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Emily
I was just browsing the abebooks and ebay.I notice that the price of the books are getting more expensive.
I could not believe that the price for "Reveals Her Art" is US$110!!!!!
This series is slowly become collectors' items.
I have recently discovered the Mrs. Jeffries series and I want to continue reading them in the order of publication. I read the first 3 stories (Mrs. Jeffries learns the trade)and then began my quest to obtain the rest. I am sort of disappointed that the available books from 1994-2000 are fairly expense. I've seen prices range from $14 to $90. I was wondering if the readers of the Mrs. Jeffries series may want to share their copies or trade for them or even sell them to other members. I'm willing to spend a reasonable amount to obtain these books. Since I've just started reading the series I would like to read them in order of publication. I have the books from 2001 to present. I would like to read those from Mrs. Jeffries Takes Stock (1994) to Mrs. Jeffries Weeds the Plot (2000). Any assistance in this matter would be much appreciated. New Member Frank Viola
I found this to be true as well a few years ago on this same series. I discovered through my public library they have a program called Internet Library Loan or ILL. This enables the customers for the public libraries to request a book that's not available through out local libraries for us. I use it when I can't find a book in our library system and don't really want to buy it. I'm using it now on another English series where all the books publish before 2000 are quite expensive without the shipping and handling. Check your local library and see if they offer any such program. It's wonderful. Now I'm caught with Inspector Witherspoon and his staff.
Can anyone can help? This is a common problem - the used book prices are too high. My publisher, Berkley, hasn't responded to requests for additional printings.
I have also been trying to get older copies of the books. I have read the first 3 and can't find any of the others that I can justify the cost. What can we do to get the publisher to reissue or reprint? The used copies sure don't give Emily any money. Why should book sellers make such a profit on a $3.99 book?
It has to do with "supply and demand" thing.I am proud to say that I am an owner of 25 books in this series.I began to collect this series in 2003.At that time,the price of the books were relatively cheaper.I remember that I bought most of the books in bulk,usually offered on ebay from time to time.I remember,I got a good bargain price.The rest,I bought from abebooks.
I remember,the most expensive I had to pay was for "Questions the Answer".I buy-it-now from ebay and the price was US$12.00.It was my habit to compare prices(Ebay/Abebooks/Adall) before I bid and that price is the CHEAPEST I could get to buy that book online AT THAT TIME!Imagine the price would be now!
The second expensive book was "Reveals Her Art" around US$7.00.
The first three books in this series are relatively easy to get with good prices even in 2003(before "Learns the Trade" was published).
I also remember at that time,Rocks the Boat,Weeds the Plot,Pinches the Post and Pleads Her Case were very easy to get with the price as low as US$1.00 from ebay or abebooks.The seller usually offered them in bulk on ebay.
From Sweeps the Chimney onwards,I bought them as new.I had to wait one year for The Silent Knight and The Feast of St. Stephen because they first published as hardcover but I wanted to buy paperbacks to look nice with the rest.
I would say that I was very lucky to have found this series back in 2003 where I could get the books relatively cheaper compared to now i.e 2009.And I have become an ardent fan of collecting this series.
The plots and the characters who do the detection are the reason I LOVE this series.The characters are very nice to be with even the not so regular characters like Lady Canonberry and they do OFTEN do the detection instead of talking or doing something that does not relate to the plots like most of the cozy mysteries out there.
I am not an expert on Victorian time but the dialogues are not sound like Victorian time.The English used is very American.But that is not the reason I stick with this series.
I remember I have 2 extra "Takes Stock" and one extra "Dusts for Clues" somewhere on my shelves.
My suggestion to all of the new fans,look out from time to time on ebay that offer buying in bulk.They do come out from time to time.For those who live in USA, you can get cheaper prices from bookshop,junkyard sale,library sale.
Good luck with your quest of finding the hard-to-find books in this series!
Ainil from Malaysia
EMILY: Does Smythe have a first name? If so, what is it?
In which book is it mentioned?
Hi Emily
I confess that I have only read upto Stalks The Hunter. From the first book until Stalks the Hunter, I am very sure that Smythe does not have the first name or at least you did not mention it in those books.;)
I ordered The Feast Of St. Stephen on www.abebooks.com and the book has not arrived yet so I could not check the book.
I flipped through the books and skimmed pages of Silent Knight, Appeals The Verdict, Best Laid Plans, and Hold The Trumps and I could not see his first name.
My guess is you do not mention his first name.:)
EMILY: You are correct. I confess that I wasn't 100% sure if I had added a first name for Smythe in an earlier book when I asked the question. My memory didn't come up with any such name but there are so many mysteries I have begun to lose track!
Q. By the way, In Stalks The Hunter- What happened to Edith Durrant?
Best Wishes, Ainil
EMILY: She gets away - but this might not be the last we hear of her!
Hi Emily,
I can't wait to buy your new book i.e "Mrs Jeffries in the Nick of Time."
Looking at the front cover enough to make me excited.
I am very glad to read that you have signed a contract for another 3 books. This will ensure fans that we have enough supply.:)
I hope you can do something to spice up the forum.
Maybe you can do a quiz or post questions relating to the series***.
Or any voting for the series.
Or give away your latest books.
I hope many cozy fans out there will encounter your books. I know you do not like to promote your books in any cozy groups,forums or website.:)
Best Wishes,
Ainil
*** QUIZ QUESTION ***
EMILY: Does Smythe have a first name? If so, what is it?
In which book is it mentioned?
