Mrs. Jeffries Questions the Answer

And it keeps getting better. Each book, as I've been reading my way through this series, seems to get better, and this one is one of my favourites so far. I love the characters in this series, and that's what makes it so special. In this book a woman is killed in her own drawing room, and at first it looks like she surprised a burglar. But when Chief Inspector Witherspoon comes onto the scene, he feels that it's more a case of cold-blooded murder. His staff thinks so too, so they begin investigating in order to "help" their dear inspector. Although the murderer is no big surprise, the time it takes to get there in the book is a lot of fun. This is a wonderful cozy, Victorian series.

The citizens of Victorian London are lucky to have a person as innovative, perceptive, and brilliant as Inspector Weatherspoon working for Scotland Yard. The Inspector has caught many killers before they have the chance to strike again. However, no one is aware, including the Inspector, that he is assisted on each case by his household staff, who using their vast underground connections, gather information to put the pieces of the puzzle together. From Mrs. Jeffries the housekeeper, to Betsy the maid, to the rest of Weatherspoon's domestic entourage, all of them work together in a cohesive unit with one goal in mind: to bring fame and glory to their adored employer. The team has their work cut out for them when Hannah Cameron, a universally disliked person, dies. At first, it appeared that she inadvertently walked in on an on-going robbery. However, the more the team digs, the more suspects surface. As the evidence points to one person in particular, Mrs. Jeffries wonders if her group's investigative prowess has deserted them. It seems that the most likely murderer had everything to lose with the victim's death. This combination police procedural cum cozy is a fine example of one of the most enjoyable and endearing mystery series in bookstores today. It is sheer pleasure to watch the interactions between the gullible Weatherspoon and his intelligent staff as they gently nudge him in the direction they want him to go. The distinction in class during the Victorian Age adds a dazzling and entertaining glimpse of history that cannot be gleamed form a text book. MRS. JEFFRIES QUESTIONS THE ANSWER is a perfect novel to read to get into the holiday spirit. Harriet Klausner