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Mrs. Jeffries #3
The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries
Nasty miser Abigail Hodges returns home angry at a warning from medium Esme Popejoy, absent servants and husband Leonard. An intruder shoots her in the head and chest, but few jewels are missing. Forged notes direct police to inheriting Felicity Marsden. But housekeeper Mrs Jeffries recruits staff to help Inspector Witherspoon to the truth.
198 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1993
141 people are currently reading
656 people want to read
About the author
Emily Brightwell
68 books536 followersCheryl Lanham was born on 11 October 1948 in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia, USA. Her family moved to Southern California in 1959 and she grew up in Pasadena. After graduating from California State University, she decided to work her way around the world and took off for England. She didn’t get much further because she met Richard James Arguile, the Englishman who became her husband, got married on May 1976, and had two children, Matthew and Amanda. While working in international shipping, she decided to pursue her dream and become a writer – which, of course, is the best job ever. She has written romance novels as Sarah Temple, and Young Adult novels as Cheryl Lanham. As Emily Brightwell, she is the author of the “Mrs. Jeffries” mysteries.
Cheryl Lanham Arguile returned to California, where she lives with her husband and a cranky old cat named Kiwi.
Cheryl Lanham Arguile returned to California, where she lives with her husband and a cranky old cat named Kiwi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
November 12, 2023
3.5⭐️
I found this one a bit harder to get immersed in, but overall, another great mystery!
I found this one a bit harder to get immersed in, but overall, another great mystery!
December 15, 2022
The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries (Mrs. Jeffries, #3)
by Emily Brightwell
This is a mystery based in London in 1889 give or take a year or two. The cover does not fit my brain's description of Mrs Jeffries at all. I don't picture her frumpy at all but slim, and very put together. (Just by the activity and various things mentioned in the book.)
Mrs Jeffries is the head of staff at the home of Inspector Witherspoon. She has a special friendship with him and he likes to get things of his chest in the evening and Mrs J is a good listener and boosts ego too. What he doesn't know is that she is gathering clues and her and her staff then secretly add to those clues and find a way for the Inspector to get them. They help the "Inspector" solve the crime!
This is a good book to get away from the news, bothers of the day, and enjoy a simple but entertaining story. It was easy to figure out who did it but the characters are so charming and appealing I certainly will read more of these stories.
I got this from Chirp. Narration good!
by Emily Brightwell
This is a mystery based in London in 1889 give or take a year or two. The cover does not fit my brain's description of Mrs Jeffries at all. I don't picture her frumpy at all but slim, and very put together. (Just by the activity and various things mentioned in the book.)
Mrs Jeffries is the head of staff at the home of Inspector Witherspoon. She has a special friendship with him and he likes to get things of his chest in the evening and Mrs J is a good listener and boosts ego too. What he doesn't know is that she is gathering clues and her and her staff then secretly add to those clues and find a way for the Inspector to get them. They help the "Inspector" solve the crime!
This is a good book to get away from the news, bothers of the day, and enjoy a simple but entertaining story. It was easy to figure out who did it but the characters are so charming and appealing I certainly will read more of these stories.
I got this from Chirp. Narration good!
September 28, 2019
A cantankorous rich woman is murdered during what appears to be a bungled robbery. But the facts don't support the robbery theory. Mrs. Jeffries is the housekeeper for the Inspector in charge of the case. She has a team that works together to help the inspector with his cases, without his knowledge of course. Together they discover the truth.
This was an easy read, except for the number of characters that you needed to become acquainted with. It was my first book in this series. I'm sure after I read a couple more that I will find I like it more as I become familiar with the characters and language.
This was an easy read, except for the number of characters that you needed to become acquainted with. It was my first book in this series. I'm sure after I read a couple more that I will find I like it more as I become familiar with the characters and language.
March 11, 2020
I love the old-style writing by author Emily Brightwell and the historical setting for this Victorian England series.
Housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries, with the help of her loyal household staff, covertly help Inspector Witherspoon in solving the latest murder mystery at hand. This particular one involved the murder of the wealthy Abigail Hodge, cranky and disliked by many. It appears to be a burglary gone wrong, however her death benefits many people. Hence, an investigation is launched. I enjoyed the unravelling of the mystery, the deductions to clues along the way, and the finale.
The story wasn't as "exciting" as the first, but still engaging with more character development. There were a few too many characters in this story, which detracted a bit from a smooth reading experience trying to keep track of them. Minor points - overall it was a fun, light cozy mystery read with a bit of humour and household drama thrown in!
Narrator Lindy Nettleton is excellent, and I'm thrilled she is narrating the series. She adds unique voices for each and creates a sense and familiarity and to the main characters.
Housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries, with the help of her loyal household staff, covertly help Inspector Witherspoon in solving the latest murder mystery at hand. This particular one involved the murder of the wealthy Abigail Hodge, cranky and disliked by many. It appears to be a burglary gone wrong, however her death benefits many people. Hence, an investigation is launched. I enjoyed the unravelling of the mystery, the deductions to clues along the way, and the finale.
The story wasn't as "exciting" as the first, but still engaging with more character development. There were a few too many characters in this story, which detracted a bit from a smooth reading experience trying to keep track of them. Minor points - overall it was a fun, light cozy mystery read with a bit of humour and household drama thrown in!
Narrator Lindy Nettleton is excellent, and I'm thrilled she is narrating the series. She adds unique voices for each and creates a sense and familiarity and to the main characters.
September 16, 2017
A very nice entry in the series. The solution to the mystery unfolds for the reader just as it does for Mrs. Jeffries and her cohorts, though many readers will have little doubt who did it. This is more of a "How did they manage and how will they be caught?" type story. Which is fine with me.
All the characters from previous books lend a hand in some way, and since I think a little of Lute Crookshank goes a long way I was happy to see her just pop in and out. For readers like me who dislike reading about séances I'll add that, though one of the characters is a medium, very little actual séance-type stuff appears in this book. If you're reading these in order some hints of developing feelings are given here for future relationships. One of the pleasures of reading a long running series like this in order is watching those relationships develop, so keep your eyes open.
Perhaps I should add that I read lots of historical fiction, and I divided them into two groups - those that contain a lot of history or details of life at the times and the group I call historical-fiction-light. These are books set in the past that don't attempt to let you see what life was really like then, but just tell a fun story. This series falls into the second category, so don't expect more and you'll probably be happy.
NB - The audiobooks are well done and the narrator adds to the fun of these light cozies.
All the characters from previous books lend a hand in some way, and since I think a little of Lute Crookshank goes a long way I was happy to see her just pop in and out. For readers like me who dislike reading about séances I'll add that, though one of the characters is a medium, very little actual séance-type stuff appears in this book. If you're reading these in order some hints of developing feelings are given here for future relationships. One of the pleasures of reading a long running series like this in order is watching those relationships develop, so keep your eyes open.
Perhaps I should add that I read lots of historical fiction, and I divided them into two groups - those that contain a lot of history or details of life at the times and the group I call historical-fiction-light. These are books set in the past that don't attempt to let you see what life was really like then, but just tell a fun story. This series falls into the second category, so don't expect more and you'll probably be happy.
NB - The audiobooks are well done and the narrator adds to the fun of these light cozies.
January 20, 2017
These stories certainly take 'cozy' to a new level. However, during these bleak winter days I found it refreshing in that I could be distracted by this simple story.
Though one does wonder how Inspector Witherspoon manages to keep his job....! lol
Though one does wonder how Inspector Witherspoon manages to keep his job....! lol
November 13, 2013
A nice cozy mystery. Reminds me of Miss Marple with helpers.
June 9, 2016
Abigail Hodges is a formidable woman, but she’s taken aback when she and her husband visit a medium who predicts a dark fate. Still she dismisses the prediction as stuff and nonsense and heads home alone. When a servant goes up to wake her for breakfast the next morning, she is dead – killed when she interrupted a burglar … or did she?
