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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
outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Haworth 1847 & it has been just over a year since the events of The Red Monarch. Anne & Emily have had their first books accepted for publication, whereas Charlotte's first manuscript 'The Professor' has been rejected. Still, a visit from her friend, Ellen Nussey, can always be relied upon to raise her spirits, plus she has recently had the idea for a new book, one that she knows will be successful. The Rev. Patrick Brontë has had a operation which has restored his sight, but young Branwell is continuing his decline into drink to forget his disastrous love affair with his employer's wife.
The sisters are approached by a man notorious in the area for being being a wife beater, & the recent trial which acquitted him of murdering her by administering poison. Abner Lowood declares that he is innocent but that people still suspect him, & wants the Brontë sisters to clear his name once & for all - otherwise he will tell their father about their 'detecting work'. The sisters do not want to work for Lowood especially given his abusive affair with an innocent young girl which has ruined her reputation forever, but feel they have no choice given his threats, & perhaps they will find the evidence along the way to prove his guilt beyond doubt.
Like the previous books in the series, I love the way that the author weaves people & actual events into her narrative, especially as both Rev. Brontë & Arthur Bell Nicholls played larger parts in this story. As always, Emily is by far my favourite character. The mystery itself I wasn't so keen on, I found it waffled a bit & my attention wandered a couple of times. The author's strength in these books is definitely their ability to capture the Brontës as I would have imagined them to be. It seems that this is sadly the last in the short series featuring the siblings. There's more than a touch of pathos evoked in the reader, knowing that less than 18 months after the ending of the book, 3 of the 4 siblings will have died, leaving Charlotte alone to care for their ailing father before her tragic death in 1855.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
The sisters are approached by a man notorious in the area for being being a wife beater, & the recent trial which acquitted him of murdering her by administering poison. Abner Lowood declares that he is innocent but that people still suspect him, & wants the Brontë sisters to clear his name once & for all - otherwise he will tell their father about their 'detecting work'. The sisters do not want to work for Lowood especially given his abusive affair with an innocent young girl which has ruined her reputation forever, but feel they have no choice given his threats, & perhaps they will find the evidence along the way to prove his guilt beyond doubt.
Like the previous books in the series, I love the way that the author weaves people & actual events into her narrative, especially as both Rev. Brontë & Arthur Bell Nicholls played larger parts in this story. As always, Emily is by far my favourite character. The mystery itself I wasn't so keen on, I found it waffled a bit & my attention wandered a couple of times. The author's strength in these books is definitely their ability to capture the Brontës as I would have imagined them to be. It seems that this is sadly the last in the short series featuring the siblings. There's more than a touch of pathos evoked in the reader, knowing that less than 18 months after the ending of the book, 3 of the 4 siblings will have died, leaving Charlotte alone to care for their ailing father before her tragic death in 1855.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
storysquirell's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ruthie_the_librarian's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
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.
With thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for my copy.
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.
With thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for my copy.
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