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Aunt Dimity Mystery #10
Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin
Hidden among her belongings are clues that Lori feels certain Miss Beacham wished to be discovered after her death. Watch out for Nancy Atherton's latest, Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse, coming in May 2017 from Viking!
Feeling a touch world-weary, Lori Shepherd decides to become a volunteer at the Radcliffe Infirmary, where she meets Elizabeth Beacham, a kind, retired legal secretary. But after only one visit, Miss Beacham passes away, leaving behind no family except a brother who has mysteriously disappeared. Armed with the generous help of a handsome neighbor and, as always, Aunt Dimity's supernatural skills, Lori begins to unearth Miss Beacham's secrets--including the surprising truth about her next of kin. Full of delightfully surprising twists and turns, Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin is another page-turning installment in the mystery series that has won the hearts of cozy mystery fans everywhere.
Feeling a touch world-weary, Lori Shepherd decides to become a volunteer at the Radcliffe Infirmary, where she meets Elizabeth Beacham, a kind, retired legal secretary. But after only one visit, Miss Beacham passes away, leaving behind no family except a brother who has mysteriously disappeared. Armed with the generous help of a handsome neighbor and, as always, Aunt Dimity's supernatural skills, Lori begins to unearth Miss Beacham's secrets--including the surprising truth about her next of kin. Full of delightfully surprising twists and turns, Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin is another page-turning installment in the mystery series that has won the hearts of cozy mystery fans everywhere.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
140 people are currently reading
996 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Atherton
63 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 194 reviews
May 2, 2019
I can’t believe this is volume #10. “Aunt Dimity And The Next Of Kin” felt like five stars.... until the denouement. I give at least three, for the pleasure of most of the pages but preposterous motives fell far. Be assured that explaining the lack of believability, consists of small examples that do not affect the journey of this mystery. This book is less about the destination and all about the compelling quest to answer questions. It is a pity the answers flopped. My examples will be general enough that new readers will not recall them.
Lori Shepherd’s Finch cottage, home of a magic journal that facilitates conversation with the previous owner, is near Oxford. There, Lori is the St. Benedict’s shelter volunteer and benefactress. Her monologue about seeing its grimy patrons as people, shows the depth and heart in these novels. The paranormal aspect too tiny for my liking, is besides the point in some of the mysteries. However, Aunt Dimity understood people and is a comforting shoulder to consult. We are introduced to a character we wish we weren’t meeting at her end, Elizabeth Beacham. She was a living guardian angel to many. Lori insists on knowing why she inherited the cat-welcoming apartment, instead of Elizabeth’s brother. I revelled in Bill’s craftiness with her unhelpful lawyer.
The shoe of believability drops here. Do you recall feeling outraged about “The Mystery Mile”, in which most circumstances were known to Albert Campion and he led the other characters astray? It was nuts for Elizabeth’s lawyer to deem her brother’s whereabouts secret! I additionally can’t believe in anyone so insecure, as to think it a threat to alert her husband, that he ought to visit his fading Sister. Regardless, I have no doubt that other Nancy Atherton novels will be fantastic.
Lori Shepherd’s Finch cottage, home of a magic journal that facilitates conversation with the previous owner, is near Oxford. There, Lori is the St. Benedict’s shelter volunteer and benefactress. Her monologue about seeing its grimy patrons as people, shows the depth and heart in these novels. The paranormal aspect too tiny for my liking, is besides the point in some of the mysteries. However, Aunt Dimity understood people and is a comforting shoulder to consult. We are introduced to a character we wish we weren’t meeting at her end, Elizabeth Beacham. She was a living guardian angel to many. Lori insists on knowing why she inherited the cat-welcoming apartment, instead of Elizabeth’s brother. I revelled in Bill’s craftiness with her unhelpful lawyer.
The shoe of believability drops here. Do you recall feeling outraged about “The Mystery Mile”, in which most circumstances were known to Albert Campion and he led the other characters astray? It was nuts for Elizabeth’s lawyer to deem her brother’s whereabouts secret! I additionally can’t believe in anyone so insecure, as to think it a threat to alert her husband, that he ought to visit his fading Sister. Regardless, I have no doubt that other Nancy Atherton novels will be fantastic.
