What do you think?
Rate this book
Mrs. Jeffries #35
Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong
Mrs. Jeffries is back in the "New York Times" bestselling Victorian series, perfect for fans of "Downton Abbey."
Thomas Mundy checked into London s Wrexley Hotel but he never checked out. The maid found him on the floor of his room, bludgeoned to death by his own walking stick. Inspector Witherspoon is soon on the case and learns Mundy had a reputation for being polite, charming, and diligent an unlikely victim for such a violent crime.
But Mrs. Jeffries and the household staff uncover that Mundy was less of an amiable businessman and more of a duplicitous con man with enemies on both side of the Atlantic. Now Witherspoon and his staff must determine who on their lengthy list of suspects had the motive to put Mundy in the red.
A Mrs. Jeffries Mystery
She keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon . . . and keeps him on his toes. Everyone s awed by his Scotland Yard successes but they don t know about his secret weapon. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, Mrs. Jeffries polished detection skills are up to the task . . . proving that behind every great man there s a woman and that a crimesolver s work is never done."
Thomas Mundy checked into London s Wrexley Hotel but he never checked out. The maid found him on the floor of his room, bludgeoned to death by his own walking stick. Inspector Witherspoon is soon on the case and learns Mundy had a reputation for being polite, charming, and diligent an unlikely victim for such a violent crime.
But Mrs. Jeffries and the household staff uncover that Mundy was less of an amiable businessman and more of a duplicitous con man with enemies on both side of the Atlantic. Now Witherspoon and his staff must determine who on their lengthy list of suspects had the motive to put Mundy in the red.
A Mrs. Jeffries Mystery
She keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon . . . and keeps him on his toes. Everyone s awed by his Scotland Yard successes but they don t know about his secret weapon. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, Mrs. Jeffries polished detection skills are up to the task . . . proving that behind every great man there s a woman and that a crimesolver s work is never done."
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2017
83 people are currently reading
784 people want to read
About the author
Emily Brightwell
69 books541 followersCheryl Lanham was born on 11 October 1948 in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia, USA. Her family moved to Southern California in 1959 and she grew up in Pasadena. After graduating from California State University, she decided to work her way around the world and took off for England. She didn’t get much further because she met Richard James Arguile, the Englishman who became her husband, got married on May 1976, and had two children, Matthew and Amanda. While working in international shipping, she decided to pursue her dream and become a writer – which, of course, is the best job ever. She has written romance novels as Sarah Temple, and Young Adult novels as Cheryl Lanham. As Emily Brightwell, she is the author of the “Mrs. Jeffries” mysteries.
Cheryl Lanham Arguile returned to California, where she lives with her husband and a cranky old cat named Kiwi.
Cheryl Lanham Arguile returned to California, where she lives with her husband and a cranky old cat named Kiwi.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
January 25, 2021
This series is one of my all time favourites. I love the characters and their camaraderie, team work and relationships.
The mysteries are well written and always keep me guessing.
I'm not usually a fan of Victorian era mysteries but this is an exception.
This latest offering does not disappoint!
The mysteries are well written and always keep me guessing.
I'm not usually a fan of Victorian era mysteries but this is an exception.
This latest offering does not disappoint!
January 10, 2018
Inspector Witherspoon has solved more murders than anyone else in London. What he doesn't know is that he has help from his servants and friends. He's going to need a lot more help than that if he is to solve this latest case. Thomas Mundy, a traveling businessman, has been staying at the Wrexley Hotel. He returns to his room one night and is found early the next morning by the chambermaid, who is shocked and horrified to see Mundy's head bashed in and blood and gore on the carpet. The hotel staff are horrified such a thing should happen in their establishment and the owners will be most displeased. They want the mystery solved ASAP before the hotel is ruined. Inspector Witherspoon discovers Mundy wasn't quite the charming man he seemed. Sure he was sweet with the ladies but he was a confidence trickster scamming them out of their money. How can Inspector Witherspoon solve the murder when Mundy has ruined so many people? Mrs. Jeffries feels overloaded with information and Wiggins and Phyllis won't stop sniping at each other. What is she to do?
The author made a rare blunder in this novel. She opens the book with the murder and has the murderer speak. That was the clue that gave it away for me. It was easy to narrow down the suspects by process of elimination. There was only one who could have spoken that line. The identity of that person doesn't become clear right away though and the fun is in seeing how it all comes together. Inspector Witherspoon gets much of the same information as his downstairs family gathers but of course maids and footmen always know their masters' and mistresses' business and people do tend to lie to the police. Poor Mrs. Jeffries almost didn't get this one solved in time. Pointing Witherspoon in the right direction relies on a lot of coincidences that anyone but Witherspoon would be suspicious of! This mystery is a little too gory for a cozy mystery. There's a lot of descriptions of Mundy's head wound.
The only real development of the "family" in this novel is the changed relationship between Wiggins and Phyllis and the tensions it creates within the household. I liked how Smythe thinks of Wiggins as a younger brother or son. I did not like the rivalry between Mrs. Jeffries and Mrs. Goodge over the two young people. I did like how the young people talk about how their relationship has changed at the end. The other new development is that little Amanda unknowingly becomes a help in the investigating, instigating an incident that leads Betsy to a vital clue. Perhaps Amanda will start paying more attention at the meetings once her brain develops a bit more! (She's about 2ish here). Ruth is away for much of the novel but I love how much Witherspoon cares for her company. His reaction when he learns of her return is sweet.
Lady Canonberry's friend Chloe Atwater finally appears as a character. She helps further the action with her gossip. She is one formidable lady and I admire her very much for her dedication to her causes. I hope to see more of her. Also introduced here is Luty's friend John Widdoes, a fair and open-minded man who also helps with the investigation. Really-why on earth hasn't word gotten back to Witherspoon by now? This is the worst kept secret in London!
