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

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Inspector Witherspoon is called into the Chief’s office and told that he has a new case. The case isn’t out of his station, but Witherspoon is being assigned nonetheless. There has been a murder in the East End and all of the evidence points to Nigel Nivens being the murderer. The overhead folks at Scotland Yard wouldn’t mind throwing the book at Nivens and getting rid of him, but they know they have to give the investigation every appearance of fairness. That is why they assign the case to Witherspoon – the most respected Inspector on the force. It took no time at all for the magistrate to rule the death of Harlan Westover a suicide. But not everyone is convinced by the result of what may have been a slip-shod investigation. Mr. Marks' housekeeper is a drunk, lazy and a gossip. She seems to have adored Mrs. Marks who had money and status. Why a lovely woman married a loser like Mr. Marks I don't know. The point of the gossip is that Miss Fairfax as was had money. Lots of it. Could one of her family members have it out for Marks? She also names a Stephen Mueller, who Mr. Marks cheated in business. The other witnesses are unmemorable but one of them provides a vital clue! Train enthusiast Francis Humphreys was was drawing his last breath while his relatives and neighbors were over for tea. But Inspector Witherspoon wonders: If everyone was downstairs, who could have stolen into Francis' second-story study, killed him, and escaped?

The marriageable daughters of the upper crust howl in outrage when the rich and handsome Lewis Banfield marries an artist's model. But Arlette Montrose Banfield is more than a pretty face: she's an intelligent and free-spirited woman. But not everyone approves of a modern woman. At the Banfield's ball, someone poisons the new bride's champagne.A doctor is found dead in his own office - and Mrs. Jeffries must scour the premises to find the prescription for murder! 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. A businessman has been murdered - and it could be because he cheated his shareholders. The housekeeper's interest is piqued..and when.... Even with the premise that Mrs. Jeffries is the brains behind the Inspector and leads him to what needs to be done to solve the cases, it just beggared belief that someone who doesn't even know what to do at a crime scene, or have the first clue what questions to even ask could pull off his job. Not to mention how unlikely it would be that the constables or other people involved in his work could possibly have any respect for him or take instructions from him.

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. Well, Mr.Jeffries leads the dim witted Witherspoon to quite an obvious solution to poisoning of the thoroughly despicable Dr. Barthlomew Slocum. While Inspector displays his Victorian class prejudice, although devoid of evidence or any motive, Witherspoon decides that the murder is slocum’s cook , who apparently for some unknown reasons had left the employ of duke of Bedford to instead work for the doctor. It is now up to Mrs Jeffries to unearth the real identity of the killer.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Inspector Nigel Nivens is not a nice man or a good investigator. In fact, he’s terrible at his job and has always done everything he can to make life difficult for Inspector Witherspoon. But even his powerful family can’t help him after he maliciously tried to hobble Witherspoon’s last homicide investigation. He’s been sent to a particularly difficult precinct in the East End of London as penance. As with most of the other books in this series, it opens with the murder. I don't like seeing the murder happen. It makes it easier to guess who the murderer is. I prefer to follow the clues and figure it out as I go along. Fortunately, in this story, it's unclear who the murderer is right away. It takes a lot of sifting through clues to put them together. I had my suspicions and finally knew for sure who did it about 2/3 of the way through. I was surprised it took Mrs. Jeffries so long to figure it out. They had all the clues. Alas, she's getting older and her mind isn't as sharp as it used to be. The book ends with a lot of drama and hints at a future case for the servants to solve and more tension with Inspector Nivens. In “ Mrs. Jeffries Speaks Her Mind,” eccentric Olive Kettering claimed someone wanted to harm her, but no one took her seriously. When she’s shot and killed, numerous suspects emerge, all wanting her dead. Mrs. Jeffries fearlessly speaks her mind in pursuit of justice, determined to solve the case and bring the killer to light. Mrs. Jeffries Forges Ahead

Death is unpredictable..but the murder of Mrs. Hodges was foreseen at a spookly seance. The practical-minded housekeeper may not be able to see the future... Mrs. Jeffries, Inspector Witherspoon’s secret weapon, uses her polished detection skills to solve even the dirtiest crimes. When Sutcliffe Manufacturing’s general office manager is murdered, a figure from Mrs. Jeffries’ past begs for her help. Despite the case being assigned to another inspector, Mrs. Jeffries intervenes to prevent a grave miscarriage of justice. Are you ready to unravel the enigma in “ Mrs. Jeffries Defends Her Own“? Let’s delve into this captivating mystery and discover the secrets hidden within. Mrs. Jeffries Turns the Tide

