Mrs. Jeffries Delivers the Goods by Emily Brightwell

Mrs. Jeffries Delivers the Goods by Emily Brightwell ISBN-13: 9780451492227 Trade Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: March 12, 2019

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
On a cold night in February, Wiggins, the young footman for Inspector Witherspoon, attends the Lighterman's Ball held at the Wrexley Hotel with his friend. He, along with the rest of the room, watch in horror as Stephen Bremmer goes into spasms and abruptly dies while sitting at the head table. Mrs. Jeffries and the others are shocked that one of their own was at the scene of Inspector Witherspoon's latest homicide investigation.

The victim happened to be a boorish Oxford-educated snob who felt that because of an accident of birth he was entitled to anything and anyone he wanted. Yet Stephen Bremmer was barely literate, lazy, and prone to making stupid mistakes. His biggest mistake was trying to blackmail someone who even more arrogant than himself.

Inspector Witherspoon, Mrs. Jeffries and their household are on the case. It isn't long before they uncover a maze of hidden motives, unrequited love, and the terrifying rage of a killer who won't stop.


My Review:
Mrs. Jeffries Delivers the Goods is a historical mystery set in England in the 1890's. It's the thirty-seventh book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous books. The story wasn't heavily historical, though there were enough details to provide a historical feel. The characters were engaging and realistic, though not highly complex.

It's a clue-based puzzle mystery. The main characters asked good questions and followed up on leads. There were enough clues to figure out whodunit and how some time before the main characters did, though Mrs. Jeffries figured out that there was even more going on than I'd thought. There was no sex. There was a minor amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.