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Mrs Jeffries Defends Her Own
A Victorian Mystery, No 30
Emily Brightwell

Berkley
May 1, 2012 / ISBN: 0425248054
Historical Mystery / Cozy / England Victorian
Amazon

Reviewed by Brenda Weeaks

Inspector Nivens (aka Odious Toad) is known for two things. Messing up a murder case and trying to expose the fact that Inspector Witherspoon's Staff are the ones responsible for solving the many cases Witherspoon has gotten credit for…

They agree to assist Nivens (unbeknownst to him) because Mrs Jefferies sister-in-law is involved in the case. Jefferies' sister-in-law married up - as they say - and quickly forgot her brother and his wife. Mrs Jefferies has never forgiven her. Constable Barnes joins in by checking Nivens daily reports.

Finally Karma trips up Nivens' and his mean ways. And guess who gets the case?
Inspector Nivens and Constable Barnes are no slackers. The two are savvy at knowing the criminal mind. While they work the case, Witherspoon's staff investigates behind the scenes. They quiz various household staff, and shop keepers near the victim's resident. Being a Staff with many successful mysteries behind them they have become experts at chatting up the locals, recognizing odd behavior, and digging deeper for clues. All their research ends up at Cooks table where together they line up clues and solve the mystery. It's a well-written puzzle.

In Mrs Jeffries Defends Her Own, clues are dropped throughout and it's only at the end I realize once again how cleaver Brightwell is at placing clues and setting up false leads. Mrs. Jeffries Defends Her Own is an entertaining, historical, cozy, English read. Brightwell's Victorian Mystery series is destined to be a classic.

Other reviews in this series

Mrs. Jeffries Appeals the Verdict, No 21   [review]
Mrs. Jeffries Forges Ahead,
No 28   [review]
Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight,
No 20   [review]
Mrs. Jeffries and the Mistletoe Mix-Up, No 29   [review]
Mrs Jeffries Defends Her Own, No 30   [review]


 
Reviewed 2012
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