The new characters are all involved with the murder and none of the principal people involved are likable. First you have Thomas Mundy, the victim but also the villain. There's virtually no character development. He was a bad guy. Period. I'd like to know more about his background and how he got to be a villain. It doesn't surprise me that someone wanted to murder him. Inspector Witherspoon has four main suspects: a down-on-her-luck woman, Jennifer Payton who was tricked by Mundy. She has as much motive to keep him alive as to murder him. Did she kill him and then steal back the money he owed her? She's certainly desperate enough and greedy enough. I felt sorry for her though being from the class of women who must live upon the generosity of a stingy relative who makes life miserable. Next we have Ronald Hart, an aspiring politician. He is the type that gives politicians a bad name. He is obnoxious, incredibly rude, snobby and selfish. I loathed him and kind of hoped he'd be the next to be killed or is he the killer? I'd say if in doubt don't trust the sleazy politician but there are so many suspects here, it's hard to know whether Hart is just a sleazy, snobby wannabe politician or an out and out murderer. Then we have beautiful widow Marianne Pelletier who has a prior connection to Mundy. I didn't quite believe her or trust her. Something about her story seemed false to me. Does she have motive to kill? Finally, Daniel Wright, an American who encountered Mundy in Los Angeles and barely lived to tell the tale. He is the most sympathetic of all the suspects. I felt kind of sorry for him because of what happened. He of all people would certainly want revenge and I wouldn't blame him. However, one of the servants reveals something that made me not trust him. They're all liars and Inspector Witherspoon has his hands full trying to figure out a precise timeline to know which of them actually is the murderer or whether it was a conspiracy between two or more suspects.
One thing I noted about this story is the frequent appearance of the color green. I was wondering and hoping that poison green was going to be a factor affecting the behavior of the victim and suspects. Alas, it was never brought up and the characters all seem oblivious that their decorators are killing them!
The author made a rare blunder in this novel. She opens the book with the murder and has the murderer speak. That was the clue that gave it away for me. It was easy to narrow down the suspects by process of elimination. There was only one who could have spoken that line. The identity of that person doesn't become clear right away though and the fun is in seeing how it all comes together. Inspector Witherspoon gets much of the same information as his downstairs family gathers but of course maids and footmen always know their masters' and mistresses' business and people do tend to lie to the police. Poor Mrs. Jeffries almost didn't get this one solved in time. Pointing Witherspoon in the right direction relies on a lot of coincidences that anyone but Witherspoon would be suspicious of! This mystery is a little too gory for a cozy mystery. There's a lot of descriptions of Mundy's head wound.
The only real development of the "family" in this novel is the changed relationship between Wiggins and Phyllis and the tensions it creates within the household. I liked how Smythe thinks of Wiggins as a younger brother or son. I did not like the rivalry between Mrs. Jeffries and Mrs. Goodge over the two young people. I did like how the young people talk about how their relationship has changed at the end. The other new development is that little Amanda unknowingly becomes a help in the investigating, instigating an incident that leads Betsy to a vital clue. Perhaps Amanda will start paying more attention at the meetings once her brain develops a bit more! (She's about 2ish here). Ruth is away for much of the novel but I love how much Witherspoon cares for her company. His reaction when he learns of her return is sweet.
Lady Canonberry's friend Chloe Atwater finally appears as a character. She helps further the action with her gossip. She is one formidable lady and I admire her very much for her dedication to her causes. I hope to see more of her. Also introduced here is Luty's friend John Widdoes, a fair and open-minded man who also helps with the investigation. Really-why on earth hasn't word gotten back to Witherspoon by now? This is the worst kept secret in London!
The new characters are all involved with the murder and none of the principal people involved are likable. First you have Thomas Mundy, the victim but also the villain. There's virtually no character development. He was a bad guy. Period. I'd like to know more about his background and how he got to be a villain. It doesn't surprise me that someone wanted to murder him. Inspector Witherspoon has four main suspects: a down-on-her-luck woman, Jennifer Payton who was tricked by Mundy. She has as much motive to keep him alive as to murder him. Did she kill him and then steal back the money he owed her? She's certainly desperate enough and greedy enough. I felt sorry for her though being from the class of women who must live upon the generosity of a stingy relative who makes life miserable. Next we have Ronald Hart, an aspiring politician. He is the type that gives politicians a bad name. He is obnoxious, incredibly rude, snobby and selfish. I loathed him and kind of hoped he'd be the next to be killed or is he the killer? I'd say if in doubt don't trust the sleazy politician but there are so many suspects here, it's hard to know whether Hart is just a sleazy, snobby wannabe politician or an out and out murderer. Then we have beautiful widow Marianne Pelletier who has a prior connection to Mundy. I didn't quite believe her or trust her. Something about her story seemed false to me. Does she have motive to kill? Finally, Daniel Wright, an American who encountered Mundy in Los Angeles and barely lived to tell the tale. He is the most sympathetic of all the suspects. I felt kind of sorry for him because of what happened. He of all people would certainly want revenge and I wouldn't blame him. However, one of the servants reveals something that made me not trust him. They're all liars and Inspector Witherspoon has his hands full trying to figure out a precise timeline to know which of them actually is the murderer or whether it was a conspiracy between two or more suspects.
One thing I noted about this story is the frequent appearance of the color green. I was wondering and hoping that poison green was going to be a factor affecting the behavior of the victim and suspects. Alas, it was never brought up and the characters all seem oblivious that their decorators are killing them!
October 5, 2021
Ms. Brightwell has delivered another twisted cozy mystery as the household searches for clues regarding a con man's murder. I come to really enjoy these characters and look forward to spending time with them as they go "on the hunt".
October 19, 2017
Thomas Mundy seemed like an unlikely victim of murder. New in town, and presumably without the time to make enemies, yet he ends up dead. Turns out Mundy wasn't so new, or so innocent. An experienced con man trying to outrun his past, his body proves that he failed. Now it's up to Mrs. Jeffries and crew to find out which part of his past came back to kill him.
May 28, 2022
Love this series, but was a little disappointed in this story. Will always be a fan of the Mrs Jeffries books. And look forward to the next one.
