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Mrs. Jeffries #4
Mrs. Jeffries Takes Stock
When her employer, Inspector Witherspoon, is saddled with the baffling murder of a man who had allegedly cheated his stockholders out of a fortune, housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries comes to the rescue.
200 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1994
163 people are currently reading
532 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 138 reviews
March 31, 2025
Enjoyable audio!
June 26, 2016
2.5**
From the book jacket - (Mrs Jeffries) is keeping the household on a tight budget – and the Inspector is suffering for it. Even worse, he’s got a new murder case on his hands. The victim, a businessman, may have cheated his stockholders out of a princely sum. The housekeeper’s interest is piqued … and when it comes to catching killers, the smart money’s on Mrs Jeffries!
My reactions
I like this cozy mystery series featuring Mrs Jeffries and other servants in the Inspector’s Victorian household, who work together to lead their boss to the solution of the mystery. However, I think I’ve read too many recently and the plots are getting formulaic and thin. Also, I’m noticing more repetition in the books. How often does the reader need to be told that the team must get together over one more cup of tea? Or that Smythe or Wiggins (or any of the others) actually provides valuable information?
Still, it’s a fast read, and an occasional cozy never hurt anyone.
From the book jacket - (Mrs Jeffries) is keeping the household on a tight budget – and the Inspector is suffering for it. Even worse, he’s got a new murder case on his hands. The victim, a businessman, may have cheated his stockholders out of a princely sum. The housekeeper’s interest is piqued … and when it comes to catching killers, the smart money’s on Mrs Jeffries!
My reactions
I like this cozy mystery series featuring Mrs Jeffries and other servants in the Inspector’s Victorian household, who work together to lead their boss to the solution of the mystery. However, I think I’ve read too many recently and the plots are getting formulaic and thin. Also, I’m noticing more repetition in the books. How often does the reader need to be told that the team must get together over one more cup of tea? Or that Smythe or Wiggins (or any of the others) actually provides valuable information?
Still, it’s a fast read, and an occasional cozy never hurt anyone.
February 3, 2018
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!
When a not so respectable businessman is shot and dumped into the river, who is responsible? Was it the investors in his silver mine in America, when they discovered that the mine wasn't being worked? The maid who was in love with him and planned to marry him? Or, was it someone else entirely? Mrs. Jeffries and crew are reaching out to all their sources in London to find the answer! From the household staff, tradespeople in the neighborhood, chimney sweeps, delivery persons and hansom drivers of the suspects, the crew gathers clues and brings them to Mrs. Jeffries to organize into a solution.
This historical cozy mystery series makes for some of the most enjoyable reading you will ever do! Before the age of cell phones, computers and cars, the crew solves crime the old fashioned way. I love how the characters are so realistic and down to earth. The setting is accurately portrayed and the murder plots are diabolical in their execution. Grab your favorite beverage and curl up with any book in this series for a wonderful adventure!
When a not so respectable businessman is shot and dumped into the river, who is responsible? Was it the investors in his silver mine in America, when they discovered that the mine wasn't being worked? The maid who was in love with him and planned to marry him? Or, was it someone else entirely? Mrs. Jeffries and crew are reaching out to all their sources in London to find the answer! From the household staff, tradespeople in the neighborhood, chimney sweeps, delivery persons and hansom drivers of the suspects, the crew gathers clues and brings them to Mrs. Jeffries to organize into a solution.
This historical cozy mystery series makes for some of the most enjoyable reading you will ever do! Before the age of cell phones, computers and cars, the crew solves crime the old fashioned way. I love how the characters are so realistic and down to earth. The setting is accurately portrayed and the murder plots are diabolical in their execution. Grab your favorite beverage and curl up with any book in this series for a wonderful adventure!
March 31, 2017
Squeezed one more book in before the end of the month. Do enjoy this mystery series set in Victorian England, where the hapless Inspector Witherspoon has his murder cases solved by his servants, led by the inimitable Mrs Jeffries (his house keeper). A good cozy mystery series, where an interesting group of characters have been brought together. I look forward to reading further on in this series.
