Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch (An Aunt Dimity Mystery, #17)

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Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch (An Aunt Dimity Mystery #17)

3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 · rating details · 680 ratings · 150 reviews

Nancy Atherton's seventeenth cozy mystery featuring the beloved Aunt Dimity-the original paranormal detective

When Amelia Thistle moves to Finch, her new neighbors welcome her with open arms-and inquiring minds. Among them is Lori Shepherd, who isn't fooled by Amelia's unassuming persona. Amelia is, in fact, a world-famous artist with a rabid and eager-to-stalk fan base.

In...more

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published April 26th 2012 by Viking Adult

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Aug 09, 2012 The Bookwyrm's Hoard rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, paranormal

Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.

I've been a fan of Aunt Dimity almost as long as the books have been around. Aunt Dimity's Death is one of my comfort novels, the books I turn to when I'm tired, overwhelmed, or feeling blue: the reading equivalent of a nice cup of tea; and several of the sequels (or in one case, a prequel) are nearly as satisfying.

The charm of the series is in part its lightness. Aunt Dimity mysteries never deal in dead bodies, and only rarely in real, physi...more

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May 19, 2012 Cyndi rated it 4 of 5 stars

The quest is afoot...and the loonies are on the path..a bit of romance on the air....thus begins this 17th tale of Aunt Dimity Paranormal Detective.

I enjoyed this entry as I have the others before it.

The usual main character, Lori took a lesser role in this story and let the light shine on the town of Finch and it's quirky residents.

Add a well known artist who is incognito, the Elder Willis smitten by her and a quest to find the story of a 17th century "witch" and it goes from there.

It was rela...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, romance

Everyone in the village of Finch is excited that a newcomer--Amelia Thistle--is moving in. Things get more exciting when American resident Lori Shepard learns that Mrs. Thistle is actually a famous botanical painter, Mae Bowen, who is perpetually trying to escape the adoring hordes of fans who want her to show them the light. Agreeing to keep Amelia's secret, Lori learns that Amelia is there to solve a mystery that her brother had been working on before he died. It concerns an ancestor of theirs...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Books are often re-read based on different moods and needs. The Aunt Dimity series is like an invitation to sit, chat and - most of all - relax. My favorite Aunt Dimity book is the first book (Aunt Dimity's Death) but Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch is a close second. Despite the titles both books are a relaxing way to spend some quiet time.

In Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch the story unfolds with a new addition to the village of Finch. It is quickly revealed that the new occupant of Pussyw...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Jessie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, own, mystery-1950-to-current, mystery-british, mystery-cozy, mystery-supernatural

Yay! Nancy Atherton does not disappoint lovers of the tiny British village of Finch. This novel stays firmly entrenched in the environs of its lovely and untouched Cotswold setting.

Aunt Dimity has a larger role in this book than lately although (mild spoiler) I wondered why she didn't use her "other side" connections to help out a bit. Lori, though still impetuous, seems to be maturing enough to look and consider before jumping into a situation. It's nice to see the character arc.

Although, as u...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Judy Goodnight rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

This is the latest in Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series of cozy mysteries. As a matter of fact, I think this series is the coziest one ever written. Each book has a mystery but there rarely is a murder to be solved.

The main character is Lori Shepherd, full-time wife to lawyer Bill Willis & mum to 2 little boys. Her family including her father-in-law, Willis Sr., live in the little village of Finch, England.

So who is Aunt Dimity? Lori was brought up on stories of Aunt Dimity told by Lori'...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries

This is 5 out of 5 stars for the Dimity universe. In comparison to great works of enduring literature, maybe not a 5, but for this consistently charming series, yes.

As usual, I cruised right through it, knowing I should put it aside in favor of the real "work" of my day but knowing that Lori, Dimity and, in this case, the entire village of Finch, were waiting made it hard to fulfill other obligations. Hang it all, just read it!