I enjoy this cozy mystery series set in Victorian London, and featuring Mrs Hepzibah Jeffries, housekeeper to Inspector Gerald Witherspoon, and her team of servants who all help solve the crimes. Of course the Inspector gets all the credit. It’s a fast read, full of colorful characters, and while I figured out the culprit long before even Mrs Jeffries, I still enjoyed watching her figure it out and gently coaxing the Inspector towards the correct solution to the mystery.
I enjoy this cozy mystery series set in Victorian London, and featuring Mrs Hepzibah Jeffries, housekeeper to Inspector Gerald Witherspoon, and her team of servants who all help solve the crimes. Of course the Inspector gets all the credit. It’s a fast read, full of colorful characters, and while I figured out the culprit long before even Mrs Jeffries, I still enjoyed watching her figure it out and gently coaxing the Inspector towards the correct solution to the mystery.
August 5, 2015
I recently discovered the Mrs Jeffries series. These are fun, super-quick reads. The finale in this one was somewhat contrived, but still, not a bad way to kill a couple of hours.
November 28, 2024
I’ve been meaning to read this series for a while and finally getting around to it. These are easy going, the staff helping their bubbling boss and getting it done.
March 3, 2024
# 3 in the series.
Nice murder mystery but I always hate stories with seances. I realize they were very popular in Victorian England.
All the regular characters in these cozy mysteries are fun.
Nice murder mystery but I always hate stories with seances. I realize they were very popular in Victorian England.
All the regular characters in these cozy mysteries are fun.
May 20, 2020
I finally feel like everyone is an established player and the world is becoming 3D. It's fun to read these after all these years.
November 4, 2014
Emily Brightwell's Victorian murder mystery has an intriguing premise, namely that the housekeeper and servants of Inspector Witherspoon of Scotland Yard are more adept at solving crimes than their master. This is the not the first adventure of the servants, the author keeps referring to earlier mysteries the servants solved, although these may not have been published in novel form.
Secretely investigating major crimes under the nose of Constable Barnes and the inspector, the bright and gifted housekeeper Mrs Jeffries and her motley crew of housemaid, coachman, footman and cook, not to mention the wonderful nouveau riche character of Lute Crookshank, an eccentric and loud-mouthed old American woman, who the servants once rescued in a murder mystery set before this one, embark on solving the murder of Abigail Hodge, a 52-year-old rich woman. Seemingly a burgerly gone wrong, the death of Abigail benefits too many people for Mrs Jeffries to believe that the householders entirely innocent of the crime.
Although it is obvious from the start who committed the crime and why, Emily Brightwell leads us through an amusing series of deductions and amassing of gossip-cum-information to the right conclusion and reveals just how the deed was done - when all the main suspects have apparently cast-iron alibis.
It's an amusing and well-concocted brew of Victoriana and the servants' characters are well-drawn and interesting enough for the reader to want to persevere. What lets the novel down is the fact that Inspector Witherspoon is clearly totally incapable of reaching any useful conclusions himself - no man so singularly lacking in detective skills could possibly have risen to the rank of inspector in late Victorian times. This is really where the novel falls down, for in Constable Barnes the inspector has a more than capable side-kick who has all the right instincts for the job and could well solve crimes without the help - or interference - of amateur sleuths from the Witherspoon household.
What is also missing is a proper rounding up and denouement - the reader positively longs to find out the identity of the couple who adopted Mrs Trotter's daughter (although we get guess who did) and we want to know what happens with the young star-crossed lovers who come under suspicion of having murdered an inconvenient obstacle to their marriage plans. Does "solving" this spectacular murder in the circles of the wealthy help the inspector with his career? We aren't told, instead the author devotes the last few lines of the book to a rather lame joke.
Still, it's an enjoyable read on a rainy afternoon.
