This is a long series with many books. I had a lot of trouble connecting with the characters in the story because I have not read any of the other books in this series. I really liked the setting and I really like the characters, it just was not a good fit for me.

Mrs. Jeffries and the Alms of the Angels by Emily Brightwell is a 2019 Berkley publication.

This is my first book in this long running series. I have often wondered about it, but of course the sheer volume of installments gave me pause. However, it was my understanding that this is one of those series which does not require one to read them in exact order. So, I dived right in to this 38th installment, and found the author provided enough background information for me to get the gist of the premise and fill in any necessary blanks. The only drawback was my unfamiliarity with the large cast of recurring characters. Maybe someday, I’ll get to know them better, though.

As it so happens, a murder during the Christmas holiday season is something of a yearly tradition for Mrs. Jeffries and Inspector Winslow. However, it seems as though this year could be an exception- until…

By all accounts Margaret Starling is a pillar of her community. She attends St. Peter’s church and generously serves on the board of the Angel Alms Society. But, as of late, she had not at all been herself. For a woman so charitable, she had recently made a few enemies- and now she’s been found bludgeoned to death outside her home.

When Inspector Winslow is called out of his jurisdiction to investigate, the decision steps on a few toes, a situation that could thwart the investigation. But, never fear- Mrs. Jeffries is on the case with her trusty team to make sure the murder is solved before the holidays are over.

I must say, the story is charming, and the mystery is a solid whodunit. Obviously, one should expect a light, simple, clean mystery going in, which I did. Although the setup is dubious to say the least, due to the time frame- which is Victorian London- some of the improbabilities are easier to overlook. In fact, the mystery was more challenging than I anticipated, and I found myself rather enjoying it. While I will probably never attempt to read these in order, or on a regular basis, I may add one in here and there, from time to time, just for fun.

Overall, I’m glad I finally managed to satisfy my curiosity about the series, and found Mrs. Jeffries, Inspector Winslow and the entire cast enchanting!

4.5 Stars - Top Pick

Inspector Witherspoon and Constable Barnes are called to the murder scene of the wealthy Margaret Starling who is found murdered in her own garden. Mrs. Starling’s home is actually in the district of the inept Inspector Nigel Nivens, but with Witherspoon’s record for solving murders, the higher-ups at Scotland Yard want Witherspoon on the case. Part of Witherspoon’s success is because of the assistance he receives from members of his household and close friends help gather clues on his assigned cases. However, they are all able to do assist with the Inspector’s cases without his knowledge. This time, with Christmas coming up and Nivens seemingly working against them, Mrs. Jeffries is feeling the pressure to solve this case before the holidays and with Withersoon’s reputation in tact.

This is a long-running series and although the characters change and grow as the series progresses, each book can be read as a standalone. It’s easy to become acquainted with the main characters if you’re a new reader. Brightwell is able to come up with new twists to keep each book interesting for those who have followed the entire series. This time, Nivens is up to his old tricks, but with a new accomplice. This subplot adds a bit of drama to the book and things turn out in an unexpected and satisfying way by the end of the book.

The author gives plenty of clues regarding the murder mystery so most readers will have the identified even though there are a few different suspects. Even though the story takes place in Victorian England, the plot regarding a possible embezzler is still relevant today. However, the strong point of this series is the characters, their friendships, and their loyalty to each other and to Witherspoon. After reading one of the books, Brightwell has the reader on board with how Mrs. Jeffries can help the Inspector solve his cases without his knowledge. With the household’s list of witnesses and suspects overlapping with Witherspoon’s, there are a couple of times when a few characters are almost caught on the scene by Witherspoon and some these humorous moments are fun to read. No matter what the case is, I enjoy spending time with these characters.

In this book, all of the household and family members contribute equally to the case being solved. I have been disappointed with how small of a part the former housemaid Betsy has had in the past couple of investigations, but I am pleased that she is back on the case in this installment. I like the camaraderie of the characters and how they stick together when the case becomes difficult. I was excited to see that this book takes place right before Christmas but with the exception of a few comments, there wasn’t anything that gave the readers an in depth look at Victorian holiday traditions. The book is excellent as a whole, but I am disappointed in the lack of details about the household’s preparations for Christmas. However, this is a small complaint about an otherwise delightful installment in the Mrs. Jeffries series that fans of the series will enjoy, as well as fans of Victoria Thompson or Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple books.

~ Christine

This series is one of my favorites. I feel like the staff in Inspector Witherspoon's household are family. I didn't start reading the series with book one, so I found out some things about the relationships in the series before they happened. That didn't bother me a bit because they're just so good. I did later go back and start with book one, but I still haven't read them all! So many books so little time. I say all of that to tell you this...even if you haven't read any of the books in the Mrs. Jeffries series, you can read this! Just jump right in and enjoy a great cozy mystery.

However, if you do plan on starting the series at the beginning, you may want to stop reading this review as there will be spoilers from prior books. "Spoilers, Sweetie." (Any Doctor Who fans in the house?)

Mrs. Jeffries and the Alms of the Angel is another one of those murders that comes just days before Christmas. And, it's a good thing it does! We fans know how bored the staff get when they don't have a murder to help solve. Well, thankfully for them, but sadly for the victim, they get a murder when an advisory board member of the London Angel Alms Society gets her head bashed in. Who would want to hurt Mrs. Starling? She's an upstanding member of society and the church. Her servants love her. Though she's been acting oddly the past several weeks, no one knows why someone needed to silence her.

What I really enjoyed about this particular Mrs. Jeffries book was that Inspector Witherspoon was much more confident in his abilities to solve the crime. I think with each book, though the staff still help out (unbeknownst to him), he becomes more assertive and knowledgeable. Isn't that how we all are? The more we do a thing, the better we become at doing it.

Though the Inspector is kind and forgiving to a fault, he (no spoilers!) MAY have finally had enough with Nivens. We know from prior books that the Inspector always gives Nivens the benefit of the doubt. You need to read this one to see if he still does.

One thing I missed in Mrs. Jeffries and the Alms of the Angel was the staff's involvement. Yes, they were still involved in the case, but there were fewer scenes for many of them when it came to "interviewing" staff, neighbors, witnesses, etc. I'm not sure if that's due to the length of the book (it's not really any shorter than the others) or the fact that the Inspector is getting better at his job.

I definitely recommend this series to all of you cozy mystery fans. And, like I said, just jump right in with this book if you don't have time to read the 37 (!!) prior books. That the books are set in Victorian London is a plus for me. It's one of my favorite time periods for mystery books! Add this one to your lists for a quick, fun, cozy read.