THE MADWOMAN UPSTAIRS is about the last living Brontë descendant, and her quest to find the family's missing literary estate ..but does it really exist.

What an amazing concept for a novel. 

Samantha is a quirky fabulous character and I loved how the Bronte novel references are littered throughout the story.This a fun read and if you are a Bronte fan a definite must have

I really enjoyed this book. It's quirky, charming and very smart. Samantha is a brilliant character. Strong willed and very witty she is more than a match for Orville, her formidable tutor, and I really enjoyed the banter that they shared.

This book still makes perfect sense if you know nothing of the Brontes or their work, but if like me you're a fan then it takes on even more meaning and enrichment. I've read their novels, I've visited the parsonage, I've swooned over Mr Rochester, so to me this felt like a love letter to the Bronte family.

If you're looking for something a bit different this is a book I'd highly recommend. It's original, heart warming, funny, clever, and jam packed with literary criticism and theory which made the English graduate in me very happy (this is where non-Bronte fans may come unstuck but hang in there - it's not as intimidating as it sounds I promise!) My only criticism would be that Samantha's quest for her inheritance was a bit of a letdown, and the storyline was very much sidelined in favour of another aspect of the story that I won't spoil here.

For a debut novel this is astounding. Catherine Lowell is definitely a name that I will be looking out for in the future!

I started this book with big expectations hoping it would be a feast for my Bronte  appetite. Sadly I was disappointed.