Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight

Mrs. Jeffries #20

by Emily Brightwell

Sir George Braxton was found lying face down in a frozen fountain with the back of his skull bashed to bits.  The case is complicated by a distinct lack of holiday cheer in the victim’s three argumentative middle-aged daughters and their sullen houseguests.  Even the cranky cat hates everyone. To top it all off, the Home Secretary has called in Inspector Witherspoon over the heads of some touchy local lads, making matters stickier than a plum pudding.  Only the help of his housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, and her crime-solving staff will give the poor Inspector any chance of sleeping in heavenly peace on Christmas Eve… 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.

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

234 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 4, 2005

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

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite series!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful, easy to read cozy. I read this one in almost one sitting.
The only thing that disappointed me was that, although the characters often mentioned that "...Christmas was only a few days away..." or that "...they needed this one solved by Christmas..." it wasn't actually a Christmas story and they only alluded to Christmas but not to decorations, food, carols or any other things that would make this a holiday story. So if you are expecting just that, be warned that it is just another mystery and only mentions Christmas occasionally or in passing.
Otherwise, it was a good read and I highly recommend it.

[Lovely Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Another favourite from the Mrs.Jeffries series!

—-

Lootie is very ill and the house staff want to keep her out of the investigation when an unlikable Baronet is found dead with his head shoved into an icy pond. Not only is the Baronet’s body found in an obscure position, but his own cat (the cat that had been missing for days) was sitting on the body.
Wiggins secretly visits Lootie so she can still be involved unbeknownst to the rest.

A quote I liked: “She can pinch a penny so tight, the copper curdles”

[Moondance · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It's not my fault the cat has gone missing," Nina Braxton said to her sisters.

Sir George Braxton's missing cat, Samson plays an unfortunate role in his murder. Sir George is discovered in the frozen fountain of his estate. His family, acquaintances and household help dislike him immensely. Inspector Witherspoon has his work cut out for him trying to discover who hated him the most.

This was the first book that i have read in the series. Starting at book number twenty is not ideal. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the Inspector's staff that play a huge part in solving the mystery. I found it amusing that everyone on the force is fascinated by Witherspoon's "method" which is actually information given to him by Mrs. Jeffries and staff.

I was afraid that the Victorian setting would be off-putting, but I found that I truly did enjoy it. Sir George's daughters were spoiled brats that didn't care for anyone but themselves. As a cat lover, i was most distressed about the treatment of Samson. Thankfully someone on staff chose to feed him after Sir George died.

I had several suspicions for the murderer. I had pretty much narrowed it down to the culprit when they were revealed.

I think that i need to go back and start at the beginning so that I can learn how Mrs. Jeffries and the crew became involved in crime fighting.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun series.

[Book Concierge · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5**

Number 20 in the Mrs Jeffries mystery series has the team venturing a bit outside London proper to investigate the murder of a baronet, who was found outdoors on the coldest night of the year. As the victim was a friend of the monarch, the pressure is on Inspector Witherspoon to solve the case before Christmas.

In general, I like this cozy series set in Victorian London and featuring the somewhat clueless Inspector Witherspoon and his house staff, who do much of the investigative work, while giving him the credit. However, I’m noticing how repetitious it is – not only from book to book, but within one book. I figured out the culprit far ahead of Mrs Jeffries, and there were still pages of clandestine meetings and cups of tea to drink before the end. Well, at least they did sometimes talk about Christmas decorations and shopping for presents. And it was a Christmas carol that gave Mrs Jeffries the “clue” she needed to solve the case!

This is a series that is probably best enjoyed if read in order, as the list of supporting characters grow, and their relationships develop over time.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not really a Christmas read just the mention that Christmas is a week away. I needed a few more eccentrics to make it just a touch more interesting. Its very procedural written with very little warmth. I like more day to day details of everyone's comings and goings; things that don't really matter to a story but for me give it added charm like the mention of the cat here and there.

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better Christmas specials

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This was the first Mrs. Jeffries book that I've read, and it was okay. Definitely a cozy mystery, but I did enjoy it. That being said, with it being the 20th book in the series, I do feel as though I missed out on quite a few aspects of the story, mainly character backstory (which is so often the case).