Secretely investigating major crimes under the nose of Constable Barnes and the inspector, the bright and gifted housekeeper Mrs Jeffries and her motley crew of housemaid, coachman, footman and cook, not to mention the wonderful nouveau riche character of Lute Crookshank, an eccentric and loud-mouthed old American woman, who the servants once rescued in a murder mystery set before this one, embark on solving the murder of Abigail Hodge, a 52-year-old rich woman. Seemingly a burgerly gone wrong, the death of Abigail benefits too many people for Mrs Jeffries to believe that the householders entirely innocent of the crime.
Although it is obvious from the start who committed the crime and why, Emily Brightwell leads us through an amusing series of deductions and amassing of gossip-cum-information to the right conclusion and reveals just how the deed was done - when all the main suspects have apparently cast-iron alibis.
It's an amusing and well-concocted brew of Victoriana and the servants' characters are well-drawn and interesting enough for the reader to want to persevere. What lets the novel down is the fact that Inspector Witherspoon is clearly totally incapable of reaching any useful conclusions himself - no man so singularly lacking in detective skills could possibly have risen to the rank of inspector in late Victorian times. This is really where the novel falls down, for in Constable Barnes the inspector has a more than capable side-kick who has all the right instincts for the job and could well solve crimes without the help - or interference - of amateur sleuths from the Witherspoon household.
What is also missing is a proper rounding up and denouement - the reader positively longs to find out the identity of the couple who adopted Mrs Trotter's daughter (although we get guess who did) and we want to know what happens with the young star-crossed lovers who come under suspicion of having murdered an inconvenient obstacle to their marriage plans. Does "solving" this spectacular murder in the circles of the wealthy help the inspector with his career? We aren't told, instead the author devotes the last few lines of the book to a rather lame joke.
Still, it's an enjoyable read on a rainy afternoon.
June 14, 2018
Ok, so I gave this 5 stars and really, I guess really it is but the title is misleading. I was disappointed that there wasn't a ghost or even a teeny bit of a haunting, but otherwise, it was good. Like the others, this was a light, quick and fun read. Miss Luty Bell comes and goes but a bit of Luty Bell goes a long way. The author could have eased up on the "western twang" quite a bit, but that is just my humble opinion. The characters are well formed and interesting, each bringing their own talent to the "job".
I think a cozy fan will enjoy this series in general and this book in particular.
I think a cozy fan will enjoy this series in general and this book in particular.
August 12, 2021
3 Stars
***Hoopla Audio***
Not sure how much I missed by starting with book #3, but it was the first book Hoopla had within the audio series. This was a decent murder mystery cozy which was published in 1993. A nice snack between more intense books.
There are a lot of reviews here on GR that give you the story breakdown. It's endearing that the staff of Inspector Gerald Witherspoon (and friends of the staff) help to investigate. The staff can slink behind the scene during the Victorian era and mingle with staff of other households and gather the gossip and hearsay that ends up being bits and peaces needed to solve the murder. I do wish, however, that Inspector Witherspoon and Mrs. Jeffries worked more closely together.
I will give another book a try....
***Hoopla Audio***
Not sure how much I missed by starting with book #3, but it was the first book Hoopla had within the audio series. This was a decent murder mystery cozy which was published in 1993. A nice snack between more intense books.
There are a lot of reviews here on GR that give you the story breakdown. It's endearing that the staff of Inspector Gerald Witherspoon (and friends of the staff) help to investigate. The staff can slink behind the scene during the Victorian era and mingle with staff of other households and gather the gossip and hearsay that ends up being bits and peaces needed to solve the murder. I do wish, however, that Inspector Witherspoon and Mrs. Jeffries worked more closely together.
I will give another book a try....
February 11, 2024
My first taste of the Mrs Jeffries series. This third book was just OK; actually a bit boring. Maybe if I was more familiar with the regular characters I would have enjoyed it more. Mrs J is the real brains behind the much lauded Inspector Witherspoon but he’d be nothing without his housekeeper, Mrs J., feeding him subtle suggestions and clues. I did rather enjoy the way she marshaled the rest of the staff and some friends into tracking down info that could be quietly passed on to the Inspector.
