Brightwell again delivers her signature clever, energetic mystery with her latest Mrs. Jeffries title. Inspector Gerald Witherspoon and his redoubtable housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries are both in fine form as they investigate a case involving a shady iceman and one of Witherspoons own problematic colleagues. Colorful characters and fun plot twists combine for a light-hearted and satisfying Victorian mystery. Brightwell fans will not be disappointed and new readers with a taste for cozy historicals will be delighted to discover the many titles in the Brightwell canon.

Emily Brightwell has Mrs. Jeffries Demand Justice in this Victorian London mystery. Santorini, an iceman, is murdered in Whitechapel and the valuable gun of Inspector Nivens is found at the scene. Nivens has interfered in Inspector Witherspoon's case in the past; now the inspector is asked to find out who murdered Santorini and Nivens is suspended until his innocence or guilt is established. Mrs. Jeffries and her helpers set to work to find out what happened. Lots of red herrings and petty crimes. Santorini had many enemies. Whodunit? Engaging cozy suitable for reading during a pandemic.

Inspector Gerald Witherspoon and his assistant Constable Barnes are put in charge of conducting an investigation into a murder that occurred in the crime ridden Whitechapel area. The murder weapon conveniently left at the scene of the murder belongs to the detestable Nigel Nivens. With his reputation as an honest and impartial detective, Inspector Witherspoon is put in charge of the investigation and in a cruel twist of fate, Nivens' greatest nemesis is now in control of not only his career but his life as well. Of course Mrs. Jeffries and the other staff members of the Witherspoon household jump in to provide assistance and ensure the case is solved quickly. While Nivens is many things; selfish, self serving, and conniving to name a few, he is not a murderer.
Mrs. Jeffries Demands Justice is the 39th in the long standing series featuring Inspector Witherspoon, Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the household staff who moonlight as detectives. The Witherspoon household is an eclectic but fun loving bunch with a penchant for solving crime and supporting Inspector Witherspoon and each other along the way. The clues are uncovered slowly but methodically by both the inspector and members of his household in a manner that allows readers to follow along and investigate right alongside the crew. The ending was left as a bit of a cliff hanger so I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series. Set in historical London with plenty of period details, these mysteries are sure to be a hit for those looking for a light historical mystery to add to their reading list and can be read as a stand alone or as part of the larger series.

Bert Santorini arrives for a meeting in the crime-ridden area of Whitechapel, but instead of the payment he is anticipating, he is murdered. The killer leaves the murder weapon next to the body and it has an unexpected source – it belongs to Inspector Nigel Nivens, nemesis of Inspector Gerald Witherspoon. Inspector Witherspoon is called in from Scotland Yard to conduct an impartial investigation of Santorini’s murder. Witherspoon and his partner Constable Barnes know Nivens is capable of a lot of underhanded things, but could he really be a killer? Witherspoon and Barnes, with the help of housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the household, are determined to find the truth no matter what that turns out to be.

This book is part of the long-running Mrs. Jeffries series set in Victorian England. The premise behind this book and the others is that Inspector Witherspoon’s household staff and a couple of close family friends work with Constable Barnes to help the Inspector solve his cases without his knowledge. Nigel Nivens has always suspected that Witherspoon has had help with his cases and even when his life is on the line, Nivens still tries to cause trouble for his rival. It isn’t always easy, but the household is willing to put their feelings about Nivens aside and find out who is really responsible for Santini’s death even if that benefits the unpleasant Nigel Nivens.

Even though Nivens is at his lowest in this book, his lying and his entitled attitude make him an unsympathetic character and I just couldn’t feel sorry for him. It’s still a good book with an interesting case with a lot of surprising clues uncovered by Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the “team”. Betsy, the former Witherspoon housemaid, has always been my favorite character and I enjoyed the parts of the books with her obtaining information to help the case while facing some of the hardships she experienced in the past. The case is resolved, but a couple of things at the end of the story seem to spell trouble for the future. It looks like there is a lot of drama in store in the next installment.

