Mrs. Jeffries and the Midwinter Murders

Brightwell’s twisty 40th Victorian mystery (after Mrs. Jeffries Demands Justice) opens with the discovery of wealthy Harriet Andover strangled to death in her study. The key to the locked door is still in Harriet’s pocket, and the only other key has hung undisturbed in the pantry since Harriet was last seen alive. Insp. Gerald Witherspoon of London’s Metropolitan Police quickly decides that Harriet was killed by someone in the household, which still leaves plenty of suspects: Harriet’s discontented husband, her resentful stepchildren, her nephew visiting from America, her destitute best friend. Witherspoon is unaware that part of his success is due to the aid of his own devoted household, led by his ever-efficient housekeeper, Mrs. Hepzibah Jeffries. Mrs. Jeffries deploys her team of spies to investigate Harriet’s death and subtly feeds the information to Witherspoon. Brightwell skillfully steers the unfolding mystery down an unexpected path. The appealing relationships among Mrs. Jeffries, her crew of spies, and her inspector make up for a plot often bogged down in a surfeit of detail. Fans of locked room mysteries will want to have a look. Agent: Donald Maass, Donald Maass Literary. (Nov.)