Mrs. Jeffries Speaks Her Mind

Mrs. Jeffries #27

by Emily Brightwell

The eccentric Olive Kettering swore someone was trying to harm her. Too bad no one listened, though plenty wanted her dead. When Olive is shot and killed, Mrs. Jeffries has no problem speaking her mind to see justice served.

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

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

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

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books. The mysteries are great, but I think after 20+ books, I really enjoy reading about what is happening to the characters. There is one point in the book where the Inspector is talking about watching a young lad grow into manhood, walking a young lady down the aisle, and how they have all become family. I agree. I have read all of the books in this series and for me, the mysteries have become secondary. What I really look forward to is revisiting 'old friends' and seeing what is going on in their lives. When an author makes you care that much about their characters, that's a job well done.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my first Mrs Jeffries. I really wanted to like it, but it just wasn't convincing. Aside from the cosy-mystery meme that all police inspectors are bumbling fools that miss what's right in front of their noses and need all the help they can get (how then did they make Inspector? Or do the clever constables turn dumb the minute they get promotion?), there is no real Victorian feel to it. Not even housekeepers would sit down and drink sherry with the boss. And why would a single, non-independently wealthy man keep quite so many servants? A single policeman might have a cook and a couple of house-servants, but not a whole houseful. How does he pay all those wages? Oh, we are told that at least one of them is independently wealthy and stays in service for love of the job and his "family." Yeah, right. Those of us who've actually studied the period are aware that the one thing that most servants wanted was to be free of the profession, particularly in the late-Victorian period (which this must be).

For Victorians, those above and below-stairs are extremely modern in their thinking and speech, and there's really no detail to create a period atmosphere. "Modern cookers" get mentioned several times, in a period where the monster kitchen range was the norm. By "modern" does the authoress wish to imply that other people still cooked over an open fire? We won't go into the obligatory silly American woman, a wealthy socialite who thinks nothing of hobnobbing in the kitchen with all and sundry, including her own butler. Sigh.

The puzzle is hard to concentrate on; with all the talking heads, shifts of scene and the crowd of different characters, I kept losing the plot. "Show us, don't tell us", is a dictum the authoress doesn't seem to have heard--but her writing would be greatly improved by heeding it. Too much recap, perhaps because she herself was getting confused? Too many references to previous books--a serious pitfall of the modern book-serial behemoth. It seemed to take her forever to tell us anything, and she tells us some things over and over.

A writer needs to catch the reader's attention and hold it, but I kept getting distracted. I also found the Inspector's total lack of self-confidence and blissful ignorance of what is going on in his own house extremely annoying...but then he is a mere cardboard cutout on which to hang the story. Even Inspector Japp is smarter than this guy.

I may dip into another book in this series, but I devoutly hope the one I pick is better than this dull, confusing tangle of words, words, words.

[C.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olive Kettering might have been paranoid, but she's dead, so someone was after her. While the case starts the way most of Brightwell's do, a well-to-do member of society gets killed and Inspector Witherspoon gets called in. While he does the official inquiry, Mrs. Jeffries and crew start in as well. This one, however, had a truly unsettling murderer. One of her better offerings.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great cozy from Mrs. Jeffries, the Inspector and the gang. This book was an easy read and fairly fast paced.
I love this series and highly recommend it.