August 4, 2017
When Inspector Witherspoon is called to investigate the murder of a guest at a hotel, his housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries, the rest of the staff, and a number of their friends pool their resources and intelligence to track down the murderer. When they realize that the victim was a confidence man, the possibilities for motives become almost endless. Some of the attention "downstairs" is leached away by the curious antagonism between one of the maids and the young footman, who had always been good friends before.
May 23, 2024
The victim in this one is someone no one could like, so it felt like there no urgency to find his killer, either by the team or by the reader. On the other hand, there were so many people who hated him that the number of suspects was far larger than normal. Mrs. Jeffries and her team of investigators have no trouble finding out about all the suspects, but for once there is almost too much information. I figured it out relatively early in the book, mainly because of the murder weapon, but the getting there was fun.
March 22, 2018
A con man is dead, and our crew is trying to figure who did the deed. Wiggins is being mean to Phyllis. What's up with that?
All mysteries will be solved by book's end. Our characters are evolving, but the stories remain the same. Nice, light reading.
All mysteries will be solved by book's end. Our characters are evolving, but the stories remain the same. Nice, light reading.
February 5, 2020
I always love these books and this one is no exception. Wonderful period detail, complex main characters and interesting story characters. The plots are unique and well written and everything makes sense in the end without revealing who-dunnit in chapter 2.
I highly recommend this excellent cozy series and this book.
I highly recommend this excellent cozy series and this book.
November 26, 2021
Another good story in the series.
May 7, 2017
The is the 35th book in the Mrs. Jeffries series, which is set in Victorian London. Inspector Witherspoon works for Scotland Yard and has solved more cases than the Yard's other inspectors combined, but he does not understand how. Mrs. Jeffries, his housekeeper, certainly does. A retired policeman's wife, she organizes the household staff to gather clues which she shares with Constable Barnes, Inspector Witherspoon's partner. She also manages to give Inspector Witherspoon suggestions about the solution, making him think they are his idea.
In this book, Thomas Mundy has been found murdered at the Wrexley Hotel. Inspector Witherspoon, Mrs. Jeffries, and the household staff soon find that Mundy is a confidence trickster with no lack of suspects for his murder. The staff must gather clues for Mrs. Jeffries so that she can make sure Inspector Witherspoon does not arrest the wrong man...or woman.
I have enjoyed many Mrs. Jeffries books over the years, and this one is no exception. The plot moves along fairly well, with not a lot of extraneous detail, and the author provides enough clues to make a good guess at the solution, along with Mrs. Jeffries. The author does not necessarily take us inside the character's minds, except on occasion doing so for Mrs. Jeffries, but I do not feel that this takes away from the story at all. This is not really the type of book that benefits from getting to know the characters deeply. There are some side stories within the overall plot that let us get to know some of the household staff better or provide a backstory for them, so we do come to care about the characters over time. I think that the books are well-written and intelligent. I have read many mystery series over the years, and have noticed that at times the plots begin to become stale after a while. This is certainly not the case with the Mrs. Jeffries series even though this is the 35th in the series.
I did feel that perhaps this book suffered a little in that the conclusion seemed a little rushed at the end, but it was still very good overall.
Now to speak about the Kindle formatting - I wanted to keep this part separate from the overall review of the book because I feel that the content of the book needs to stand along from the formatting issue. Yes, as many other reviewers have stated, there is a problem with the formatting of this book. At the end of many sentences, it appears that the last five or so characters have been cut off. For example, "But I do wish some of my sources would read a newsp" and "We've more ques" It was fairly easy to understand from the context that the first word was newspaper and the second questions. There were a few other errors, but the cut off sentences seem to form the bulk of the problem. Was it annoying? Yes, it was at first. Did it stop me from enjoying the book? No, because I am familiar enough with the quality of the Mrs. Jeffries books that I was willing to overlook a little. There was nothing missing that affected the plot in any way or my understanding of the book. I did keep a rough count of the errors, and there were around 130 instances of missing words for a 300-page book.
I would think given that this is a long-standing series published by a very reputable publisher that this problem would be fixed fairly quickly. At that time, hopefully, I will know and can revise my review.
If you enjoy cozy, historical mysteries, you would enjoy this book, errors notwithstanding.
In this book, Thomas Mundy has been found murdered at the Wrexley Hotel. Inspector Witherspoon, Mrs. Jeffries, and the household staff soon find that Mundy is a confidence trickster with no lack of suspects for his murder. The staff must gather clues for Mrs. Jeffries so that she can make sure Inspector Witherspoon does not arrest the wrong man...or woman.
I have enjoyed many Mrs. Jeffries books over the years, and this one is no exception. The plot moves along fairly well, with not a lot of extraneous detail, and the author provides enough clues to make a good guess at the solution, along with Mrs. Jeffries. The author does not necessarily take us inside the character's minds, except on occasion doing so for Mrs. Jeffries, but I do not feel that this takes away from the story at all. This is not really the type of book that benefits from getting to know the characters deeply. There are some side stories within the overall plot that let us get to know some of the household staff better or provide a backstory for them, so we do come to care about the characters over time. I think that the books are well-written and intelligent. I have read many mystery series over the years, and have noticed that at times the plots begin to become stale after a while. This is certainly not the case with the Mrs. Jeffries series even though this is the 35th in the series.
I did feel that perhaps this book suffered a little in that the conclusion seemed a little rushed at the end, but it was still very good overall.
Now to speak about the Kindle formatting - I wanted to keep this part separate from the overall review of the book because I feel that the content of the book needs to stand along from the formatting issue. Yes, as many other reviewers have stated, there is a problem with the formatting of this book. At the end of many sentences, it appears that the last five or so characters have been cut off. For example, "But I do wish some of my sources would read a newsp" and "We've more ques" It was fairly easy to understand from the context that the first word was newspaper and the second questions. There were a few other errors, but the cut off sentences seem to form the bulk of the problem. Was it annoying? Yes, it was at first. Did it stop me from enjoying the book? No, because I am familiar enough with the quality of the Mrs. Jeffries books that I was willing to overlook a little. There was nothing missing that affected the plot in any way or my understanding of the book. I did keep a rough count of the errors, and there were around 130 instances of missing words for a 300-page book.