I'm not sure I agree with the quote on the front of the edition I have, though. It states: "Mrs. Jeffries is the Miss Marple of Victorian Mystery." I wasn't really quite getting that vibe from this book (especially as a huge Agathia Christie fan, it seems a little pretentious to compare Emily Brightwell to Agatha Christie). I mean, I can see some parallels... I guess? E.g., Mrs. Jeffries solved the mystery without actually getting involved in the portion of the story that would require her being at the scene of the murder. But that's really the only meaningful parallel.

I did like the household staff and how they all got involved in Inspector Witherspoon's job. I also liked how Mrs. Jeffries made sure to turn it around so Witherspoon thought that he completely solved the mystery without the help of anyone else. :)

But some things about the household set-up did bother me. For example, it's supposedly the late 1890s, in England... yet Mrs. Jeffries - the housekeeper - shares a glass of sherry with Inspector Witherspoon every evening. That seems very strange to me and very out of place. A few different times throughout the book it was stressed that Inspector Witherspoon was "socially progressive" but still, that lacks credibility.

Did enjoy, though, and will probably read others by Brightwell in the future.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm struggling with this series. I listened to the first 6 and got really irritated with listening to Lutie's character. It was just too twangy and over-the-top with the accent. This much later entry in the series had a different narrator, so I gave it a try (and this narrator was far less irritating on Lutie's voice, although Wiggins sounded like an 8-year old). I was also looking for a seasonal-themed cozy mystery. The seasonality of this one is a bit of an afterthought really, so it didn't quite fit what I was looking for. I also found a few aspects of the story a bit odd. For example, why was the paper from the chicken livers crumpled up and stuffed behind a stove? Why wasn't it simply burned in a stove, or one of the ever-present fireplaces in these houses? I like Mrs. Jeffries and her staff, and I like the concept of the books, but it seems to get too formulaic over time.

I also find it a bit frustrating that at book 20 in the series, Witherspoon is still utterly unaware of the help of Mrs. Jeffries et al. Is he really that dim? I thought eventually he would realize, or they would somehow tell him, and then they'd all work together. I went from book #6 to #20 but there hasn't been any change in the characters or advancing of the relationships. I prefer it when a cozy mystery series sees a bit more character development over time.

Also, a phrase that made my skin crawl in #6 also appeared in this book, which is the "Who all was there?" phrase. This phrase would never have been uttered in the timeframe of the book and is such a strong Americanism (and more particularly from the south). The phrasing "Who all..." or "What all..." (just like y'all) has, unfortunately, begun to spread over time, but it's grammatically horrible and grates on my ear. It is not a phrase that one ever hears in Britain, at least not in my experience, and certainly not in the historical timeframe. "Who was there?" would be more appropriate, or "Tell me the names of everyone who was there." Anyway, that phrase is just a pet peeve for me, but it's irritating enough to keep me away from this series.

[The Hobbit · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best entries in this delightful series! Emily Brightwell follows the same formula,but it always works: disagreeable person murdered, most of the family and friends have little or no liking for the deceased, Inspector Witherspoon is expected to solve the crime quickly, Mrs Jeffries and the rest of the Inspector's household find the clues and other information that lets Witherspoon solve the case. Predictable but enjoyable!
Sir George Braxton is found murdered the week before Christmas. He is found in his dressing gown and slippers in the early morning lying facedown on the ice in the backyard fountain. The back of his head was viciously bashed in and his face was pushed through a hole in the ice. When Inspector Witherspoon and Constable Barnes arrived at the Braxton house, they were shocked that none of his three daughters and Christmas guests were upset. In fact, one of his daughters called her father's murder an "inconvenience." Witherspoon soon discovered, the dead baronet was a miser and universally disliked. He liked no one except the family cat Samson, who was as mean as he was. Sir Braxton had been extremely upset that Samson had been missing for two days. However, the cat was sitting on Braxton's body when the murder was discovered. Mrs Jeffries and the household staff went to work immediately interviewing shopkeepers and servants. None of them liked Sir Braxton or his family. So many suspects and so little time if this murder was to be solved before Christmas. Thanks to Mrs Jeffries and an unpleasant but clever cat, Inspector Witherspoon arrests the murderer before the Christmas celebrations begin.

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Sir George Braxton’s cat Samson goes missing, he is very upset; Sir George loves that cat more than anything, certainly more than his three daughters, live-in cousin, houseguests or household staff. Being aware of that fact, none of the household is interested in helping him to find the beast, so when Sir George hears a plaintiff meow in the middle of the night, he immediately goes in search of the source of the sound by himself - and is promptly hit over the head and killed. The Home Secretary just happened to have been nearby at the time, and he insists that Inspector Gerald Witherspoon take on the case because he knows that it must be solved quickly as Sir George was distantly related to Her Majesty. The trouble is, it’s almost Christmas, the weather is dreadful and Inspector Witherspoon has far, far too many suspects and nearly no clues at all…. This is the 20th book in the Victorian cozy series featuring the Inspector’s housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, and his trusty staff, all of whom adore the Inspector and who want to do everything they can to help him solve his cases - without him knowing about it, of course. I continue to enjoy this series, even though in this instance I figured out the culprit very early on - but it’s not so much the “who-done-it” that is endearing in this series, it��s the “how do they work together to solve the case” that keeps one’s attention. Recommended!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"ALL IS NOT CALM
"
Sir George Braxton was found lying face down in a frozen fountain with the back of his skull bashed to bits. The case is complicated by a distinct lack of holiday cheer in the victim's three argumentative middle-aged daughters and their sullen houseguests. Even the cranky cat hates everyone. Top top it all off, the Home Secretary has called in Inspector Witherspoon over the heads of some touchy local lads, making matters stickier than a plum pudding. Only the help of his housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, and her crime-solving staff will give the poor Inspector any chance of sleeping in heavenly peace on Christmas Eve ...

[Mrs. Jeffries] keep 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."
~~back cover

An ordinary, nicely don little mystery, with a plentiful host of characters to aid an ordinary, not quite bright man who's been promoted above his intelligence level but who doesn't realize how lacking he really is. An enjoyable light read.

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Home Secretary tasks Inspector Witherspoon with solving a baronet’s murder, relying on his knack for cracking tough cases. Sir George Braxton’s status demands the best, and though local police bristle, they step aside for Witherspoon.

Braxton shares his home with three bitter, aging daughters and a demonic cat named Sampson. Days before Christmas, a frigid night sends Braxton chasing his wayward feline. Before he can wrangle Sampson, someone smashes his skull and shoves his face into a frozen pond, carving a hole just big enough for his head. The blow kills him; the icy dunk ensures it.

This isn’t a Christmas book, but the wintry backdrop, with snow piling up and holiday tensions simmering, adds a cozy charm. Betsy worries she won’t be able to match Smythe’s gift-giving excellence, and everyone’s concerned the case will remain open until after Christmas—something no one wants.

Witherspoon’s charming household staff tackle the case with their signature teamwork, deftly weaving scattered clues into a tidy solution for their inspector. Watching them work their magic never gets old. The staff’s usual quirks keep me smiling, but I wanted more growth in their relationships or Witherspoon’s detective skills. Character development stalls a bit, but the leisurely pace doesn’t drag too much. A solid, cozy read for a quiet evening.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight is #20 in the series. I haven't read all 20; I've missed a whole bunch in the earlier books not being able to find them in any of my second hand stores. It doesn't seem to matter as, fortunately for me, people and relationships seem to be quite the same in the stories.

What bothers me is, are the covers of the books. They never seem to be accurate to the story. In this one, the cover shows the whole body is in the frozen fountain. While in the story, it's only Sir George Braxton's head laying face down in the frozen fountain.

So as usual, it's up to Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of Inspector Witherspoon's staff to help him solve yet another murder mystery in these cozy Victorian series. It turns out Sir George is not well liked, even by his own three daughters. Though he is a very wealthy man, he is stingy and doesn't pay his bills and no one is sorry to see him dead. There's a whole sleuth of characters who could had murdered him. Which one can it be?

Unfortunately, though I have been quite successful in past books, I did not solve who the murderer was in this one. I brushed off that person early on. Oh darn!

Looking forward to reading #21.

[moxieBK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight (Mrs. Jeffries, #20) — Emily Brightwell/Narrator: Jennifer M. Dixon (11 chapters) December 29, 2023

The holidays have arrived at the Winterspoon household. The household is bored and as crime goes down during the cold months, there has been no crime, that is until Barron Braxton, in search of his beloved cat is found dead and though no one liked him, his cat, or his family, there still remains no real suspect in the investigation. His family is a very shrewd and crabby bunch and people tended to stay far away from them, but someone had to have done it. The crime scene is spoiled with foot steps from the family all over the snowed lawn, Inspector Witherspoon is pulled into it because of the political nature of the death. So who did it?

Meanwhile, Lutchie is ill and confined to her bed and not liking missing out on the case at all. But Wiggins has a soft soft for her and goes to her to keep her updated on the case and she in turn gives him information that she has gathered from her sources.

The final question concerns if another animal become a part of the Witherspoon household as a result of it the killing. Only Wiggins knows.

Four stars.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read in this series. I was enchanted with the characters: Inspector Witherspoon of Scotland Yard; his loyal coworker, Constable Barnes; and the staff of his household. This includes Mrs. Jefferies, his housekeeper; Mrs. Goodge, his cook; Smythe, his coachman; Betsy, the housemaid (who is engaged to Smythe); and Wiggins, the footman. Added to this engaging cast is their elderly neighbor, Luty, and her butler Hatchet. What sets this series apart is the Inspector, who is quite renowned for solving murder cases, has behind the scenes help from his staff and neighbors, without him realizing it. He discusses his cases with Mrs. Jefferies and with well placed questions and observations from her, is finally able to make sense of what he couldn't before. The staff relishes their investigations and actually get a bit bored when there isn't a murder to investigate. There is humor in the book too, which I enjoyed. I want to read more of this series.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

No-one mourned when Sir George Braxton was found dead - but he was a distant relation of royalty, and that was enough to put pressure on Inspector Witherspoon to solve the case before Christmas. Luckily his housekeeper Mrs Jeffries is there to help...

This was a great read. Once you accept the premise that Mrs Jeffries is the secret brains behind the Inspector’s detecting and has got his whole household addicted to investigating on his behalf, it’s a good history-mystery, with the period details and geography of London and its environs convincing with no howlers, or at least none so obvious or distracting to disrupt the book.

The only thing is that Sir George’s household is so awful, it’s hard to care too much about the actual mystery. Mrs Jeffries and the various members of her below stairs detecting family are much more interesting and fun to read about. This was the first time I came across Mrs Jeffries and I’d definitely read more.

[Amanda Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tricky up to the end!

I had the same two culprits as Mrs Jeffries wasn't sure which one it was.. very clever way to resolve the question..

As usual Mrs Jeffries and co are helping Inspector Witherspoon solve another murder, this time he's under pressure from the Home Secretary and with a household of people who all had plenty of reasons to loathe the victim it's a difficult one to solve.

His three daughters, all just as unpleasant as their father, didn't just hate him but hate each other too. The "cousin" who lived in the family home equally so. Two houseguests aren't enamoured of their host either. When you add in the servants and slightly mysterious gardener who are badly treated and kept in miserable circumstances it's difficult to find someone who didn't want the victim dead.

[C. John Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

What we have here is a case where the victim was universally detested, except maybe by the cat. As well none of the family cares that he was murdered and is unconcerned if the murderer is caught or not. Finally there is no trace of a murder weapon and some evidence is found where it shouldn't be. All and all this makes for a difficult case for Inspector Witherspoon. Even with the investigative help of his staff (something he is unaware of) this proves to be a perplexing case. I found this to be an interesting mystery. The method of ferreting out the culprit was one I had not come across before. I enjoyed this one and look forward to reading others in the series

[Katharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit that this book was my very first foray into the Mrs. Jeffries series. It just felt completely formulaic by this point (#20 in the set). The author had to introduce the main players (and there are a lot), give a brief backstory for each, have them fulfill their roles and POOF! we have a story. There was also the problem that the reader got to witness the initial crime. So, already knowing what happened and having to watch the book characters try to scramble and put it together was not as exciting as having to figure it out along with them. The premise was cute: bumbling inspector's secret weapon is his entire house staff. I am hoping earlier books in the series are more interesting.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

#20 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.