Customer reviews

When Inspector Witherspoon becomes the main suspect in a murder case, Scotland Yard refuses to let him investigate. But no-one said anything ...... In this edition Inspector Witherspoon is investigating the murder of a man that was disliked by everyone who knew him. He was killed with a bow and arrow during a competition at the London Archery Club, so not your everyday kind of murder. And pretty much everyone who was at the club is a suspect. Inspector Gerald Witherspoon, Constable Griffiths, Constable Reed, and Constable Barnes will have their work cut out for them if they want to solve the case before Christmas. Of course, none of them other than Constable Barnes knows that they are also getting a massive dose of behind-the-scene help from the people who consider Inspector Witherspoon THEIR inspector and always want him to succeed. Mrs. Jeffries is the housekeeper and ring-leader of the group whose other members are: Luty Belle Crookshank – a wealthy American who loves bright colors; Hatchett, Luty Belle’s butler with benefits; Lady Ruby Cannonberry, widow of a peer; Smythe, the secretly very wealthy groom; Betsy, Smythe’s wife; Mrs. Goodge, the cook; Phyllis, the parlor maid; and Wiggins, the footman. With their wide set of skills, knowledge, social strata, and acquaintances – both home and abroad – they’ll fan out and gather clues they can surreptitiously pass along to the Inspector – especially through Constable Barnes. Mrs Jeffries, who joined the Cornish school in 2019 to replace Matt Middlemore who said at the time that he would not be returning after his year-long sabbatical, cited personal reasons for her departure.

Harriet, the second wife of Jacob Andover and stepmother of Percy and Ellen, came into their marriage with thriving business investments and finances and manages them completely by herself. Percy and Ellen approach middle age but see their social status as too high for them to work. Even if Jacob had run out of money by the time he and Harriet were wed, and she paid for major house repairs. She added: “Tregolls is in great hands and will have a very experienced local headteacher in the role until a permanent headteacher is recruited. I leave knowing what a superb team Tregolls has in place, knowing what fantastic teachers are supporting the children, and that there exciting plans for the future.” Gerald has solved more homicides than anyone else at Ladbroke Road Station in London. He doesn’t know it, but Hepzibah and her group is his secret weapon! They have a network of friends and acquaintances who are more likely to talk with them than with constables. Hepzibah considers anything they learn and passes it to Constable Barnes, his preferred partner when investigating homicides, who can best determine how to follow up on it. Witherspoon is well-liked by many people, co-workers and household staff alike. Tregolls School - an academy in Truro has been interviewing candidates to take over Lara Jeffries after she announced she was leaving, two years into the role. 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.Join Inspector Witherspoon of Scotland Yard and his resourceful housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries in Book 2, as they delve into a challenging case involving a vanished maid and a priceless brooch. The duo’s tireless determination drives them to uncover the truth when they discover the brooch on a deceased woman. The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries In “ Mrs. Jeffries and the Missing Alibi”, Inspector Witherspoon is wrongly accused of murder and banned from an investigation by Scotland Yard. But, with his housekeeper and partner in crime, Mrs. Jeffries, by his side, they defy expectations and work tirelessly to clear his name. Mrs. Jeffries Stands Corrected The Inspector and Mrs Jeffries is a book one of Mrs Jeffries series by Emily Brightwell. Inspector Gerald Witherspoon caught a case of the death of Dr Bartholomew Slocum at his surgery. At first, Inspector Gerald Witherspoon did not think it was murder until they found out that someone gave the doctor a deadly dose of poison. On realising it was murder Inspector Gerald Witherspoon started an investigation to find the killer with the help of his housekeeper Mrs Jeffries. The readers of The Inspector and Mrs Jeffries with continues to follow Inspector and Mrs Jeffries to see who is guilty. So while living at Long Beach California, and despite being preoccupied with a full time job and the task of having to take care of two children, she began writing. She actually started by writing romances, an exercise that even saw her become a member of the Romance writers of America. Within no time Cheryl became a renowned and an accomplished American writer under the name Cheryl Lanham or simply under pseudonyms Sarah Temple and as Emily Brightwell that she used in a number of her writings. Actually, she has since written a number or romance novels as Sarah Temple, together with some young Adult novels under the name Cheryl Lanham, not to mention writing a number of series and books using the name Emily Brightwell, the author of the Mrs Jeffries mysteries.