Lori thought Aunt Dimity was just a character in a family bedtime story until a law firm summoned her to a reading of her relative's last will and ...
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Dec 17, 2009
Christine E.
rated it: 
I got this on CD from the library and really enjoyed it. It's about a young woman who learns that her late mother and the mysterious Aunt Dimity conspired to leave her a very unusual legacy. It's more a ghost story and romance than a mystery; sophisticated enough to hold my attention, but there was nothing in it I couldn't listen to when my 5-year-old was in the car (she liked it too!). The characters, settings, and situations were so charming that I wished I could just jump into the book and
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Nov 24, 2010
Hilary
rated it: 
I'm really on the fence with this one.
On the positive side:
This was cute and well-written, and the supporting cast was very appealing.
On the negative side:
The narrator, who is the main character of the novel, was supposed to be so terrifically special and wonderful that everyone was falling all over themselves to help her and love her. Yet I never got the impression she was all that great. The plot was predictable, and I solved the mysteries ages before she di More...
On the positive side:
This was cute and well-written, and the supporting cast was very appealing.
On the negative side:
The narrator, who is the main character of the novel, was supposed to be so terrifically special and wonderful that everyone was falling all over themselves to help her and love her. Yet I never got the impression she was all that great. The plot was predictable, and I solved the mysteries ages before she di More...
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Jan 28, 2008
MJ
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Lori Shepard is shocked when she finds out that Aunt Dimity died. Mostly because she thought she was a fictional character her mom made him to tell her bed time stories. Not only is she real but she has left her a task to complete and then she will receive $10,000. Lori could really use the money so off she goes to Merry Old England to stay in Aunt Dimity's cottage. With her is Bill Willis the son of her Aunt Dimity's lawyer to help her with the task. But once at the cottage strange th
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Mar 26, 2009
Violet
rated it: 
I am going to lump all of her books into one review because it will simply take too long to review all of her books individually. I have been a huge fan of these since I started reading them about six years ago. I always look forward to her new release with some anxiety, because apparently book sales are down and there was a question prior to her Deep Blue See book (I believe it was that one), that it may get dropped from being published. Hence, the new artwork on the more recent books in an
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Dec 11, 2011
Lisette
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I bought this book when at college, so it's been a while (we won't say how long). I specifically remember buying it, however, because I remember standing by the shelves, thinking how charming it sounded.
And it is a charming book. I like re-reading it because of that. It's relatively short, and just serves to cheer me up. I also find I react differently to it each time I read it.
The basic premise: Lori Shepard's mother told her "Aunt Dimity" stories all throug More...
And it is a charming book. I like re-reading it because of that. It's relatively short, and just serves to cheer me up. I also find I react differently to it each time I read it.
The basic premise: Lori Shepard's mother told her "Aunt Dimity" stories all throug More...
Sep 17, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
There are few books that are so sweet, so perfect, so interminably beautiful. A blast into the past of the 1940s, though set in the 90s. Reminiscent of L.M. Montgomery, few books have made me as happy as this one has by just being astoundingly brilliant. If I could give it more than five stars, I would. Of course, having just finished it, I perhaps have less objectivity than I should, given my current overjoyed, amazed state, but still. I must read the others immediately! If you are expecting a
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Aug 20, 2011
Elise
rated it: 
I think that this book is the perfect example of how expectations can color your impression of a book. Although the front cover boasts "One of the 100 best mysteries of all time," this book isn't really a mystery.
There's no murder. There's no hunt for whodunnit. There's no bad guy.
I was expecting a traditional murder mystery, something along the lines of Agatha Christie perhaps, because I knew the story was partially set in an English cottage. I was drawn into the o More...
There's no murder. There's no hunt for whodunnit. There's no bad guy.
I was expecting a traditional murder mystery, something along the lines of Agatha Christie perhaps, because I knew the story was partially set in an English cottage. I was drawn into the o More...
Jan 24, 2011
Notnessie
rated it:
Aunt Dimity's Death isn't exactly a typical mystery novel. There's no crime to be solved, but rather an intrigue to be unravelled. So it wasn't quite what I expected, but I did really enjoy it.
