will be sad not to see the sisters detect again.

Bella Ellis has written another captivating tale of the Bronte sisters as detectives.

As with the other books in the series the settings are wonderfully atmospheric. You don't need to have visited Haworth to see it in detail. Bella Ellis encapsulates it in highly descriptive detail.

I've enjoyed the sisters working as detectives and this appears to be the last in the series, left in a suitable place.

As a huge Brontes fan, this book and the whole series has been a real treat.

I really enjoy these stories, and through the series I have fully committed to the idea of the Bronte sisters having a side hustle as detectives! I sensed that this might be their last outing, unfortunately, but they're going out on a very dramatic note if so. This story is spooky and suspenseful, and the future of the family weighs heavily on your mind as you read, knowing both the good (publication) and bad (early deaths) that is to come.
Bramwell's descent accelerates, and I no longer felt affection for him, and felt only the embarrassment of the sisters at his behaviour. It's interesting to see the different responses of each sister - I rather sided with Emily in this instance. This time we do get to meet their father a little more, which rounds the family out a little, and we also have a friend of the girls, Ellen, staying with them and helping with their investigations.
The book manages to be both dark and light, happy and sad. It is very readable, and I loved spending a little more time with the Brontes. I hope perhaps there will be a way to visit with them again, but we are very close to the end of their timelines now and I think I would rather leave them at this point, before any of the tragedy begins.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot or the publisher's blurb! There are other reviews like that out there already...

I've read all the previous Bronte Sisters Mysteries, and really enjoyed them. This was no exception.

The book is set largely in the "home territory" of the Bronte sisters, and this time their brother Branwell and father Patrick feature more in the plot. The sisters are also joined by their friend Ellen, and Catherine Crowe (a writer and clairvoyant who we've met previously) also makes a welcome return.

The plot is very well thought out, and the book feels spookier and has more Gothic undertones than previous novels. There are several unsavoury and brutish characters in the mix too, making it a very atmospheric read.

I rather think that this may be the last in this series (there are clues implying this in the book, plus the date is pertinent), which would be a shame - but I still hope that there will be further books, perhaps set earlier in their lives?

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

This is the Fourth book in the Bronte sisters series and I fear it may be the last .This time their good friend Ellen joins them as "detectors".A man recently aquitted of murdering his wife and children comes to the Bronte's for help.This story is brilliant,it is dark and mysterious with supernatural elements as well.The writer Catherine Crowe also returns to help the sisters but sadly Branwell is drinking himself to death .I loved this story with it's clever plot and it has an excellent ending .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.