When a local woman is killed during a robbery, Blimpey Groggins claims his friend was wrongfully convicted. With a cold trail, tampered evidence, and only three weeks until the execution, Mrs. Jeffries and her team must work tirelessly to save an innocent man from the gallows. Get ready to uncover the mystery in Book 21. Mrs. Jeffries and the Best Laid Plans Mrs. Jeffries knows this murder troubles the inspector. Witherspoon doesn’t care for Nivens, but he does care for justice, as do Mrs. Jeffries and the staff. One day when the staff is meeting with the results of what they learned, Nivens shows up, wanting to talk with them. He said that people at the station think they are who really investigate and help Witherspoon solve all the murders he does. They denied their involvement multiple times, in multiple ways. He pleads for their help, as he knows he will hang if the real killer isn’t found, but they declare they are only servants. Mrs. Jeffries is also terribly troubled about the case, as Chief Superintendent Barrows will only give Witherspoon and Barnes a couple more days to solve it or arrest Nivens. 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!

Unfortunately, the same thing can be said of the characters. They're sketches of supporting cast. With the exception (maybe) of Mrs. Jeffries herself, everyone can be summed up in one or two adjectives: 'alcoholic,' 'susceptible to pretty girls,' 'an idiot.' I love that Inspector Witherspoon has an ‘unknown to him’ support team consisting of his housekeeper, maid, cook, coachman, and several interested friends who are helping him behind the scenes. I love how they quietly feed him the clues they have found without him even being aware that they’ve done it. That ‘support team’ has absolutely no love for Nivens because of the way he’s treated Witherspoon in the past, but they also don’t believe he’s guilty. They’ll help their inspector solve the crime no matter which way it goes.Well, Emily Brightwell began writing Mrs Jeffries Series in the year 1993, where she featured Mrs Jeffries and the Inspector. Since then she has written about 33 more mysteries for the Victorian murder mystery series in the subsequent 21 years. This Victorian Murder Mystery series has gained so much popularity in the recent years even as each new mystery gets to be published, while the earlier tittles becomes issued as three book anthologies. Plus, it is actually her proposal that sold to silhouette, and which was published to special edition under her pen name, Sarah Temple. Emily went on to write two more special editions for Silhouete and of course the renowned Victorian mystery series for prime Crime. In the Victorian era, Inspector Gerald Witherspoon is kindly but a bit hopeless, and has no idea that his household staff actually solves all his murders for him. They relish the work, and so are thrilled when a new murder comes up--until they learn that the killer announced himself as "Inspector Gerald Witherspoon" and the Inspector has no alibi. Of course no one believes he did it, but the Yard assigns the case to the useless and mean-minded Inspector Nivens, so Witherspoon's staff have to be even more circumspect in solving the murder. The first victim is an insurance broker, found strangled by a school tie. The second victim is killed the same way. The staff think the link must be the business, and set out to find out all they can about the victims and their connection. Meanwhile, Betsy must face down a demon from her past, and Smythe is determined to save her from ever having to worry about it again. In writing as Emily Brightwell, Cheryl wrote a number of books under Mrs Jeffries series with the main characters being the inspector Witherspoon and his house help together with Mrs Jeffries. The first book on this series was the Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries. In this story, Mrs Jeffries, a policeman’s widow keeps the house for the inspector Witherspoon that keeps him so much on his toes. In fact, everyone is astonished by the Inspector’s Victorian era Scotland yard level of success. Interestingly, even the inspector himself seems not to be aware of this his secret weapon , since she is not only lady like but she is also clever. Such that, no matter how dirty the act or messy the murder is, Mrs. Jeffries has some very polished detection skills which are indeed equal to the task, and that surely proves that indeed behind every successful man there exist a woman and so a crime solver work is never done. Behind the scenes, Mrs. Jeffries has organized the household staff into its' efficient sleuthing team mode. Cook may be feeding pauper meals to the Inspector, but she still is sure to have tea and sweet buns for when other household staff members drop by to chat in the kitchen. Meanwhile Wiggins, Betsy and Smythe utilize their network of other household staffs for information; uncovering some unsavoury secrets that point to who the guilty party is and why.

In a holiday-themed Victorian mystery, “ Mrs. Jeffries and the Three Wise Women,” Inspector Witherspoon and his team are determined to solve the unsolvable murder of Christopher Gilhaney during a Guy Fawkes Night dinner party, even if it means canceling Christmas plans. Justice doesn’t take time off in this thrilling tale of persuasive powers and criminal urgency. Mrs. Jeffries Delivers the Goods Mrs Jeffries, the housekeeper manages Mrs Goudge the cook, Betsy the maid, Wiggins the foreman, Smythe the coachman in their investigations while adhering to Inspector’s request for practicing more household economies (producing plain, unpalatable meals and unlit fires). As usual American Widow Luty and her butler Hatchet aid in the detecting with knowledge of Colt 45s- the murder weapon and their upper crust connections. After a perfectly decent woman is killed during a robbery, the Witherspoon household receives a surprising visit from a stranger named Blimpey Groggins. He claims his best buddy was convicted of the crime.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. Dr. Slocum is found slumped over his lunch, obviously murdered. An unlikable man while alive, the Inspector works to solve the case aided by his Constable and criticized by another inspector. Subtly Mrs. Jeffries asks the right questions, deploys the rest of the staff to seek out more clues, and eventually solves the case.

I'm wondering if Rufus Farley, the club manager, is the murderer. He's an officious man who values his position over justice. He caters to the whims of the wealthy and doesn't seem to like scandal and Jeremy Marks ALWAYS brought scandal with him. Mr. Marks wasn't even a member and if his fiancé really did break it off with him as the gossips claim, Mr. Farley would have no reason to keep Mr. Marks around. Plus Mr. Farley flat out lies to the Inspector, more than once I think. 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 The week before Christmas, Inspector Gerald Witherspoon's staff prepares for the long-awaited wedding of Betsy and Smythe. But an unwelcome surprise falls in his lap: a Yuletide murder.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. 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. As much as Inspector Witherspoon enjoys his job delivering justice, the last thing he wanted was a complicated murder case just a week before Christmas. Some aspects of this series strike me differently now, especially since I've read a lot more Victorian Literature than I had when I was a teenager. For one thing, the dialogue isn't historically accurate or at least not consistently so. However, I did appreciate that different realities of the time period are brought up as we learn about the hardships the characters have faced. I liked that the book didn't try to completely idealize Victorian life but was still pleasant and positive in tone. 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.