Mrs. Jeffries Reveals Her Art

Mrs. Jeffries #12

by Emily Brightwell

Meet the inspector and Mrs. Jeffries--in a delightful mystery series set in Victorian England--and featuring the most charming characters ever to crack a case.

An artist's model never shows up at Neville Grant's house, or so he claims. But when one of Mr. Grant's houseguests suddenly dies - the Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries have to work doubletime to find both the missing model and the killer!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical Mystery, Historical

231 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

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

[Lovely Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

I think this is the first time in the series where I’ve felt a bit like it’s all been done before in the series, and there’s nothing new to come in the series. I hope I’m wrong. It was still good, just nothing exciting….

[Doward Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspector Witherspoon is Scotland Yard's top detective when it comes to solving messy or strange murders. No one really understands how the quiet, unassuming man of inherited wealth went from records file clerk to the leading murder detective with no unsolved crimes in his career. They don't realize that unbeknownst to him, that he has an entire crew working behind the scenes to help him find the answers! Meet Mrs. Jeffries, the inspector's housekeeper and the brains behind his astounding success; along with Mrs. Goodge, the cook; Wiggins, the footman; Betsy, the maid; Smythe, the coachman; and Luty Belle Crookshank, a wealthy American and her Butler, Hatchet, who have become close friends with the Inspector's household staff. Murderers in Victorian England don't stand a chance of getting away with their crimes with this crew hunting them down!

Inspector Witherspoon and Constable Barnes arrive at Neville Grant's home to talk to the family and staff about a missing girl. Irene was an aspiring artist's model who worked in the hat shop of Nanette Lanier and lived in the apartment above the shop with her grandmother. Upon their arrival at the Grant home, the Inspector and Barnes are rushed into the drawing room where a tea guest has just died. Did Underhill choke on his mints or was he poisoned? Mrs. Jeffries, the staff and their friends start sussing out clues to find the truth. Underhill was an art broker who wasn't above resorting to blackmail to get his way. Valuable art is missing, was Underhill involved or a victim. An intense and exciting read with lots of red herrings to obscure the truth while you hastily turn the pages to find out who did it and why?

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light, enjoyable read... another winner in the Mrs. Jeffries series. I've been steadily devouring these books since I discovered them and I haven't lost interest yet. Most series I would have gotten bored by now, but not this one. They're always charming and fun. A delight to read!

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great audio series

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always a fun romp.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a fun read. The household staff needs to split up in this one as they have both a missing artists model and a murder to solve. I was entertained from start to finish.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner! I will be so sad when I run out of Mrs. Jeffries mysteries.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

#12 in the end of the 19th century London based mystery series in which Scotland Yard Inspector Witherspoon's domestic staff headed by Mrs. Jefferies, without his knowledge, work to help him solve his murder cases. The recurring and well developed helpers” are Barnes (Witherspoon’s detective sergeant), Mrs. Goodge (cook), Smythe (coachman), Betsy (maid and later Smythe’s wife), Wiggins (servant), Phyllis (maid and newest addition), Luty (wealthy American widow), Hatchet (Luty’s butler), and Ruth (next door neighbor and romantic interest for Witherspoon).
There were two mysteries: a missing artist's model, Irene Simmons, and a murder. Neville Grant says Irene never appeared at the house nor was called for and when Witherspoon arrives there, he finds a guest is dead. While his focus is discovering who killed James Underhill, a somewhat sleezy art broker. Mrs Jeffries and staff are helping him to do as well as discover what happened to Irene

An artist's model never shows up at Neville Grant's house, or so he claims. But when one of Mr. Grant's houseguests suddenly dies - the Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries have to work doubletime to find both the missing model and the killer!

The suspects are the people in the house at that time: Neville Grant, cantakerous owner; Mary Grant, his somewhat snobbish second wife; Arthur Grant, his wishy washy son; Helen Collier, Mary’s younger over reactive sister; and the Modeans, he’s American and she’s British. All are associated in various ways with Underhill.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Jeffries and her household crew are at it again, surreptitiously helping their somewhat bumbling but kind Inspector Witherspoon to solve murders. This time, though, they get two investigations for the price of one. A young Frenchwoman comes to seek their help, as a friend of hers--an artist's model--has disappeared. Just as they're gearing up to investigate that, they get word of a murder--at the same house the model was supposedly visiting (she never showed up). They all agree it's too much of a coincidence not to be connected, and the investigation leads them, and Witherspoon, into the murky world of art dealing. And naturally, Smythe and Betsy are driving each other crazy, as neither will admit they're head over heels in love. That's what you get for both being stubborn as mules!