One big secret was important to the story and by book's end we never got the info that was promised. Am I to presume that this info would be revealed in the next book? If not, Boo you Brightwell!
One big secret was important to the story and by book's end we never got the info that was promised. Am I to presume that this info would be revealed in the next book? If not, Boo you Brightwell!
November 21, 2019
Good story. Nice twist at the end
December 1, 2022
3.5 stars
November 4, 2024
Entertaining.
July 13, 2023
Entertaining enough but I don't think these cosy murder mysteries are for me. Everything all just works out too easily.
April 20, 2025
These are fun breezy reads. entertaining with lots of humor and the poor clueless inspector
May 4, 2022
Excellent historical cozy series balanced with humor and idiosyncrasies of the period.
July 14, 2023
Fluffy and silly and absolutely hit the spot for a lighthearted, cozy mystery.
May 17, 2018
A decent read. I would give more details about the ups and downs of the book but it was published by one of the big five publishers (see note below).
Note: I used togive full reviews for all of the books that I rated on GR. However, GR's new giveaway policies (Good Reads 2017 November Giveaways Policies Changes) have caused me to change my reviewing decisions. These new GR policies seem to harm smaller publishing efforts in favour of providing advantage to the larger companies (GR Authors' Feedback), the big five publishers (Big Five Publishers). So, because of these policies from now on I will be supporting smaller publishing effort by only giving full reviews to books published by: companies outside the big five companies, indie publishers, and self-published authors. This book was published by one of the big five companies so will not receive a more detailed review by me.
Note: I used togive full reviews for all of the books that I rated on GR. However, GR's new giveaway policies (Good Reads 2017 November Giveaways Policies Changes) have caused me to change my reviewing decisions. These new GR policies seem to harm smaller publishing efforts in favour of providing advantage to the larger companies (GR Authors' Feedback), the big five publishers (Big Five Publishers). So, because of these policies from now on I will be supporting smaller publishing effort by only giving full reviews to books published by: companies outside the big five companies, indie publishers, and self-published authors. This book was published by one of the big five companies so will not receive a more detailed review by me.
December 28, 2013
Abigail Hodges is murdered in her own home and Inspector Witherspoon is charged with investigating the case. This means that Mrs Jeffries and the inspector’s other domestic staff have a new investigation to work on to save them from boredom. The subsequent mystery involves them with some very dodgy mediums and they rope in their friend the eccentric Luty Belle Crookshank to help them.
This is an interesting Victorian mystery with no swearing or on the page violence and plenty of interesting and likeable characters. It is an entertaining light read for those who like their mysteries to present them with a puzzle to be solved.
This series can be read in any order though if you read them in the order in which they were published you can track the developing relationships between the characters.
This is an interesting Victorian mystery with no swearing or on the page violence and plenty of interesting and likeable characters. It is an entertaining light read for those who like their mysteries to present them with a puzzle to be solved.
This series can be read in any order though if you read them in the order in which they were published you can track the developing relationships between the characters.
February 17, 2018
This is a light-hearted cosy mystery about a clueless inspector and his brilliant housekeeper. He is gaining a reputation for solving murders - whereas she is the real reason he solves the murders under her expert guidance. He is completely unaware that she is the brains of the outfit. Light-hearted fluff that is easy to read.
September 21, 2017
While the structure of these stories are essentially the same because the characters are so likeable it doesn't matter. Great to have the droll Hatchet introduced as Luty's butler who has the last laugh
April 21, 2017
Series is improving.
April 17, 2022
Third in the Mrs. Jeffries' series, The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries is a cozy murder mystery series. As always, it's up to Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of Inspector Witherspoon of Scotland Yard's household staff to solve the case and to help guide their beloved master into believing he solved it himself. It's rather a silly concept really, but it's entertaining all the same.
