Everyone in London society wants to attend the annual Banfield ball, even if they don’t approve of the hostess. The daughter of artists and an artist’s model herself, the society women disapprove of the unconventional newlywed Arlette Banfield. She is free-spirited, outspoken, and unafraid of showing her intelligence. At the ball, the brightly colored dress she is wearing is inappropriate for a married woman. However, someone must have more against Arlette than her unsuitable gown, because the hostess is poisoned at her own ball. Scotland Yard Inspector Witherspoon’s dear friend Lady Ruth Cannonberry is on the scene making sure evidence is preserved and the police are notified.
Lady Ruth can’t wait to fill the Inspector’s housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries in on all she witnessed. This isn’t just a gossip session between friends. Mrs. Jeffries leads a small network of household staff and other close friends in helping the Inspector investigate his cases, without his knowledge. With a shortage of hard evidence, time is running out in this case, and it looks like Mrs. Jeffries may not be able to gather all the facts in time to keep the wrong person from being arrested for the murder.
Mrs. Jeffries Forges Ahead is the latest in the delightful Victorian mystery series featuring Inspector Gerald Witherspoon and his housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries. Mrs. Jeffries uses the information provided to her by the Inspector over an evening sherry to give each household member an assignment to question witnesses and get local rumors and news. Mrs. Jeffries then gives hints to the Inspector to help him solve the case in such a way he thinks the ideas are his own. As the Inspector solves more cases, his confidence grows and he actually becomes a more skilled investigator. What could be ridiculous is clever and charming in the hands of author Emily Brightwell.
All of the books in the series are filled with descriptions of the customs of the times that really carry you back to the Victorian age. My favorite part of this book is the interaction between the main characters. It’s wonderful to see how much the employees in Witherspoon’s household care about each other and truly want to help the Inspector with his cases. The Inspector is a likeable character. He is a good detective and is well-liked and respected by other detectives and local police forces. Unlike many employers of the times, he treats his staff like human beings and they are devoted to him in return. Witherspoon’s friend Lady Ruth also plays a large role in this book, and it’s nice to see her so involved in the investigation. She is kind, open-minded, and treats everyone with respect, regardless of their station, and is a good friend to Witherspoon and members of his household.
While the characters and the setting are the strength of the series, the mystery in this book is also a winner. In the short time we get to know the victim, we come to care about Arlette and want to see her killer brought to justice. There are plenty of suspects, and Mrs. Jeffries and the others do their part to determine who is guilty, all using their own strengths and methods to get information about the victim and anyone who might have a motive for murder. For readers new to the series, chapter one of Mrs. Jeffries Forges Ahead gives the basic information needed to get to know the main characters. However, it’s hard to get the depth of understanding and connection with the characters from just this book. There are developments that occur in the lives of the characters that build from book to book that aren’t fully explained in this installment. For example, new readers may want to check out earlier books to fully appreciate aspects of the book such as coachman Smythe and maid Betsy’s recent marriage and move from Inspector Witherspoon’s home.
Fans of Kate Kingsbury’s Pennyfoot Hotel mysteries or of Anne Perry’s Thomas and Charlotte Pitt Victorian novels will enjoy Mrs. Jeffries Forges Ahead as well as other books in this series.
~ Christine K. |