I would think given that this is a long-standing series published by a very reputable publisher that this problem would be fixed fairly quickly. At that time, hopefully, I will know and can revise my review.
If you enjoy cozy, historical mysteries, you would enjoy this book, errors notwithstanding.
June 7, 2017
Inspector Gerald Witherspoon has gained quite a reputation for solving murders but, while he is good at his job, (unknown to him) he has been helped solve these cases by his household staff and a few friends. The staff enjoys solving murders but the killing of Thomas Mundy will be tough to solve - he was a con artist who hurt many people who are happy that he has died. Witherspoon thinks he knows who the killer is but does he have the wrong person and if he does how can Mrs. Jeffries help him arrest the right person?
“Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong” is the nicely done thirty-fifth book in Emily Brightwell's Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries cozy mystery series set in Victorian England - a series that, even with so many books in the series, stays fresh and seems to get better with each new book in the series. By now the characters in the book - the inspector, Barnes, Mrs. Jeffries, Mrs. Goodge, Smythe, Betsy, Wiggins, Phyllis, Luty, Hatchet, and Ruth - feel like old friends yet Brightwell always seems to find a way to make them grow in each book. In this book it was Wiggins’ character who is finally developing in a way that I have been wishing for in the past several books and Brightwell does it much better than I could have imagined. The concept of his staff and friends helping Witherspoon solve mysteries continues to be a good one as all involved help solve the mystery - including Witherspoon who has learned to listen to his “inner voice”. I also love the setting of Victorian England which is well done by Brightwell. The mystery is my favorite kind of mystery with a victim who was evil, lots of suspects who had reason to want the victim dead, plenty of clues for readers to follow and try to solve the mystery alongside the characters.
“Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong” is another great cozy mystery by Emily Brightwell.
“Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong” is the nicely done thirty-fifth book in Emily Brightwell's Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries cozy mystery series set in Victorian England - a series that, even with so many books in the series, stays fresh and seems to get better with each new book in the series. By now the characters in the book - the inspector, Barnes, Mrs. Jeffries, Mrs. Goodge, Smythe, Betsy, Wiggins, Phyllis, Luty, Hatchet, and Ruth - feel like old friends yet Brightwell always seems to find a way to make them grow in each book. In this book it was Wiggins’ character who is finally developing in a way that I have been wishing for in the past several books and Brightwell does it much better than I could have imagined. The concept of his staff and friends helping Witherspoon solve mysteries continues to be a good one as all involved help solve the mystery - including Witherspoon who has learned to listen to his “inner voice”. I also love the setting of Victorian England which is well done by Brightwell. The mystery is my favorite kind of mystery with a victim who was evil, lots of suspects who had reason to want the victim dead, plenty of clues for readers to follow and try to solve the mystery alongside the characters.
“Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong” is another great cozy mystery by Emily Brightwell.
May 21, 2020
Dreadful. I don't know whether to blame the author or the editor. I managed to get through a couple of chapters and gave it up. This is the first one I've read, but within a couple of chapters I believe I know the back stories of the 30 some that preceded it. She even managed to show a relationship between two people, and then proceeded to unnecessarily explain it. That's just lazy writing and lazy editing (or a bull-headed author who will not allow her editor to do his/her job)
Her characters aren't awful, and I'm sure the murder is clever, though any police inspector who relies on a gaggle of amateurs to do his job is a disgrace to the force.
Slogging through the sticky, muddy prose, however, is more than I can bear. If you absolutely must give me history, please have the kindness to do it in a character list or brief synopsis. Don't recap everything - most of which has absolutely nothing to do with the current story - every time a new person comes on the scene. Those who have been reading all along know them all and don't want to be hit over the head with it, and those of us who wander in are generally smart enough to pick it up. Or we'll find book one and work our way through.
It's a bit like sitting down to what looked like it would be a good meal, only to have the chef and waiter take turns interrupting me at each bite to tell me about the ingredients, cooking techniques, other people who have sat at the table, and full history of the restaurant. No tip will be forthcoming, I assure you.
Her characters aren't awful, and I'm sure the murder is clever, though any police inspector who relies on a gaggle of amateurs to do his job is a disgrace to the force.
Slogging through the sticky, muddy prose, however, is more than I can bear. If you absolutely must give me history, please have the kindness to do it in a character list or brief synopsis. Don't recap everything - most of which has absolutely nothing to do with the current story - every time a new person comes on the scene. Those who have been reading all along know them all and don't want to be hit over the head with it, and those of us who wander in are generally smart enough to pick it up. Or we'll find book one and work our way through.
It's a bit like sitting down to what looked like it would be a good meal, only to have the chef and waiter take turns interrupting me at each bite to tell me about the ingredients, cooking techniques, other people who have sat at the table, and full history of the restaurant. No tip will be forthcoming, I assure you.
July 25, 2017
http://openbooksociety.com/article/mr...
Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong
Mrs. Jeffries, Book #35
By Emily Brightwell
ISBN13: 9780399584206
Author website: http://www.emilybrightwell.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
Mrs. Jeffries is back in the “New York Times” bestselling Victorian series, perfect for fans of “Downton Abbey.”
Thomas Mundy checked into London’s Wrexley Hotel but he never checked out. The maid found him on the floor of his room, bludgeoned to death by his own walking stick. Inspector Witherspoon is soon on the case and learns Mundy had a reputation for being polite, charming, and diligent an unlikely victim for such a violent crime.
But Mrs. Jeffries and the household staff uncover that Mundy was less of an amiable businessman and more of a duplicitous con man with enemies on both side of the Atlantic. Now Witherspoon and his staff must determine who on their lengthy list of suspects had the motive to put Mundy in the red.
