A Gift of Poison is the fourth and final book in the successful Brontë Sisters series which takes the literary sisters and re-imagines them as amateur sleuths. Given that the setting is 1847 those familiar with the real life inspiration for the series may understand why it is coming to a close, and while that sense of impending doom is alluded to in the book, it is certainly not the focus. Instead the sisters are investigating a man who has been legally cleared of murdering his wife but has certainly been found guilty in the court of public opinion. Desperate to clear his name he blackmails the sisters about their previous exploits which would tarnish their reputations and destroy their father. Despite being unconvinced of his innocence they take on the case when he admits that someone has made an attempt on his life.
The mystery is well thought through and cleverly crafted with distinctly gothic vibes involving revenants and clairvoyants but the thing that keeps me coming back to this series is the characterisation of the sisters and how wonderfully the author has portrayed their distinctive personalities on the page. I also admire the research and attention to historical detail, and it is clear even without reading the author's excellent as always end notes that the series is something of a passion project for her.
In summary this is a clever historical mystery that fans of the genre will enjoy and fans of the Brontës will love.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I love the way that this series flows.

I enjoy getting to know the Bronte sisters, and the historical detail in their lives including their relationships with other people as well as the close world of genteel ladies of their time.
I doubly love the murder mystery element of the story and the clever plot that comes to a conclusion which makes sense.

Another fantastic book in the series. The author really brings the sisters to life, combining real life happenings with a detective story. Sad it seems to be the last in the series.

Another dark and disturbing series of crimes that the Brontë sisters decide to solve. Hugely enjoyable especially for those who love the Brontë s as their lives and works are featured along with hapless Bramwell and their gentle father. Some nice swerves of direction and lots of humour, another good read in the series.

I love this series - A Gift of Poison is the fourth - in which Charlotte, Emily and Anne turn "detectors" to investigate various goings-on in the vicinity of their home (or, in the previous novel, in London). Here, we also have Charlotte's friend Ellen Nussey, on a visit to stay with the Brontës, and the writer Catherine Crowe, also a real person, who first appeared in the last story. (Branwell is around, but mainly busy drinking himself to death and setting his bed on fire.)

A Gift of Poison is a dark little story in which the sisters are reluctantly drawn into the orbit of the loathsome former workhouse master Abner Lowood, an abusive and manipulative man who has nevertheless been acquitted of murdering his wife. But can the late Barbara Lowood's revenant really be walking again, as more than one terrified witness relates?

In between detecting, Charlotte is engrossed in writing Jane Eyre and politely discouraging - or is she? - the attentions of her father's curate Arthur Nicholls. Emily and Anne's novels, meanwhile, have been accepted for publication - only Charlotte's first novel, The Professor, has met with rejection.

Marvellous, as ever. An afterword by the author suggests (I think) that this is the last in the series, but doesn't seem to rule out a future return to Haworth... fingers crossed.

This is the fourth and,sadly,last in the series which imagines the Brontë sisters as ‘detectors’ who are called upon to investigate crimes.I’ve loved them all,as they’re gripping and very well plotted,and also because the author’s love of the Brontës shines through them all.She is extremely knowledgeable about the lives of the three sisters and their brother Branwell,and there are all sorts of small details which bring them to life in these books.
In this one,they are joined by Charlotte’s friend Ellen,who becomes involved when the sisters are approached by a notorious character,Abner Lowood ,who claims to have been wrongly accused of a crime for which he was later acquitted in suspicious circumstances,which was the murder of his wife ,Barbara, by poisoning after years of abuse.He asks the Brontës to help clear his name.
The sisters are reluctant to become involved,but eventually agree and so begins a series of events which put the sisters and Ellen in danger yet again.It’s very Gothic in the way it draws on haunting,mesmerism and a devilish villain,but it’s actually based on a real crime,which makes it feel even more authentic.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to new material from the author.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

I was utterly delighted to be approved to review this book, I'm a massive fan of Bella Ellis and the Brontë Mysteries.

This book didn't disappoint, as always the plot was rich and complex without being tedious. It kept me guessing right up until the end, which is so rare with mysteries.

As I have recently visited Haworth and the parsonage museum my experience reading was so much deeper this time, Ellis paints a stunning and accurate picture of God's own county and I felt I was there.

I can't wait to see what the future brings for Ellis, and of course for our beloved heroines.

Well the Bronte sisters are at it again when another case gets dropped in their laps or rather are blackmailed into taking it.

This is an easy 5 star read 📚 specially if you've read the previous cases you will be even keener to read this I feel. Not only do the sisters put their necks on the live but that of their friend Ellen. It's 1847 I'm guessing you won't remember it like you I'm a lot younger as well but you do feel your there with all the strange (to us) customs ofà the time. This is due to the excellent story telling of Bella. How frivolous to show your ankles as a Lady on the beach., could be several heartaches if they witnessed today's beachwear.

