Mrs. Jeffries and the Best Laid Plans

Nobody is terribly upset when someone murders banker Lawrence Boyd - he had many enemies and no friends. The murderer tried to cover up the murder by setting fire to the studio where Boyd was painting, but the police quickly catch on and Inspector Gerald Witherspoon is assigned the case. There are a lot of suspects and it will take time to question them all, but Witherspoon needs to solve the case fast because his rival, Inspector Nigel Nivens, will do anything to discredit him. Luckily Witherspoon has some help - unbeknownst to him his household staff, led by his housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries, have helped him solve cases in the past and are eager to work on this one, especially since it will take maid Betsy's mind off her upcoming wedding show more to coachman Smythe. But the staff needs to be very cautious as they investigate this one - not only do they not want Witherspoon to catch on to what they are doing, but someone is following footman Wiggins as he investigates and they are afraid that someone even higher up in the police department will realize that Witherspoon is not solving these murder cases alone.

"Mrs. Jeffries and The Best Laid Plans" is another delightful entry in a cozy mystery series that never disappoints. One of the things that make this series so good is the characters and they are at their best in this book. You can just picture Mrs. Jeffries, Mrs. Goodge, Wiggins, Betsy, and Smythe sitting around the table talking to the wonderfully eccentric American Luty and her butler Hatchet who also help solve the cases. While Witherspoon remains blissfully unaware that his staff is helping him, he is hardly a buffoon and uncovers several useful clues himself. He has a wonderful scene in this book when he confronts Nivens and shows some real backbone. Constable Barnes, his partner, is also well written, fully aware that the staff is helping solve the case, he is happy to pass clues their way. The mystery is set in Victorian England and author Emily Brightwell does a perfect job in capturing that time period and bits of that era are weaved throughout the book like when Witherspoon is amazed by someone using a typewriter. The mystery itself is well written and well plotted with plenty of suspects and red herrings. Careful readers will figure out the murderer at the same time that Mrs. Jeffries does which is very clever writing on Brightwell's part.

Longtime readers of the series may be surprised and a bit disappointed by something that happens at the end of the book. Now I can't wait until the next book comes out in October to find out what happens next. show less

Lawrence Boyd is an indifferent private banker whose real passion is painting, although he may or may not be any good at it. He is also an almost uniquely unlikeable man, so when he is murdered in his studio and the assailant tries to cover up by setting the building on fire, Inspector Witherspoon finds no shortage of people who might have wanted him dead, ranging from his colleagues to his social acquaintances to his household staff to almost anybody who ever encountered him. In the meantime, Inspector Nevins is trying to find a way to get back at Inspector Witherspoon after the last fiasco, and Inspector Witherspoon’s household is preoccupied with the upcoming wedding of Betsy and Smythe, leaving them with little time to investigate show more the murder…. I very much enjoy the recurring characters in this series, and as usual this book features well-drawn “guest” characters and a well-constructed plot. Everything is in a lot of disarray at the end, however, and now I’m worried about what might happen next, which of course is an excellent place for a series to leave the reader, ensuring an avid pursuit of the next book! Recommended. show less

The latest in the Mrs. Jeffries series is as enjoyable always. The mystery surrounds a banker who seems to have angered almost everybody that he has ever met. Suspects are everywhere and there is a wedding to be planned. How will Mrs. Jeffries and her group cope? Like they always do - wonderfully. It's been nice to read this series and see how all the characters have developed, especially the Inspector. I don't think the servants have realized that he's actually turning into a real detective. The only downside to this book was the very end. Without giving anything away, all I can do is ask - Was it really necessary to do that?

Betsy & Smythe are in the midst of planning their wedding which is two months away but they & the rest of the household are bored.... It's not that want anyone to be murdered, but t hey sure long to get back to investigating....
Lawrence Boys was an unmitigated bugger, he ran a merchant's bank and was a popular amateur painter whose goal in life was to receive as many awards as humanly possible.... He jilted his fiancee in order to marry her sister (who was engaged to someone else), his housekeeper was his cousin (whose savings he borrowed for a bad investment), he was mean to h is staff but paid them well....
The day of his murder he was alone in his studio finishing a new painting (his staff had all been let off for the day to attend a show more coworker's funeral). There was to be a luncheon at his home for a few members of the Bankers Benevolent Society (for which he thought he was about to be awarded their highest honor) and on the verge of firing his head clerk for embezzlement.....
Everyone Hated Boyd, but someone hated him enough to cosh him on the head, stretch him out on the studio settee and set fire to the studio.... Unfortunately, it was damp, the fire didn't catch and the "Remington" girl he had hired for the day to do his typing saw the smoke & went to get the fire brigade......
Ok, the main clue was there to figure out who done it, but it was a good story and interesting plot. show less

These are such fun cozies..like a warm cup of sweet tea. I enjoy catching up with all the regulars like Luty and Hatchet, Betsy & Smythe, Wiggins, etc.
Reading these are always exactly what I expect...interesting mysteries with a lot of heart and I'm never disappointed.

A friendless old miser, banker Lawrence Boyd, is found dead at home. Called to the scene, Inspector Witherspoon is lucky to have Mrs. Jeffries's help--since the list of suspects includes just about everyone Boyd's ever met.