A Mrs. Jeffries Mystery
She keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon . . . and keeps him on his toes. Everyone’s awed by his Scotland Yard successes but they don’t know about his secret weapon. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, Mrs. Jeffries polished detection skills are up to the task . . . proving that behind every great man there’s a woman and that a crime solver’s work is never done.
Review:
Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong is about the 4th or 5th I have read in the Mrs. Jeffries series. I came late to the Mrs. Jeffries mysteries, but have not had any problems coming to love all the characters that populate these entertaining Victorian mysteries. And boy is there a cast of characters. Now normally having a lot of main and mildly minor characters can be a problem for me. Somehow though author Emily Brightwell is able to make each of them stand out in their own special way and be a pertinent part of the storyline. All without confusing me. While Mrs. Jeffries is the main driving force behind her band of detecting house staff, it takes a village to help keep Inspector Witherspoon’s reputation as the best detective for Scotland Yard alive and well. And the inspector’s home staff and friends are a wonderful village.
Thomas Mundy is dead, found in his room at London’s Wrexley Hotel. Inspector Witherspoon and his dedicated Constable Barnes are called to the scene and it is going to be a tough one. Mundy is well liked by all of the occupants of the hotel, there is no break in and things just do not add up. Why was he killed in such a violent manner. Luckily for the Inspector, Mrs. Jeffries and her crew are on the case. With Mrs. Jeffries feeding her information to Constable Barnes, things will be revealed and the murderer eventually found. Especially when they find out Mundy is much more than he seems. The con man has a history of making enemies. And those enemies begin to come out of the woodwork.
I enjoy historical mysteries and Victorians are my favorites. Author Emily Brightwell writes in a voice that is the perfect example of the great Victorians. I enjoy her delicate touch with certain things while plunging head first into others, just as I would expect it would be during that era. Her characters are intelligent and well developed. As I said I did come late to this series, but have found that they are all still fresh and continue to grow in depth and relationship. While the inspector seems to have no clue how much help he is actually receiving from his household staff and friends, he still is on top of things and is not a bumbling, stumbling detective.
It is hard to imagine that after writing 35 books in this one series they would still read fresh and entertaining. One would think Brightwell would have run out steam and stories. It is not the case. If you are a fan of historical mysteries and cozies, you will love this one and all of hers. If you are coming to the series late like I did, I believe you will still be able to thoroughly enjoy each book. I think they can all be read as standalones. The story and flow of Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong easy to follow, yet intriguing and entertaining. I look forward to Brightwell’s next installment in the great series and the next and the next and so on.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong
Mrs. Jeffries, Book #35
By Emily Brightwell
ISBN13: 9780399584206
Author website: http://www.emilybrightwell.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
Mrs. Jeffries is back in the “New York Times” bestselling Victorian series, perfect for fans of “Downton Abbey.”
Thomas Mundy checked into London’s Wrexley Hotel but he never checked out. The maid found him on the floor of his room, bludgeoned to death by his own walking stick. Inspector Witherspoon is soon on the case and learns Mundy had a reputation for being polite, charming, and diligent an unlikely victim for such a violent crime.
But Mrs. Jeffries and the household staff uncover that Mundy was less of an amiable businessman and more of a duplicitous con man with enemies on both side of the Atlantic. Now Witherspoon and his staff must determine who on their lengthy list of suspects had the motive to put Mundy in the red.
A Mrs. Jeffries Mystery
She keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon . . . and keeps him on his toes. Everyone’s awed by his Scotland Yard successes but they don’t know about his secret weapon. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, Mrs. Jeffries polished detection skills are up to the task . . . proving that behind every great man there’s a woman and that a crime solver’s work is never done.
Review:
Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong is about the 4th or 5th I have read in the Mrs. Jeffries series. I came late to the Mrs. Jeffries mysteries, but have not had any problems coming to love all the characters that populate these entertaining Victorian mysteries. And boy is there a cast of characters. Now normally having a lot of main and mildly minor characters can be a problem for me. Somehow though author Emily Brightwell is able to make each of them stand out in their own special way and be a pertinent part of the storyline. All without confusing me. While Mrs. Jeffries is the main driving force behind her band of detecting house staff, it takes a village to help keep Inspector Witherspoon’s reputation as the best detective for Scotland Yard alive and well. And the inspector’s home staff and friends are a wonderful village.
Thomas Mundy is dead, found in his room at London’s Wrexley Hotel. Inspector Witherspoon and his dedicated Constable Barnes are called to the scene and it is going to be a tough one. Mundy is well liked by all of the occupants of the hotel, there is no break in and things just do not add up. Why was he killed in such a violent manner. Luckily for the Inspector, Mrs. Jeffries and her crew are on the case. With Mrs. Jeffries feeding her information to Constable Barnes, things will be revealed and the murderer eventually found. Especially when they find out Mundy is much more than he seems. The con man has a history of making enemies. And those enemies begin to come out of the woodwork.
I enjoy historical mysteries and Victorians are my favorites. Author Emily Brightwell writes in a voice that is the perfect example of the great Victorians. I enjoy her delicate touch with certain things while plunging head first into others, just as I would expect it would be during that era. Her characters are intelligent and well developed. As I said I did come late to this series, but have found that they are all still fresh and continue to grow in depth and relationship. While the inspector seems to have no clue how much help he is actually receiving from his household staff and friends, he still is on top of things and is not a bumbling, stumbling detective.
It is hard to imagine that after writing 35 books in this one series they would still read fresh and entertaining. One would think Brightwell would have run out steam and stories. It is not the case. If you are a fan of historical mysteries and cozies, you will love this one and all of hers. If you are coming to the series late like I did, I believe you will still be able to thoroughly enjoy each book. I think they can all be read as standalones. The story and flow of Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong easy to follow, yet intriguing and entertaining. I look forward to Brightwell’s next installment in the great series and the next and the next and so on.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
November 4, 2025
Thomas Mundy’s walking stick feels unusually heavy. He carries the extra weight without complaint, but anyone else who lifts it would gasp. That same stick crushes Mundy’s skull while he stays at London’s posh Wrexley Hotel. The chambermaid who discovers the body expects a routine morning; instead, she stumbles into chaos.
