When a member of the prestigious Hyde Park Literary Circle is murdered at a jubilee ball in honour of Queen Victoria, Mrs. Jeffries, the housekeeper for Inspector Witherspoon, promptly steps in to help solve the case.
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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 After my entry in the "unpublished authors" contest run by this chapter was announced as a finalist - I was delighted, but the New York editor who read my entry was scathing in her criticism.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.
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
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mrs. Jeffries and Staff Do Not Disappoint!,
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This review is from: Mrs. Jeffries on the Ball (Victorian Mystery) (Paperback)
Mrs. Jeffries and the household staff team up again to assist Inspector Witherspoon and Scotland Yard solve a baffling case. The Queen's Ball turns into a fatal affair and the staff must help the Inspector solve the mystery before another murder occurs. This is the 5th book in the series. Each book adds strength to the characters and deepens the relationships between each of them. A love interest for the Inspector is introduced in this book (however slow-moving that is) and Smythe is shown to have a mystery of his own. I enjoy the fact that there is a developing storyline within this series that grows with each book. However, it would still be possible to pick up any book in the series and not be confused by the subplots. If you want to start the series at the beginning, the first is "The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries". Enjoy!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Never judge a book by it's cover . . .,
By
This review is from: Mrs. Jeffries on the Ball (Victorian Mystery) (Paperback)
I had this book sitting on a shelf for quite a while before I finally picked it up and read it last week. The word "Victorian" on the cover convinced me that I was not going to enjoy this book, and goodness . . . a housekeeper and an Inspector teaming up to solve a murder? It all just seemed a little too quaint. As it turns out, this is a great puzzling murder mystery. It's not just the housekeeper and inspector sleuthing for clues, but also the cook, the coachman and other "household help". A great book to read on a cold, winter's night. I now look forward to reading more in the series.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mrs. Jeffries Back on Form,
By
This review is from: Mrs. Jeffries on the Ball (Victorian Mystery) (Paperback)
This is a much better outing for Mrs. Jeffries after the previous one (Mrs. Jeffries Takes Stock). I found the plot tighter and the mystery was better. It was still fairly easy to determine who did the murder, but the motive actually surprised. I read these books though for the characters. Ms. Brightwell's characters are charming and fun and it's great to see them develop through each successive book. A nice little cozy to keep you warm at night.
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