September 12, 2018
Wonderful book I read in one sitting. I chose to read this now as a way to clean my reading palate, so to speak. Its a wonderful cozy with well developed characters, a sound plot, plenty of old fashioned British ambiance and a few twists and turns. An excellent book. Well done, Ms. Brightwell, well done.
January 31, 2024
I just love this series so much! The Victorian setting, the house staff “family”, the inept but loveable inspector, all so cozy!
March 5, 2024
I hope to read all these cozy mysteries started in the 90s.
Enjoying them.
Enjoying them.
August 6, 2020
I have to confess to really enjoying this series. Have to check if I’ve read them all.
July 9, 2018
The fourth installment of Emily Brightwell's Mrs. Jeffries series, a businessman is murdered and the housekeepers interes is piqued. When it comes to catching killers, the smart money's on Mrs. Jeffries.
It may be Inspector Witherspoon's life, but it is Mrs. Jeffries who really runs things. Not only is she the housekeeper who keeps life at home smooth running, she is also the one who seems to guide the Inspector in solving the mysteries that come his way.
In this book, the Inspector has put the household on a tight budget. To keep in line with this new ruling, Cook has dusted off an old cookbook with recipes that are as tasty as the dust but very economical. Not only is the Inspector suffering through these frugal meals, he is also working through a new murder of a business man who has a long list of possible suspects. Seems this business man has cheated his investors our of a nice chunk of money. The Inspector is trying to focus on finding clues and interviewing witnesses, while trying to ignore hunger pains from his diet at home.
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.
I am very fond of Inspector Witherspoon, a kind and very decent person, but he lacks the detecting skills of Mrs. Jeffries. (She is the widow of a Yorkshire policeman.) However, I didn't want the Inspector to appear "bumbling" and "inept" so he does do his own investigation, assisted by the reliable Constable Barnes, and gets some clues himself by his hard work, but it is the domestic staff led by Mrs. Jeffries that uncover the secrets that the "well-to-do" Londoners didn't think their own servants would notice! These servants were invisible, not worthy of much consideration, which makes them the real stars of this series.
This is a cozy series set in Victorian times and is a fun and fast read.
It may be Inspector Witherspoon's life, but it is Mrs. Jeffries who really runs things. Not only is she the housekeeper who keeps life at home smooth running, she is also the one who seems to guide the Inspector in solving the mysteries that come his way.
In this book, the Inspector has put the household on a tight budget. To keep in line with this new ruling, Cook has dusted off an old cookbook with recipes that are as tasty as the dust but very economical. Not only is the Inspector suffering through these frugal meals, he is also working through a new murder of a business man who has a long list of possible suspects. Seems this business man has cheated his investors our of a nice chunk of money. The Inspector is trying to focus on finding clues and interviewing witnesses, while trying to ignore hunger pains from his diet at home.
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.
I am very fond of Inspector Witherspoon, a kind and very decent person, but he lacks the detecting skills of Mrs. Jeffries. (She is the widow of a Yorkshire policeman.) However, I didn't want the Inspector to appear "bumbling" and "inept" so he does do his own investigation, assisted by the reliable Constable Barnes, and gets some clues himself by his hard work, but it is the domestic staff led by Mrs. Jeffries that uncover the secrets that the "well-to-do" Londoners didn't think their own servants would notice! These servants were invisible, not worthy of much consideration, which makes them the real stars of this series.
This is a cozy series set in Victorian times and is a fun and fast read.
September 4, 2022
This mystery was harder to get a handle on, even for Mrs. Jeffries and her cohorts. It took a while to find a direction to pursue. Unfortunately, I found a direction fairly early on, and it was frustrating that Mrs. Jeffries didn't find the same one, so I had to bide my time until she caught up. The rest of the book was delightful, although I still worry about the Inspector and his dislike of murder investigations. It is hard to encourage someone in a job he is not happy to have.
December 13, 2019
Interesting how two different authors wrote about the same small town during the same time period.
September 21, 2020
Mrs. Jeffries never fails to delight me. Another charming mystery with the staff at Upper Edmonton Gardens working together to help their inspector to solve his case.
May 29, 2023
2.25⭐
May 28, 2020
Oh I love this series!