The hotel’s fussy owners and manager demand a swift cleanup of both crime and evidence. Inspector Witherspoon promises to oblige.
The case refuses to cooperate. Mundy collected enemies on both sides of the Atlantic, so suspects abound. No spoiler here: keep your eye on Jennifer Paton, Marianne Pelletier, Daniel Wright, and Ronald Hart. Narrowing the field in your mind sharpens the fun.
A lively subplot follows Wiggins the footman and Phyllis, the housemaid who replaced Betsy after Betsy married coachman Smythe. Phyllis transforms from plump and timid to slim and self-assured. The arc intrigues—yet frustrates. Why must confidence ride on dress size? Curvy and bold can coexist; I’ll never grasp the rule that says otherwise. Wiggins clearly loves the “new” Phyllis. Instead of confessing, he snaps at her. She snaps right back, matching him barb for barb. Smythe steps in with big-brother counsel.
Four stars for me. Jennifer Hubbard’s narration seals the rating. Most Goodreads readers won’t hear her; she records for the American Printing House in Louisville, available only to patrons of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. She never insults listeners with fake British accents—cockney or posh. She skips cartoonish male voices, too. Instead, she animates every character with pitch-perfect expression in a voice that never tires the ear. I could listen for hours. Better yet, she narrates the next installment. She’s a perennial favorite; I’ve downloaded titles I’d otherwise skip just to hear her read.
The hotel’s fussy owners and manager demand a swift cleanup of both crime and evidence. Inspector Witherspoon promises to oblige.
The case refuses to cooperate. Mundy collected enemies on both sides of the Atlantic, so suspects abound. No spoiler here: keep your eye on Jennifer Paton, Marianne Pelletier, Daniel Wright, and Ronald Hart. Narrowing the field in your mind sharpens the fun.
A lively subplot follows Wiggins the footman and Phyllis, the housemaid who replaced Betsy after Betsy married coachman Smythe. Phyllis transforms from plump and timid to slim and self-assured. The arc intrigues—yet frustrates. Why must confidence ride on dress size? Curvy and bold can coexist; I’ll never grasp the rule that says otherwise. Wiggins clearly loves the “new” Phyllis. Instead of confessing, he snaps at her. She snaps right back, matching him barb for barb. Smythe steps in with big-brother counsel.
Four stars for me. Jennifer Hubbard’s narration seals the rating. Most Goodreads readers won’t hear her; she records for the American Printing House in Louisville, available only to patrons of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. She never insults listeners with fake British accents—cockney or posh. She skips cartoonish male voices, too. Instead, she animates every character with pitch-perfect expression in a voice that never tires the ear. I could listen for hours. Better yet, she narrates the next installment. She’s a perennial favorite; I’ve downloaded titles I’d otherwise skip just to hear her read.
December 27, 2017
Inspector Witherspoon is a good man & diligent detective who always solves his crimes, however he's not as bright as his superiors believe him to be. His housekeeper on the other hand, Hephzibah Jeffries, Nosy Parker, is.
Whenever Inspector Witherspoon has a murder to solve, Mrs Jeffries, the house-staff, neighbors, & friends of the Inspector get together without his knowledge and investigate.
Each evening, Mrs. Jeffries has a sherry before dinner with her employer gently urging him to share his thoughts & worries about the crime, which she then shares with the others...
In this book a confidence man sees specters of his dead past appear before him and it literally kills him.
As always, Inspector Witherspoon comes to the "Wrong" conclusion it is up to Mrs Jeffries to make it "Right"
I really liked the plot & the story. The book held my interest, I read it straight through, without interruption. The characters involved in the crime were interesting & all had solid motives.
I'm not too keen on the fact that the author always has the Inspector be the ninny and Mrs. Jeffries the bright shine that plants the correct solution into his thoughts. I'm also not keen on a good portion of the series's story lines so I generally tend to pass them over.
Whenever Inspector Witherspoon has a murder to solve, Mrs Jeffries, the house-staff, neighbors, & friends of the Inspector get together without his knowledge and investigate.
Each evening, Mrs. Jeffries has a sherry before dinner with her employer gently urging him to share his thoughts & worries about the crime, which she then shares with the others...
In this book a confidence man sees specters of his dead past appear before him and it literally kills him.
As always, Inspector Witherspoon comes to the "Wrong" conclusion it is up to Mrs Jeffries to make it "Right"
I really liked the plot & the story. The book held my interest, I read it straight through, without interruption. The characters involved in the crime were interesting & all had solid motives.
I'm not too keen on the fact that the author always has the Inspector be the ninny and Mrs. Jeffries the bright shine that plants the correct solution into his thoughts. I'm also not keen on a good portion of the series's story lines so I generally tend to pass them over.
November 10, 2021
When Thomas Mundy was bludgeoned to death in his hotel room, it turns out that there are so many suspects Inspector Witherspoon is dithering on who might be the right one. Mundy was a confidence trickster on both sides of the Atlantic, cheating people out of money right and left, earning money by performing nefarious deeds, and leaving women at the altar while he runs away with their wealth. Someone clearly had had enough, but who? Luckily for Witherspoon, his household, as always, is secretly on the case. They spread out over London and bring back so much information that Constable Barnes is hard put to get it to Witherspoon in a believable manner--but he does have a lot of experience in doing that!
This continues to be an improbable, aspirational, favorite series of mine. I so enjoy spending time at Upper Edmonton Gardens, even if the author is essentially repeating with Wiggins and Phyllis what happened with Betsy and Smythe. It's about time Wiggins got to grow up and have some romance! Not that it's exactly in the offing, but maybe? The murder was well-plotted and the murderer is the one readers will hope it is by the end. Always a satisfyingly light read.
This continues to be an improbable, aspirational, favorite series of mine. I so enjoy spending time at Upper Edmonton Gardens, even if the author is essentially repeating with Wiggins and Phyllis what happened with Betsy and Smythe. It's about time Wiggins got to grow up and have some romance! Not that it's exactly in the offing, but maybe? The murder was well-plotted and the murderer is the one readers will hope it is by the end. Always a satisfyingly light read.
