Reviews

A Gift of Poison by Bella Ellis

mary_juleyre's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kbkittyb's review against another edition

3.0

I am genuinely going to miss these books. They are a true comfort...

I very rarely follow a series through to the end these days as there are too many rolling around at the minute to keep up with - but this one has had me happily hooked.

Although not my favourite in the series, this one still has the same indescribable charm as the others. In this one, Branwell is 'indisposed' so we have Ellen Nussey instead. She is an excellent friend, but I did miss the love for his sisters that Branwell portrayed in the earlier books. Oh Branwell! *sigh*

The plot itself is interesting, however, I didn't thoroughly enjoy the 'mesmerism' explanation; it felt a bit...easy. But, as always, it is clearly very well researched which really adds to the feel of the book. The literary easter-eggs for Bronte lovers are well thought out and very fun to come across.

The atmosphere and settings are exquisite! As a country-loving girl who has no choice but to live in the city, this book is like a breath of fresh air. I feel at home in the world created.

Are there a few slight gaps/inaccuracies? Yes. However, none hampered the enjoyment this series gave me. The characters are just too enchanting for that! Tabby will always have my heart.

I will greatly miss this series, but look forward to Bella Ellis's next enterprise. Would strongly recommend!

shellydennison's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Thoroughly enjoyable mystery with nice nods to Brontë and local history, as well as good evocations of places in Yorkshire.

patchworkbunny's review against another edition

4.0

I've really enjoyed this series following the Brontës' fictional exploits as lady detectors. This is the final book, with the author choosing to end before their story becomes mired in tragedy. It's based on the real Haworth poisoner's trial, albeit some dates and names changed.

magicofthepages's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

deelambe12's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny relaxing medium-paced

4.0

bethanjane21's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious

5.0

kathyscottage's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

5.0

Dark, macabre, but it did keep my attention.

travelsalongmybookshelf's review

adventurous dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

As I am taking part in thegreatbrontereadalong2023 I couldn’t think of anything better than being able to read the fourth installment of the Brontë mysteries.

I love this series of books, where the Brontë sisters lives are reimagined and they take up mysteries and murder with their detecting.

Ellis knows her subject inside and out and I feel has really got inside the heads of these famous sisters. Their characters are as I would imagine them to be, from what I know of them, which isn’t much. But through this year I am planning on knowing them better. Already having read Jane Eyre and most of Wuthering Heights, there are a lot of little nods and touches that I recognise.

This story takes place at the time when Emily and Anne’s novels have been accepted for publication, Charlotte’s work has been rejected everywhere but she works like a demon on a new work, which will become Jane Eyre.

They plan on a relaxed summer with their friend Ellen but are then approached by notorious local man Abner Lowood (check the reference!)

Acquitted of killing his wife, he blackmails the sisters into detecting one last time to clear his name in the eyes of the public.

Darkness must be confronted by the sisters to unfurl this case, more than they could possibly imagine.

I think it is just the characters of the three sisters that I love the most. I can see Charlotte, Emily and Anne clearly and reading their books fits their characters also. They are all different and each bring something to their ‘detections’. I also adored Catherine Crowe, showing the Brontes what their futures could hold as strong women of independent means.

I am sad that this is likely the last of the mysteries, we are about to lose the sisters to illness and so the novels can’t possibly continue but I hope Ellis can find some way of being able to resurrect these most remarkable of ladies in some form. I really like to think that they did in fact solve mysteries in some way, now that would really be remarkable!

‘I am not afraid of death,’ Anne said, and she meant every word. ‘I only wish that I will be able to improve the lot of others in the time I am given.’

❤️❤️❤️

alexhempstxck's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5