Mrs. Jeffries Sweeps the Chimney

When a reverend is found murdered in the London streets, a note containing an address clutched in his hand, Inspector Gerald Witherspoon is at first baffled; it appears that nobody knows who the man is, or how he came to be killed. Soon enough, he learns that the man had just returned from India without letting his relatives know about his arrival, and that the address in his hand is one of several abandoned houses near a factory owned by his family - an address that happens to have a skeleton stuffed up its chimney! With so little information and so many confusing details, the Inspector will certainly need the clandestine help of Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the household staff in coming to a conclusion in this matter…. The 18th show more Mrs. Jeffries book shows all the hallmarks of the earlier ones - lots of bumbling around for information that doesn’t seem to make any sense, bits and pieces garnered from the lower classes, a sudden flash of insight and - ta-da! - a mystery solved. Here we learn a bit more about Wiggins’ family history and discover that Luty Belle is well-served by her lawyers, again adding just that little bit more to the sense of family that these books convey. Enjoyable as usual; recommended. show less

Not the most engaging instalment in the series and missed Lady Cannonberry's involvement. I do continue to marvel at Brightwell's ability at keeping everything feeling fresh in every book.