August 26, 2018
#35 in the end of the 19th century London based mystery series in which Scotland Yard Inspector Witherspoon's domestic staff headed by Mrs. Jefferies, without his knowledge, work to help him solve his murder cases. The recurring and well developed helpers” are Barnes (Witherspoon’s detective sergeant), Mrs. Goodge (cook), Smythe (coachman), Betsy (maid and later Smythe’s wife), Wiggins (servant), Phyllis (maid and newest addition), Luty (wealthy American widow), Hatchet (Luty’s butler), and Ruth (next door neighbor and romantic interest for Witherspoon).
It was October when Thomas Mundy was found murdered in the Wrexley Hotel but he never checked out. The maid found him on the floor of his room, bludgeoned to death by his own walking stick. Inspector Witherspoon is soon on the case and learns that while Mundy had a reputation for being polite and charming he was really a con man with enemies on both side of the Atlantic. He had victimized so many people that the suspects literally kept running into each other.
It was October when Thomas Mundy was found murdered in the Wrexley Hotel but he never checked out. The maid found him on the floor of his room, bludgeoned to death by his own walking stick. Inspector Witherspoon is soon on the case and learns that while Mundy had a reputation for being polite and charming he was really a con man with enemies on both side of the Atlantic. He had victimized so many people that the suspects literally kept running into each other.
December 17, 2024
It doesn’t take long after the murder of Thomas Mundy at a residential hotel for the police and the household staff of Inspector Witherspoon to realize that he made his living as a confidence man; the problem is that there are so many people that he swindled in his life, most of whom just happen to be in London at the time of his death, that discovering the real killer is going to be very tough indeed…. In this installment of the long-running Mrs. Jeffries series, we find some of the household at odds: Wiggins and Phyllis are sniping at each other and the senior members of the house, housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries and cook Mrs. Goodge, are taking opposite sides in the fights. I liked this aspect of the book perhaps more than the investigation itself (although that was quite interesting, especially as it shows that conmen are the same no matter the era in which they operate), but I’m not quite sure I want another romance-in-the-offing for these characters, as previous ones have taken a long time to be resolved! Nevertheless, quite a fun read overall; recommended!
December 18, 2019
Thomas Mundy is killed in his room at the Wrexley Hotel in London. He was bludgeoned to death with his gold-headed walking stick. As Inspector Witherspoon begins his investigation, his household staff is already collecting information and clues. He does not realize that his servants help him solve his murder cases. Led by Mrs Jeffries, his housekeeper, she organizes the staff, collects the information they discover, and shares it with the Inspector in a way he thinks he discovered the clues. Thomas Mundy was perceived as a polite, middle-aged man, but he befriended wealthy women, encouraging them to invest in of his ventures. His schemes to cheat people out of their money left Thomas Mundy with many enemies, more than one of whom would like to see him dead. So many suspects, so many lies! Mrs Jeffries knows who killed Mundy and fears the Inspector will arrest an innocent man if the household detectives don't act quickly enough.
May 9, 2017
35th and the latest in the series, Victorian-era widow & housekeeper to a police inspector secretly helps solve murders with the help of the household staff.
**I'm rating the book and the story - NOT the editing in the Kindle edition, which is disappointing! Just about every 3-4th paragraph ends with obviously missing words/letters and it disrupts the reading flow. I expect better from the publisher for the price being charged for an eBook, and the previous Kindle editions were much better.**
Each book stands on its own, but reading them in order has helped with the growing & changing relationships - another good read, good character development and realistic interactions. The clues are all there, and it's good brain exercise for the reader to try & solve the mystery before Mrs. Jeffries does - not an easy task, but I've been able to come close a few times!
**I'm rating the book and the story - NOT the editing in the Kindle edition, which is disappointing! Just about every 3-4th paragraph ends with obviously missing words/letters and it disrupts the reading flow. I expect better from the publisher for the price being charged for an eBook, and the previous Kindle editions were much better.**
Each book stands on its own, but reading them in order has helped with the growing & changing relationships - another good read, good character development and realistic interactions. The clues are all there, and it's good brain exercise for the reader to try & solve the mystery before Mrs. Jeffries does - not an easy task, but I've been able to come close a few times!
May 13, 2017
I am a fan of this series but I am disappointed with this story.
I have read all of the Mrs. Jeffries mysteries to date. I have enjoyed each one. I really looked forward to this story. But something was missing from this story (besides the missing words at end of most paragraphs) . The strong connections between the characters was not present. The staff of the Witherspoon household as well as the friends who help solve the mysteries seemed distant and more interested in their individual tasks than being part of the team. Inspector Witherspoon and Constable Barnes did not seem like their established characters. The inspector was bold and blunt and the constable seemed unsure and lacked his usual confidence.
I am hoping for a return to the intrigue, the friendship, the beautiful writing present in the previous books of this series.
I have read all of the Mrs. Jeffries mysteries to date. I have enjoyed each one. I really looked forward to this story. But something was missing from this story (besides the missing words at end of most paragraphs) . The strong connections between the characters was not present. The staff of the Witherspoon household as well as the friends who help solve the mysteries seemed distant and more interested in their individual tasks than being part of the team. Inspector Witherspoon and Constable Barnes did not seem like their established characters. The inspector was bold and blunt and the constable seemed unsure and lacked his usual confidence.
I am hoping for a return to the intrigue, the friendship, the beautiful writing present in the previous books of this series.
July 22, 2017
While Inspector Witherspoon is looking into the death of Thomas Mundy at the Wrexley Hotel he has no idea that his household staff and several friends are helping him gather information. Even his chief Constable is in cahoots with his staff and is often able to slip Witherspoon information without his knowledge.