~ Christine

I've only been reading this series for a year or two but it has quickly become one of my favorites and while this one wasn't one of my favorites I still very much enjoyed it. There's a team aspect about the series that really appeals to me. I love that there's a whole above board investigation with Inspector Witherspoon and Constable Barnes but at the same time there's a whole amateur team effort run by the housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries and a whole assortment of maids, footman, neighbors and friends. All the characters (with the exception of Nivens who is the worst but thankfully doesn't take up too much page time) are likable and each has their strengths as well as their own personalities.

While I did very much enjoy seeing the awful Inspector Nivens in some serious hot water this is probably my least favorite of the series that I've read so far. The East End of London is way outside of the usual investigation grounds of the downstairs crew and it felt like it slowed down the pace quite a bit as they hit dead end after dead end. That's not to say this is a bad read. It's still a fun read with a solid mystery and likable characters it just felt a bit slower then I usually expect from this series.

Mrs. Jeffries Demands Justice is the 39th Victorian mystery by Emily Brightwell. Due out 26th Jan 2021 from Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

These books are always a sure bet for an enjoyable and engaging story with an ensemble cast of comfortable well written characters. It's like a visit with an old and trusted friend. You know what to expect and it's always a fun and satisfying time.

In this installment an ice delivery man is shot at close range and Inspector Witherspoon and his faithful retainers are searching for clues to his secret background, his murder, and the criminal underground of Victorian East London. Things start looking grim for Witherspoon's old adversary Nigel Nivens and Mrs. Jeffries and co. are soon on the case.

This is a comfortable and enjoyable read. The language is clean, the plot is easy to follow, the pacing is gentle, and the denouement is satisfying. It works reasonably well as a standalone. The author is adept at providing back info without spoon feeding or info dumping.

Four and a half stars. Recommended to fans of historical cozies, Victorian procedurals and general cozy mystery series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

I was so happy to see our old friends, Inspector Gerald Witherspoon, Mrs. Jeffries, and his staff and friends again! Constable Barnes sees housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries as the best detective he has ever known, but she refuses credit. What a treasure she is!

This novel is a delight for those who enjoy historical cozy mysteries set in the late 1880’s London. I enjoy watching the household staff find clues in the background and Inspector Witherspoon, whose lifestyle is one of inherited wealth but never puts on airs. The inspector and his assistant, Constable Barnes, are hard-working, thoughtful investigators who solve some of the most difficult murders in London.

On a chilly spring Monday evening in the East End of London, an iceman who also delivers flowers is murdered. Left beside his body is an antique flintlock dueling pistol recently seen by the officers at the Leman Street Station. It is part of a set inherited by Inspector Nivens, who had shown the pair off to co-workers a few days earlier after a repair was made to one of them. Bert Santorini, the iceman, had been an informant of Nivens, recently helping Nivens put away the O’Dwyer brothers for several burglaries. A lad was paid to go to the worst of the local papers, The Sentinel, with information about the murder with a hint that police was protecting one of their own. Scotland Yard wants it solved now.

There are few detectives as disliked as Inspector Nigel Nivens. His family has friends in high places that, not long ago, helped him keep his job despite a major error in a recent case. He has an arrogance not befitting a public servant. The men who work with him and for him, as well as the thieves and informants he deals with, share in their dislike of him.

Nivens claims to be totally innocent but has no alibi for the time of the murder. He knows how unpopular he is; few cops would ever look beyond him to find who the real murderer is. When Gerald Witherspoon, accompanied by Constable Barnes, begins to investigate, Nivens doesn’t feel much hope; he has betrayed Witherspoon a couple times.

Mrs. Jeffries knows this murder troubles the inspector. Witherspoon doesn’t care for Nivens, but he does care for justice, as do Mrs. Jeffries and the staff. One day when the staff is meeting with the results of what they learned, Nivens shows up, wanting to talk with them. He said that people at the station think they are who really investigate and help Witherspoon solve all the murders he does. They denied their involvement multiple times, in multiple ways. He pleads for their help, as he knows he will hang if the real killer isn’t found, but they declare they are only servants. Mrs. Jeffries is also terribly troubled about the case, as Chief Superintendent Barrows will only give Witherspoon and Barnes a couple more days to solve it or arrest Nivens.

Catching up with the characters was such a delight! They are well-defined, even to being able to picture them. Learning about Betsy’s background was eye-opening and makes me appreciate her more. Mrs. Jeffries is my favorite character, as she really does have a way of thinking that helps her put the bits and pieces of information together. She is a natural encourager, of their inspector and of the staff. When any one person feels they had little success getting information, she considers what they do learn throughout the case, and tells them one never knows what bit they bring in that will solve it.

I was immediately welcomed into this mystery. The pace is steady throughout much of the novel, at which time it speeds up like a runaway horse through to the end. The series does not have to be read in order to be fully satisfying; each can be read as standalones. The staff learns over the course of days that the iceman has more than his share of enemies, from people he lied about to send to prison to ex-lady friends. This was quite the challenge to solve! The end was perfect, with no leftover clues or questions. I highly recommend this wonderful mystery. It is fascinating to see the historical period and how murders are solved in a time without internet or even telephones and much of the information learned is to be remembered and written up by hand.

Thirty-Nine books into the series and I’m still loving it. The characters are as fresh and delightful today as they were in the first book. There is always a serious mystery to solve, but it is done with wit and charm galore. I always look forward to each new book because of its warmth, it’s family feel – all of the characters have the utmost respect and care for each other despite the differences in their stations in life. Each book is a delightful addition to the series, but you can also read each book as a standalone should you wish to do so – but you would be missing the character and relationship growth that has occurred in the previous books.

Inspector Nigel Nivens is in serious trouble – very serious trouble. If you’ve read the previous books, you know what a despicable piece of work he is. Now, there has been a heinous murder, and all of the evidence points to Nivens being the perpetrator. Nivens detests Inspector Witherspoon, yet now, not only his career but his life is in Witherspoon’s hands. LOVE IT!

Inspector Witherspoon is called into the Chief’s office and told that he has a new case. The case isn’t out of his station, but Witherspoon is being assigned nonetheless. There has been a murder in the East End and all of the evidence points to Nigel Nivens being the murderer. The overhead folks at Scotland Yard wouldn’t mind throwing the book at Nivens and getting rid of him, but they know they have to give the investigation every appearance of fairness. That is why they assign the case to Witherspoon – the most respected Inspector on the force.

Witherspoon doesn’t like Nivens, but he doesn’t believe he is capable of murder. However, the evidence is pretty clear. In Witherspoon’s view, the only way to conduct the investigation is to be unbiased and to start fresh and look at ALL of the clues, not just the obvious ones. As he investigates, he learns that there are many, many, many people who have reasons to want the victim dead.

I love that Inspector Witherspoon has an ‘unknown to him’ support team consisting of his housekeeper, maid, cook, coachman, and several interested friends who are helping him behind the scenes. I love how they quietly feed him the clues they have found without him even being aware that they’ve done it. That ‘support team’ has absolutely no love for Nivens because of the way he’s treated Witherspoon in the past, but they also don’t believe he’s guilty. They’ll help their inspector solve the crime no matter which way it goes.

I loved this book and enjoyed reading every word of it. I love the characters and the whole ‘family’ feel it has. I hope you’ll read this book, and this series, and that you’ll love it as much as I do. I even like that this book has departed from its norm and leaves a bit of a cliff-hanger for the end. I feel a set-up for a future story there :)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When a paid informant is found shot in an alley, Nivens thinks that if he can crack the case, he’ll redeem himself and have a much-needed chance at impressing his superiors. But there’s one big problem with his plan—Niven’s distinct antique pistol is found at the scene of the crime and even more evidence is uncovered that links the Inspector to the murder. Despite their mutual dislike for Nivens, Mrs. Jeffries and Inspector Witherspoon know the man isn’t a cold-blooded killer. Now they’ll just have to prove it. . .