In this installment, a new resident moves into Finch with a puzzle t...more

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May 09, 2012 Nancy rated it 5 of 5 stars

There is something so inviting about Finch and its people that brings me back time and again to wishing that there were more villages where people cared about one another - even if their main source of entertainment is gossiping.

“I’ve lived in Finch far too long to have scruples about minding other people’s business”.

Finch has a new neighbor, Amelia Thistle has purchased Pussywillows, a small home on the green and on moving day, the inhabitants of Finch are gathered in the Tearoom to watch the...more There is something so inviting about Finch and its people that brings me back time and again to wishing that there were more villages where people cared about one another - even if their main source of entertainment is gossiping.

“I’ve lived in Finch far too long to have scruples about minding other people’s business”.

Finch has a new neighbor, Amelia Thistle has purchased Pussywillows, a small home on the green and on moving day, the inhabitants of Finch are gathered in the Tearoom to watch the unveiling of the contents of the moving van. So far, Amelia meets with their approval, but Charles and Grant, the local art aficionados react differently when they see Mrs. Thistle and Lori Sheppard is quick on their heels to find out what is going on.

Amelia has two reasons for appearing on the doorstep of Finch, first she needs a break from her public life, but second and more importantly, she has promised her recently deceased brother that she will finish his research into Gamaliel Gowland’s memoir and Mistress Meg. With the help of her new friends, Amelia is able to unwind the mystery by following the trail left by Gamaliel and in so doing, not only finds out about Finch’s history, but also finds out that local folklore does not tell the whole truth.

“If a secret is worth hiding, it is worth hiding well”

I loved that we found out a little more about Willis, Sr.’s past before Lori showed up in their lives. You see a man very much in love with his wife and the touching story behind a painting of crocuses that she had presented to him on her deathbed. The storyline is very touching and added more depth to a character that was only until now on the fringes of the series.

This was one of my favorite books of the series. Nancy Atherton is slowly stepping away from Aunt Dimity being a central focus; this may not sit well with all readers, but I for one, love the growth of all the other characters. Dimity’s character was one of mentor and as the characters grow, Dimity can sit back and watch her flowers bloom.
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May 05, 2012 Jeannie and Louis Rigod rated it 5 of 5 stars

The English Cotswold village of Finch, where Lori Shepard and family reside has a new resident. This resident comes with a secret or two. Lori being Lori can not resist finding out the truth, especially after Grant and Charles disclose one of the secrets even before the new villager settles in.

Guiding her path, is our favorite spirit, Aunt Dimity. In this volume Aunt shows her own curiosity and that adds to the fun.

We find out Mrs. Thistle is more than she appears and that she is also on a treas...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4 Stars
I remember reading some stories about Aunt Dimity and Lori awhile ago. I would love to reread them all.
This is a detective story and a treasure hunt from the past. No one was murdered but I got involved in the hunt and could not wait to see how it all ended.
The town of Finch in England's West Midlands like to gossip about each other and spy on one another. So when someone new was moving in everyone watched to see what the new comer wore and what she was moving into her cottage.
The tearoom...more 4 Stars
I remember reading some stories about Aunt Dimity and Lori awhile ago. I would love to reread them all.
This is a detective story and a treasure hunt from the past. No one was murdered but I got involved in the hunt and could not wait to see how it all ended.
The town of Finch in England's West Midlands like to gossip about each other and spy on one another. So when someone new was moving in everyone watched to see what the new comer wore and what she was moving into her cottage.
The tearoom had big windows and had a good view of the cottage that Mrs. Amelia Thistle was the new widow who bought the cottage. The tearoom was full of villagers waiting to get their look when she pulled up in front of her cottage.
Lori was sharing her table with Charles Bellingham and Grant Tavistock. After seeing Mrs Amelia Thistle arrive Charles and Grant hurried out to their own house without waiting to see what was moved into the cottage. Lori followed them and they told her that was not her real name. That she was a famous painter and had a following of crackpots who developed a religion around her art. She could not go anywhere without bodyguards they even bought property in her gated estate to camp out to stalk her.
Lori the next day went to welcome her with a box of cookies and a breakfast casserole. She was welcomed by a hungry, confused lady. Who took her into the kitchen saying she was starved. Had not found her dishes and the stores where closed last night before she got food. Lori fixed her tea while she ate and help clean up front room. Then she asked if she was really May the famous painter.
May was disapointed that someone saw through her and recongized her from the first day.
May explained that she moved to town to finsh her late brothers work of find a secret manuscript that was discovered the first page in one of the cottages years ago written in latin from the 1700's. Her brother translated the first page and the author was the preacher of Finch at that time. Thier was a drawing that was a clue to the next page of a manuscript.
Lori said tomorrow she would help her find out more and keep her identy a secret. Other neighbors were coming to welcome her and Lori suggested that she have them shop and unpack for her and get settled in for today.
Lori has a relative from the past leave her home and money but also a journal that a ghost of Aunt Dimity lived in and wrote her part of conversations in. Aunt Dimity recongized the drawing and sugested that they look at the painting in the old church tomorrow for the next clue.
The story is engaging as more and more of the town get involved in the search for the missing pages and they learn what happened to the witch at that time when witch trials were going on in the 1600's.
May's crazy followers show up in town and try to find where she lives now.
Its a fun hunt to find the truth about the rest of story. I will read more from Nancy in the future.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.
04/24/2012 PUB Viking Adult (less)

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Jun 18, 2012 Mandolin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-inventory

Finch's closeknit community, relative isolation from the busier world and peaceful surroundings enticed Lori Sheppard to remain within its bounds many years ago and have now snared another willing captive, Amelia Thistle. The villagers all crowd around the town green as Ms. Thistle moves into her new cottage, eager as always to learn all they can about their new neighbor. Lori and her friends, Charles and Grant, are the first to discover that a mystery surrounds the new resident. She is, in fact...more Finch's closeknit community, relative isolation from the busier world and peaceful surroundings enticed Lori Sheppard to remain within its bounds many years ago and have now snared another willing captive, Amelia Thistle. The villagers all crowd around the town green as Ms. Thistle moves into her new cottage, eager as always to learn all they can about their new neighbor. Lori and her friends, Charles and Grant, are the first to discover that a mystery surrounds the new resident. She is, in fact, a world famous artist who has come to Finch to hide out from a sect-like group of followers who have formed their new belief system around her artwork. Plagued by their constant observation and pestering, Ms. Thistle hopes to find peace tucked away in Finch. She also has another important motive for relocating to Lori's adopted hometown: a search for a witch! Not a modern day witch, however. Ms. Thistle is the owner of a partial manuscript written by one of her ancestors and chronicling the life of a local woman in the seventeenth century who, because of her odd lifestyle and skill at healing, was seen as a witch by the villagers. Captivated by the story, which was translated by her late brother, Ms. Thistle is determined to discover what happened to "Mad Meg." Was she sentenced to death in the horrible witch trials? Her curiosity for the mystery and sympathy for Ms. Thistle's plight spur Lori on to aid in the investigation and in Ms. Thistle's subterfuge. She enlists Aunt Dimity and an ever-growing cast of villagers to assist them. Will they be able to find the answers? More importantly, will they be able to protect Ms. Thistle's privacy or will the villagers known as the Handmaidens throw her to the wolves when they realize that their favorite bachelor, Willis Sr., is falling in love with her?

With a dash of suspense, a big helping of heart and an important lesson in accepting others despite their eccentricities, this book is a delightful addition to the Aunt Dimity series. I loved the moral lesson it taught, the glimpse it provided into Willis, Sr.'s past and the hope it adds for his future. This is one series that, despite its length, has failed to grow stale and I applaud the author for that! (less)

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May 12, 2012 Victoria rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very enjoyable read. I love these stories because they always have you thinking and there is never anything too heavy in them. I wonder where Nancy will take us in the next book.

We open with Lori and all of Finch curious about the newest person (Mrs. Thistle) coming to town. On moving day they all are in attendance to watch Mrs. Thistle's belongings moved into Pussywillow cottage. Lori is with Grant and Charles when the moving truck arrives. As soon as Mrs. Thistle comes into view Grant and Char...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Cynthia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

All eyes on the village green.

“Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch” is a fun, cozy mystery set in a quaint English Village. Lori is an American homemaker who’s settled in Finch with her husband and twin boys for her husband’s work. When a well known artist comes to town with a mystery to solve Lori throws herself into finding a solution. The artist is Amelia Thistle and she’s recently lost her beloved brother. After his death she finds a piece of parchment that was written by a distant relative….....more

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Jan 04, 2013 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mysteries, england, favorite-authors, mystery, series

The Aunt Dimity books are consistently fun to read, following Lori Shepherd's life in the Cotswold village of Finch as she communicates with her deceased, but not departed, benefactor and friend Dimity Westwood about the events and mysteries related to Finch. This particular mystery involves a famous artist and her search for missing pages of an ancestor's journal that tell a tale of 17th century witchcraft intrigue. The introduction of Amelia Thistle to the community of Finch, the interaction o...more

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May 05, 2012 Alice Liu rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm a big fan of urban fantasy, but the Aunt Dimity series is one of my guilty pleasures. When I need a break for non-stop intense action, I can find it in Lori Shepherd's quaint little town of Finch, with its nosy neighbors, Lori's unabashed curiosity, and the ghost of Dimity. It's the perfect setting for murder. "Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch" veers from the previous books in the series: No murder (in the present) with a mystery set in Finch's distant past. Was there a witch hunt or wasn't...more

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May 09, 2012 Christine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lori Shepherd and the rest of the residents of Finch, England are anxious to meet their new neighbor Amelia Thistle. Amelia has come to town searching for a hidden memoir about a witch called Mistress Meg. However, Lori soon learns from her art appraiser friends Grant and Charles that Amelia is not who she says she is. The excitement over the newcomer turns to fear that her devoted followers will learn who and where “Amelia” is and will take over their lovely, peaceful town. With the help of her...more Lori Shepherd and the rest of the residents of Finch, England are anxious to meet their new neighbor Amelia Thistle. Amelia has come to town searching for a hidden memoir about a witch called Mistress Meg. However, Lori soon learns from her art appraiser friends Grant and Charles that Amelia is not who she says she is. The excitement over the newcomer turns to fear that her devoted followers will learn who and where “Amelia” is and will take over their lovely, peaceful town. With the help of her Aunt Dimity, as well as several townspeople, Lori is determined to solve the mystery of Mistress Meg and protect the identity of Amelia Thistle. Lori never dreams that through this search, she will find how closely the past connects with the present.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I haven’t always been a fan of this series, even though I like the premise of Lori being able to communicate with her deceased family friend “Aunt Dimity” Westwood by writing in a special journal and waiting for Aunt Dimity to write back in response. I also like that Lori and her husband have relocated from the United States to a quaint English village. It’s the main character that has kept me away from this series. In the past, although Lori has been imaginative and intelligent, she came across as extremely self-centered and not very likeable. Since the storyline of this book sounded interesting, I decided to it a try, and I am so glad I did. I didn’t simply like the book, I loved it! Lori has really matured since those earlier books. She is a good friend and goes out of her way to help others. I love how all of the residents of Finch, even the busiest of the busy-bodies, pull together to protect Amelia from obsessed fans and to solve the mystery of Mistress Meg. I don’t want to give anything away, but the author does a great job of connecting the story of Meg and of Amelia and the villagers of their times.

I am happy to have rediscovered this series. Although there are several books that precede this one, “Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch” is very accessible to new readers. A summary of the important people in the village is given to give readers an idea (or a refresher) on the characters of Finch. The book is charming, touching, and perfect for a rainy day and a cup of tea.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Penguin/Viking publishers in exchange for an honest review.
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May 27, 2012 Petra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery, for-review, netgalley

http://hazelthewitch.blogspot.com/201...

This is the seventeenth book in the Aunt Dimity series and I hadn't read any of these books before I requested this one on NetGalley. But it really caught my attention, as I love cozy mysteries, I'm a total Anglophile, and anything with witches is a must read for me. I just hoped my zero knowledge of the previous books won't affect the joy of reading the Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch. And it didn't at all. This book, even though part of a series, stand...more http://hazelthewitch.blogspot.com/201...

This is the seventeenth book in the Aunt Dimity series and I hadn't read any of these books before I requested this one on NetGalley. But it really caught my attention, as I love cozy mysteries, I'm a total Anglophile, and anything with witches is a must read for me. I just hoped my zero knowledge of the previous books won't affect the joy of reading the Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch. And it didn't at all. This book, even though part of a series, stands on its own without a problem and it only made me curious about the whole history of Aunt Dimity!
It is set in a small town in England called Finch. There are many different and colourful characters. But the good people of Finch have one thing in common, they all love a good gossip. So when there's a newcomer in the town everyone watches Amelia Thistle to move into her new home. But what a surprise when someone realizes that she is not who she pretends to be! Lori, the main character and "investigator", of course has to know the truth. Not only because it's essential for the peaceful life in Finch, but also because she is simply incredibly curious and nosy. From this point an intricate tale starts and many story lines are masterly woven together.
I loved this cozy, it had everything a good cozy mystery should have. A small town with a great range of characters where the main one is a likable and clever woman. There is a great sense of humour (I laughed countless times!), there is a tiny bit of romance, and of course there is the mystery! And in this case the mystery was especially interesting. It took us three hundred years back when the witch hunts were a normal thing. And thanks to the witch hunt theme the book got quite serious several times when getting into the details of torturing the innocent women who were accused of witchcraft. On one hand this was quite sad and painful when the vicar wife, Lilian said:
"What's sick," snapped Lilian, in a voice that was far from neutral and no longer scholarly, "is the willingness of one human being to brutally torment another in the name of God or country or anything else."
On the other it nicely balanced the otherwise lighthearted tone of the book and made it more whole.
All in all this was an amazing cozy that made laugh and even cry. I'm definitely reading the other books in the series some time in the future!(less)

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May 03, 2012 Patricia rated it 3 of 5 stars

How nice to bounce between Susan Wittig Albert and Nancy Atherton when you've had a rough week. Both authors have a gift for writing gentle, cozy mysteries without sacrificing brain cells and without succumbing to total farce. Don't expect great suspense or danger in this one (unlike some earlier in the series); this is a sweet treasure-hunt style mystery. This one is for die-hard Dimity fans. It won't appeal to anyone who hasn't read at least one earlier book in the series. Atherton spends litt...more

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May 14, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller

I was very pleasantly surprised when I spotted this book on the new books shelf at my library. It seemed like such a short time since Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree that I imagined it would be years before I spent time in Finch again! (I just checked, and that was published in 2010; my, how time has flown!)

I am very, very pleased that Atherton again skipped the murder and went straight to the mystery. I like murder mysteries quite a lot, but it's soothing to have books that have a bit of a puzz...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Marya Kowal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Aunt Dimity lends her considerable intellect...and as a ghost writing in a journal to her niece, she is just an intellect...to Lori Shepherd's efforts to help a new neighbor search for hidden documents.

The mystery is light, fun, and easy to read. The characters are mostly one-dimensional and lack realism, but it's a fun book with interesting and simple characters and the mystery itself is engaging.

This would be a great beach or travel read, as you won't lose the feel of the book, or lose track o...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Roslyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is really a rating and (brief!) review for the Aunt Dimity series in general.

Despite the fact that after so many books, they have become somewhat formulaic, I still can't help reading and loving these books. They are 'cosy mysteries' set in a small village in England, with an American expatriate narrator. Running through all the books is a fantasy element (I'm not going to include spoilers) which is never really developed; I often wish that Atherton would deepen or explore this aspect but t...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Kevin Lanahan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy, mystery, supernatural

OK, I really give it 3.5 stars, but we can't do half stars here.

I've been reading these books for years now, and this is a series that wobbled from delightful to dreadful. The stories are at their best when there is little actual danger, Lori's flights of fancy are within reason, and the plot doesn't get too outrageously ridiculous.

This is one of the best of the latest stories in the series. The mystery is basically a scavenger hunt, the new character isn't completely preposterous, the villager...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Paulette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Paulette by: GoodReads

Shelves: around-the-world, humerous, series, 2013-world-tour, fantasy-sci-fi, favorite-series

My first read by Nancy Atherton. I enjoyed it. Sometimes you just want to relax and that's why they make cozies.

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Nov 17, 2012 Meg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, pagan

Gentle, enjoyable mystery about a mysterious artist and the search for the historical truth about a witchy ancestor. I know this is part of a series but without having read the others, I didn't feel any connection to the whole Aunt Dimity gimmick, and it really didn't contribute to the plot in this one. Also, I was torn between enjoying the book's pro-witch stance and its anti-New-Age stance. What's wrong with vegetarian cafes and Tarot cards?

(P.S. Doesn't anyone in this novel work? Other than t...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Laura Salas rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, mystery

There isn't a whole lot of mystery here. Lori and her father-in-law and her husband help village newcomer solve the mystery of her ancestor's connection to a village "witch" and also help her evade the fanatical fans that follow her everywhere. I like the character of Lori a lot, but I felt this book contained too little mystery and was also too insular. Almost every scene felt like it featured the exact same characters doing almost the exact same things as in the scene before. An enjoyable read...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Diana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lori Shepherd has inherited a cottage in England. She, together with her lawyer husband and twin sons, lives in the village of Finch. The whole town is curious to see who the newcomer, Amelia Thistle, is. Lori discovers that Amelia Thistle is a famous nature artist, known under a different name. Amelia is trying to escape the attention of determined fans. AAt the same time, she is trying to uncover the story of one of her ancestors who may have been the Mad Witch of Finch. It is a light read but...more

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May 14, 2012 ❂ Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery, paranormal-mystery

I've been a huge fan of this series since I first stumbled on Aunt Dimity's Death. They are the very epitome of cozy mysteries, although almost never (never?) about a murder, but always some mystery - usually about somebody's past. Reading this book is truly like a visit with old friends, or like going home to the English village you never grew up in. The characters of the village are all there, adding colour and humour. The village itself comforting in it's very small size and unchanging face....more

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May 15, 2012 Christina (Reading Thru The Night) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, paranormal, mystery, serious-about-series

I wanted to read Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch solely because it was marketed as a cozy mystery. I've only recently found myself reading mysteries, so this notion of a cozy mystery left me curious. I did some research (of course I did).

And what I've determined is a cozy mystery takes place in a small quaint town where everyone knows each other and gossips as much as protects their fellow townfolk. And oh yeah, there's not that much gore or cursing or sexytimes. Essentially, they're suppose t...more I wanted to read Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch solely because it was marketed as a cozy mystery. I've only recently found myself reading mysteries, so this notion of a cozy mystery left me curious. I did some research (of course I did).

And what I've determined is a cozy mystery takes place in a small quaint town where everyone knows each other and gossips as much as protects their fellow townfolk. And oh yeah, there's not that much gore or cursing or sexytimes. Essentially, they're suppose to be books that, well, make you feel cozy.

I admit. I had plenty of reservations prior to reading Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch. I mean, would it really warm the soul like a cup of warm tea? Would I get this comfortable familiar feeling that a favorite blanket causes on a rainy day? You see, I'm truly snarky when I sense obligation of emotions. So, let me tell you...up front...loud and clear...about one-third of the way through Atherton's novel I felt, well, quaint and cozy.