Thomas Mundy was thought to be an agreeable person who wanted to help others invest their money but it seems he was really s shyster who wanted to steal that money and had done so many times. He had a number of enemies who become suspects in his murder. Witherspoon and his staff and friends have their hands full solving this murder but Mrs. Jeffries brings it all together and the culprit is caught giving the detective another feather in his cap.
I love this series but it has been a while since a last read a book in it. All the characters are great. It is just a fun read.
Thomas Mundy was thought to be an agreeable person who wanted to help others invest their money but it seems he was really s shyster who wanted to steal that money and had done so many times. He had a number of enemies who become suspects in his murder. Witherspoon and his staff and friends have their hands full solving this murder but Mrs. Jeffries brings it all together and the culprit is caught giving the detective another feather in his cap.
I love this series but it has been a while since a last read a book in it. All the characters are great. It is just a fun read.
May 20, 2017
Mrs. Jeffries is a housekeeper in Victorian London. She and the rest of the "downstairs" staff are employed by a Scotland Yard detective. They work behind the scenes to gather clues to help the detective solve his cases.
This is the first Mrs. Jeffries book I've read. I picked it up to have something light to read during a trip. It's entertaining, but not much depth. There is no real character development. In this book, there was also a very flimsy motive for the killer. Since this is the first book I've read in this series (there are 35 books to date), perhaps earlier books flesh out the characters in more detail. It did keep me engaged but I was a bit deflated by how the case was solved. Too many contrived conveniences for me.
This is the first Mrs. Jeffries book I've read. I picked it up to have something light to read during a trip. It's entertaining, but not much depth. There is no real character development. In this book, there was also a very flimsy motive for the killer. Since this is the first book I've read in this series (there are 35 books to date), perhaps earlier books flesh out the characters in more detail. It did keep me engaged but I was a bit deflated by how the case was solved. Too many contrived conveniences for me.
August 9, 2017
Politicians have always been slimeballs
Mrs. Jeffries & the rest of the household staff once again aids their master, a Scotland Yard Inspector, solve a murder....without him knowing. The cook, maids, footman and chauffeur, along with some helpful titled & monied friends, fan out in Victorian London to investigate the Inspector's latest murder case. Interesting as always who they talk to and how the bits and pieces come together. Mrs. Hephzibah Jeffries gently leads the good inspector down the correct path, with help from his Constable Barnes.
Great characters whom readers have watched grow up/mature along with good mysteries make this series an enduring 'must read'. Highly recommend to all mystery lovers, no love for historical mysteries necessary.
Mrs. Jeffries & the rest of the household staff once again aids their master, a Scotland Yard Inspector, solve a murder....without him knowing. The cook, maids, footman and chauffeur, along with some helpful titled & monied friends, fan out in Victorian London to investigate the Inspector's latest murder case. Interesting as always who they talk to and how the bits and pieces come together. Mrs. Hephzibah Jeffries gently leads the good inspector down the correct path, with help from his Constable Barnes.
Great characters whom readers have watched grow up/mature along with good mysteries make this series an enduring 'must read'. Highly recommend to all mystery lovers, no love for historical mysteries necessary.
May 25, 2017
Ms. Brightwell's series is always fun to read. The characters and premise are very clever, and the mystery generally well explored and hidden until the end. The Kindle e-version, however, has serious editing problems. On nearly every page, there is at least one instance in which the sentence at the end of a paragraph has been cut off. In every case, there are exactly four characters (including a space at times) plus the punctuation missing. It's very odd, and definitely interferes with the flow of the book. I hope the editors of the Kindle version will figure out the problem and we won't encounter it again.
March 23, 2023
Who Killed the Con Man?
Mr. Mundy, recently arrived from the United States, has moved back to England to take up his old job of conning women out of money. What he doesn't know is that there are a number of people who are after him because of his crimes. When he is murdered, it is up to Inspector Witherspoon to solve the case with the official help of Constable Barnes, and the unofficial help of Mrs. Jeffries and her cohorts. This cozy mystery has many plausible suspects and it's intriguing how Mrs. Jeffries and her cohorts lead Inspector Witherspoon to the correct solution.
Mr. Mundy, recently arrived from the United States, has moved back to England to take up his old job of conning women out of money. What he doesn't know is that there are a number of people who are after him because of his crimes. When he is murdered, it is up to Inspector Witherspoon to solve the case with the official help of Constable Barnes, and the unofficial help of Mrs. Jeffries and her cohorts. This cozy mystery has many plausible suspects and it's intriguing how Mrs. Jeffries and her cohorts lead Inspector Witherspoon to the correct solution.
April 8, 2023
I picked up two of these books at my local library used bookstore. I was not particularly impressed with either of them. I normally love Victorian mysteries but these are very simplistically written for my taste. They seem to run on the same theme. Inspector Witherspoon's servants and several others step up to "help" him solve murders. Each morning and afternoon, they have a meeting and compare what they've sniffed out in their investigations. Then they pass this info along to Constable Barnes to let the Inspector get the killer. The formula gets a bit tiring after a while. The solutions are well thought through and there is a bit of comedy, but it is all not my cup of tea.
August 20, 2018
Another very solid entry in the Mrs. Jeffries series, with some very fun moments. Without spoilers, Betsy and Smythe's little one precipitates a development in a very toddler-appropriate way. And Phyllis is becoming a more interesting character with each appearance.
Again, this series has a very particular formula and feel, and I think that either you'll enjoy that or you won't. If you do, this book is another fun encounter with characters who feel like friends. If you don't, this won't change your opinion.
Again, this series has a very particular formula and feel, and I think that either you'll enjoy that or you won't. If you do, this book is another fun encounter with characters who feel like friends. If you don't, this won't change your opinion.
March 4, 2022
I started reading this series in late 2021 and have read 36 of the titles in 2 months. They are really good and once I start one, I can't put it down! I am sad that I only have four of them left to read and then will have to wait for the next one to come out. I can't remember when I've found a series I enjoyed quite this much. The characters are fun and engaging and I can easily read one of these in an evening (most of them are in the 225–250-page range). No spoilers here....just give these a try. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews