Mrs. Jeffries in the Nick of Time

Mrs. Jeffries #25

by Emily Brightwell

A two-story killer.

Train enthusiast Francis Humphreys took his last breath while relatives and neighbors visited downstairs. But if everyone was downstairs, who could have stolen into Uncle Francis?s study, killed him, and escaped? Mrs. Jeffries will have to lend her downstairs common sense to this upstairs murder mystery.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 2, 2009

About the author

Cheryl 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.

Reviews

[Drebbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Train enthusiast Francis Humphreys has invited several relatives and neighbors over for tea. Since he is always punctual, his family is surprised when he doesn’t show up on time for tea. Soon they discover there is a very good reason why he didn’t show up – while they were all together downstairs someone murdered Humphreys. Scotland Yard puts their best man on the job – Inspector Gerald Witherspoon. Unbeknownst to Witherspoon, his household staff has helped him solve several murders in the past. He is definitely going to need their help this time – not only were all his suspects together at the time of the murder, but Scotland Yard throws him a major curve ball that threatens his ability to solve the case.

“Mrs. Jeffries in the Nick of Time” is another great entry in a consistently delightful cozy mystery series. This is the twenty-fifth book in the series and author Emily Brightwell continues to make the series feel fresh. A lot of what makes this series work so well is the characters and they are all here – Witherspoon, Constable Barnes, Mrs. Jeffries, Mrs. Goodge, Wiggins, Betsy, Smythe, Luty, Hatchet, and for a pleasant change, a lot of Ruth Cannonberry. Witherspoon’s old nemesis, Inspector Nigel Nivens, is also there (showing a softer side for a change) as is Nivens’ nephew Lionel Gates (who adds a lot of comic relief to the book). Another thing that makes this series stay so fresh is the way Brightwell manages to throw in different plot twists – there’s a doozy of one here (which I won’t spoil) that completely changes how Witherspoon and his household investigate the case. The mystery itself is nicely plotted – readers will early on have at least an idea of how the murder was done, but not exactly how it was pulled off. Brightwell continues to create Agatha Christie-like mysteries and once you have finished reading the book you will want to go back through the pages to see how cleverly Brightwell plotted the book and left clues as to who the real killer is while adroitly pointing the finger at other characters – not an easy task but she does it well.

“Mrs. Jeffries in the Nick of Time” is another wonderful cozy mystery from the talented Emily Brightwell.

[Rdonn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is delightful, real escape fiction. For a fast, not too taxing read, I'd recommend it. Each book follows a formula, the people in the household of the Inspector, who really solve his murder mysteries are a great bunch!!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the most recent in the Mrs. Jeffries series, so I know nothing about how the characters developed or how Brightwell's writing has altered throughout the previous books.

What I do know is that this was a fun and intriguing mystery. The servants were a bit more independent than in the usual Victorian fare. The only negative for me was that the segments within the chapters seemed too short. I wanted MORE information, not less. However, this deficit may be placed firmly at the feet of the author, or, it could be a lack of mystery experience on the part of the editor. I will be seeking out the first book in the series when I am next at the library.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another enjoyable escape from today's world into the historical world of Mrs. Jeffries and Inspector Witherspoon. Although the plot is formulaic, the characters and the twists kept my attention. For once, I actually suspected "who done it" before Mrs. Jeffries.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun read.

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good story

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars upgraded due to the excellent narration of the audiobook. Cozy mystery with plenty of “red herrings” and side bars.

[Iris Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good 3* read for those who like English cozy mystery books, I don’t believe I’ll continue on with this series as they seem to all have the same theme, just different murders.

[P.D. Workman]

I’ve read a couple other books in the Mrs. Jeffries series (this is book 25 of 40 in the series, so there is plenty for you to binge on! If you enjoy a good British cosy mystery set in Victorian London, then this is a series for you. Mrs. Jeffries is police inspector Witherspoon’s housekeeper, and she and the household staff help to solve the murder cases he is working on and subtly feed him the solutions so that he thinks he solved it himself.

There are plenty of suspects in Mrs. Jeffries in the Nick of Time who were in the house at the moment he was murdered, but unfortunately, they were all together having tea in the same room at the time, so they all have alibis. And so far no one has been able to point to someone who might have been hired by one of the said suspects to do it.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detective Inspector Witherspoon, of the Victorian-era London police, has no idea that his household staff and their friends investigate and help solve most of his cases. This time, it's crotchety, elderly Francis Humphreys who was shot while all the possible suspects were downstairs having tea. There are lots of motives involving money and family, but how could any of them have done the murder? Mrs. Jeffries will figure it out, with the clues gathered by the staff and their friends, but will she do so in time to prevent more tragedy?

I enjoy this whole series, and this one was enjoyable as well. I gave it three stars because I figured out pretty much immediately how to break all those alibis and how the murder was committed, because I have read so many mysteries! It's believable that at this time in history the people involved might not have been able to jump to the right conclusion so quickly, but I think most reasonably savvy readers will not be fooled. So, the mystery this time was a bit disappointing, but I always enjoy the interaction of the household's found family, which is really why I read the books in the first place.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I was about to add this book, I looked again at the cover, and discovered that the artist must not have read the book. He or she depicted the victim with two onlookers peering in the window--but Francis Humphreys was on the second floor. This was a variation of the locked door mystery, where all the suspects this time were at tea when the murder occurred. There were various reasons they might have wanted him dead--rather much dealing with money. Mrs. Jeffries is the housekeeper for Inspector Witherspoon, and she and her staff assist the inspector in the solving of crimes. The inspector and one of his household staff, Smythe, both have a lot of money, which is unusual. This is, or was, as of 2009, the latest in this series.

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this cozy mystery series set in Victorian England. Though it does stretch the imagination to think the inspector hasn't a clue about the staff helping to solve the mysteries, it adds to the overall charm. It's also often amusing to see how Mrs. Jeffries manages to steer Inspector Witherspoon in the proper direction.

[Elisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Total fluff - not as good as agatha christie, but in some ways in a little more satisfying

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an author I will be reading more of. The story is well told with lots of interesting charaters and clues. I even managed to solve a bit of the mystery myself.

[The Hobbit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elderly Francis Humphreys cared only about trains. He built his London mansion next to the train tracks. He was especially interested in the 309 from Bristol. If it is even just seconds late, he found a street urchin to take a message to the train station letting them know. He was a generous man - he had two nieces living with him and a nephew moving in; and he supported the widow of another nephew, paying for her house's expenses. He may be generous, but he preferred trains to people. People, especially relatives were only satisfying if he could control them. His two nieces and the housekeeper were surprised when he asked them to invite some of his relatives and "friends" for tea. He invited additional guests, annoying the cook who had to make more food. All the guests were gathered in the drawing room waiting for Uncle Francis to appear. He was such a stickler for punctuality! They had waited 10 minutes, when they heard a shot. His nieces and some the other guests rushed upstairs to his office and found Francis Humphrey's slumped over his desk, dead from a bullet in his forehead. When Inspector Witherspoon arrived with Constable Barnes, he examined the crime scene and began interviewing al the suspects. So many suspects, and all of them in the same room a floor down from where the man was shot!
The first half of this book was slow going compared to the other books the series. With so many suspects, it was difficult for this reader to remember who was who. To further weigh down the narrative, Lionel Gates, Inspector Nigel Nivens' nephew, had himself assigned to the case and Constable Barnes removed. Constable Gates was as rude and disagreeable as his uncle. Inspector Witherspoon politely put him in his place, but he often didn't stay there.
This reader realized in Chapter One that the murder was not what it appeared to be. Even so, at the conclusion, the who, how, and why came as a surprise, creating a satisfying ending.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs Jeffries in the Nick of Time is #25 in the Victorian Mystery series. Though I haven't read all 24 prior, they are hard to find in second hand bookshops I shop at, it is easy enough to know what is going on as the author does a nice job of incorporating it into the story.

Train enthusiast Francis Humphreys was killed in his upstairs study while his relatives and neighbours were all downstairs waiting on him for the tea he invited them all over for. It's up to Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of Scotland Yard Inspector Witherspoon household to help him solve yet another mystery. This time without his trusty sidekick, Constable Barnes because Inspector Nigel Nivens nephew, Lionel Gates wants to learn the new ways of solving murders from the most famous and successful Inspector himself. Or is that his intention, or is he as nasty as his uncle who has tried many times, unsuccessfully, meddling into Inspector Witherspoon's cases?

There's many characters in this one, names that are very similar, it can get confusing.

I was very close to figuring out who the murderer was. Turns out it was the same guess as Mrs. Jeffries, until it wasn't anymore.

The ending was left on a cliff hanger that leaves the reader wanting to read the next one. It's a good thing I have in sitting in my bookcase.

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Numerous relatives are dependent on the largess of the wealthy train enthusiast Francis Humphreys; while they appreciate his generosity, they chafe somewhat at his demand that they do his bidding. They are all gathered in the drawing room waiting for Francis to appear before tea when suddenly a gunshot is heard; dashing up to the man’s study, they find him murdered. Poor Inspector Witherspoon is at a bit of a loss concerning this situation, since all of his suspects couldn’t possibly have committed the crime; worse, Constable Barnes has been reassigned so that Constable Gates, nephew to the odious Inspector Nivens and perhaps even more reprehensible, can work with the Inspector and perhaps solve the case first…. The 25th novel in this long-running series has, thankfully, returned to form - I had quibbles with the previous book due to some grammatical and proofreading mistakes, but those seem corrected here. Interestingly, the removal of Constable Barnes (temporarily, one hopes!) created added tension for this entry, especially because his replacement is so incredibly awful. Meaning, of course, that I must go directly to the *next* book to see if he’s been done away with! Meanwhile, the relationships amongst the main characters continue to evolve in satisfactory ways, and the crime itself, while I solved it fairly early on, is quite inventive and well-clued; recommended!

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

#25 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 is March when Train enthusiast Francis Humphreys invited several relatives and neighbors over for tea. He is always on time, so his family is surprised when he is not there. The party abruptly ends when a loud shot is heard sending several of them to Francis' room where they find him dead. Inspector Witherspoon is assigned the case and finds himself with a large group of inter-related suspects, all with inheritance motives and all with alibis as they were all in the drawing room together when the shot was heard.

A further complication is Witherspoon is assigned as his assistant Inspector Niven's' nephew Lionel Gates instead of his usual assistant Constable Barnes.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Train enthusiast Francis Humphreys’ life derails when a bullet pierces his forehead. He invited guests for tea and chatter, but they’re stunned when he’s late—unusual for a man obsessed with trains and timetables. As they mingle in the drawing room, a gunshot echoes. Rushing to his study, they find him slumped over his desk, a bullet wound with oddly little blood.

Inspector Witherspoon and Constable Barnes tackle the baffling case. With all guests in the drawing room, who could’ve killed Humphreys? The mystery deepens when the chief inspector reassigns Barnes to another district, leaving Witherspoon stuck with Constable Gates, the obnoxious nephew of his rival, Inspector Nigel Nivens. Nivens, despite his grudge, tries to block the pairing, knowing Gates is a nightmare.

Barnes quietly aids Mrs. Jeffries and her sly crime-solving crew from afar. Humphreys’ heirs? A despicable lot. I pegged Pamela as the killer—wrongly. The clever solution, paired with the staff’s banter and Witherspoon’s grit, makes this a four-star delight.

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspector Witherspoon has a new murder to solve and it is looking like a very complicated one. Can Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the group help him solve it before something else happens.

This is another wonderful historical cozy mystery by Emily Brightwell starting the quirky, eclectic group of characters from Upper Edmonton. The characters are well crafted and engaging. The mystery is full of surprises, lots of possible suspects, many clues, suspense and danger.
What I like the most is the narrative as it goes from character to character, allowing insight into their insecurities, strengths, emotions, deductive reasoning and motivations. Additionally they work so well as a team and function as a family as they solve a complex mystery. I recommend this series if you like quirky characters and cozy historical mysteries.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Inspector is charged with solving the murder of a man in a locked room with all his relatives in the dining room awaiting tea at 4pm.
The staff is on the case as usual tho Constable Barnes is temporarily reassigned and replaced by an aggraviating nephew of Inspector Nivens.
Mrs. Jeffries figures it out at the last minute and is able to save Michael Collier and Imogene Ross, tho both are injured along with Smythe. Francis' niece wanted his money and was afraid he would lose it all buying South American railway stock. She shots him at 3:09 pm when the train whistle blows and sets the bird scarer to go off a bit after 4 pm simuating a gun shot sound and establishing an erronous time for the murder.
I had the method figured out, but put Pamela Humphrey in the role of murderer.