This is such a delightful series, totally unbelievable and I don't even care. The characters are all sweet and hapless and definitely have their flaws, but their superpower is pooling their information resources so (in most cases) Mrs. Jeffries can come up with the final solution to feed to the inspector. I did love that the author this time had Witherspoon acknowledge the fact that, for some odd reason, members of his household are always lurking around his crime scenes and witnesses. This would make such a good TV series!

[moxieBK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Jeffries Reveals Her Art (Mrs. Jeffries, #12) — Emily Brightwell/Narrator: Lindy Nettleton (10 chapters) November 2-7, 2023

An interesting plot as the story begins when Mrs. Jeffries and crew attempt to figure out what happened to a woman who disappeared. Geting the inspector involved leads him to a death of an artist’s representative which turns out to be murder.

There seems to be plenty of suspects too, from the ones being blackmailed by him to the ones wanting him disposed off due to his terrible crimes, but none of them seem appropriate.

In this one, there seems to be a tip of the hat from Constanpole Barnes, who seems like he knows what Mrs. Jeffries is doing in an appreciative way.

There was no follow-up to Smythe's banker-like friend, which leaves this reader hanging. Smyth does seem to dislike that Betsy is the grabber of the biggest clue in the case, but by the end of the book, there is some resolution in that matter.

(Note: I only listen to audiobooks of this series, so I may have spelled names in my reviews wrong.) I had to put down this book several times as life got in the way, or else it would’ve taken me only an evening to read.


Four stars.

[The Hobbit · Rating 4 out of 5]

An artist's model has disappeared. She was supposed to arrive at the Grant home a week earlier, but never did. The police have been unable to locate her, so her friend Nanette Lanier asks housekeeper Mrs Jeffries and Inspector Witherspoon's servants to find the girl. They have solved several mysteries before, but always let the inspector make the final deductions and take the credit. The same day, James Underhill, an art dealer, dies of cyanide poisoning - at the Grant's home! A missing art model and a murdered art dealer, both linked to the Neville Grant's home - coincidence? Ms Jeffries and the staff do not think so. The servants have a murder and a possible kidnapping; Mrs Jeffries, the cook, maid, coachman, and footman, plus Mrs Luty and her butler divide up the tasks, some looking for the whereabouts of Irene Simmons and the others looking for Underhill's murderer. They soon discover that Mr Underhill was hated by more than one of the suspects being questioned for his murder. A page-turner that kept this reader guessing until the end.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the Victorian era, Mrs. Jeffries Reveals Her Art is number 12 in the Mrs. Jeffries series. The good thing about this series is, and lucky for me, there is no need to read them in order as the story can be picked up at any book in the series, since I am reading them out of order.

Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of Scotland Yard's Inspector Witherspoon's staff are at it again, helping him solve a murder. This time a young woman, Irene Simmons, who is a model, is missing. Her good friend goes to Mrs. Jeffries to seek her help and in finding her. And then James Underhill, an art dealer ends up choking on two of his mints after a dinner party, and it turns out it's murder.

Yeah for me! I solved the mystery! I solved who the murderer was. It always makes me feel good.

I really enjoy these stories. I have really grown attached to the characters. I always look forward to picking it up to read and to the next novel. I have another 10 in my bookcase. I hope I can find more in my second hand stores. It will be a sad day when I am finished the set.

[Jeanette C. Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

#12 in the series. Whenever I’m at a loss for what to read next I go get a Mrs. Jeffries story. Housekeeper to Inspector Witherspoon, she and the household staff help him solve his cases without him suspecting a thing.
This story opens with a missing artist’s model. Soon there is a dead body, but not that of the model. A friend of a wealthy man's son dies at their house – the house where the missing model was last seen.
Are the two cases connected? They seem not to be but Mrs. Jeffries doesn’t believe in that kind of coincidence. The household staff split up with Betsy and Hatchet investigating the missing model while Mrs. Goodge, Smythe, Wiggins, and Luty investigate the murder. With too many suspects, all of them having strong motives, Mrs. Jeffries wonders if she overestimated their sleuthing abilities. Through their hard work, curiosity and compassion the staff learn bit by bit what has happened to the model, how she fit into the life of the murder victim and ultimately who committed the murder. A very enjoyable read.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have two mysteries to solve in this book.
Inspector Witherspoon‘s crew asked to determine the whereabouts of a missing young model and who poisoned a and unscrupulous art dealer.
The intrepid gang was out using all of their ingenuity to find clues leading to the unveiling of these mysteries. Betsy especially put herself in several precarious position wanting to find out who done it.
Smythe was very unset.
In the end it was Mrs. Grant. She had sold most of her artwork plus had the reproductions made of her remaining paintings. She killed the art dealer because he was going to disclose that all of her paintings were fakes; so they couldn’t sell them to the Americans. Also she was likely to be divorced by Mr. Grant when he found out her dowry was worthless.
The model was rescued by the artist who had painted the fakes. He did so thinking they would be represented as reproductions.
Not as much fun as usual.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

#12 Nanette Lanier has asked Inspector Witherspoon’s domestic staff to find her missing good friend Irene Simmons who lives above Nanettes shop with her ailing grandmother and has become an artist, Gaspar Morante’s model to pay their expenses. She disappeared after being called to the elegant home of art collector Neville Grant and his 2nd wife Mary. Inspector Witherspoon and Constable Barnes go to inquire and arrive just after the death of one of the people gathered at Grant home for tea. Present are Mary Grant’s emotional sister, Helen Collier, rich American business associate there to buy three Caldararos paintings, Tyrell Modean and his beautiful British wife Lydia, who had been an artist’s model twenty years before, mr Grant’s wimpy son Arthur and his guest James Underhill, an art broker. There is talk of stolen paintings, forgeries, kidnapping and murder contracts, and the dead body in front of them. Dual felonies for our intrepid domestic investigators to untangle.

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mrs. Jeffries is approached by a French woman who is concerned about a friend who has disappeared. She had appealed to the police, but the owner of the home where her friend was last seen denies that the woman was ever there. Mrs. Jeffries and her co-workers decide to investigate, but before they really get started someone is murdered in the same house and Inspector Witherspoon is assigned to the case. Are the two incidents related, wonders Mrs. Jeffries, and will it be possible to sort through the various lies and deceptions that litter this very complicated case?....The 12th Mrs. Jeffries book is another enjoyable romp through the social worlds of Victorian London, in this case focusing on the art world, complete with artists, fraud and very high prices. I had figured out who the culprit was relatively early on, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment, and it was particularly fun to see how some relationships in the Inspector’s household are developing; recommended.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different mystery here. A French women comes to see Mrs. Jeffries asking for her help finding a young woman, an artist's model, who had disappeared. She wants them to have Inspector Witherspoon go to the home of an art collector, Mr. Grant, to see if he has seen this woman. She had received a note for her to go to the Grant's home but the Grant's state she never was there. While at the Grant's home, Inspector Witherspoon stumbles upon a dead body. Everyone thinks the man had choked to death or has he? This circle of people has a lot more going on than a tea party. Can Mrs. Jeffries and her staff help find the young woman, and help the Inspector find a killer? Emily Brightwell paints a great picture with words, and Lindy Nettleton delivers the voice of all of the characters with an artful voice.

[Anthony Colozza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable book written in the style of Agatha Christie. The book provides good character development and does a good job of establishing the era and surroundings the book is based in. Overall it is an easy read. The story is somewhat typical of these type of murder mysteries. I have to admit that this is the first book in the series that I have read so I may not have as much appreciation of the characters or writing style as someone who is more familiar with the series. However, that said the book does stand on its own fairly well and you do not feel lost in not having read any of the previous books. This is unlike other book series I have read where the stories draw heavily off of the previous books. The ending is interesting but the book itself does not provide enough clues to allow you to figure it out on your own. Which is typical of these types of murder mysteries.

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A French shopkeeper confronts Mrs. Jeffries, frantic over her missing friend Irene. Nobody takes the disappearance seriously, and the shopkeeper wants no police involvement.

Meanwhile, an art broker dies from cyanide-laced mints. Mrs. Jeffries and her charming household staff tackle two mysteries: the broker’s murder and Irene’s vanishing.

The staff’s lively interactions keep me hooked on these somewhat formulaic yet delightful books. I wish Smythe, the burly coachman, and Betsy, the slender, blue-eyed housemaid, would resolve their miscommunications and simmering romantic tension, admit their feelings, and move forward together. Their dance around love, though, remains a fun highlight.

Art forgery plots bore me to tears. I skimmed those parts and focused instead on Inspector Witherspoon’s household and its clever efforts to crack the case.

