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Aunt Dimity Mystery #13
Aunt Dimity, Vampire Hunter
The original paranormal detective returns in the latest installment of a beloved mystery series
Lori Shepherd’s life in England couldn’t be more tranquil or more satisfying— except for one thing. Her five- year-old twins have started school, and Lori fears they’ll catch everything from the flu to fleas. What they do come home with, however, is worse: a report of a pale, cloaked figure with bloodstained lips lurking in the woods.
Lori is skeptical at first but soon grows concerned enough to consult with her late (but not entirely departed) Aunt Dimity and her dear friend Kit Smith. The vampire-hunting trail leads to Leo, a charismatic vagabond who just returned to England after a self-imposed exile, a bitter old crone named Lizzie Black, and finally to Aldercot Hall, where a mysterious murder took place forty years ago. With Kit and Aunt Dimity’s help, Lori uncovers the secret that will shock everyone—including herself—about the true identity of the twins’ vampire.
With its placid English countryside setting, eccentric characters, and lighthearted charm, Atherton’s newest novel will enchant cozy mystery aficionados and the many loyal readers of the Aunt Dimity series.
Lori Shepherd’s life in England couldn’t be more tranquil or more satisfying— except for one thing. Her five- year-old twins have started school, and Lori fears they’ll catch everything from the flu to fleas. What they do come home with, however, is worse: a report of a pale, cloaked figure with bloodstained lips lurking in the woods.
Lori is skeptical at first but soon grows concerned enough to consult with her late (but not entirely departed) Aunt Dimity and her dear friend Kit Smith. The vampire-hunting trail leads to Leo, a charismatic vagabond who just returned to England after a self-imposed exile, a bitter old crone named Lizzie Black, and finally to Aldercot Hall, where a mysterious murder took place forty years ago. With Kit and Aunt Dimity’s help, Lori uncovers the secret that will shock everyone—including herself—about the true identity of the twins’ vampire.
With its placid English countryside setting, eccentric characters, and lighthearted charm, Atherton’s newest novel will enchant cozy mystery aficionados and the many loyal readers of the Aunt Dimity series.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published February 21, 2008
76 people are currently reading
1097 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Atherton
62 books1,183 followersNancy 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 plans are, as well all know, subject to change without notice).
If you prefer to envision her as an Englishwoman, she urges you to cling to your illusions at all costs -- she treasures carefully nurtured illusions. She also urges you to read no further.
Because the truth is that Nancy Atherton is a dark-haired American with a generally unwrinkled face, a beaming smile, and hazel eyes, who lives in a plain house in Colorado Springs. She comes from a large, gregarious family (five brothers and two sisters!) and enjoys socializing as much as she enjoys solitude.
So if you are looking for her at a convention, don't look for a stately grande dame in a flowery dress. Look for a woman in jeans and sneakers who's bounding around like a hyperactive gerbil.
That'll be her. And she'd love to meet you.
Japanese: ナンシー アサートン
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 plans are, as well all know, subject to change without notice).
If you prefer to envision her as an Englishwoman, she urges you to cling to your illusions at all costs -- she treasures carefully nurtured illusions. She also urges you to read no further.
Because the truth is that Nancy Atherton is a dark-haired American with a generally unwrinkled face, a beaming smile, and hazel eyes, who lives in a plain house in Colorado Springs. She comes from a large, gregarious family (five brothers and two sisters!) and enjoys socializing as much as she enjoys solitude.
So if you are looking for her at a convention, don't look for a stately grande dame in a flowery dress. Look for a woman in jeans and sneakers who's bounding around like a hyperactive gerbil.
That'll be her. And she'd love to meet you.
Japanese: ナンシー アサートン
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
August 30, 2023
Lori Shepherd has been obsessing over her son's health since they went off to school six weeks ago. Now she and Bill are called into the Headmistresses' office because their sons have been frightening other children with their tales of past adventures. The twins have also been influenced by another child who brought a vampire comic to school. When Will and Rob claim they saw a vampire on their trail ride, Lori goes into overprotective mother mode. She doesn't trust anyone to keep her babies safe from harm! Urged by Aunt Dimity and with help from Kit Smith, Lori is determined to track down this latest stalker. Along the way she meets a friendly traveler and the mysterious DuCaral family who may or may not be related to the infamous Count Dracula! The patriarch was said to have died 40 years ago and came to life again the next day, proof the undead are real. Are there really vampires in the neighborhood? If so, Lori will root them out and save her boys! Meanwhile, she's been neglecting her duties in Finch and people are starting to take notice. Will she return to being a part of the fabric of village life or alienate the villagers who welcomed her to their home and their lives?
The plot was a lot of fun and I couldn't put the book down. At first I chided Lori, the twins are FIVE, five year olds tell tales. A vampire? Really? But the explanation makes sense. I had to know who the vampire was. Was it Abaddon come back to life? However, towards the end, the plot fell apart. The attitude towards mental illness is a little less than sympathetic even from Lori. She is still tossing around "jargon" and ridiculous theories about mad brothers in the attic. (Helped along by Aunt Dimity). There's also Kit's backstory which is a little different from what we learned in Aunt Dimity's Christmas
I missed Finch in the last two books and was glad to be reunited with the Pym sisters and some of the other eccentric locals even if only briefly. My favorite books are the ones set in Finch so I naturally enjoyed this one more than the previous two adventures. I was hoping Lori would have consulted Miranda Morrow on vampires! Who better to ask than a witch? Alas, my hopes were dashed.
Lori is super crazy. She's in overdrive helicopter parent mode in this book! Calm, rational Emma tries to talk Lori off the ledge. The twins are happy, healthy and well-adjusted to their new routine. They love school. They're fine! The odds of a truck of chlorine gas crashing next to the school are pretty much nil and Lori's overactive imagination does not make her a pleasant or relatable character. She once again jumps to wild conclusions about the DuCarals but actually I thought her theory might have some merit. Aunt Dimity seems to think so and we can always trust Dimity's good sense.
I was pleased to learn a bit more of Dimity's backstory in this novel. We learn a bit more about what happened when Robbie died but even she doesn't remember everything she did. It sounds like Dimity had some mental health issues and therefore should have been more tolerant and sympathetic towards the DuCarals when Lori proposed her theory. Kit is back to being a saintly, stubborn man but he's showing signs of being a normal human, losing his temper a bit with Lori. He loves the twins and would never allow anyone to hurt them but he dismissed their claims of seeing a vampire and didn't search hard enough. It shows how far Kit has come that he's not beating himself up over it. He's madly in love with Nell which is vaguely creepy. Sure she's an old soul but he talks about his mother marrying too young so I can see why he doesn't propose to Nell. Yet, he's jealous of the young noblemen who have come to play stable hand and win Nell's affection. She, of course, loves only Kit and her affections remain unmoved by the new proposals. I think she's too young to marry. Peter just married and he's a little young too.
Newcomers to the story include Lizzie Black who is more of a witch than Miranda! Lizzie lives off the grid and is a survivalist, taught by her grandmother to disdain all people. She doesn't trust easily and doesn't mix with the world. Lizzie does have a wealth of knowledge of local legends and gossip. How much does she really know about what happened 40 years ago?
Lori and Kit meet Leo, a "friendly tramp." He sounds Australian because he spent years living in the outback working there. He's actually British and has returned for so-called sentimental reasons. He seems kind and like a good person. He looks down on his luck but doesn't fit the profile of vampire. Leo is more like Santa Claus than a vampire. Lori and Kit also meet Henrietta, a chatty, unconventional cook who loves to gossip and doesn't mind talking about her employer. She's quite happy working in the country away from the poverty and noise of London but hasn't worked there long enough to know all the family secrets! The oh-so-proper butler, Mr. Bellamy has worked for the DuCaral family for years but won't discuss their secrets. He's tighter than Scrooge's wallet. Jacqueline, a young nature photographer, is unfriendly and Lori instantly assumes the younger woman is being consumed by an evil vampire. Um OK... She may have an eating disorder, she may have let an evil man have his way with her but BITE HER on the neck? Someone's been reading too much fiction.
Then there's Charlotte who holds the key to the mystery. The last of the DuCaral line (or at least the acknowledged family), she is friendly but she's ready with explanations and a story. She seems sad somehow and her past holds secrets that may connect to the present. Then her personality changes abruptly after an off-hand mention of a name. I guessed correctly why she was upset but I wasn't totally sure. I also guessed something else that turned out not to be true but all these people make me wonder whether these books are actually supposed to be set in the present day because none of these people are believable for modern day. Finally, there's Rory who reveals all. He's grouchy and selfish. He claims he did what he had to do for himself but what he did was not ethical.
We also learn a lot more about Kit's mom, bringing me back to the inconsistent story. She was lovely and kind so why did she marry and old man like Sir Miles? By that time his PTSD symptoms should have been apparent or the dots connected between his war service and what ACTUALLY happened. 36 years ago wasn't so long ago that that information wouldn't have been known. Unless we're talking 50 years ago because Lady Felicity is much older than Kit but Felicity doesn't get mentioned in this story.
Overall, one of the better entries in the series.
I look forward to trying the jammy biscuits! Bloody biscuits LOL!
ETA: Charlotte's biscuits are soooo good, especially hot from the oven. The strawberry jam does look a little like blood. It's messy and sticky but OH SO good. I think I liked raspberry better though. I may have eaten three cookies and brought home 4 for my parents and guests. I went to eat one for breakfast and they were gone! I'll have to make more.
The plot was a lot of fun and I couldn't put the book down. At first I chided Lori, the twins are FIVE, five year olds tell tales. A vampire? Really? But the explanation makes sense. I had to know who the vampire was. Was it Abaddon come back to life? However, towards the end, the plot fell apart. The attitude towards mental illness is a little less than sympathetic even from Lori. She is still tossing around "jargon" and ridiculous theories about mad brothers in the attic. (Helped along by Aunt Dimity). There's also Kit's backstory which is a little different from what we learned in Aunt Dimity's Christmas
I missed Finch in the last two books and was glad to be reunited with the Pym sisters and some of the other eccentric locals even if only briefly. My favorite books are the ones set in Finch so I naturally enjoyed this one more than the previous two adventures. I was hoping Lori would have consulted Miranda Morrow on vampires! Who better to ask than a witch? Alas, my hopes were dashed.
Lori is super crazy. She's in overdrive helicopter parent mode in this book! Calm, rational Emma tries to talk Lori off the ledge. The twins are happy, healthy and well-adjusted to their new routine. They love school. They're fine! The odds of a truck of chlorine gas crashing next to the school are pretty much nil and Lori's overactive imagination does not make her a pleasant or relatable character. She once again jumps to wild conclusions about the DuCarals but actually I thought her theory might have some merit. Aunt Dimity seems to think so and we can always trust Dimity's good sense.
I was pleased to learn a bit more of Dimity's backstory in this novel. We learn a bit more about what happened when Robbie died but even she doesn't remember everything she did. It sounds like Dimity had some mental health issues and therefore should have been more tolerant and sympathetic towards the DuCarals when Lori proposed her theory. Kit is back to being a saintly, stubborn man but he's showing signs of being a normal human, losing his temper a bit with Lori. He loves the twins and would never allow anyone to hurt them but he dismissed their claims of seeing a vampire and didn't search hard enough. It shows how far Kit has come that he's not beating himself up over it. He's madly in love with Nell which is vaguely creepy. Sure she's an old soul but he talks about his mother marrying too young so I can see why he doesn't propose to Nell. Yet, he's jealous of the young noblemen who have come to play stable hand and win Nell's affection. She, of course, loves only Kit and her affections remain unmoved by the new proposals. I think she's too young to marry. Peter just married and he's a little young too.
Newcomers to the story include Lizzie Black who is more of a witch than Miranda! Lizzie lives off the grid and is a survivalist, taught by her grandmother to disdain all people. She doesn't trust easily and doesn't mix with the world. Lizzie does have a wealth of knowledge of local legends and gossip. How much does she really know about what happened 40 years ago?
Lori and Kit meet Leo, a "friendly tramp." He sounds Australian because he spent years living in the outback working there. He's actually British and has returned for so-called sentimental reasons. He seems kind and like a good person. He looks down on his luck but doesn't fit the profile of vampire. Leo is more like Santa Claus than a vampire. Lori and Kit also meet Henrietta, a chatty, unconventional cook who loves to gossip and doesn't mind talking about her employer. She's quite happy working in the country away from the poverty and noise of London but hasn't worked there long enough to know all the family secrets! The oh-so-proper butler, Mr. Bellamy has worked for the DuCaral family for years but won't discuss their secrets. He's tighter than Scrooge's wallet. Jacqueline, a young nature photographer, is unfriendly and Lori instantly assumes the younger woman is being consumed by an evil vampire. Um OK... She may have an eating disorder, she may have let an evil man have his way with her but BITE HER on the neck? Someone's been reading too much fiction.
Then there's Charlotte who holds the key to the mystery. The last of the DuCaral line (or at least the acknowledged family), she is friendly but she's ready with explanations and a story. She seems sad somehow and her past holds secrets that may connect to the present. Then her personality changes abruptly after an off-hand mention of a name. I guessed correctly why she was upset but I wasn't totally sure. I also guessed something else that turned out not to be true but all these people make me wonder whether these books are actually supposed to be set in the present day because none of these people are believable for modern day. Finally, there's Rory who reveals all. He's grouchy and selfish. He claims he did what he had to do for himself but what he did was not ethical.
We also learn a lot more about Kit's mom, bringing me back to the inconsistent story. She was lovely and kind so why did she marry and old man like Sir Miles? By that time his PTSD symptoms should have been apparent or the dots connected between his war service and what ACTUALLY happened. 36 years ago wasn't so long ago that that information wouldn't have been known. Unless we're talking 50 years ago because Lady Felicity is much older than Kit but Felicity doesn't get mentioned in this story.
Overall, one of the better entries in the series.
I look forward to trying the jammy biscuits! Bloody biscuits LOL!
ETA: Charlotte's biscuits are soooo good, especially hot from the oven. The strawberry jam does look a little like blood. It's messy and sticky but OH SO good. I think I liked raspberry better though. I may have eaten three cookies and brought home 4 for my parents and guests. I went to eat one for breakfast and they were gone! I'll have to make more.
February 25, 2013
A ridiculous hunt for a vampire leads to startling discoveries. Though the revelations are a bit contrived, they serve their purpose and lead to a lovely ending.
It's hard to beat Atherton when it comes to comforting and pleasing outcomes. I also like how Lori's gossipy nature means we're always privy to what's going on in the secondary characters' lives. It's fun to catch up with them in between collecting clues and developing theories, and this installment includes a thrilling turn of events. Can't wait to see what mischief comes next!
It's hard to beat Atherton when it comes to comforting and pleasing outcomes. I also like how Lori's gossipy nature means we're always privy to what's going on in the secondary characters' lives. It's fun to catch up with them in between collecting clues and developing theories, and this installment includes a thrilling turn of events. Can't wait to see what mischief comes next!
June 21, 2023
Lori's motivations were thinner than previous installments, but the mystery ended up having a good heart.
February 24, 2009
I didn't believe there was a cozy series that I had missed and when this appeared on our New Shelf I thought I'd try it. I don't need to read any more of them. The connection with Nancy Drew on the back is quite telling. Should have read that bit first. I was lured in by "humorous, satisfying" and "delightfully descriptive imagery and quirky characters."
The narrator is a "goofball" who has perfect children and a perfect husband and lives in a perfect house with a perfect nanny engaged to a perfect man and everyone has all the money and comfort in the world or, if they are poor, they're genteel about it. Cotton batting all around and a journal that writes back and a sympathetic flannel bunny to boot.
And absolutely everything is explained away so even the most dimwitted can understand.
Finished it in a couple of hours.
I won't go into the banalities lest I spoil the "shocking ending." sigh.
The narrator is a "goofball" who has perfect children and a perfect husband and lives in a perfect house with a perfect nanny engaged to a perfect man and everyone has all the money and comfort in the world or, if they are poor, they're genteel about it. Cotton batting all around and a journal that writes back and a sympathetic flannel bunny to boot.
And absolutely everything is explained away so even the most dimwitted can understand.
Finished it in a couple of hours.
I won't go into the banalities lest I spoil the "shocking ending." sigh.
August 19, 2017
.
This series offers cozy mysteries with amusing and quirky characters, in the life of Lori and her Aunt Dimity. Each one has been a fun and entertaining read to be sure.
It is appreciated that each book is able to stand on its own and usually concludes with an HEA.
This series offers cozy mysteries with amusing and quirky characters, in the life of Lori and her Aunt Dimity. Each one has been a fun and entertaining read to be sure.
It is appreciated that each book is able to stand on its own and usually concludes with an HEA.
March 15, 2024
Lori turns into a helicopter mom when the twins start school. She's calling the nurse every day and constantly checking on them. When the kids claim they saw a vampire, Lori uses it as an excuse to sound out Kit and his relationship with Nell. Following clues left on a trail where the supposed vampire was seen, Lori and Kit stumble into a bunch of mysteries unresolved from years past.
Includes a recipe.
This series does not usually include a murder, just a mystery. I enjoy the set-up with Aunt Dimity, and although Lori was annoying at the start, once she got distracted, the plot moved along really well.
Includes a recipe.
This series does not usually include a murder, just a mystery. I enjoy the set-up with Aunt Dimity, and although Lori was annoying at the start, once she got distracted, the plot moved along really well.
February 14, 2023
Another cute and silly installment
November 24, 2025
I really like this series but I could barely read this one. I find the whole perfect Nell storyline sickening. and everyone encouraging her to marry a man almost twice her age is too much. And the twins seeing someone in the woods means they are being stalked? It was too much. Even if it turned out to be a planned investigation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2021
A fun tour through Lori's (and her sons') vivid imagination, an introduction to a few new characters, and a heartwarming conclusion to it all.
October 1, 2021
Atherton gets back on track with this one. No more crazed maniacs. We're back in Finch with Lori jumping to conclusions right and left. If conclusion jumping was an Olympic event, Lori would have a gold medal. Lori and her dear friend, Kit Smith go on a vampire hunt after Lori's twin sons Will & Rob claim they have seen a cloaked figure with bloody lips lurking in the woods. A sweet cozy with 2 charming romances - of course everything turns out well!
October 16, 2024
I’ve never read a a book in this cozy mystery series, there are evidently 25 and counting. I broke my own rule of reading out of order to find a vampire themed story. Aunt Dimity is a paranormal detective who advises her best friend’s (in life) daughter Lori through quiet written conversations that disappears as soon as she has read them. In this installment, Lori’s twin 6 year old sons have gotten into trouble at school for talking about seeing a vampire on a recent horseback riding adventure. Lori is quick to take her sons’ sides and finds herself searching for a vampire in the local forest, with Aunt Dimity’s help of course. A fun , touching mystery with some romance thrown in for good measure. I could see myself reading more of this much loved series.
June 20, 2020
I am now torn to which of these books I like the best. I still think the Christmas one is my favorite, but this one (which was amazing and better than the last one) is a VERY close second. Or maybe even tied.
The twins have started school. Lori is a wreck and not coping well with them being gone. But when Lori and Bill are called to the school and the boys are accused of lying about seeing a "vampire", Lori (with the help of Kit Smith AND the estimable Aunt Dimity) goes out to try and prove that her sons aren't liars and in the process finds, stories untold, people (who end up friends) and love she never expected to find. And she also finds that love, even from those you've known for forever, is the best love ever!!!
SUPER great read!!!!
March 21, 2022
One of the more far-fetched Lori adventures, but entertaining, and it had a sweet ending.
Honestly, I'm not sure how Lori's friends put up with her wild imaginings, but then, she's had enough wild real-life stuff happen, I guess it makes anything possible. This time, she's convinced her twins are being stalked by a vampire, lurking in the hills beyond Emma's estate. Who the vampire is, how it ties in with past history, and how Lori recovered from her sons being at school makes for a few good laughs.
Honestly, I'm not sure how Lori's friends put up with her wild imaginings, but then, she's had enough wild real-life stuff happen, I guess it makes anything possible. This time, she's convinced her twins are being stalked by a vampire, lurking in the hills beyond Emma's estate. Who the vampire is, how it ties in with past history, and how Lori recovered from her sons being at school makes for a few good laughs.
July 20, 2023
Paranormal fiction isn't my favorite genre, but I found a bunch of these novels at my library book sale room for about $3.00. For that price, they were worth a shot, and I have been using these as a light read between my favorite classics and historical fiction and non-fiction works.
This particular one was interesting, but I liked some of the earlier books a little better. Still, they are well written, nicely descriptive adventures.
If you would enjoy small-town mysteries, perhaps give these a go.
This particular one was interesting, but I liked some of the earlier books a little better. Still, they are well written, nicely descriptive adventures.
If you would enjoy small-town mysteries, perhaps give these a go.
June 24, 2009
Really love these novels - even as much as I'm green with envy because I don't have the perfect cottage and a NANNY so I can spend my time gallivanting around the English country side, solving "crimes" that generally turn out to be nothing! *LOL* I really do like these books. In the latest installment, a shadowy figure is seen watching the children at riding lessons - they swear he is a vampire, so of course what's a self respecting mother to do but track said vampire down?
May 24, 2010
Fun little non murder mystery. I realized partway through that I had read another one of the series earlier. The one thing that I don't get, though, is how the main character's mother could have worked through WWII and become best friends with Dimity even though Lori (main character) is only in her mid-30s. Which is my age and my mom is a boomer. I thought maybe they were supposed to be set in the past but then the internet is mentioned. So, what's up with that?
March 21, 2012
A deeply irritating book. It gets one star because on a line by line level it's not badly written. But the main character over-reacts to everything, leaps to absurd conclusions and is generally unconvincing. So's the world she inhabits where everything is pretty much perfect. As for Aunt Dimity, she's even blander than the main character. I should have taken more notice of the back cover and the reference to Nancy Drew. I like escapist books, but this is absurd. Not sure why I finished it.
January 22, 2014
Although Lori seems to have really gone out on a whacky limb at the beginning of this book, it is highly entertaining and ends in two romances, not just one. The hiking scenes are wonderful, with all the mud and wet. Henrietta is a delightful new character as are Leo and Charlotte. Once again, Lori's mystery brings happiness to others and a moldering old house becomes productive once more. I'm so glad I came back to these books and found a dozen new ones ready to be read.
October 6, 2008
I usually enjoy the Aunt Dimity series but this one was just a little too much. Lori seems to have become a hysterical mother but on the other hand leaves much of the child rearing to her nanny. The children claim they have seen a vampire and have convinced their flaky mother to confirm it'e existence. Over the top too..the romance between 36 year old Kit and 18 year Nell.Please!!
December 2, 2022
i got a copy of this book way back in 7th grade when our student council held a short book fair in front of their office, which was fortunately right beside the building my classroom was in.
it cost me my day's allowance, but it was worth it.
i was really invested in the book and have since then been looking for more copies of books of the aunt dimity series that i can find locally.
it cost me my day's allowance, but it was worth it.
i was really invested in the book and have since then been looking for more copies of books of the aunt dimity series that i can find locally.
August 23, 2020
I rolled my eyes at the title of this book, but it is part of a series I enjoy, so I ignored my feelings about the title. And I have to say that actually it is one of my favorites in the series! I loved the connections made and unexpected twists.
July 17, 2008
I still enjoy these, but there definitly are times when I just want to shake Lori until her teeth rattle. She's a sweetheart, but gets on my nerves with the hysteria and conclusion jumping
March 26, 2018
This book is one of the best in the series. The story has a lot of twists and turns and a very heartwarming ending.
December 6, 2022
The Aunt Dimity books are great fun to read!
May 31, 2017
I should make note that I have not read any other books of the series, but this was given was given to me as a gift so I still read it.
Now for the review, I was honestly put off by the book within the first three pages. A 36-year-old man with a 18-year-old girl??? Like if the girl was more into her early twenties, I'd be okay with it, but 18? Not for me, not for me. And the main character, who I think is in her mid-thirties(?idk?), was rooting for the relationship.
Due to feeling obligated to continue reading, I kept going on. I skimmed over parts I did not feel were relevant to the main plot arc. Anyway, I found that the main character's hysterical moments and illogical jumps to conclusions were more annoying than anything. I sometimes felt she acted more like a heroine in a bad young adult novel than a grown woman.
I also felt like the resolution to the mystery felt a little rushed. I am starting to feel like the whole plot was rushed.
Overall, I did not enjoy this book. Not I have not read or have heard anything about the other books in this series. I do not even know what age group this belongs to, so I did not know what I was expecting. Maybe the other books are better, but this one was just not for me.
Now for the review, I was honestly put off by the book within the first three pages. A 36-year-old man with a 18-year-old girl??? Like if the girl was more into her early twenties, I'd be okay with it, but 18? Not for me, not for me. And the main character, who I think is in her mid-thirties(?idk?), was rooting for the relationship.
Due to feeling obligated to continue reading, I kept going on. I skimmed over parts I did not feel were relevant to the main plot arc. Anyway, I found that the main character's hysterical moments and illogical jumps to conclusions were more annoying than anything. I sometimes felt she acted more like a heroine in a bad young adult novel than a grown woman.
I also felt like the resolution to the mystery felt a little rushed. I am starting to feel like the whole plot was rushed.
Overall, I did not enjoy this book. Not I have not read or have heard anything about the other books in this series. I do not even know what age group this belongs to, so I did not know what I was expecting. Maybe the other books are better, but this one was just not for me.
October 10, 2020
Lori Shepherd's 2 sons have started school and they're a lot more prepared for it than she is. Getting called to the headmistress' office certainly doesn't help things, especially when Lori learns that both the headmistress and the boys' teacher thinks they're lying when telling stories to their classmates. Sadly, in the Shepherd family, truth is indeed stranger than fiction -- except for one story, about a vampire the boys saw while at their riding lessons.
Both Lori and Bill know that, no matter how bizarre what the boys describe might seem, they only tell the truth. This spurs Lori to go to the riding school and start investigating -- with Dimity's encouragement. In her search for the vampire Lori meets an unexpected camper and some across-the-hill neighbors and learns more about Kit, the boys' primary riding instructor. The vampire, however, still remains elusive....
I've got to say that I still have a weakness for books that I can write about so easily so this makes Nancy Atherton's books a delight in multiple ways! I am so, so very glad that I rediscovered this series. The only question is whether I keep reading them now or save them for light, post-surgery reading. This book was certainly a delight, much better to me than the previous in the series.
Both Lori and Bill know that, no matter how bizarre what the boys describe might seem, they only tell the truth. This spurs Lori to go to the riding school and start investigating -- with Dimity's encouragement. In her search for the vampire Lori meets an unexpected camper and some across-the-hill neighbors and learns more about Kit, the boys' primary riding instructor. The vampire, however, still remains elusive....
I've got to say that I still have a weakness for books that I can write about so easily so this makes Nancy Atherton's books a delight in multiple ways! I am so, so very glad that I rediscovered this series. The only question is whether I keep reading them now or save them for light, post-surgery reading. This book was certainly a delight, much better to me than the previous in the series.
July 5, 2023
“And the truth shall set ye free” probably sums up this title’s plot. Lori isn’t so sensible when it comes to the twins. She takes it very badly when they start school and is really worried over them. They might get sick with measles or who knows what! When summoned to the school by the headmistress and asked to account for why the boys are talking about vampires, Lori knows her boys tell the truth and sets out to discover just what was going on. She got much much more than she expected, but in the process, changed 4 lives. And agreed to learn how to ride horses. Recommended for the deep abiding faith in humanity it has at its core. Also, for the quick, but sincere plug, that bats are fascinating necessary creatures! Now to figure out the next title! I do suggest reading in order because some of the hints dropped really require prior knowledge.
May 14, 2017
I read a bunch of books in this series years ago, but vowed never to read another one as they are ridiculously hokey. I came across this on my bookshelf and thought enough time had passed that maybe I should give this series another chance. Maybe I had just read too many of them in a row and was just sick of them.
Nope. They're awful.
The situations are contrived, the main character is a condescending know-it-all, and the author over-uses the characters' names (my pet peeve). The main character (Lori) actually feels like it is her business to go ask Kit if he has problems with performance in bed. REALLY??? I almost chucked the book at that point, but I was in bed reading at the time and didn't want to get up to find something else. Big mistake on my part.
Nope. They're awful.
The situations are contrived, the main character is a condescending know-it-all, and the author over-uses the characters' names (my pet peeve). The main character (Lori) actually feels like it is her business to go ask Kit if he has problems with performance in bed. REALLY??? I almost chucked the book at that point, but I was in bed reading at the time and didn't want to get up to find something else. Big mistake on my part.
September 5, 2023
Vampires & Love
Lori is on the hunt for a vampire that so scared her twin sons that they brought the tale to school. Thinking that the boys were lying and making up stories to scare their classmates, the headmistress of their school call Lori and Bill into her office for a conference. Lori, insulted by the hint that her boys were liars, she goes out to prove that they really saw a vampire swooping down on them. With Kit Smith as her back-up, Lori goes on the trail of the vampire, but instead finds out secrets hidden for over thirty years that could change the lives of many people for the better. Using Lori's rampant imagination, the author humorously reveals a more serious tale through Lori's vampire hunt.
Lori is on the hunt for a vampire that so scared her twin sons that they brought the tale to school. Thinking that the boys were lying and making up stories to scare their classmates, the headmistress of their school call Lori and Bill into her office for a conference. Lori, insulted by the hint that her boys were liars, she goes out to prove that they really saw a vampire swooping down on them. With Kit Smith as her back-up, Lori goes on the trail of the vampire, but instead finds out secrets hidden for over thirty years that could change the lives of many people for the better. Using Lori's rampant imagination, the author humorously reveals a more serious tale through Lori's vampire hunt.
February 6, 2024
I found this entry in the Aunt Dimity series a bit over the top. Lori Shepherd, mother of 5-year-old twins Will and Rob gets completely carried away searching for a vampire threatening her sons. It took Lori's character from an over-enthusiastic extrovert to someone who leapt to the most ridiculous solution to a situation. The story was well written and it is determined fairly quickly that the twins saw something but that Lori buys into the vampire lore seemed too far fetched. There are several interesting secondary characters and the reader gets to know the Kit Smith character better which redeems the story to an extent. The thing I love about the Aunt Dimity stories is that I know the ending will tie up all the plot lines in a reasonable and non-terrifying way.
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