[Susan Roden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute easy read. I picked this up at a library book sale, where I was looking for something innocuous, and that is what this is.
Called a 'Victorian Mystery' the exact date is not given, but people ride carriages pulled by horses. They also get around on trains and public 'hansoms' which I assume are led by horses.
This reminded me of a Miss Marple type of mystery, where the lead character is a clever older woman.
While this is number 25 in the Mrs. Jeffries mysteries, the author cleverly and briefly gives background on the characters for those of us who are new to the series.
She develops clues slowly and has a couple of background stories going on to keep the reader interested.

[A.A.B · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is another very frustrating book in the series. Most of the story is wasted on introducing a new antagonist to the main cast, and having one of them in the series was already needlessly annoying and served only to add pointless filler. It's bad enough that had I not already read some later installments of the series where there is no mention of the nuisance constable, his introduction here would have made me give up on the series entirely. Frankly, this felt like the author was tied of writing the series and was throwing random ideas on the page just to have something to send to the publisher.

[Barb Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cried a teensy bit at the end of this Mrs. Jeffries book. Sure, the book follows the format familiar to everyone who reads the series. We've got a few wrinkles. No Constable Barnes. He has been replaced by Inspector Nivens' nephew.

A rich man is murdered in his office while his friends and family are gathered in his drawing room for tea. Clues are sprinkled throughout the book, but a solution comes just "In the Nick of Time." Not everyone is unscathed by story's end.

These books are light reading, but readers have grown to love the characters. Sniff.

[Zara · Rating 4 out of 5]

#25 and I am enjoying sleuthing with Mrs Jeffries.

This time, a rich older man is found shot dead while 9 guests plus servants are downstairs.
This was the first time Mrs Jeffries had so many suspects, and although the book focused on maybe 4 or 5 of these, I couldn't keep straight in my head who was who as their names were too similar with the same family name.

At the same time, Constable Barnes is replaced by a career climbing, nasty constable who doesn't know how to show people respect. It was a good twist, but unfortunately Witherspoon and Barnes work so well together that the lack of Barnes in this story made it less enjoyable.

I guessed at some parts of the solution, but not the entirety.
I do enjoy joining Mrs Jeffries team for a few days sleuthing, although of course this book will not tax anyone, shock anyone, or do much more than entertain.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I figured out who did it and how, I loved the way the entire team pitched in and gathered the information necessary in spite of Niven's nephew Gates who has stolen Barnes' position as Inspector Witherspoon's aide. It was a worry all the way through the book. How much will he find out and will it be all directed to the case or the undercover investigators from the Inspector's household? Will they be exposed in the end? It was difficult to keep one's mind on the case and not Constable Gates.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently I’ve read the first two in the series, I don’t remember but seem to have gotten through those.
This was just grating on my nerves. The bumbling detective isn’t my favorite, just not a fan of making people look stupid even if it is so Mrs Jeffries can solve the case. I got maybe 1/3 through- things are too convenient, and every little thing deserves an explanation (two or three times sometimes the same thing explained). I really wanted to finish to see “whodunnit” but the amount of eye rolls I was starting to have to get there didn’t seem to be worth it. This just wasn’t for me.

[Patricia Kiyono · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentleman who’s known for being punctual is late for afternoon tea, and his guests are wondering what’s keeping him. But when a gunshot rings out, they run to his office and find him dead. Inspector Witherspoon is called in, but the powers that be have saddled him with a young upstart assistant whose family has used their connections to have him assist rather than the reliable Constable Barnes. The household needs to work extra hard, because the new assistant is related to the bothersome Inspector Nivens, and they’re not about to trust him with their secret.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a bit of fluff with a British flavor, so I grabbed one of the cozies off my pile. This was a good mystery, even though I knew how it was done pretty early on (I think Agatha Christie did something similar in one of her books). Still, the familiar characters are fun to spend time with, we learned that Witherspoon's archnemesis is not without redeeming features (however small), and the case progressed nicely. An enjoyable read and a nice respite from work.

[MarkedWoman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was fun because of the Victorian speech and ideas sprinkled throughout the text. This is one of the later books in the series, and although the author was good about reviewing enough previous material to have it make sense, it would certainly be better to begin at the first volume and move forward. It was a quick read and entertaining - although I had solved the actual mystery early in the story.