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yummy

[Anne Patkau · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mrs Jeffries speaks her mind" (MJ27?) by Emily Brightwell. The title seems to come from the final scene where she represents everyone, how proud they are to aid the cause of justice, ready to face danger there, as everywhere. Despite the large cast already, I'm hooked, plan to find earlier in the series. They occur during a favorite time in a favorite city, London Ladies in long dresses. They make me feel smart, feeding clues so readers can solve the mystery first, impatient, not bored. More buildup than action, a couple of fires for spark.
Mean spinster Olive Kettering, chased out of her empty house by noises, heads toward the light of her neighbor Mrs Bernadine Fox, is shot in the forehead by "a harsh voice" she knows. And I thought I knew the murderer. London Metro Police Force Inspector Gerald Witherspoon shares a nightly sherry and debriefing with housekeeper Mrs Hepzibah Jeffries. The staff conspire with his Constable Barnes over tea cups, and meet afternoons to exchange results: coachman Smythe, footman Wiggins, married to maid Betsy, cook Mrs Goodge, friends rich American Luty Belle Crookshank and snob butler Hatchet, neighbor widow "very special friend" Lady Ruth Cannonberry (no hanky panky romance). After 27 books the backstory must have accumulated, but is thankfully abbreviated. Because the team can interview a variety of sources in all walks of life, plus an in with the coroner reports, first the reader can put the clues together, then Mrs Jeffries feeds support and hints to their employer.
Approaching Spoilerhood:
The house was empty at the funeral of the cook who died after months of stomach ailment. The servants had played tricks on their unpopular mistress and Cook had switched out her special gift cocoa. The house was built in the time of Royalists fleeing Cromwell, and used to be owned by the Foxes. I was sure I knew the perpetrator. There's more: disinherited siblings, fake larcenous Reverend with jealous wife not bound to wheelchair, and evidence that all may have been in the vicinity on the day of the murder.
Definitely Spoilerville:
I was right. I even guessed why newlywed Betsy was moody, jealous, tearful ... pregnant. For sequel, day girl Phyllis Thomlinson will live in full-time, because the staff all work outside as well on investigations, so she'll probably be told and participate. I wonder if as many real murderers as fictional used the rat poison arsenic that used to be available?

[Drebbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olive Kettering was not a very nice person and had very few friends, so no one is particularly surprised when she is murdered during a nasty storm. It is up to Inspector Gerald Witherspoon and Constable Barnes to find her killer and they have plenty of suspects to deal with. But Witherspoon has a lot of help with this case, even if he doesn't know it - his household staff, led by housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries, are working behind the scenes to make sure he catches the killer.

"Mrs. Jeffries Speaks Her Mind" is the 27th book in Emily Brightwell's engaging mystery series set in Victorian England, a series that never disappoints. Despite there being so many books in the series it never gets stale, with the characters growing stronger in each book. In this particular book it is maid Betsy who takes center stage as she is happily married to Smythe but adjusting to not living with the rest of the servants and afraid she will be replaced by newcomer Phyllis. This storyline is an example of what makes this series so strong - the characters. They think of each other as family (which is especially evident in this book. I had wondered how Brightwell would handle the series now that Betsy and Smythe are married and she does an excellent job.

As for the mystery elements, like all the other books in the series they are well done and the mystery is well plotted with plenty of suspects and some good motives. The fun in this series is watching both Witherspoon and his staff tried to solve the case and finding clues, as they do, and trying to figure out the solution before Mrs. Jeffries does. Astute readers will pick up some clues that Brightwell scatters throughout the book but it may still come as a bit of a surprise when the killer is revealed. The ending is action packed and danger filled and will keep readers at the edge of their seats for a few pages.

"Mrs. Jeffries Speaks Her Mind" is another great cozy mystery by Emily Brightwell.

[Grey853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Olive Kettering apparently had no friends and treated her servants like slaves. After she's killed, there are a host of suspects including relatives and members of a religious cult which might be after her money.

Like the other books in the series, the real story isn't so much the mystery, but the the lives of the characters. Mrs. Jeffries and the other staff do their best to solve the murder for the Inspector without him catching on that they're doing it. It's a lively bunch, each with his or her own talent.

The characters are interesting and the mysteries more complex than some series. However, I would enjoy these mysteries so much more if there weren't quite so many sections of "summing up" going on, where clues, motivations, and possibilities are discussed many times over. It can be rather repetitious when it doesn't have to be.

[Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Brightwell’s storytelling evolves impressively in this installment. In this book and its predecessor, murder strikes in chapter one, launching the narrative with electrifying momentum. Brightwell’s get-down-to-business opening captivates, hooking readers from the first page.

