On instructions from Chief Inspector Barrows, Inspector Gerald Witherspoon is assigned to the previously closed case. Along with his assistant Constable Barnes, Witherspoon begins his investigation and quickly discovers that there is far more to this case than the initial police report would indicate. Witherspoon becomes convinced this was a case of cold-blooded murder when he discovers that Westover’s room was locked from the outside – not an easy feat for a dead man. The case is further complicated by the delicate politics involved as Witherspoon struggles to understand why the first team of investigators on the case failed to consider the evidence against a suicide theory.

Unfortunately for Witherspoon, his investigation soon stalls as the leads grow cold. Luckily, he’s not alone in his quest for a killer – his household staff, led by his longtime housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries, gets wind of the case and they use all the resources at their disposal to help their beloved employer. As this cast of characters digs deeper into the mystery, they race to help bring Westover’s killer to justice while keeping their investigation a secret from Witherspoon. Will Mrs. Jeffries be able to lead Witherspoon in the right direction while keeping her staff’s activities under wraps?

Emily Brightwell continues her series of cozy Victorian mysteries with Mrs. Jeffries Pleads Her Case, and she provides an enjoyably light and humorous tale here. The mystery plays out steadily and surely as the characters reveal the pieces to the puzzle, and the resolution ties the various threads together neatly with no unresolved loose ends. The various suspects presented all have strong motives and could plausibly be the perpetrator, but when the villain is ultimately revealed Brightwell takes great care to show why only this person matches the facts of the case.

The author also proves capable of handling a large cast of characters without allowing them to blur together, giving each a distinct and meaningful role in the mystery suited to his or her personality and skills. However, in a few cases, having read the previous books in the series would likely have been helpful as certain assumed character traits were not fully developed in this entry. For example, the household staff assumes that Inspector Witherspoon is a bit of a bumbler in need of their assistance, but this entry in the series fails to convincingly communicate this information.

While Brightwell’s mystery and characterization works well, she struggles to fully integrate her tale and her characters with their historical setting. While the author makes subtle references to Victorian elements, the characters sometimes seem as though they were simply dropped into the era rather than growing out from it. The book would be significantly strengthened if the characters had a greater interaction with their environment.

Overall, Mrs. Jeffries Pleads Her Case is a breezy cozy mystery that should appeal to readers looking for a gentle and humorous story to pass the time, but it will likely fall short for readers eager to learn more about the Victorian era.

--Jessica Plonka