Rating: Very Good
Source: Publisher
Description: Margaret Starling wasn't the sort of woman anyone expected to be murdered. She was on the advisory board of the London Angel Alms Society, an active member of St. Peter's Church and, best of all, she was always willing to lend a hand to a friend or neighbor in need of advice. So when Margaret winds up dead, the town is shocked.As they dig deeper into the crime, Mrs. Jeffries and Inspector Witherspoon begin to wonder how well-liked Margaret really was.
Even though it's Christmas, Mrs. Jeffries and Inspector Witherspoon know it's their duty to make sure justice is served....
Genre: Mystery - Historical
Why I Picked This Book: I've read the last few in the series and really enjoyed it. It's got a nice blend of an old fashioned and modern feel.
My Impression: This is my 3rd book in the Mrs. Jeffries series and each one has been a delightful and cozy read. This was no exception. I love the characters in this series - they're all so different and have their different abilities and way of looking at things. But they're not just tools to move the investigation along. Their characters in their own right with their own backstories insecurities, and loves. It doesn't become overwhelming but just serves to add a little depth to the story.
I really like that we see how the official investigation progresses through the eyes of Inspector Witherspoon and Constable Barnes as well as the unofficial investigation ran by Mrs. Jeffires. And we see how Mrs. Jeffries manages to get the information to Witherspoon without him suspecting. I love the characters so much that I hated the addition of Witherspoon's nemesis Nivens but he wasn't an over the top villain.
The mystery was an intriguing one. I was dying to know just who murdered Mrs. Starling but as well why had her behavior changed so much in the weeks preceding her death. The pacing was solid - not blisteringly fast but definitely never slow or draggy. This is the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy day and just read the dreariness away. I had no problem jumping in this late in the series but I am looking forward to digging into the backlist and meeting Mrs. Jeffries and Inspector Witherspoon at the very beginning.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely! I'd really love to go back to the beginning of the series but until then I'll definitely be grabbing the new books as they come out.
Would I Recommend this Book? If you love mysteries - especially ones that have a bit of a classic feel - then this is a must not miss series.
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *
I like that mix of ancient and modern.
ReplyDeleteI was looking at the Christmas one of this series a couple years ago and almost bought it. I may still when I see it on the shelves again at holiday time lol! :)
ReplyDeleteI would like to read this series. I am glad you are enjoying it so far. I love it when I keep wanting to re-visit characters in series.
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