Great mystery and very comic side story about the household budget :-)
Great mystery and very comic side story about the household budget :-)
June 12, 2012
This is one of the early Mrs. Jeffries mysteries. Normally I like to read mystery series in order, but this is one series where I am reading them totally out of order! That's because my library only had a select few which I devoured, and now I search for others at used bookstores. In this book Mrs. Jeffries and her staff are hampered in their efforts to help their employer Inspector Witherspoon solve the murder by the uncertainty as to when the victim actually died. But, the indomitable Mrs. Jeffries always comes through!
May 6, 2022
Enjoyed reread.
January 23, 2013
Nice cozy mystery. Love the Upstairs/Downstairs meets a mystery aspect. Only the servants are all kind and sweet.
July 1, 2016
sneaky devils
January 2, 2017
Fun book about a great group that helps solve crime.
February 10, 2018
It may be Inspector Witherspoon's life, but it is Mrs. Jeffries who really runs things. Not only is she the housekeeper who keeps life at home smooth running, she is also the one who seems to guide the Inspector in solving the mysteries that come his way.
In this book, the Inspector has put the household on a tight budget. To keep in line with this new ruling, Cook has dusted off an old cookbook with recipes that are as tasty as the dust but very economical. Not only is the Inspector suffering through these frugal meals, he is also working through a new murder of a business man who has a long list of possible suspects. Seems this business man has cheated his investors our of a nice chunk of money. The Inspector is trying to focus on finding clues and interviewing witnesses, while trying to ignore hunger pains from his diet at home.
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.
This is a cozy series set in Victorian times and is a fun and fast read.
In this book, the Inspector has put the household on a tight budget. To keep in line with this new ruling, Cook has dusted off an old cookbook with recipes that are as tasty as the dust but very economical. Not only is the Inspector suffering through these frugal meals, he is also working through a new murder of a business man who has a long list of possible suspects. Seems this business man has cheated his investors our of a nice chunk of money. The Inspector is trying to focus on finding clues and interviewing witnesses, while trying to ignore hunger pains from his diet at home.
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.
This is a cozy series set in Victorian times and is a fun and fast read.
May 23, 2021
Once again. Inspector Gerald Witherspoon’s household staff aid him in coming to the right conclusions and solving the murder of American miner Jake Randall. Found floating in the Thames, shot through the heart. Jake had been sold shares in a Colorado silver mine, but his primary investors Ruston Benfield, miserly John Cubberly married to a rich wife, gambler Edward Dillingham and investment advisor Lester Hinkleton, realized their money wasn’t going to by mining equipment or hiring men to work he mines and planned to confront Jake Randall, but he hadn’t shown up for the meeting. Inspector Nivens has recused himself because he has a small investment in the Randall and Watson Mining Company. The problem is who drie it. There are too many suspects, no evidence, insufficient alibis, leaving Inspector Witherspoon befuddled and Constable Barnes trying to make forward progress.
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.
First of three collected books in Mrs. Jeffries Takes a Second Look (Judy)
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.
First of three collected books in Mrs. Jeffries Takes a Second Look (Judy)
August 2, 2025
An American businessman, Jake Randall, washes up in the river, but he didn't drown. Someone shot him with a Colt .45 before he hit the water. A long line of suspects points to investors Randall swindled. He strong-armed them for cash twice, only for them to discover he funneled the funds away from a Colorado mining venture.
Inspector Witherspoon, lovable but a bit clueless, takes the case. Once again, Mrs. Jeffries, a sharp-witted cop's widow turned housekeeper, rallies her staff to steer the inspector toward solving the murder.
The mystery holds its own, but the real gems are the unforgettable characters. Young Housemaid Betsy, shaped by her impoverished past, bravely ventures into London's gritty East End to track down Randall's grieving girlfriend. Other staff members tackle their own information-gathering tasks from Mrs. Jeffries, all united in their mission to help the endearing inspector claim the credit. Mrs. Jeffries deftly guides Witherspoon to success in this heartwarming tale of amateur sleuths working as a tight-knit team.
A hilarious subplot vivifies the rest of the plot: Witherspoon insists on cutting household expenses, so Mrs. Jeffries and the cook serve up deliberately awful dishes to nudge him away from his frugal folly.