[Karen Broughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe am roughly heading towards being halfway through this series, doing reviews is really not a favourite activity of mine. So hands up am guilty of just doing a star review. I've noticed though that are some really damming reviews which I wanted to address. This is my second time of reading through this series. I am literally enjoying it as much now as I did before. I truly look forward to each instalment and will be very sad when it comes to an end. I love the rag tag of characters, the family like relationship they've built up along with their undying loyalty to each other.
So if you haven't read any of them, please give them a fair to because as far as escapism reading goes I love them.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are definitely getting better. I found the first two or three somewhat contrived, but the author is now growing her characters. Both Inspector Witherspoon and the youngest member of the team, Wiggins, are beginning to show initiative and understanding. I felt that Constable Barnes, who has always been a steady character, may also be showing glimmerings of understanding the situation in the Witherspoon household. In short, the situation is becoming more intriguing with each book. I could do with a little less competition between the amateur investigators and more understanding that when two people come up with the same information, it means it is probably right, being independently corroborated. Instead, they act like they have been upstaged.

[Katherine B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed that. I don't really have much to critique to be honest.

This was my first Mrs Jeffries book but it was luckily one in which it is easy to catch up. So, it appears to be one that you don't have to read in order and can be read as a standalone, which I really like as there are too many series rolling around at the minute.

Anyway, the characters are very likable and believable, albeit a tad cliché. The plot is good and unique in its own ways. The narrative is clear and the 'cut scene' approach works well. The settings and atmosphere are very cosy and well described.

There is nothing I can think of as a negative... A very good, cosy crime novel, and not as cheesy as some others.

I will be reading more in the series. Would recommend.

[Jen St · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is 4 stars for what it is--a fun, lovable kind of book. I describe it as "Upstairs/Downstairs/Downton Abbey Solves a Mystery."

Of course, I jumped into the 12th book of the series because it was about an art conspiracy. I had no idea that the premise of the series is that the downstairs staff solves the mysteries for their employer, a police inspector. The household staff uses their wide range of contacts in the working class world to gain information, and then the sweet housekeeper "feeds" the information to the Inspector each night over a glass of sherry.

It's very old fashioned, and good natured, and I'll probably re-visit the series at some point.

[Candyce Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the art theme of this book, and I'm really enjoying the development of the characters and their growing confidence in themselves and their abilities at crime solving. Honestly, it's such a silly little concept--the household staff helping a real Inspector of Scotland Yard solve his cases without him knowing--but it's done so well, it's like I don't really know I should really be rolling my eyes.

The epitome of a cozy mystery, with a cast of characters that are truly likeable. There's not a one of them I don't like. They're all fantastic! I think I keep coming back to these books for the characters, and not necessarily just the new murder to solve.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A artist's model goes missing at Neville Grant's house. At least, that is what everyone thinks. Then one of his guests dies of poisoning. Detective Witherspoon is asked by his staff to look into the disappearance of the model and in so doing he begins to find things that might lead to who murdered the guest, who was an art collector and helped people sell the art they had collected.

As always, Detective Witherspoon has help from his staff and friends though he does not know it. Another great story from Emily Brightwell.

[Amanda Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unusually this one was lacking.

Another cozy mystery with overtones of Agatha Christie.. whilst there are Americanisms they don't detract that much from the story itself.

What is a bit strange though is the mysterious sweaty bloke who sneaks in and swaps the contents of a bottle in Nanette's flat.. we never hear from or about Nanette from this point, we don't know who he was, we're given no reason or rhyme as to what his intentions are.. basically a complete gaping plot hole..

[Margie Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the household of Inspector Witherspoon are investigating the murder of a purported art dealer. He was almost universally disliked, so the list of suspects is long, but they can't let the Inspector down. He's ready to arrest the wrong person, although he's not convinced of the man's guilt. Mrs. Jeffries is able to steer him in the right direction at almost the last minute, and a carriage chase ensues. It's always good to be back in Victorian London with this series, narrated expertly on audio.

[Patricia Kiyono · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young lady working as an artist’s model goes missing on the same day an art dealer dies from poisoning during high tea. Since the death occurred at the same house as the model was last seen, Inspector Witherspoon and his staff believe the incidents are related. There’s no shortage of suspects, but who had a strong enough motive to want the art dealer dead? And why does no one at the house remember seeing the model arrive! The series continues to spin an interesting mystery, and the romance between Smythe and Betsy continues. I’ll definitely keep reading.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art theft, forgery, and murder are on the menu for this next installment in the great Mrs. Jeffries cozy mystery series.

This is cozy mystery done right. A great cast of characters who develop gradually over the course of the series. Interesting stories and murder mystery. Great historical setting. I love this series! I am so glad Tantor Audio is putting out new recordings of it. Lindy Nettleton reads it so well.

[Joann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery

This was one of the best in this series. There were two mysteries. One was a missing artist's model and a murder. It had more action in it as Betsy at one point gave away her shoes to get information and followed a man to find the missing woman. Smythe's reaction to seeing her walking home shoeless was very funny.