Most of the characters are familiar if you've read any ofà the other novels but if not you are in for a treat as much as those that have. This is set in their beloved Haworth in Yorkshire with the vicarage and the workhouse 2 of the main venues plus a few others that keeps things varied and entertaining.

I really enjoyed this novel hence the 5 stars it's about the sisters and their detections rather than by then obviously but has then in the settings of the time 1847 and a hint of them writing keeping it a bit real but it's fiction very well written

It was lovely reading this book and entering the world of the Brontë sisters as they uncover another mystery. This time surrounding a suspected poison case. An intriguing read and wonderful to have the Brontë sisters brought to life. A wonderful read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

Gift of Poison by Bella Ellis is the fourth novel in the Bronte sisters Mystery series and the last.
Haworth 1847
We once again meet the Bronte sisters. Emily and Anne have recently had their books published but Charlotte’s book was rejected. There is a strained atmosphere between them.
When Abner Lowood a was recently been acquitted from murdering his wife and his children by poison. The man has history of being abusive calls upon the sisters asking for their help to find the real killer and bring them to justice. The girls take on the detecting. Whilst investigating it takes on a supernatural element when the ghost of Barbara Lowood is seen roaming around.
Thank you, Hodder & Stoughton for the next instalment by Bella Ellis. Like the previous books in the series, I have loved the mixture of the lives the sisters and the mysteries they are detecting. It is well paced and rich in the history of the sisters. The author knows her stuff. It will be sad to see this series go. 4 stars from me.

No one can match Bella Ellis when it comes to (fictionally) bringing the Brontes back to life! As with the previous books in the series, the dialogue and personalities seem just so genuinely possible that it's easy to swallow the small matter of the sisters getting involved as "detectors" in dark and dangerous mysteries. The sense of peril is strong in this one, and it's extremely gothic. Sensitive readers may want to beware. It strays from cozy mystery territory into things that are truly spooky and disturbing. It's also a bit different from traditional mysteries in that supernatural elements are not entirely explained away, but rather embraced. I prefer things to be more rational myself, but I can sort of see why the author made these choices, since the Brontes' own writings are slightly flavored with eerie events.
But if you're fascinated by the Bronte sisters, you will definitely appreciate the level of commitment shown in this series to getting their personalities just right, and bringing in thoughtful portrayals of their family and friends too. In that regard, these books are among the best in the "historical character solves mysteries" category that I've ever read.

I've been a fan of this Bronte mystery series since its beginning, and the things I've always loved about it are still present in this latest instalment.
For each of the three sisters, as well as their brother Branwell and their father Patrick, the characterisations are fantastic — deep and believable. Emily in particular lives and breathes on the page, although all of them are strongly written. There's an excellent sense of place as the Brontes navigate Haworth and the surrounding locales. And the mystery is compelling and staggering in its diabolical darkness. Indeed, this book teeters on the edge of its genre, drawing quite near to horror.. For someone (like me) who prefers cosy mysteries, with an embargo on gritty crime and supernatural elements, this particular book is actually rather too harrowing. Still, the writing, plotting, pacing, and characterisation are all simply top notch. I look forward to discovering what else this author has in store.

Bronte Sisters Mystery #4

Haworth, 1853. ‘Villette’ has just been published and Charlotte reflects on the impact the writing of Jane Eyre has on everything in the summer of 1847. This is the time of the strange and violent storm of the infamous Haworth poisoner. The heat of that July stifles Charlotte, Anne and Emily, the latter two being published authors which Charlotte finds intolerable! Charlotte eagerly anticipates the forthcoming visit of good friend Ellen Nussey and shortly before Ellens arrival, Mr Abner Lowood approaches the rectory door. This monstrous individual issues an demand accompanied by a threat to unmask their secret detectoring if they do not comply. He wants them to discover who tried to kill him and to clear his name of the suspicion of his wife’s murder. The scene is set, let the detecting commence.

I like this series very much and by now the three sisters feel like old friends and so you understand their personality traits and quirks. All the characters are well portrayed from the odious Lowood to lovely Ellen to the smart and knowledgeable author Mrs Catherine Crowe. In this one Reverend Bronte features a bit more which is enjoyable too.

This is a very well written series, the style of which really captures the times and language perfectly. The dialogue is smart, lively and entertaining. The plot is a good mixture of the Gothic and ghostly of the supernatural with the more down to earth, natural if not base and dastardly explanations. In places it’s dramatic, at others it’s melodramatic as it builds to a surprising conclusion. The background of the writing of Jane Eyre works extremely well in this storyline giving additional atmosphere.

Overall, Bella Ellis has really hit on something with this series. It seems this is to be the last and that feels right too.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

3.5 stars

If you've read one of these books before, you know exactly what you're getting. Good fun, a decent mystery and a lot of daring.
I was pleased to have the family back home, it definitely feels the right place for them.
Bradwell was particularly annoying in this book, but that adds to the strength of the sisters.
An interesting tale, based on fact, that held a few surprises along the way.
As always, good to have the sisters characters fleshed out, and this time too their father I felt.
A good addition to the series.