Emily Brightwell is the pen name of American author Cheryl Arguile, who is known for her historical mystery novels. Born as Cheryl Lanham on November 10, 1948, in Richwood, West Virginia, she grew up in Pasadena, California after her family moved there in 1959. Brightwell graduated from Pasadena High School and went on to study American Studies at California State University Fullerton. However, her life took an unexpected turn when she met her future husband, Richard James Arguile, in England in 1975. They got married in May 1976 and returned to California, where they had two children, Amanda and Mathew.
Before becoming a successful mystery author, Brightwell worked in an international shipping company and wrote young adult romance novels under her real name, Cheryl Lanham. She also wrote romance novels under the pen name Sarah Temple. However, it was not until she began writing the Mrs. Jeffries mystery series under the name Emily Brightwell that she gained significant recognition and success. The series, which began in 1993 with "The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries," features a housekeeper named Mrs. Jeffries who solves mysteries with the help of her staff. Brightwell has written over 40 mysteries in the series, with the latest book, "Mrs. Jeffries Aims to Win," published in August 2023. Her books are popular not only in the United States but also in the United Kingdom, Japan, and Hungary, and are available in audio and large print formats.
Mrs. Jeffries Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries
1993
2
Mrs. Jeffries Dusts for Clues
1993
3
The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries
1993
4
Mrs. Jeffries Takes Stock
1994
5
Mrs. Jeffries on the Ball
1994
6
Mrs. Jeffries on the Trail
1995
7
Mrs. Jeffries Plays the Cook
1995
8
Mrs. Jeffries and the Missing Alibi
1996
9
Mrs. Jeffries Stands Corrected
1996
10
Mrs. Jeffries Takes the Stage
1997
11
Mrs. Jeffries Questions the Answer
1997
12
Mrs. Jeffries Reveals Her Art
1998
13
Mrs. Jeffries Takes the Cake
1998
14
Mrs. Jeffries Rocks the Boat
1999
15
Mrs. Jeffries Weeds the Plot
2000
16
Mrs. Jeffries Pinches the Post
2001
17
Mrs. Jeffries Pleads Her Case
2003
18
Mrs. Jeffries Sweeps the Chimney
2004
19
Mrs. Jeffries Stalks the Hunter
2004
20
Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight
2005
21
Mrs. Jeffries Appeals the Verdict
2006
22
Mrs. Jeffries and the Best Laid Plans
2006
23
Mrs. Jeffries and the Feast of St. Stephen
2007
24
Mrs. Jeffries Holds the Trump
2008
25
Mrs. Jeffries in the Nick of Time
2009
26
Mrs. Jeffries and the Yuletide Weddings
2009
27
Mrs. Jeffries Speaks Her Mind
2010
28
Mrs. Jeffries Forges Ahead
2011
29
Mrs. Jeffries & the Mistletoe Mix-Up
2011
30
Mrs. Jeffries Defends Her Own
2012
31
Mrs. Jeffries Turns the Tide
2013
32
Mrs. Jeffries and the Merry Gentlemen
2013
33
Mrs. Jeffries and the One Who Got Away
2014
34
Mrs. Jeffries Wins the Prize
2016
35
Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong
2017
36
Mrs. Jeffries and the Three Wise Women
2017
37
Mrs. Jeffries Delivers the Goods
2019
38
Mrs. Jeffries and the Alms of the Angel
2019
39
Mrs. Jeffries Demands Justice
2020
40
Mrs. Jeffries and the Midwinter Murders
2021
41
Mrs. Jeffries Aims to Win
2023
Dear Diary Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Remember Me
1996
2
Dying Young
2000
Life at Sixteen Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Second Best
1996
2
No Guarantees
1997
3
Good Intentions
1998
Standalone Novels
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Kindred Spirits
1990
2
Lifeline
1991
3
The Liberation of Layla
1992
Life at Sixteen Books (with Susan Kirby, with Cheryl Zach)