In The Diabolical Bones, the much anticipated follow up to The Vanished Bride, Bella Ellis has added a dark and tense ghost story element to her already winning formula of literary fiction and historical fiction coupled with a fascinating, well-crafted mystery.
As in The Vanished Bride, we again open with a brief introduction that takes place several years after the events of the story we are about to read, when only Charlotte remains of the Bronte family. In her loneliness, she looks back at a time she holds dear because she still had her father, her brother, and her dear sisters nearby. But in spite of the warmth and kindness she feels from thinking of her family, this is a case that still strikes fear deep into her heart.
The Brontë’s beloved housekeeper Tabby plays a larger role in The Diabolical Bones as she is the one who brings the sisters’ attention to the fact that a set of bones has been discovered at the home of the Bradshaws, where they were hidden in a room closed off for several years. Worst of all, these bones clearly belonged to a child.
Clifton Bradshaw is not looked on favourably by many, with some in the village saying he had sold his soul to the devil long ago. But such a simple explanation will certainly not satisfy Charlotte, Emily, and Anne and they begin to thoroughly investigate the matter, in hopes of ultimately putting the child to rest, as well as discovering the murderer.
There are many truly heartfelt (and even occasionally heart breaking) moments in the conversations between the Bronte siblings. They talk, plan, laugh together, and challenge each other in ways that anyone with a sibling will undoubtedly recognise. They clearly genuinely love each other and they each seem to feel it when they have hurt one another. It is extremely endearing and makes the years separating today from 1846 seem to fall away.
The mystery itself is exciting and full of twists and turns throughout. The Diabolical Bones is perfect for fall and winter (for us seasonal-mood readers) as the wintery isolated setting and consistently spooky vibes are front and center throughout the story.
The Diabolical Bones is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Haworth Parsonage, February 1846: The Brontë sisters— Anne, Emily, and Charlotte—are busy with their literary pursuits. As they query publishers for their poetry, each sister hopes to write a full-length novel that will thrill the reading public. They’re also hoping for a new case for their fledgling detecting enterprise, Bell Brothers and Company solicitors. On a bitterly cold February evening, their housekeeper Tabby tells them of a grim discovery at Scar Top House, an old farmhouse belonging to the Bradshaw family. A set of bones has been found bricked up in a chimney breast inside the ancient home.
Tabby says it’s bad doings, and dark omens for all of them. The rattled housekeeper gives them a warning, telling the sisters of a chilling rumour attached to the family. The villagers believe that, on the verge of bankruptcy, Clifton Bradshaw sold his soul to the devil in return for great riches. Does this have anything to do with the bones found in the Bradshaw house? The sisters are intrigued by the story and feel compelled to investigate. But Anne, Emily, and Charlotte soon learn that true evil has set a murderous trap and they’ve been lured right into it…