The audio narration sparkles, and the author delivers a surprising ending that fits the classic British mystery mold.
Inspector Witherspoon, lovable but a bit clueless, takes the case. Once again, Mrs. Jeffries, a sharp-witted cop's widow turned housekeeper, rallies her staff to steer the inspector toward solving the murder.
The mystery holds its own, but the real gems are the unforgettable characters. Young Housemaid Betsy, shaped by her impoverished past, bravely ventures into London's gritty East End to track down Randall's grieving girlfriend. Other staff members tackle their own information-gathering tasks from Mrs. Jeffries, all united in their mission to help the endearing inspector claim the credit. Mrs. Jeffries deftly guides Witherspoon to success in this heartwarming tale of amateur sleuths working as a tight-knit team.
A hilarious subplot vivifies the rest of the plot: Witherspoon insists on cutting household expenses, so Mrs. Jeffries and the cook serve up deliberately awful dishes to nudge him away from his frugal folly.
The audio narration sparkles, and the author delivers a surprising ending that fits the classic British mystery mold.
August 4, 2019
Another case solved
A cross between a cozy mystery and Agatha Christie, plenty of false leads and a plot that keeps you wondering if "the butler did it".
Inspector Witherspoon is on the hunt for the murderer of Jack Randall. As he tries to befuddle his way through the clues Mrs Jeffries needs to keep her wits about her to ensure he doesn't follow the wrong path, especially as Inspector Niven is breathing down his neck.
When Jack's body is pulled out of the Thames at Waterloo Bridge with a bullet hole in the chest it's time to delve into his life. Turns out Jack was up to no good defrauding investors in his silver mine in Colorado which leaves a lot of suspects. Unfortunately the money is missing, one of the investors has a Colt 45 the weapon suspected of firing the fatal shot. But everyone had access to it.. was it one of the investors who all had more than one reason to be desperate for the return of their money? Was it a scorned woman afraid she's being abandoned? Was it one of the servants taking an opportunity to change their lives completely? Follow the twists and turns as Mrs Jeffries and her band of loyal helpers try to help the Inspector follow the right path and solve the mystery.
A cross between a cozy mystery and Agatha Christie, plenty of false leads and a plot that keeps you wondering if "the butler did it".
Inspector Witherspoon is on the hunt for the murderer of Jack Randall. As he tries to befuddle his way through the clues Mrs Jeffries needs to keep her wits about her to ensure he doesn't follow the wrong path, especially as Inspector Niven is breathing down his neck.
When Jack's body is pulled out of the Thames at Waterloo Bridge with a bullet hole in the chest it's time to delve into his life. Turns out Jack was up to no good defrauding investors in his silver mine in Colorado which leaves a lot of suspects. Unfortunately the money is missing, one of the investors has a Colt 45 the weapon suspected of firing the fatal shot. But everyone had access to it.. was it one of the investors who all had more than one reason to be desperate for the return of their money? Was it a scorned woman afraid she's being abandoned? Was it one of the servants taking an opportunity to change their lives completely? Follow the twists and turns as Mrs Jeffries and her band of loyal helpers try to help the Inspector follow the right path and solve the mystery.
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April 14, 2020The four men had invested money with Jake Randall in a mine in Colorado. But John Cubberley heard from a friend in America that the mine wasn't operating. The investors had arranged a meeting with Randall to ask him about the mine. Randall did not show up at the meeting. The same morning, one of the other investors, Rushton Benfield, learned from a banker that Randall had withdrawn all the investment money. Randall had cheated them! A scam artist! John Cubberley was so furious, he grabbed his Colt 45. The investors separated, looking for Randall. That was Monday afternoon. On Monday evening, Jake Randall was found floating in the Thames with a bullet in his chest. Who killed him? One of the investors? Losing so much money was a motive for murder. Inspector Witherspoon and Captain Barnes were focusing on the four men - it had to be one of them. However, the Inspector's housekeeper Mrs Jeffries and the rest of his servants were excellent at asking questions, uncovering clues, and finding more suspects. Mrs Jeffries' job was to convince Inspector Witherspoon to expand his investigation to include the suspects her team uncovered - without letting the Inspector know they were helping him. An entertaining read - didn't lag!
