Mrs. Jeffries Learns the Trade

Mrs. Jeffries #1-3

by Emily Brightwell

(Compilation of 3 Mrs. Jeffries books)

Everyone's awed by Inspector Witherspoon's Scotland Yard successes, but they don't know about his secret weapon. Her name is Mrs. Jeffries, and she keeps house for the Inspector - and keeps him on his toes. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, her polished detection skills are up to the task. Because as she knows all too well, a crimesolver's work is never done.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, British Literature, Mystery Thriller

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Cheryl 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.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a three-in-one book collection. The book contains the first three Mrs. Jeffries stories. I've read some of the later Mrs. Jeffries books, and I preferred them over the three stories in this collection.

[Rebes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I didn't. It's really irritating to me in any book or movie when the woman who does all the work doesn't get the credit.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun is in ambience, atmosphere, Victorian setting, lovable team, eccentrics, dubious suspects, vital bits of gossip. Everyone confides in motherly housekeeper Mrs Hepzibah Jeffries 57 p 20, knowledgeable in police procedures from decades with late Yorks hire husband. Over pre-dinner sherry, she coordinates clues for Scotland Yard Inspector Witherspoon. He puzzles mildly over solutions that staff who appreciate his generosity and kindness effect.

Over nightly cocoa, she delegates enquiries. Coachman Smythe finds cabbies over a pint; housemaid Betsy bats her baby blues; footman Wiggins trails suspects; arthritic cook Mrs Goodge plies suppliers with cuppas. Elderly rich American widow Luty Belle Crookshank has a gun in her muff, society contacts, and her butler Hatchet knows martial arts moves.

Cannot re-read for whodunit answers, soon obvious. Pleasure is how evidence is gathered and (un?)ravelled. Usually people run around more than they have to, after red herrings. Circumstantial tidbits gather slowly into cohesive proof. So far, more evil in victims than murderers; killers confess, die rather than hang.

1 The Inspector and Mrs Jeffries Dr Bartholomew Slocum doped patients with laudanum for blackmail material and confession signatures, is found poisoned. Neighbor Luty knows from nursing victims that "dead-eye" mushrooms require days, not minutes, for fatal effect. Who bought the bottle of wine?

Colonel Seaward, due for ambassador appointment, milks cobra venom from country house poison snake collection, writes confession, doses self. Seaward had shakily signed for Slocum, that he hid while soldiers fought to death.

2 Mrs Jeffries Dusts for Clues Woman's body found in shoes too big, brooch and betrothal ring stolen from Lutterbanks. Luty reports missing friend, Mary Sparks 19 p 152 fired from Lutterbanks, whose pal Cassie vanished, perhaps with one of two lovers. Stories don't add up. Cassie saw Andrew Lutterbank kill previous maid, extorts payoff. Andrew steals back payoff, kills Cassie dressed as Mary.

3 The Ghost and Mrs Jeffries "Something unexpected always happens. That's the nature of life" p 441. Nasty miserly manipulative Abigail Hodges brushes off "Darkness, death, despair .. twaddle" warning from Esme Popejoy, angry at husband Leonard for escorting medium to train station, fearful at empty house, is shot in head and chest. Why did he buy a bowler and coat ready-made, then donate "almost new" p 453 to vicar soon after?

Felicity Marsden inherits half Leonard does not. She did not break off with "unsuitable" p 355 suitor Benjamin Vogel. She buries Ben's missing gun in a cemetery. Forged notes direct police to Felicity, few missing minor jewels hidden in her room.

Gossipy conversations disclose. Hodges footman Peter Applegate "couldn't be more than fourteen" p 371 tells Betsy "Mr Hodges knows Mrs Popejoy from way back. They was old friends. Good friends too. If you get my meaning" p 373.

Comic relief, soap opera style complications, and cast grows. Wiggins names stray dog Fred. Betsy and Smythe snipe at each other, unwilling to admit warm feelings. Reason not to read out of order.

