"a refreshing amateur sleuth tale"

Scotland Yard's Inspector Witherspoon is wealthy; lives in a luxurious townhouse in London, and his peers respect him and are in awe of his talent of always solving homicide cases assigned to him. People, including the inspector don't realize that his household staff, who care and love him and love being in on the chase, help him find the clues that will lead him to the killer.

His latest case is very perplexing. The Reverend Jasper Claypool who has been in India for ten years has returned to England only to be killed the very same day. None of his heirs claim they have heard from him and a note in the Vicar's handwriting leads them to an abandoned cottage where the body of a woman was been placed in the chimney ten years ago. Both Witherspoon and his house staff are convinced the two are related but to solve this case will take all the resources they can muster and then some.

MRS. JEFFRIES SWEEPS THE CHIMNEY is a delightful and refreshing amateur sleuth tale that relies on cerebral reasoning to solve the case. Witherspoon's staff acts like a tightly knit family who will go to any lengths to see their employer recognized as a hero in the eyes of his supervisors. Emily Brightwell can always be counted on to keep her audience entertained with her witty and upbeat mysteries.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted December 7, 2003

Summary

A dead man dressed like a vicar is propped against a church wall, clutching the address of a dilapidated cottage that's abandoned—except for a human skeleton inside. Inspector Witherspoon's only prayer is to seek the counsel of his housekeeper and secret weapon, Mrs. Jeffries—who proves that a great crimesolver's work is never done.