June 3, 2024
A body is pulled from the Thames, but as he had been shot the case must be investigated as a murder. Inspector Gerald Witherspoon is happy to discover that Inspector Nevins should be assigned to it, but alas it turns out that Nevins knew the victim and so cannot investigate, and solving the crime therefore falls to Witherspoon yet again. Although it takes little time to identify the corpse and to discover that he had been running a con on some wealthy investors, it takes all of the powers of the Inspector and his household staff to learn anything at all about the man himself - aside from the fact that he had many, many enemies…. The fourth book in this cozy Victorian series, like the others, relies on the charm of its main characters, including the housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries, the kind-hearted Inspector himself, and the household maid, footman, cook and groom who combine their talents to surreptitiously aid the rather incompetent Inspector in his quest for truth. One nice thing about this series is that the Inspector really is kind-hearted and really does have a strong sense of justice, it’s just that he doesn’t always (or even often) know how to go about investigating crime. Slight reading, but quite amusing; recommended.
September 16, 2021
"PINCHING PENNIES
"Mrs. Jeffries is keeping the household on a tight budget -- and the Inspector is suffering for it. Even worse, he's got a new murder case on his hands. the victim, a businessman, may have cheated his stockholders out of a princely sum. The housekeeper's interest is [piqued ... and when it comes to catching killers, the smart money's on Mrs. Jeffries!
"IS THERE A DETECTIVE IN THE HOUSE?
She keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon ... and keeps him on his toes. Everyone's awed by his Scotland Yard successes -- but they don't know about his secret weapon. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, Mrs. Jeffries' polished detection skills are up to the task ... proving that behind every great man there's a woman -- and that a crimesolver's work is never done."
~~back cover
I think I've read books in this series before, but this time I just couldn't get into it. Reading it directly after On the Twelfth Night of Christmas made the comparison just too grim to be going on with.
"Mrs. Jeffries is keeping the household on a tight budget -- and the Inspector is suffering for it. Even worse, he's got a new murder case on his hands. the victim, a businessman, may have cheated his stockholders out of a princely sum. The housekeeper's interest is [piqued ... and when it comes to catching killers, the smart money's on Mrs. Jeffries!
"IS THERE A DETECTIVE IN THE HOUSE?
She keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon ... and keeps him on his toes. Everyone's awed by his Scotland Yard successes -- but they don't know about his secret weapon. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, Mrs. Jeffries' polished detection skills are up to the task ... proving that behind every great man there's a woman -- and that a crimesolver's work is never done."
~~back cover
I think I've read books in this series before, but this time I just couldn't get into it. Reading it directly after On the Twelfth Night of Christmas made the comparison just too grim to be going on with.
June 1, 2019
Overall, I enjoy this series, and generally enjoyed the book. But, I also found this particular episode had too much sitting around and talking for me, especially as much of the talking was a rehash of events just described and/or the characters arguing about and reassuring each other about the progress that they had made (or lack thereof) and/or discussions about food and the recently modified household budget. Also, I figured out who dunnit quite early on...
Again, I do enjoy the series and found this book to be a fairly light read. I will read the next in the series.
Again, I do enjoy the series and found this book to be a fairly light read. I will read the next in the series.
August 10, 2022
Cosy crime set in the Victorian era. Good enough.
Mrs Jefferies is the housekeeper for a police inspector and helps to solve a murder mystery when a man is killed who has possibly swindled some investors. All the domestic staff are involved in searching for the truth and this takes place without the inspector’s knowledge. It’s all quite fun as well as being a bit hard to believe. This is the first of these that I’ve read and it should be reasonably entertaining to work my way through the others.
Mrs Jefferies is the housekeeper for a police inspector and helps to solve a murder mystery when a man is killed who has possibly swindled some investors. All the domestic staff are involved in searching for the truth and this takes place without the inspector’s knowledge. It’s all quite fun as well as being a bit hard to believe. This is the first of these that I’ve read and it should be reasonably entertaining to work my way through the others.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews