Mrs. Jeffries and the Yuletide Weddings [Hardcover]

Emily Brightwell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mrs. Jeffries | Publication Date: November 3, 2009

Upper Edmonton Gardens looks forward to a jolly Christmas, until one humbug sings of murder-in Mrs. Jeffries's 26th mystery.

'Tis the week before Christmas, and all through the house, every creature is stirring...

But just as Inspector Witherspoon's staff prepares for the long-awaited wedding of Betsy and Smythe, a Yuletide murder falls in the Inspector's lap.

A middle-aged spinster has been killed in what her murderer hoped would look like a random crime. But the Inspector's investigation reveals a web of lies, intrigue, and long-buried secrets. With uncooperative witnesses, sulking relatives, and a second Christmas wedding, a simple investigation seems unlikely. And the household will have to put aside its holiday spirit to save the Inspector's reputation.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Two weddings provide the backdrop for Brightwell's enjoyable 26th Victorian mystery, the first of the series in hardcover, featuring mild-mannered Insp. Gerald Witherspoon and his indomitable housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries (after Mar. 2009's Mrs. Jeffries and the Nick of Time). As Christmas approaches, the inspector's servants are busy preparing for the marriage between Smythe, the coachman, and Betsy, the maid. Meanwhile, Rosemary Evans and her older fiancé, Sir Madison Lowery, are celebrating their impending nuptials with a formal tea, which is interrupted by the discovery of a former governess of Rosemary's lying dead with a knife in her chest outside the Evanses' house in a posh London neighborhood. As usual, Mrs. Jeffries and her fellow servants gather and sort through clues while their sometimes dilatory master investigates. Cozy fans will be well satisfied. (Nov.)
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About the Author

Emily Brightwell is the author of 26 Inspector Witherspoon and Mrs. Jeffries books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; 1 edition (November 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425230465
• ISBN-13: 978-0425230466
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #831,091 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in West Virginia, the middle sister to Nanette and Linda. My parents moved the family to Los Angeles in the early sixties, and I graduated from Pasadena High School. I attended California State University at Fullerton and earned a Degree in American Studies.
On a visit to England in 1975, I met my future husband, Richard. We were married in May 1976 and lived in a small village outside London. We came back to California in September 1977.
In 1988 I began my new career as a fiction writer. Although I was working in the shipping industry, and enjoyed my job, I wanted to fulfil my long-held desire to write!
I began by writing romances. I joined the Romance Writers of America - Orange County chapter. After my entry in the "unpublished authors" contest run by this chapter was announced as a finalist - I was delighted, but the New York editor who read my entry was scathing in her criticism. I was crushed for a day or so, but it hardened my resolve to continue writing. My very next proposal was the one that my agent sold to Silhouette. It was published under my pen name of Sarah Temple as KINDRED SPIRITS. I was thrilled - a published author!

I wrote two more Special Editions for Silhouette but I jumped at the chance to write a Victorian mystery series for Berkley - I've always had a keen interest in mysteries. I called my brother-in-law, Robert, who lives in London and he found old,original London newspapers from the 1880s and a host of books on Victorian households. These books and newspapers were priceless guides to my understanding of the real Victorian world of Inspector Witherspoon and Mrs. Jeffries.
I have also written some Young Adult novels,which are not currently in print - writing as Cheryl Lanham - my maiden name. These were such fun to write because teenagers are so emotional and it was great therapy to switch from the lives of a Victorian household involved in solving murders to the angst of a contemporary California teenager! By some strange quirk of events, the Young Adult books sold really well in Norway - translated into Norwegian, I hasten to add. Sales in the United States were not as dramatic and the series was cancelled.

I quit my part-time job in October 2010 so I could write mysteries full-time. I live in southern Orange County.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars incredible balancing act, November 7, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mrs. Jeffries and the Yuletide Weddings (Hardcover)

The holidays are upon the residents of Victorian London, which means that the wedding date of Coachman Smythe and Betsy the Cook is getting close. The pair live in the home of Inspector Witherspoon of the Metropolitan Police Department where they work and assist along with the rest of the staff their employer solve crime cases. Witherspoon is ignorant that his household employees led by Mrs. Jeffries are the reason his detecting record is at 100% solved as they serendipitously work cases by finding the clues but allow their beloved Inspector to get the credit.

The staff prays no murder cases until after the wedding, but their prayers go unanswered when a woman is knifed to death in front of the Evans' home where an engagement party is going on. The daughter of the house Rosemary Evans identifies the victim as her old governess, but neither she nor anyone else knows why she was there. Mrs. Jeffries and the crew understand that they need to expedite this case so it does not interfere with the wedding since Witherspoon is giving the bride away.

The police and the staff separately investigate the homicide and believe they know who the killer is but lack proof. When information comes to light in spite of a lack of cooperation, the housekeeper and her amateur sleuths know they must act quickly to prevent a second murder from occurring even as a second wedding will occur.

It is fun watching Betsy and Smythe work on the crime, prepare for their wedding, and host her sister and brother-in-law as they do an incredible balancing act. Readers, Mrs. J, and the Inspector will be blindsided by who the killer is in this delightful cerebral historical cozy. As always with this terrific series, Emily Brightwell provides her fans with a bright well-written Victorian.

Harriet Klausner

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Emily Brightwell's Latest Mrs. Jeffries Mystery - YULETIDE WEDDINGS!, November 6, 2009

By 

Cassiesgram - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mrs. Jeffries and the Yuletide Weddings (Hardcover)

There isn't much I can say except she has done it again! I own and have read every single book in the Mrs. Jeffries series, by Emily Brightwell. I enjoy the light, cozy, victorian murder mysteries. Keep up the wonderful writing! My only wish is that there were more of these entertaining books written each year, it's hard waiting between publications.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Yuletide Read, November 20, 2009

By 

Edie Dykeman - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mrs. Jeffries and the Yuletide Weddings (Hardcover)

Although this is the 26th Inspector Witherspoon and Mrs. Jeffries book by author Emily Brightwell, it is my first. Set in Victorian times, the author stays true to the era providing a setting that is cloaked in fog, horse-drawn carriages, and mansions that hold many secrets.

Just as two prominent members of Inspector Witherspoon's household prepare to marry, a middle-aged spinster is stabbed to death outside a mansion during a late afternoon tea party. Although Mrs. Jeffries and her staff are in the final preparations for the wedding as well as getting ready for Christmas just days away, they also welcome the opportunity to delve into the mystery.

Mrs. Jeffries and the Yuletide Weddings proves to be a combination of mystery to be solved and family relationships to untangle and understand.

As Smythe and Betsy prepare for their wedding, after postponing the wedding twice, they are determined this time it will go on as planned. Unfortunately, Betsy must also deal with her sister who has traveled from Canada for the nuptials. Adding to Betsy's stress are the apparent secrets Smyth is keeping from her.

In the meantime, the Witherspoon household pulls together, works to eek out the secrets of the case, and hopefully solves the case prior to the wedding. The question is, will they make it to the church on time?