When the news of Aunt Dimity's passing reaches Lori, she's in the midst of a very hard time. Her marriage has ended, her mother recently died, and she's stuck temping at a series of horrible jobs. When the letter from fancy law firm Willis & Willis arrives, it seems like the perfect escape More...
When the news of Aunt Dimity's passing reaches Lori, she's in the midst of a very hard time. Her marriage has ended, her mother recently died, and she's stuck temping at a series of horrible jobs. When the letter from fancy law firm Willis & Willis arrives, it seems like the perfect escape More...
Nov 01, 2010
Harmonybites
rated it:
The first person narration drew me in, and at first I found myself charmed. I could identify with Lori Shepherd; she had recently suffered the loss of her mother and she's been on a "downward spiral" since her divorce, going from temp job to temp job and dealing with disappointed dreams.
However, I found myself disappointed then when we headed to a Cinderella story with an eccentric law firm as fairy-god mother. I couldn't buy it--any of it: The rain-drenched Lori gifted wi More...
However, I found myself disappointed then when we headed to a Cinderella story with an eccentric law firm as fairy-god mother. I couldn't buy it--any of it: The rain-drenched Lori gifted wi More...
Sep 06, 2009
Drebbles
rated it:
Lori Shepherd is shocked when she discovers her "Aunt" Dimity has died. Shocked because she thought Aunt Dimity was a character her mother made up in bedtime stories. When Lori visits the law firm handling Dimity's estate, she discovers that Dimity wants her to travel to England and stay at her cottage while reading letters sent by her mother and Dimity and write a forward to Dimity's collection of stories. Lori can use a change; she is still reeling from the end of her marriage and he
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Jul 07, 2010
Morgen
rated it:
Wandering around the library, waiting for a book or title to catch my eye, I saw a shelf full of Nancy Atherton books.
Since I was kind of looking for a book in a series that I hadn't read before, this series appeared to be a cozy mystery that wasn't too "precious."
Frankly, I was so blown away by the wonderful writing in the first book that now I am nervous about picking up the second in the series - can it hold a candle to this first book?
The story of Lori Shepherd le More...
Since I was kind of looking for a book in a series that I hadn't read before, this series appeared to be a cozy mystery that wasn't too "precious."
Frankly, I was so blown away by the wonderful writing in the first book that now I am nervous about picking up the second in the series - can it hold a candle to this first book?
The story of Lori Shepherd le More...
Jul 24, 2011
Mary
rated it:
Booktitle: Aunt Dimity's Death
Author: Nancy Atherton
Series: Aunt Dimity Mystery #1
German edition: Tante Dimity und das geheimnisvolle Erbe
Synopsis:
Lori Shepherd thought Aunt Dimity was just a character in a bedtime story... Until the Dickensian law firm of Willis & Willis summons her to a reading of the woman's will. Down-on-her-luck Lori learns she's about to inherit a sizable estate-if she can discover the secret hidden in a treasure trove of letters in Dimity's More...
Author: Nancy Atherton
Series: Aunt Dimity Mystery #1
German edition: Tante Dimity und das geheimnisvolle Erbe
Synopsis:
Lori Shepherd thought Aunt Dimity was just a character in a bedtime story... Until the Dickensian law firm of Willis & Willis summons her to a reading of the woman's will. Down-on-her-luck Lori learns she's about to inherit a sizable estate-if she can discover the secret hidden in a treasure trove of letters in Dimity's More...
Oct 19, 2010
Marfita
rated it: 
This is totally a not-me sort of book. Although a fan of cozy mysteries, this type of magical fluff just makes me mad. It has several annoying points - the Cinderella factor and the ghost being the major ones. But the invasion of Americans into my precious British landscape (and I am speaking AS an American), while smoothly handled, ... it's just wrong. Other folks have done it, notably Martha Grimes and Laurie King, and have done it well enough to not annoy me. This just rankles.
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Dec 28, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
More of a 3.5, really. This book is so light it almost floated away from me, but I enjoyed it. It's very wish-fulfillment chick-lit-y, but Atherton's a writer with the right touch to pull it off. I read this and Aunt Dimity and the Duke in a combination set that recently came out, Aunt Dimity, Paranormal Detective. A little odd that Aunt Dimity hardly shows up in either of them, then.
This one was the better of the two; it feels like the author hadn't really meant the series to be More...
This one was the better of the two; it feels like the author hadn't really meant the series to be More...
Sep 19, 2007
My sister gave me the first of this series when she dropped me off at the airport for a short flight from Columbus to Chicago. I had devoured it before the plane was over Indianapolis. Light, engaging mysteries, each with a recepie for a yummy baked treat. You end up wanting to move to the little village where the heroine and her family live in the English countryside, and you are left with a warm fuzzy feeling after each book.
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Nov 22, 2009
bookczuk
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Picked this up at a book exchange cart. Off the wishlist and onto the TBR pile. I was thinking this was a Maisie Dobbs book, which I saw on a dear friend's book list and snagged it because of that. As it was, I think I've seen these books on the lists of a couple of other friends, so maybe that's why the name chimed with my tired brain.
Anyhow, it was a good read for a rainy, chilly Sunday. It was definitely a cozy mystery, and very sweetly written. Lori's Reginald reminds me of More...
Anyhow, it was a good read for a rainy, chilly Sunday. It was definitely a cozy mystery, and very sweetly written. Lori's Reginald reminds me of More...
Mar 11, 2009
Simone
rated it:
The cosiest of cosy mysteries. The setting and the characters were all exceedingly charming, and that was the problem, really. Any character who was the slightest bit unpleasant was swiftly and effectively dealt with, and I have experienced more dramatic tension from drinking a weak and milky cup of tea. It was a very sweet book, but (and I say this as a vegetarian) I generally prefer a little more meat to my mysteries.
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Jan 29, 2012
Terah
rated it:
So I do have some qualms about this one. It is the first of this series. I actually got a hold of a later one in the series and found that I was so out of the loop of the story line that I had to find out how it all began. So here I am at number one. I did like it. I do like Atherton's writing style. I was on the edge of my seat a couple of times. It does have that cozy right up to your book effect. But being that it's the first one I do have some issues. I feel like she left out certain things.
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May 04, 2011
Ali
rated it:
Nancy Atherton knows how to write a simple story with a big heart and she does it perfectly in this first Aunt Dimity book. There is lost love, millionaire bankers, a mysterious picture and a ghost!
There is no grand mystery and for being quite the buffoon compared to Sherlock Holmes I was able to figure out the big ta-da well before the end. But that's ok! This book isn't supposed to be a mystery, this is a book about people and relationships.
Lori is someone just about More...
There is no grand mystery and for being quite the buffoon compared to Sherlock Holmes I was able to figure out the big ta-da well before the end. But that's ok! This book isn't supposed to be a mystery, this is a book about people and relationships.
Lori is someone just about More...
Jan 17, 2012
Stephanie
rated it:
Nancy Atherton (Aunt Dimity series)
This is a very quick read series of books. There is not any extreme violence, language, sex or gore in this series. So in my opinion this would be a 'cozy mystery'. Definitely a 'fairy tale' quality to the books.
There is a paranormal theme to this series however, and that makes me hesitant to recommend to easily influenced young people or anyone with strong Christian values as it is clearly not a biblical view of the hereafter.
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This is a very quick read series of books. There is not any extreme violence, language, sex or gore in this series. So in my opinion this would be a 'cozy mystery'. Definitely a 'fairy tale' quality to the books.
There is a paranormal theme to this series however, and that makes me hesitant to recommend to easily influenced young people or anyone with strong Christian values as it is clearly not a biblical view of the hereafter.
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Jan 14, 2012
Ana
rated it:
This book got me in trouble. I picked it out of a pile of books my mom was given by a friend at work. Once I started reading it, I decided I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Problematic, since I was 12 at the time and my sneaking the book into math class to read it resulted in a call home to my mother.
I've read the book over and over since then, and my adult self still finds Lori Shepard to be one of the smartest, most admirable, and most realistic book heroines I've ever m More...
I've read the book over and over since then, and my adult self still finds Lori Shepard to be one of the smartest, most admirable, and most realistic book heroines I've ever m More...