Esme confesses Leonard drowned first wife Dorothy Throgmorton, shot second. He bought clothes to solidify resemblance to her former suitor, pharmacist Ashley Phipps. She stopped cab to drop off Leonard, pick up Phipps for rest of drive to station. Phipps could have broken Leonard's alibi himself any time.


Typos: same as in original texts
(brooch can be spelt as broach)
p 60 her plump "material" figure, grey-streaked auburn hair and sympathetic brown eyes is maternal
p 157 lacked confidence in his skills as a "dectective" for detective

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read these a long time ago and then got rid of the book.
Repurchased the book and am rereading [except for #1 which I just read not that long ago].

I don't ever remember reading #2 or #3. Must have been a VERY long time ago. ;-)

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very pleasant read. This is an omnibus edition of the first three books in the series.
Set in Victorian England the detectives are the household servants of Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Witherspoon.

The Inspector is a man clever and able in dealing with inanimate obects (police records) but not very competent in human interactions and easily cowed by problems of logic and intuition. He is an excellent example of the Peter Principle having been promoted to his level of incompetence.
When an aunt dies leaving him a fortune, a large house, and servants, the servants (somewhat augmented) work together to silently help him solve difficult cases.

Although the detective format provides the structure for the stories they seem to be centred around several values. That of community and working together. That of showing that servants have brains and courage and are worthy of respect. That of caring for others, and most importantly that of using the skills one has in whatever situation one finds oneself. The stories are skillfully crafted. My only concern is that a couple of Americanisms unlikely to be used in 19th century London have crept in; notably vest for waistcoat (in England a vest is worn under a shirt not over it), and talking of a first floor which, by context, seems to be the ground floor.

[Rebecca Lowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle school appropriate. These mysteries are all very cozy and the main characters never feel like they’re in any danger. It also never feels like anything truly bad can happen. I’m not very good at figuring out mysteries but for each of these, I always knew who the murderer was going to be before the evidence came to light. That led to a sort of satisfaction like “I knew it!” but it was still fun to find out how they did it. Light and fun.

[Text Addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting variation on the murder mystery, with very cleverly put together problems and clues. Probably reading 3 in a row was not the best choice, though, as the conceit of the Inspector's servants secretly helping to solve the crimes felt a bit forced while I was reading the last one. I can't see it lasting indefinitely.

... Good grief, there are (soon going to be) 37 of these. Wow.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, easy to read - ok, cozy, which I more often than not find boring. However, there is usually enough of a puzzle not to toss them aside, even if I have figured out who-done-it. Plus, I've come to love the almost totally unbelievable characters enough to suspend the need to find them believable and just enjoy the story.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel fortunate that I was able to find a compilation of the first three books in the Mrs. Jeffries' series.

The first two are a bit on the light side but the third, "The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries" had enough suspense and red herrings to make up for the others.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable......

[Gheeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, rather brainless mysteries. A bit prescriptive but something different to read. I'll probably read the second set of three mysteries and then stop.

[Jenny K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean writing, amusing if a bit predictable.

[Lance · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok did not read all the book. Read the first one started the second, could not get interested.
Little development of characters. Plot line clear predictable. Lets just move on.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun light read. Good for a winter weekend.

[Jennifer Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series. Light reading with fun characters I can relate to. Keeps you guessing.

[Harvey DeFries · Rating 4 out of 5]

good murder mysteries

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable who dun it

[Joan Elkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasure

[Tom M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collection of the first three "Mrs. Jeffries Mysteries" by Emily Brightwell, The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries; Mrs. Jeffries Dusts for Clues; The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries.

Mrs. Jeffries is the head housekeeper for kind but inept Victorian police detective who would much rather return to his former position in the Scotland Yard records department than having to deal with these nasty murders. It should come as no surprise that the Inspector's housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, is the real brains behind the Inspector's success. In fact, that's the problem with each of these books: they're so lacking in surprise (or originality or creativity) as to be clichéd and a bit dull.

Mrs. Jeffries utilizes her entire staff (the cook, maid, butler, groomsman) and an insistent next-door neighbor, in solving each mystery. They eagerly join in the investigations, each exercising their own talents. Unfortunately, each character is a mere cardboard cut-out of a person, each lacking in anything that would make them appear less characture and more human. It's as if these stories were written for television -- no characters ever change, ever grow or ever display any ability to apply the knowledge they learned in previous stories.

Even the mysteries themselves are cut from much the same cloth. Each of these three featured three primary suspects and another two or three hangers-on who waited in the wings for their minor roles to come into play before abruptly leaving again. In each case the endings were no surprise (if I can guess most elements of the solution, there's got to be something wrong) which was disappointing as well.

Brightwell has written a slew of these books. While I'm guessing that means they must be popular with the general mystery-reading public, I'm stopping with these three.

[pdarnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are 3 books in one.

Book 1 - The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries. I enjoyed the story. It's a "bit" of a Sherlock Holmes type story but with a supporting cast that Mr. Witherspoon (the detective) is unaware aids him in his job. Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the household staff are a hoot!"

Book 2 - I read the second book in this 3 books in 1 paperback April 1 through 4 2012. Once again I enjoyed the offbeat characters of the staff of Inspector Witherspoons. This time around the American neighbor Luty Belle Crookshank (say that out loud without snickering!) hires the staff to find a missing friend. Two mysteries end up being connected and the sleuthing begins for both the staff and Witherspoon. And it leaves me with a question... is there a budding romance beginning between 2 of the staff members? Hmmm. Maybe this will be revealed in book 3.

Book 3 - Finished September 15 2012. I guess I am hooked! I wouldn't want to read these one right after the other, however, they are fun for a quick easy read in between long and demanding books. There is no mind blowing revelations, or meaty intelligent sleuthing. But the characters are well worth getting to know. They're a humorous lot. For me the last paragraph of book 3 was so worth the reading of the entire story. I laughed and laughed and I still smile when I think about it. Luty Belle's butler comes into his own in this story, he's less starchy as the book progresses, Smythe and Bess er well ??? and last but not least a new member is introduced. At least I hope the newest member continues in the next book.

[Laura Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is actually a collection of the first "Mrs. Jeffries" stories; I happened to start in on this series with a later book, so I read this one for the purpose of seeing the beginning of the series. I was somewhat disappointed by the way the characters are portrayed in the first story (The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries), these are developed into more interesting and workable characters in later books. The inspector in particular in the first story is rather inept, and keeps trying to make the facts fit into a nice tidy theory. In later books he seems to have become a better detective; he might long for something that fits neatly into a tidy theory but he doesn't force it or turn a blind eye to facts that are out of place.
Although some may consider this a series that has the woman doing all the work and the man getting the glory, it is rather true to its time in terms of what women could and could not do. The household "helps" the inspector on his cases in part because they love to be involved in solving the cases, but also because it helps ensure their livelihood. If the inspector is successful, they continue to be gainfully employed in a household that has become a home and family to them.
As a "whodunit", there are more sophisticated, realistic, and gruesome stories out there, but there are enough twists and turns in this plot line to keep the reader engaged without becoming baffled.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mrs. Jeffries Learns the Trade by Emily Brightwell includes the first three books in the series.

I made it through the first two, but am not sure I will ever read the third one. I love historical mysteries when they are well written. The Mrs. Jefferies books left me with too many questions to enjoy the books. Mrs. Jeffries is the housekeeper for a police inspector. Her husband was a former policeman. There are several other members of the household staff, cook, maid, footman, etc. Yet it never explains how the inspector, who does not seem to be able to think his way out of a paper sack, can afford so many servants.

Police salaries were not high at the time these books take place.

