Mrs. Jeffries Takes the Stage

by Emily Brightwell

Book Overview

A mystery featuring the Inspector and Mrs Jeffries--"the Miss Marple of Victorian mystery." ("Paperback Forum") It was a most peculiar murder. A man's body was found in the canal--but the evidence showed that he had drowned in a bathtub. A theatre critic known for his savage reviews, the victim had had a full cast of enemies. While Inspector Witherspoon scoured the theatre, his housekeeper and unofficial sleuthing partner Mrs. Jeffries uncovered the...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425157245
• ISBN13: 9780425157244
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 229 Pages
• Weight: 0.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Verry verry British...

This is one of my favorite Mrs. Jefferies books and I've liked them all. The lot of the Victorian British servant was not an easy one, so fortunate indeed are the servants employed by Inspector Witherspoon. Led by their kind and efficient housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries has taken charge of them all, including the unsuspecting Inspector, and all of them are the better for it. Mrs. Jefferies and her staff do a lot more investigating of the Inspector's difficult cases, than he ever realizes, but it's imperative that they help him solve his cases, first because he needs the help and secondly because they truely love and respect him. In this offering, Inspector Witherspoon has another difficult case when a nasty theater critic is murdered. The suspects range from a beautiful actress to a beginning playwrite. The case is a difficult and convuluted one, but Mrs. Jeffries and her staff are able to turn this case around and find the answer to the murder. A delightful mystery with lots of suspense as well as a number of beguiling subplots, such as who is the mysterious gift giver and what about Smythe and Betsy's romance? If you're a fan of the British cozy, dip into this series, you won't be disappointed.

Excellent as always

Want to read a wonderful, fun, clever cozy? Look no further than Emily Brightwell's Mrs. Jeffries series. This particular installment is just as superb as the others. The staff at Upper Edmonton Gardens have begun to feel like friends to me. The premise is the same as the other books: a murder is committed, dear old Inspector Witherspoon is on the case, he's baffled, his house staff - led by housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries - secretly investigates the case, and ultimately nudge the Inspector toward the clues until he nabs the killer. This is the same formula in all the books, but it never gets boring. The characters and setting and plot twists never cease to entertain.

A bit of theatre life in this one.

Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the staff are drawn into a murder that seems to touch on the theatre in this book. A well-known, but very disliked critic is found floating in the canal, but the water in his lungs is bathwater, so Inspector Witherspoon is onto another murder. This is a quick-moving little book that keeps you guessing almost up to the end. I always enjoy these stories because I've come to love the characters, and the servants in Upper Edmonton Gardens are totally appealing. It's always such fun to follow their antics as they hurry to help their beloved Inspector solve murders.

A simply delightful, light masterpiece.

From the opening of this book you are pulled into a wonderful world of servants living a slightly soft life. Led by their thoughtful housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries. This household does a lot more snooping than polishing the silver and always seem to come up with the answer just in time to save their beloved Inspector. Inspector Witherspoon who is just slightly naive but a truly gentle man at heart. When a nasty play critic is murdered it seems that Scotland Yard has got themselves another difficult hommicide. The suspects range from a beautiful actress to a beginning playwrite. Will Witherspoon fall for the actress and forget all about Lady Cannonberry. The case seems like a hopeless mess but will Mrs. Jeffries be able to turn this case around? True Mrs. Jeffries is far from like Sherlock Holmes their methods being quite. But their is more than one way to find the solution. Well like Brightwell says,"Behind every great man, theirs a great woman." An enchanting mystery with lots of suspense. Lots of subplots, such as who is the mysterious gift giver or what will happen to Smythe and Betsy? Its almost like a soap opera!