Aug 18, 2009
Rebecca
rated it:
All through her childhood, Lori loved her mother’s tales about the indomitable Aunt Dimity, whose ordinary experiences seem adventures because of her zest for living. Lori wanted to be just like her. Now that Lori is thirty, though, her life has fallen apart, her mother has just died, and any zest she might have had for living seems long gone. Then, on one grim and rainy day, Lori receives a letter from a most unusual law firm. Thus begins her real-life fairytale.
I picked this book u More...
I picked this book u More...
Dec 26, 2010
Linda
rated it:
This is the first in the series of many. There is nothing in depth or intellectual about the book. It is a simple tale told in a delightfully special way.
Lori Shepard's father died when she was an infant and now as an adult she lost her mother. Down and out, when she receives a call from a prestigious law firm, her life dramatically changes.
As the story unfolds, the Lori learns of her mother's adventures in England during WWII and a wonderful friendship she had with a lovely More...
Lori Shepard's father died when she was an infant and now as an adult she lost her mother. Down and out, when she receives a call from a prestigious law firm, her life dramatically changes.
As the story unfolds, the Lori learns of her mother's adventures in England during WWII and a wonderful friendship she had with a lovely More...
Jan 19, 2010
Carolynne
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Oct 31, 2010
Patricia
rated it:
"Aunt Dimity's Death" seems to have a little bit of everything for die-hard cozy mystery fans. There is certainly mystery (although no murder) which has to do with a mysterious inheritance. There is coziness--English countryside, dashing pilots, daffy old ladies, prim and proper British attorneys, and lots and lots of tea! There is romance (but certainly no overt sex). There is even a ghost (but if you don't like ghost stories, don't worry as this ghost doesn't intrude). Personally, I
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Apr 12, 2009
Tanja
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I am not sure what exactly to think about this book. A slightly gothic tale which includes Scottish castles that seemingly hide a secret, a downtrodden heroine who catches the fancy of a rich but genuinely nice guy, the delightful cottage in the English countryside, and a ghost. Or at least a presence that communicates with the living, but rather stubbornly refuses to help solve the central mystery. Which does not really seem to be much of a mystery. The story is pleasant, the writing is pleasan
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Apr 20, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
I thought this book was delightful, fun, and unique. It begins with Lori, a 30 something woman whose mother has died, and she is trying to cope with failures and sorrow at every turn. That is until she gets a message to meet with a Mr Willis at a law firm and discovers that the stories her mother had told her as a child were about a real woman. A real woman who has left her with a special charge, to read 40 years worth of correspondance between herself, Dimity, and Lori's mother. It is while
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Sep 10, 2010
ara133photography
rated it:
This is a book I read over and over - perfect when you need to relax, or it's a rainy day and you've got a bad cold... or on a nice snowy evening :) It's got a little more to it than a typical cozy mystery (after a while some of them start to blend together). This, and the Thin Woman by Dorothy Cannell, is a keeper :)
I never know how to summarize a plot without giving anything away, which is why most of my reviews are just my reactions to books! Anyway, the main character, Lori, More...
I never know how to summarize a plot without giving anything away, which is why most of my reviews are just my reactions to books! Anyway, the main character, Lori, More...
May 05, 2011
Karen
rated it:
I have been told to read this series for awhile and I finally got around to it. It was a lot of fun. Very light and quick. I listened to it on my way to and from work and it was a good way to spend the drive. Lori has been told stories about Aunt Dimity all her childhood but never dreamed that she was a real person. After Lori's mom dies, she receives a letter from lawyers saying she is a beneficiary in Dimity Westwood's estate. This takes Lori to England, where she uncovers many secrets a
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Jan 22, 2011
Ruth
rated it:
I read this out loud to family at Christmas (after Father recommended it). We really enjoyed it. I liked that it had lots of vocabulary that we didn't necessarily know and we had fun looking up words and learning (it's always nice when reading stretches you a little). I loved her treatment of characters' voices. Every character in the book very clearly had her/his own voice; this was probably even more clear to me since I was reading it out loud. I was impressed with that.
Just a fun, More...
Just a fun, More...