Olive Kettering meets her demise with a bullet to the head on a rainy day, fleeing an unseen threat. For months, she complained of hearing footsteps in her house at night, only for her servants to dismiss her fears as age-related whimsy. On the day she bolts from her home, convinced someone seeks her harm, a funeral occupies her staff’s attention. Tragically, her fears prove justified, the bullet hole grim evidence of her peril.

Olive’s life stirs controversy. Her staff resent her relentless demands, feeling wronged by her harsh treatment. Her peers distrust her affiliation with an enigmatic religious group they fail to comprehend. Family discord abounds, and Brightwell crafts an impressive array of suspects, enriching the mystery.

This book earns five stars for its heart-pounding denouement. Inspector Witherspoon’s harrowing encounter with a fire set by a would-be killer grips the reader so intensely that the existence of later series installments momentarily fades. Short yet highly engaging, I devoured this novel in a single Sunday night session, emerging deeply satisfied.

The Victorian-era staff amplifies the book’s charm, their growing familiarity enhancing my attachment. Historical accuracy may take a backseat—details like the suffrage movement’s timeline, embodied by a spirited suffragette character, feel loose—but this remains solid, clean fun. Readers can savor the story without fretting over precise historical names, dates, or places.

[The Hobbit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olive Kettering was a spinster, very rich, and unbelievably mean. She estranged herself from her two closest relatives. She treated her servants like slaves. She woke them in the middle of the night claiming she heard someone walking outside her room; during the day, she commanded them to discover the source of footsteps in other parts of the house. She had recently joined a questionable church with a charismatic preacher. The servants thought she acting more and more strange. Now the servants were so furious with Mrs Kettering; the cook had died because Mrs Kettering would not give the woman time off to go to a doctor. All the servants were out of the house at the same time attending the cook's funeral when Olive Kettering was murdered in her garden in the middle of a fierce wind and rain storm. A bullet through the forehead silenced the woman who had made so many lives miserable. Inspector Witherspoon was given the case. He found it strange that the woman was not wearing a coat or carrying an umbrella when she left her house that stormy morning; It was as if she ran out of her house scared to death. But who scared her? And how did they scare her? Olive Kettering kept her house locked tight. A mean employer, an uncaring and controlling relative, and her rumored changes to her will - the Inspector had several suspects who hated the woman. And the Inspector's housekeeper Mrs Jeffries and her household staff sleuths found ever more suspects and reasons why Olive Kettering was better dead. So many red herrings in this book, all of whom had excellent reasons for killing the woman!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olive Kettering thought someone was after her, and apparently she was right, since someone shot her to death in her own garden during a morning thunderstorm. Was it the cousin or the niece who thought they'd been disinherited from the vast family fortune Olive controlled? Was it the smarmy "priest" who led the extreme sect Olive had joined, and who knew he would inherit? Someone else? Inspector Witherspoon gets the case, which of course means his whole household gets the case, since they have been helping him for years--unbeknownst to the kindly inspector, who is the best employer they have ever known. Meanwhile, there discord in the found family of the household, since the usually sunny Betsy--now married to Smythe--has turned into a shrew for reasons even she doesn't understand.

This is a highly enjoyable, not too believable (but aspirational) series. The historical details are unobtrusive but set the scenes well. I've given this one only three stars because the clues to the murderer were way too obvious, and what's wrong with Betsy is also obvious; the "shorthand" used to convey that to the reader is stereotyped and irritating. But otherwise, another good entry in the series.

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nobody is particularly upset when spinster Olive Kettering is murdered in her own garden; after all, she was a very sour and judgmental woman whose attitudes bordered on religious mania and who constantly quarreled with her few relatives and her servants. Still, nobody deserves to be murdered however unpleasant they might be, and Inspector Witherspoon is soon assigned to the case while his household staff takes up their usual duties in assisting him - without his knowledge of course. But the number of suspects, the number of motives *and* the myriad opportunities make this case extremely difficult to investigate, and newlywed Betsy is causing more worries for Mrs. Jeffries because of her suddenly erratic behaviour….The 27th novel in the long-running Victorian cozy series has all the trademarks of the form: interesting relationships that evolve over time, an appropriately complicated crime to investigate and, generally, a satisfactory outcome. I didn’t figure out the solution until near the end, although I *did* figure out Betsy’s problem early on (not surprising, probably every reader will), and I’m continuing to enjoy the series as a whole; recommended!