It is the week before christmas Sir George Braxton was found lying face down in a frozen fountain. No one mourns him, not even his three daughters who also can stand each other. There are plenty of suspects as Sir George has been less than kind to many people. Complicating matters, the Home Secretary has called in Inspector Witherspoon over the heads of some touchy local lads. However, there is one catch: he wants the murder solved by Christmas, which is a week away.

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful book is another instalment in the historical cozy mystery series featuring the cleaver Mrs. Jeffries and Inspector Witherspoon. I throughly enjoyed this book and this is my second time hearing the story. The author provides a complex mystery storyline woven together with numerous viable suspects, a plethora of clues, a group of well crafted amateur sleuths, twists, turns and suspense. The characters interact well with each other and the narrative provides insight into their thoughts and what life was like in the 1800s. If you enjoy a great historical who-done-it, you will enjoy this book and indeed the whole series.

[Jeanette C. Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read a 'Mrs. Jeffries' novel so it felt like a return to old friends with housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries helping her employer, Inspector Witherspoon solve the murder of Sir George Braxton. It's a difficult case with the murder victim having been a thoroughly dislikeable man and his house full of family and guests for the upcoming Christmas holiday. The highest heads in the land want this murder of a 'Sir' solved quickly. The whole staff help by scouring the shops, servants and countryside for clues while Mrs. Jeffries makes sense of the whole picture. I really enjoyed getting back to these folks.

[Patricia Kiyono · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nobleman is found facedown in a frozen pond with a ghastly wound on the back of his head. Even though the crime took place outside of London, the Home Secretary, who’d been a guest at a nearby estate, pulls strings to get Inspector Witherspoon to investigate, upsetting the local constabulary. There’s no shortage of suspects, and the Inspector has his hands full sorting them out and getting information from the baronet’s unpleasant daughters. Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the staff are challenged by the lack of shopkeepers and staff members to question, but they finally manage to find creative ways to get their information and point the inspector in the right direction.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Jeffries and her crew of house servants are again the “secret weapon” helping Inspector Witherspoon (without his knowledge, of course). Christmas is coming and the Inspector has one week to solve the murder of a Baronet. Unfortunately, almost everyone connected to the murdered man was basically unpleasant: mean to the servants, cheap with shopkeepers, miserly with everyone.. and even disagreeable to others in the family. Even the cat Sampson, was disagreeable, only loved by the Baron himself. Could Mrs. Jeffries and her cadre of friends help the Inspector figure out this mystery?

[Kellene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series immensely and love the recurring characters. However, the victim and suspects in this book were the most despicable bunch ever. The story was fairly predictable, because most of the books in the series follow a pretty set path. But it's a comfortable predictiability for me, so I'll keep going in the series. Luckily, it doesn't totally screw the reader up to read them out of order, because this is another one that I have jumped around in.

[Denise Abbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this on my shelf since 2005. A Victorian holiday mystery: when Sir George Braxton is found face down in a frozen pond with his head bashed in, Inspector Witherspoon is called in to solve the case. Only the help of his housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, and her staff will allow the inspector to have a peaceful Christmas. A fast and fun read along the lines of a Christie mystery. I may now have to read all of them.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wealthy baronet — a distant relative of Queen Victoria — is murdered outside his home a few days before Christmas, and Witherspoon is handpicked by the British Home Secretary to solve the case. The inspector is under great pressure to solve the high profile case before the holidays, yet none of the baronet’s relatives or associates seem at all concerned by his demise.

[Mrs Barbara D Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Inspector's family solve it again!

As usual, it taxes the mind to work out all the clues and gives a reminder of how life was like in London in the past. The characters and their interactions are developing nicely and draws you into their circle as an old friend. The plot is interesting and exciting at the end when the pieces of the investigation fell into place.