Mrs. Jeffries Demands Justice by Emily Brightwell

On By BarbaraIn OtherLeave a comment

Mrs. Jeffries Demands Justice (Mrs. Jeffries #39)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Mrs. Jeffries #39
Publication: 1/26/21
Number of Pages: 304

Thirty-Nine books into the series and I’m still loving it. The characters are as fresh and delightful today as they were in the first book. There is always a serious mystery to solve, but it is done with wit and charm galore. I always look forward to each new book because of its warmth, it’s family feel – all of the characters have the utmost respect and care for each other despite the differences in their stations in life. Each book is a delightful addition to the series, but you can also read each book as a standalone should you wish to do so – but you would be missing the character and relationship growth that has occurred in the previous books.

Inspector Nigel Nivens is in serious trouble – very serious trouble. If you’ve read the previous books, you know what a despicable piece of work he is. Now, there has been a heinous murder, and all of the evidence points to Nivens being the perpetrator. Nivens detests Inspector Witherspoon, yet now, not only his career but his life is in Witherspoon’s hands. LOVE IT!

Inspector Witherspoon is called into the Chief’s office and told that he has a new case. The case isn’t out of his station, but Witherspoon is being assigned nonetheless. There has been a murder in the East End and all of the evidence points to Nigel Nivens being the murderer. The overhead folks at Scotland Yard wouldn’t mind throwing the book at Nivens and getting rid of him, but they know they have to give the investigation every appearance of fairness. That is why they assign the case to Witherspoon – the most respected Inspector on the force.

Witherspoon doesn’t like Nivens, but he doesn’t believe he is capable of murder. However, the evidence is pretty clear. In Witherspoon’s view, the only way to conduct the investigation is to be unbiased and to start fresh and look at ALL of the clues, not just the obvious ones. As he investigates, he learns that there are many, many, many people who have reasons to want the victim dead.

I love that Inspector Witherspoon has an ‘unknown to him’ support team consisting of his housekeeper, maid, cook, coachman, and several interested friends who are helping him behind the scenes. I love how they quietly feed him the clues they have found without him even being aware that they’ve done it. That ‘support team’ has absolutely no love for Nivens because of the way he’s treated Witherspoon in the past, but they also don’t believe he’s guilty. They’ll help their inspector solve the crime no matter which way it goes.

I loved this book and enjoyed reading every word of it. I love the characters and the whole ‘family’ feel it has. I hope you’ll read this book, and this series, and that you’ll love it as much as I do. I even like that this book has departed from its norm and leaves a bit of a cliff-hanger for the end. I feel a set-up for a future story there 🙂

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ravish Me with Rubies by Jane Feather

On By TracyIn Edwardian Age (1901-1910), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Ravish Me with Rubies (The London Jewels Trilogy Book 3)Ravish Me with Rubies by Jane Feather

Tracy’s rating: 2.5/3 of 5 stars

Series: The London Jewels Trilogy, #3

Release Date: January 26, 2021

2.5 stars rounded up.

When Petra Rutherford’s brother Jonathan asks her to join him for tea at Westminster to help him charm a member of parliament, she is stunned to see Guy Granville, Baron Ashton – a man she met and fell in love with ten years ago. And the man who broke her schoolgirl’s heart. She is barely civil to him – much to his surprise, as he holds fond memories of the girl he spent a summer with years ago. Shaken by the encounter, Petra vows to get her long-overdue revenge on Guy – she will charm him, enchant him, and then leave him with a broken heart.

Things don’t go as planned and her vow of revenge falls to the wayside and Petra finds herself falling under his spell once more – but this time she is wiser, she knows that Guy is a rake and promises to guard her heart. But the more time they spend together, the more they want and finally, Guy realizes that she is perfect for him and asks her to marry – it seems like HEA is a given – but soon they will have to face facts – they are both stubborn and when they find themselves on opposite sides of the Women’s Suffrage Movement – their love will be put to the test.

I am torn by this book – on one hand, it was different and I liked that Guy and Petra stayed true to their differing opinions – and while it made Guy appear to be a jerk in the eyes of a 21st-century reader – he was probably one of the most historically authentic heroes I have ever read. However, on the other hand, there is a whole lotta ICK – they meet when he is 24 and she is 14 – he spends time with her, kisses her, dances with her, etc. – later when confronted about his actions to her, claims that he had no idea she had feelings for him and then he says she was just a child – OK, so why are you KISSING a child? It was introduced early in the book and honestly, I just couldn’t shake the creepiness of it out of my mind – so that was definitely not a point in the book’s favor. Of the three books, this one was probably the most sexual – but the love scenes were far from steamy, they were downplayed and merely warm. The book was interesting, with misunderstandings, warm love scenes, cameos with the former “Jewels”, cameos with true historical figures, a meddling ex-mistress, and a HEA. I really wish there had been an epilogue as this is the final book and I would have liked to have a peek into their HEA, as well as Fenella and Diana’s – but overall, it was an OK read, and aside from the kind gross child molester vibe at the beginning – I think this might be the best STORY of the three books.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher. *