Seriously. Like I had amnesia for a moment and forgot that this was (d'oh) a cozy mystery and I had thoughts of Gilmore Girls and Dawson's Creek running rampart in my brain. I know. I KNOW. I'm overdoing it on this coziness, but you guys...I don't think I can discuss this book without doing so. I mean, I actually felt a sense of warmth and calming while entering Lori and Aunt Dimity and the town of Finch's world. Normally books work one way or the other with me...they lock me in and I feel the need to devour them, truly chew them up alive as quickly as possible. OR. I finish because I feel I owe it to the story. Those books I sorta meander through. Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch transported me. I wanted to read it and felt no anxiety while reading it.

I understand after completing this book (and sure there were some small indicators in the beginning) that this is a part of an ongoing series. Of course I'm going to pick up the others from the beginning, but let me try to capture why this one was so wonderfully wowing.

Um, this is not going to surprise any readers to the series but dude Aunt Dimity is not real. I mean, she's REAL but dead. A ghost. Who writes in a journal. How cool is that? Aunt Dimity resides in the home of Lori and Bill, but from what I gather, Lori is the one who corresponds with her. Daily, she'll find some spare time to share her day with Aunt Dimity and get feedback.

The mystery is a fun one as well. Amelia Thistle moves into Finch seeking out a story, a hidden memoir, of a distant relative. Amelia's brother first stumbled upon the mystery but died before he could recover all of the details. Amelia is trying to come to terms with his death and using this mystery as the medium. BUT there's even more. Amelia has her own mystery about herself. Cuz Amelia isn't really who she claims but rather a famous artist hiding from her own demise.

As a person who is trying to find her footing in the world of mysteries, I'm truly thankful that I stumbled upon Nancy Atherton's voice. I can't wait to get start from the beginning and truly get to know Aunt Dimity and the other townfolk of Finch. (less)

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May 06, 2012 Connie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love the Aunt Dimity books for their gentleness--good characters so typical of small-town life, lack of violence (generally), and, of course, Aunt Dimity, herself. No big action heroes, little blood and guts, lots of quirky characters that make me smile. I don't enjoy the books that take place outside of Finch nearly as much but this one was situated in the midst of town and introduced a lovely new character whom we will see in the future, no doubt. I enjoyed revisiting the village of Finch an...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Darlene Ferland rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reading the new Aunt Dimity book, Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch, had me feeling as if I was revisiting the quaint English village of Finch. It felt like putting on an old, comfy sweater. Once again Nancy Atherton has written an enticing mystery that carries the reader across the pond as they say. Finding old parchments hidden all over Finch leads to an unique view of the past and opens up a world of understanding concerning world-wide issues as well as issues close to home. As I closed my bo...more

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Mystery

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Mystery > Cozy Mystery

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Fantasy > Paranormal

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European Literature > British Literature

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Adult

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Thriller > Mystery Thriller

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Fantasy

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Romance

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About Nancy Atherton

Nancy Atherton is not a white-haired Englishwoman with a softly wrinkled face, a wry smile, and wise gray eyes, nor does she live in a thatched cottage behind a babbling brook in a tranquil, rural corner of the Cotswolds.

She has never taken tea with a vicar (although she drank an Orange Squash with one once) and she doesn't plan to continue writing after her allotted time on earth (though such pla...more

More about Nancy Atherton...

Books by Nancy Atherton

Aunt Dimity's Death (An Aunt Dimity Mystery, #1)

Aunt Dimity and the Duke (An Aunt Dimity Mystery #2)

Aunt Dimity's Good Deed (An Aunt Dimity Mystery, #3)

Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (An Aunt Dimity Mystery, #6)

Aunt Dimity Digs In (An Aunt Dimity Mystery, #4)

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11797371-aunt-dimity-and-the-village-witch?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327697008l/11797371.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11797371-aunt-dimity-and-the-village-witch?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch by Nancy Atherton[/url]

Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch (An Aunt Dimity Mystery #17)

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