The title is unfortunately misleading. It implies there is a ghost to the story. There is no ghost. It's seances, which were very big in the Victorian era.
Abigail Hodges is a miserable and bitter woman, but she does enjoy going to seances and learning about her future. This time she didn't get good news. The medium's parting words were, "darkness, death, despair". She returns home angry stropping through her house yelling for her servants, discovering no one is home including her husband, Leonard, which makes her even more mad since she did not give them the night off. It's shortly after this, she ends up with a bullet hole in her head and chest and she's dead. The police label it a break and enter once they discover some jewels are missing, but very few burglars carry guns, never mind commit murder.
I found the "who done it" was an easy one and I figured it out quite early into the story.
Unfortunately I do not have #4-#16 in the series. I will be continuing the series with story #17.
The title is unfortunately misleading. It implies there is a ghost to the story. There is no ghost. It's seances, which were very big in the Victorian era.
Abigail Hodges is a miserable and bitter woman, but she does enjoy going to seances and learning about her future. This time she didn't get good news. The medium's parting words were, "darkness, death, despair". She returns home angry stropping through her house yelling for her servants, discovering no one is home including her husband, Leonard, which makes her even more mad since she did not give them the night off. It's shortly after this, she ends up with a bullet hole in her head and chest and she's dead. The police label it a break and enter once they discover some jewels are missing, but very few burglars carry guns, never mind commit murder.
I found the "who done it" was an easy one and I figured it out quite early into the story.
Unfortunately I do not have #4-#16 in the series. I will be continuing the series with story #17.
September 12, 2023
Book #: 56
Title: The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries
Author: Emily Brightwell
Series: Mrs. Jeffries #3
Format: Omnibus #1-3 Mrs. Jeffries Learns the Trade, hardcover, 454 pages, local library
Pub Date: First published October 1, 1993
Started: 8/20/23 Ended: 8/28/23
Awards: none
Categories: Mystery, Next Book in a Series, Cozy, Historical Mystery
Rating: *** three out of five stars
Mean old Abigail Hodges returns home alone after seeing Madame Popejoy, a medium. She surprises a burglar in mid-robbery and is shot in the head. Inspector Witherspoon picks up that the apparent robbery is actually a cover for murder. At this point, anonymous notes start directing him to Felicity Marsden who stands to inherit the family fortune. But Mrs Jeffries thinks the anonymous note writer is the actual villian and with the aid of Madame Popejoy, solves the case!
Having read two of the paperbacks, I got an omnibus of the first three novels out of the local library to see if the books would do better if read in order. The answer is marginally. The running gag that the servants are doing all the case solving while the housekeeper leads the inspector towards the solution begins to get more formulaic the more novels you read. I have a few more paperbacks and I may read them as waiting in line novels, but I'm not going to make an effort to read them in order.
Title: The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries
Author: Emily Brightwell
Series: Mrs. Jeffries #3
Format: Omnibus #1-3 Mrs. Jeffries Learns the Trade, hardcover, 454 pages, local library
Pub Date: First published October 1, 1993
Started: 8/20/23 Ended: 8/28/23
Awards: none
Categories: Mystery, Next Book in a Series, Cozy, Historical Mystery
Rating: *** three out of five stars
Mean old Abigail Hodges returns home alone after seeing Madame Popejoy, a medium. She surprises a burglar in mid-robbery and is shot in the head. Inspector Witherspoon picks up that the apparent robbery is actually a cover for murder. At this point, anonymous notes start directing him to Felicity Marsden who stands to inherit the family fortune. But Mrs Jeffries thinks the anonymous note writer is the actual villian and with the aid of Madame Popejoy, solves the case!
Having read two of the paperbacks, I got an omnibus of the first three novels out of the local library to see if the books would do better if read in order. The answer is marginally. The running gag that the servants are doing all the case solving while the housekeeper leads the inspector towards the solution begins to get more formulaic the more novels you read. I have a few more paperbacks and I may read them as waiting in line novels, but I'm not going to make an effort to read them in order.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews