The Diabolical Bones By Bella Ellis

‘The Diabolical Bones’ is the latest book in the ‘The Bronte Mysteries’ by Bella Ellis.

Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë are rather losing interest in detecting until they hear of a shocking discovery: the bones of a child have been found interred within the walls of a local house, Top Withens Hall, home to the scandalous and brutish Bradshaw family. When the sisters set off to find out more, they are confronted with an increasingly complex and sinister case, which leads them into the dark world of orphanages, and onto the trail of other lost, and likely murdered children. After another local boy goes missing, Charlotte, Emily and Anne vow to find him before it’s too late. But in order to do so, they must face their most despicable and wicked adversary yet – one that would not hesitate to cause them the
gravest of harm.

Bella Ellis is back with another Bronte mystery and this time it’s a sad case of discovering bones hidden away. As the sisters begin their investigation, they find themselves delving into a dark history revealing cruelty and an unfortunate child.

I’m not the biggest fan of historical fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed the latest book in the Bronte Mysteries saga. Once again, the 3 sisters are working closely together as unofficial detectives to solve the mystery occasionally with the help of their old brother Branfield.

I really enjoyed the dynamics of the sisters as they worked together piercing together clues. I loved Anne, the younger sister who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or stand up to elders, particularly when they were gruff bullying men.

The story is atmospheric from the very beginning, bleak, dismal and set in the bleak midwinter, there’s a sense of eeriness to the story as well as a deep sadness with the discovery of the child’s remains.

It’s fascinating to read the procedures of identifying remains back then with such limited resources. As well as being a murder mystery, there’s a hint of a ghost story to the book, with spooky sounds and coming and goings that makes for unsettling reading as well as urban myths and stories that are weaved throughout the book.

For fans of the Bronte sisters, this book is a must read with a stunning cover and a gripping storyline that pulls the reader in. A splendid adventure that turns into a race against time, ‘The Diabolical Bones’ is a beautifully written chilling and dark story that makes for poignant reading.

You can buy ‘The Diabolical Bones’ from Amazon and will be available to buy from good bookshops.