Why the inspector is there, except to lead the staff to the murdered victim is not really clear. The staff does all the solving of the mystery, unknown to the inspector.

I liked the members of the staff. I just grew tired of the bumbling inspector, who seemed to have no desire to be a police officer at all. His is the weakest described and drawn out character. On the other hand you know the staff well and begin to like and dislike some of their habits and quibbling.

[Janell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a compilation of the first three mysteries in this series and includes The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries, Mrs. Jeffries Dusts for Clues and The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries.

The mysteries themselves were fairly well written with the second story being my favorite. The inspector was a little more effective with his own detecting in that one. The characters are quirky and fun, although the inspector is really a little too clueless for me. During this era, murderers were hung and it bothered me that he was always so ready to accept the easy answer. Fortunately, the innocent have his servants to come to their rescue! :-)

My biggest complaint is probably that most of the plot unfolds in the inspector's kitchen while the characters explain to each other what they've discovered during their sleuthing. Only occasionally does the reader go along with one of the characters. Perhaps its because I read the entire compilation at one time, but this got a little boring. Still a very enjoyable read, however.

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first three Mrs. Jeffries novels bundled into one book: The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries, Mrs. Jeffries Dusts for Clues, and The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries.

It's a fun start to the series. Mrs. Jeffries is police Inspector Witherspoon's housekeeper, and because he's so kind to the staff, they secretly "help" him solve his murder cases (because he's not really that good at it on his own). This makes for a lot of amateur sleuthing and then finding ways to help the Inspector "discover" the same information.

Set in Victorian England, these are cozy mysteries with gentle humour. They're told in a suitably older-style omniscient narrative, although Mrs. Jeffries herself holds quite progressive ideas for her times.

Definitely a series I'd enjoy reading more of.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really three books in one as it includes the first three books of the Mrs. Jeffries series. Murder and mayhem abound. Detective Witherspoon is very busy and needs help from his housekeeper and other members of his household staff. Help he does not know he is getting. Here we get to meet the wonderful characters as they first start out and as they get to know each other. Brightwell's London is quite believable and easy to imagine. If you like historical fiction murder mysteries that take place in the UK these stories are right up your alley.

[Barb Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A library patron recommended this book series to me. This book contains the first three novels: "The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries," "Mrs. Jeffries Dusts for Clues" and "The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries." Mrs. Jeffries is the Victorian-era housekeeper for a police inspector who sometimes misses the mark in his police investigations. She and the rest of the staff step step in to lend a hand, and she deftly steers his thoughts in the right direction to solve the crime. Light-hearted and a quick read, these stories are just the cup of tea needed when you want a quick little romp with a mystery.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each of these three books is a great read--Emily Brightwell is a skillful author, who has brought an endearing cast of characters to life!

Like every writer, she gains experience & confidence as time goes on--her books get better & better. It's so much fun to go back to the beginning and watch as Ms. Brightwell learns her own trade, and feels her way through the mystery of these characters who populate her imagination.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 clever stories in the style of Agatha Christie's "Miss Marple". Except in these stories the housekeeper and the whole house staff of Inspector Witherspoon get involved in the clandestine sleuthing. Good light mystery reading without all the blood & gore that seems prevalent in a lot of today's mystery fiction.

I am looking forward to reading more novels by Emily Brightwell.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection includes Brightwell's first 3 Mrs. Jeffries novels: The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries, Mrs. Jeffries Dusts for Clues, and The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries. The series features likeable characters in light mysteries. The mysteries are easy and the characters never face any real danger. Just a nice, quick, fluffy read.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to try a Mrs. Jeffries cozy mystery series. Was happy to find an omnibus that had the first three books in the series as I like to read them in order. Many of the early books are out of print and not available in e-book form. Like the characters in the book-Mrs. Jeffries, the household staff-neighbor Luty Crookshank and her butler Hatchet. Will continue with the series.