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspector Witherspoon has been assigned a most puzzling case. A wealthy woman, Olive Kettering, has been found shot in her garden either before or during a terrible storm. The servants were all away at a funeral and the foul weather kept people off the streets. No one seems to have liked the woman and almost everyone had a reason to want her dead. Mrs. Jeffries, the Inspector's housekeeper, and household staff start making inquiries and find that everyone seems to be hiding something. Olive had recently joined a most unusual 'church' and made radical changes to her life, including leaving her home to the 'church'. She'd also been getting quite odd--hearing footsteps when no one was about and not wanting to be in the house alone. Her familial heirs thought she'd written them out of her will but she had not. Despite the terrific storm it seemed like everyone was out and about that morning. It's a quagmire and has even the redoubtable Mrs. Jeffries stumped for a while. As the pieces begin to fit a most terrifying picture emerges of a person plagued by jealousy and madness, a long-ago love, and a broken promise.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

#27 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).

The eccentric Olive Kettering swore someone was trying to harm her, but no one listened. Then Olive is murdered and Witherspoon is assigned the case. Olive was not a very nice person, had very few friends and no one is particularly surprised when she is murdered during a nasty storm. Thus Witherspoon has plenty of suspects to deal with with many interrelationships coming out as the investigation continues.

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of Inspector Witherspoon’s and a few dear friends are at it again. They are working hard to solve the next murder the Inspector is assigned all the while continuing with their own lives.

This is a cozy historical mystery with quirky characters and a great murder mystery to solve. I the characters feel as if they are family after reading close my thirty book in this engaging series. I still can not wait until I get to read the next book in the series. The best part are the amazing characters and how they interact together. The storyline flows smoothly and quickly. The mystery is unique, filled with surprises, twists, turns, numerous viable suspects, great clues and misdirection that all build to a suspenseful conclusion. The emotional drama adds a lot to the enjoyment of this book. This is a great series if you enjoy heartwarming cozy historical mysteries.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought two of these Victorian mysteries at my library's used book store. I normally love Victorian mysteries, but I found this one to be very simplistic. The writing is very informal and not too much descriptions of characters of a deep plot. Inspector Witherspoon's servants and some other friends and neighbors "help" him in his investigations. They have regular meetings and sniff out clues, which are then casually suggested to him to aid him in catching the killer. One of the author's quirks was explaining why the inspector was using a certain types of questions or following a certain behavior in his interrogations. I found that very jarring and not necessary. I am quite aware of why and how the police conduct their interrogations. It wasn't too bad a book, but I don't think I'll continue with the series after reading my second book.

[Patricia Kiyono · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a rainy morning, a wealthy spinster is shot in the head trying to escape from an intruder. Inspector Witherspoon (and his household) are on the case. Betsy and Smythe are back from their honeymoon, and Lutie, Hatchett, and Ruth Cannonberry also assist. The case is complicated because there is almost no family, and the entire staff was given the morning off to attend a funeral. Phyllis has stayed on in the Witherspoon household as an extra maid, but the secret investigators are careful to meet before she arrives, or after she leaves for the day. Betsy starts to fear that she is being replaced and has a real meltdown, giving Mrs. Jeffries another mess to handle, but of course, she deals with it all while figuring out who the murderer was.

[Zara · Rating 5 out of 5]

#27

I continue with this series as I really enjoy spending time with Mrs Jeffries and the household. They are a found family and it is truly heartwarming. I love the descriptions of Victorian decor and I love how Brightwell shows times were changing (suffragette movement, Mrs Goodge changing her opinions on class, and ofcourse most of the murders seem to be amongst the upper class by nasty upper class people).

This was a good mystery, Olive is found shot dead in the middle of her garden during a downpour without a coat/ umbrella. Why was Olive in the garden in the middle of the rain?

I guessed who, why, and how a little earlier but enjoyed watching Mrs Jeffries solve it. There was a lot of action in this one and Witherspoon did a bit more than ask questions, and I loved it.

