Mrs. Jeffries and the Three Wise Women by Emily Brightwell

Christopher Gilhaney comes to a dinner party and insults everyone there.  He's having fun getting even.  But on his way home, someone shoots him and he dies on the path...

Berkley and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so you can grab a copy now.

There's a rivalry between the cops in that area and one claims the death for himself, saying it was just a robbery gone bad.  After six weeks go by and he's no closer to the truth than when he started, he says it's murder and it goes to a different inspector.  Inspector Witherspoon is assigned.  It's as bad as a cold case.  Memories fade, clues disappear, the body was moved and trying to piece things together is murder.  Especially since everyone who was at the dinner didn't like him.

No one is happy to take on this case.  They all had plans for Christmas and now it looks like they will have to cancel them all.  Consequently, it's hard to get folks put their heart into the effort to find justice.

The part I like best is how his household staff finds most of his facts for him.  They share it with the constable who tells the inspector about it, acting like he heard it from informants.  Of course, the inspector talks to his head housekeeper about the case, too, so they know what he's found.  But without the women coordinating staff activities and directing them in what to find out, the case might not ever have been solved.  

There were lots of men involved but the three wise women were the ones that solved the case.  I applaud them.