The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries (Mrs.Jeffries Mysteries Book 1)

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This premise is unique, with one similarity to a TV show I loved as a child, “Remington Steele”. Pierce Brosnan’s titular character was talented but initially, P.I. Laura Holt did the work using that name. Hepzibah Jeffries is a house manager and discreet sleuth, for a Scotland Yard archivist. Gerald Witherspoon was mistakenly credited for solving a case and ill prepared for promotion to a detective. Successful businessman Jeremy Marks wasn’t highly regarded by any of the members of the West London Archery Club. Most of them considered him a buffoon and a bore. But everyone was stunned when the fellow was murdered during a lull in the club’s annual archery competition. He’d been shot with arrows from a longbow during a raging thunderstorm. Set in Victorian England at Christmas time, “Mrs. Jeffries and the Midwinter Murders” is the well done 40th book in the Mrs. Jeffries cozy mystery series by Emily Brightwell. The fact that the series has lasted so long is a testament to how wonderful this series is. By now all the characters – Inspector Witherspoon, Constable Barnes, Mrs. Jeffries, Luty Belle, Hatchett, Ruth, Smythe, Betsy, Mrs. Goodge, Phyllis, and Wiggins all feel like old friends and I love visiting with them again. The setup for each book is the same – Witherspoon and Barnes question the suspects while Mrs. Jeffries and friends talk to servants, shopkeepers, etc. to get clues that Mrs. Jeffries puts together to solve the murder but Brightwell manages to keep the series fresh with each book. This book has plenty of suspects which allows the reader to try and solve the mystery alongside Mrs. Jeffries. There are also plenty of twists and turns and a few red herrings – I thought for sure I knew who the killer was but I was totally wrong. Finally, the book ends with a couple of cliffhangers that make me eagerly await the next book in the series. This is my go-to light cozy who-done-it so after a couple of really heavy reads and a bit of upheaval in real life “Mrs. Jeffries Aims to Win” it is. Another thing that I appreciate about this series is that as it has progressed, Inspector Witherspoon has really grown more capable and become more confident in his abilities. It seems as if the clues "fed" to him are fewer than before, and he has truly become the inspector that Scotland Yard and his fellow constables believe him to be....and always have been.

The plot in a nutshell: Mrs. Jeffries is the housekeeper for Inspector Gerald Witherspoon. Witherspoon received a promotion after helping solve a rash of horrible murders. He used to be a records clerk for Scotland Yard, but now is an inspector who investigates and solves major crimes. Behind the scenes, Witherspoon is assisted by his staff of servants, headed by Mrs. Jeffries. The assistance with his cases is done in secret, of course, because they don't want to hurt Witherspoon's feelings. But, he can be absent minded at times and most of the time his investigations just need a nudge in the right direction. While he isn't the best investigator, Witherspoon is a very kind and generous employer. So his servants don't mind sneaking about to help him solve complicated cases. In the end, he believes he solved the cases himself, and his staff knows that they helped him maintain his reputation as one of the greatest investigators at Scotland Yard.Harriet Andover had no intention of dying young like her silly siblings had. She intended to outlive them and outdo them as she always had. But Harriet discovers that the best intentions can lead to murder when she is strangled inside her mansion with a house full of holiday guests. When newcomer Ellen Langston-Jones is found dead, Inspector Witherspoon suspects Lucius Montague, who was seen threatening her. Despite everyone’s belief in Montague’s guilt, Mrs. Jeffries has doubts. Facing the challenge of saving an unlikeable character, she must change the investigation’s course or risk an innocent man taking the fall for the true killer. Prepare to unveil the truth in the gripping tale of “ Mrs. Jeffries Turns the Tide.” Mrs. Jeffries and the Merry Gentlemen In the mystery of “ Mrs. Jeffries Pleads Her Case,” the magistrate rules Westover’s death as suicide, but doubts remain. Inspector Witherspoon investigates political dangers in search of the potential killer. Mrs. Jeffries and her team guide the inspector, preventing another staged suicide by a possible murderer. Mrs. Jeffries Sweeps the Chimney The first book Victorian-era mystery series “ The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries,” features Inspector Witherspoon and his housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, who assists in solving crimes. When a doctor is found dead, Mrs. Jeffries investigates despite her employer’s discomfort with questioning suspects, using her wit to uncover the truth behind the murder. Mrs. Jeffries Dusts For Clues

It may be Inspector Witherspoon's life, but it is Mrs. Jeffries who really runs things. Not only is she the housekeeper who keeps life at home smooth running, she is also the one who seems to guide the Inspector in solving the mysteries that come his way. Mrs. Jeffries aids Inspector Witherspoon in investigating the murder of a despised London businessman. Juggling her kitchen duties while skillfully pursuing the killer, prepare for a gripping Book 7. Mrs. Jeffries and the Missing Alibi The book starts out as suggested: cute, quirky, and intriguing. Immediately I liked Mrs. Jeffries. She’s sweet, clever, supportive. I didn’t know the other help had such a large role in solving the crimes, but delightfully they do, all bringing their individual traits to the table. The detective is subpar with his investigative technique and confidence, previously having been in the filing room for the majority of his career, but this only brings more charm to the story. The guilty party at the end doesn’t stand out much in personality; I wouldn’t have guessed them to be the killer, and motivation came toward the end anyway.

Publication Order of Mrs. Jeffries Books

Thirty-Nine books into the series and I’m still loving it. The characters are as fresh and delightful today as they were in the first book. There is always a serious mystery to solve, but it is done with wit and charm galore. I always look forward to each new book because of its warmth, it’s family feel – all of the characters have the utmost respect and care for each other despite the differences in their stations in life. Each book is a delightful addition to the series, but you can also read each book as a standalone should you wish to do so – but you would be missing the character and relationship growth that has occurred in the previous books. In 1884, Alfred Dyer's London Committee obtained evidence of a high class Chelsea brothel operated by Jeffries. An investigation by a former police inspector, who had resigned from the Metropolitan Police when senior officials refused to prosecute her, had been amassing evidence against Jeffries during the year until the London Commission began a private prosecution in March 1885. This investigation included many witnesses from the brothels, including Lola Shropshire, Leona Noman, and Agnes Moris. These witnesses unfortunately had no clear evidence and were soon dismissed. Set in Victorian London this is #41 in the series if you can believe it. Having followed Mrs. Jeffries from the beginning I have come to know the characters like old friends. Everyone is a likable individual and somehow the author has managed to keep them fresh and engaging in every story. In the last dozen years I've read about 6 of the 39 Mrs. Jeffries cozies, and enjoyed them as uncomplicated, cute, and very English mysteries. The writing fit the stories and the characters were the stars. Throughout, the theme of the "downstairs" inhabitants of Inspector Witherspoon's household not only being more than in service, but in pursuit of justice, came through clearly.