"Bright well written Victorian police procedural"

The household of Inspector Gerald Witherspoon is usually a merry one with the servants not only liking each other but all working together to help their employer (without his knowledge) solve homicide cases. As a result of their works, he has a 100 percent solved homicide rate and is looked upon as the best detective on the Metropolitan police force. This year is very different as everyone is worried about the maid Betsy who has lost so much weight since her beloved and fellow servant in the Witherspoon household cancelled the holidays to help a friend in Australia.

When he returns she barely speaks to him and on the same night of his return Witherspoon is given a homicide case after not having one for the last six months. Stephen Whitfield, a man in polite society, was hosting a dinner party when after drinking Bordeaux that one of the guests gave him as a gift keels over and dies. A doctor friend of Mrs. Jeffries was called to the scene, and he realized right away the victim was poisoned. Foxglove was found in the liquor and all the guests had access to it. Working separately, Mrs. Jeffries and Inspector Witherspoon find they haven't a clue who killed Whitfield because none of the people at the party had a motive.

Every Mrs. Jeffries mystery is an entertaining, well plotted police procedural filled with continuing characters that feel like old and familiar friends. Emily Bright's Victorian whodunits are like potato chips, they are so delicious you can't stop with just one. Taking place in Victorian England, readers get a glimpse of bygone era as seen through the eyes of the servant class.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 11, 2008

First Time in Paperback

Summary

A Yuletide dinner in West Brompton should have been a festive occasion, until the host, wealthy Stephen Whitfield, dropped dead before the second course. Now Mrs. Jeffries and the busy sleuths must rally in support of their Inspector—especially since the clues are harder to find than a silver sixpence in a plum pudding.