This is the 39th book in the Mrs. Jeffries Siri‘s and this is the 39th book that I’ve read. I guess you could say I am a fan of this series. And all of my favorite characters were back for this one. And all of them were involved in the solving of the crime, some more than others. Early on, even though they thought that inspector Nivens could not possibly be guilty, everything pointed toward him. And as clues were revealed, it’s still looked like it could be him.

Maybe after having read the other 38 books, and being subjected to inspector Nivens personality quirks, I wanted him to be guilty. Of course, it was a given that Mrs. Jeffries would come up with the clues to help solve the murder. The problem was I wanted to solve it before she did even if I knew that was never going happen. But I will say that I I am better at following the clues after having read that many of the Mrs. Jeffries books.

I would like to think the author, the publisher, and net galley for my copy of this book. The comments are my very own.

In 2020 nothing was predictable, so it's wonderful to be able to rely on Emily Brightwell bringing us another delightful Mrs. Jeffries book. In Mrs. Jeffries Demands Justice, Inspector Nigel Nivens is in trouble. If you've read other Mrs. Jeffries books, you know that he is not someone you'd want to defend. Nivens hates Inspector Witherspoon and is a crooked, deceitful inspector. But Mrs. Jeffries knows Nigel Nivens has been set up to take the fall for a murder he didn't commit. And though none of the Witherspoon household staff would be sorry to see Nivens in prison, they don't want a murderer to go free or an innocent man to take the fall.

What I love about these books most of all is the feeling that this staff, as well as their neighbors who help "solve" the crimes, are family. They may not be related by blood, but they care for each other. They care for their employer so much that they risk their own safety at times to gather clues.

Another thing that I appreciate about this series is that as it has progressed, Inspector Witherspoon has really grown more capable and become more confident in his abilities. It seems as if the clues "fed" to him are fewer than before, and he has truly become the inspector that Scotland Yard and his fellow constables believe him to be....and always have been.

If you've never read any books in the series, I suggest you start at the beginning. You don't need to read every book if you want to get to this one quickly, but you do need to know how things were in the beginning and how they've progressed. Trust me though. They are all very enjoyable cozy mysteries! These are especially wonderful reads for those of us who like historical cozies too. As an Anglophile, I love that they're set in England too.

I highly recommend this & all of the Mrs. Jeffries books!

"Mrs. Jeffries Demands Justice" is a historical mystery set in England in the 1890's. It's the thirty-ninth book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous books. The story wasn't heavily historical, though there were enough details to provide a historical feel. The characters were engaging and realistic, though not highly complex. It's a clue-based puzzle mystery. The main characters asked good questions and followed up on leads. There were enough clues for a reader to figure out whodunit even before Mrs. Jeffries. There was no sex. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.

I love this series and have been reading it for a number of years. I enjoy the characters and the London setting. They work for a detective so it explains why they have so many murders to solve. I did figure out who done it, just not why. I was still interested in finding out how the characters put it all together.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for providing me an Advanced Reading Copy of this new book in the series. I have always enjoyed this series and find that they are the perfect read for a day when you want to curl up on the sofa. In this story, Inspector Witherspoon's nemesis is in trouble and it takes everyone's help to get him out. They wonder why they are doing so when none of them like him, but they do believe in justice! I like the interactions of all the people -- the servants and their extra helpers. I have enjoyed watching Inspector Witherspoon change and grow in confidence over the series. I have always enjoyed satisfaction at the end knowing the bad guy has been caught, but this time there was a surprise and so I will look forward to the next one in the series.

Characters that feel like family. Great cozy get away. You can jump right in and enjoy another world.