Very enjoyable for cosy mystery lovers.

[Barb Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman who is richer than sin and just as mean is murdered. Nobody liked her, not even her relatives or servants. Who put the bullet into her forehead?

Inspector Witherspoon, Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the household staff (plus a few friends) pull together to find the clues. There are a few surprises along the way, both with the case and their personal lives. A life-altering decision at the end of the book left me in tears. Obviously, the characters have become family, to one another and to me.

[Marie McNary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comforting, like a good cup of tea, this series was something I was missing and didn’t even know it. In less than 48 hours I consumed the whole book and found myself checking Emily’s website for the complete list of books in the series just in case I missed another.

If you are a fan of Victorian historical cozy mysteries, do yourself and check out this series. There is something about it that is just simple magic. How to try to wait (not so patiently) for the next installment to come out in 2019!

https://cozyexperience.com/oh-mrs-jef...

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the beginning of this Mrs. Jeffries, I was kind of disappointed and very annoyed, (especially with Betsy). I was able to easily guess the identity of the murderer by the middle of the book (before Mrs. J.) however, the last chapters were exciting and unexpected! This one definitely had some of the most suspense while revealing the killer! The resolution contained unexpected aspects as well. In conclusion, I was irritated with a few characters at the beginning, but all is forgiven considering the finish of this unique Mrs. Jeffries mystery!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of loose ends at the end of the book, but it was a very happy ending, at least for me. I figured out who the murderer was fairly early on, but there were lots of suspects, so one couldn't be absolutely certain. Since I picked the character that I disliked the most, that might have unfairly influenced my choice. My favorite scene was when the Inspector got so excited about the house possibly having a secret passage. He was just like a boy. Phyllis looks like she will become a permanent character, not just a temporary addition. That might liven things up.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thoroughly enjoying this series, but this narrator, Jennifer M. Dixon, is driving me crazy with the voice she gives to Wiggins. By now, he is about 24, so I guarantee he does NOT have a whiny, high-pitched voice. It makes me cringe. I have no complaints about her other voices; can't imagine keeping all that straight as she reads aloud! I'm glad for the continuity of her reading the series, just don't like Wiggins' voice.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number 27 in the Victorian Mystery series, Mrs. Jeffries Speaks Her Mind is another win for me in solving the details and guessing the correct murderer. Yippee!

Olive Kettering was a crusty and mean wealthy woman, so when she's murdered no one is really sorry to hear about her death, including her family members. Once again, it's up to Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of Scotland Yard Inspector Witherspoon's downstairs staff in helping him solve another case.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

the mad woman of. . .

Some neighborhood. The followers of the Humble Servant. A disinherited niece and cousin. And a thoroughly unpleasant friend, aunt, and cousin. No one mourned her death. But who killed her? Mrs J figures it out, Inspector Witherspoon makes the arrest. Betsey and Smyth work through the wrinkles of the newly married and Phyllis becomes a live in member of the household. Changes all around.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good story in this series. A murder of a woman not well liked, a confidence trickster and an old house are some of the issues the best detective has to deal with. But with the help of his household and friends he is able to uncover the murderer after some misdirections thrown in to keep you reading. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting ending

Another crazy woman killer but don't want to be a spoiler and give much away. I was very surprised that I found one I had not read before and did not mind all the retelling of the characters bios Recommend it to any Mrs Jefferies fans or even Victorian or any mystery fan. Could not stop reading.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, an excellent mystery

I had to read this book out of order in the series but it didn’t make a bit of difference! The plot & characters were still just as intriguing. I’m glad I have more books to read in this series, even if they are out of order!!!!!

[Ana Ionite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Jefffries is one of my favorite female detectives. I can relate, I feel the call of Justice myself.
All the team is amazing! They are so smart, so inventive in their entreprise. Each case is interesting and original. I feel so well reading about them!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upheaval in the household with Betsy and Smythe moving out after their wedding causes some friction. But murder brings them together once again and by working on the crime they mend their differences. Another satisfying installment in the series!