The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries

Narrator Nettleton proves a delightful choice to narrate this whimsical tale of Victorian murder most foul, the first in this long-running series from Brightwell. A policeman’s widow, Mrs. Jeffries is head housekeeper for Inspector Gerald Witherspoon of Scotland Yard. Witherspoon is an officer of the law with a solid reputation for solving his cases. In reality, however, the shrewdly incisive Mrs. Jeffries, through a strategically placed word here or an offhand observation there, has lead the rather dim Witherspoon to his successes. When a much-disliked doctor is found dead, Witherspoon is convinced that the physician’s cook is the culprit, but Mrs. Jeffries is just as positive that the cook is innocent. Soon, she and the rest of the staff of the Witherspoon household are pulling together to stop a wrongful prosecution and to bring the real murderer to justice. Nettleton sounds as if she’s having a great time narrating this little cozy. She deftly brings to life Jeffries and Witherspoon, as well as a multitude of supporting characters, giving them all clear and distinct voices. Nettleton keeps the story moving along at a lively pace with just the right lightness of tone to her storytelling. A Constable Crime paperback. (Dec.)