August 13, 2008
I love the Aunt Dimity books by Nancy Atherton. They are gentle stories, with humor and just enough puzzle to keep me reading. I haven't been able to find all of them at my library and I've been reading them out of order. But I don't think it matters. Aunt Dimity is actually a spirit who communicates to her adopted niece, Lori, through an old journal. Lori is an American who inherited Dimity's cottage (and fortune) in the Cotswolds and lives there with her American lawyer husband and their twin boys. Nancy Atherton, the author, depicts village life with its positives and negatives, and also creates a not-quite-so-perfect heroine. They are somewhat formulaic, but that's part of the appeal! This particular addition has a main character who dies early in the book, leaving a puzzle for Lori to solve. It seems very like the first book in the series which introduces all the characters.
September 19, 2016
Always a pleasure to read an Aunt Dimity book, and this one benefited from more of Bill, and less of Lori lusting after the random male lead, despite being happily married. The mystery was satisfying, and the ending had more than the usual feel-good factor.
January 20, 2014
These books just keep getting better and better. I like the more mature Lori. Her interactions with people from all walks of life make her a great role model, not to mention that these people are very interesting. Miss Beacham is a case in point, as are Blinkers and Big Al. I can't wait to try her raisin bread, although Lori mentioning that she had to make it seven times before she got a good loaf makes me worry a bit. As Lori tries to find out more about Miss Beacham's life, another world opens up. She meets shopkeepers, artists, lawyers, and finally the brother, Kenneth Beacham, who is a bit of a disappointment after getting to know his sister. It would also have been nice to see how his son, Miss Beacham's nephew, turned out. It didn't sound as if he had much of a chance of turning out well, but sometimes the emotionally deprived ones are the very ones who will surprise you. Knowing Lori, I was also a bit disappointed that she didn't come up with a scheme to force poor Mrs. Pollard into getting out of her lonely house. Even the Mrs. Pollards of the world need attention and can surprise you when they get it. I'm a Pollyanna at heart, so I love the way Lori "fixes" people and was very happy that she wasn't attracted to anyone but her husband in this book. The boys, as usual, were priceless. I'll never forget the pony scene. I have a picture in my head of Lori vaulting the fence. Great stuff!
May 27, 2017
Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this Aunt Dimity 'adventure'. Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin provided me or I should say the sociologist in me to view people and their reactions to a particular character in this book, and I definitely liked what I read. I purchased a book that had been a library book which is an original copy printed in 2005. I thought the cover of this edition is truly fine as the story that followed is also. Lori Shepard decides to provide a service for this hospital in Oxford which this 'Infirmary' does not have, and that is visitation to patients who have no visitors.
This is how Lori meets Miss Beacham, a former legal secretary, who is dying from cancer, but who is very bright and out-going. Lori and Miss Beacham become close friends immediately as though they had known each other forever. Unfortunately, Miss Beacham passes away after only a short amount of visits. Lori is devastated, but then she becomes angry because her friend, Miss Beacham, was alone. Why should she have been alone when she had mentioned her 'baby brother' Kenneth? Where was Kenneth? Why didn't he visit her in hospital? Lori is determined to find out why. Herein lies the story, and an excellent one it is too! Highly recommend!
This is how Lori meets Miss Beacham, a former legal secretary, who is dying from cancer, but who is very bright and out-going. Lori and Miss Beacham become close friends immediately as though they had known each other forever. Unfortunately, Miss Beacham passes away after only a short amount of visits. Lori is devastated, but then she becomes angry because her friend, Miss Beacham, was alone. Why should she have been alone when she had mentioned her 'baby brother' Kenneth? Where was Kenneth? Why didn't he visit her in hospital? Lori is determined to find out why. Herein lies the story, and an excellent one it is too! Highly recommend!
August 19, 2017
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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.
January 23, 2023
3.75 but rounding up to 4. I enjoyed many aspects of this story -- very sweet story and includes the theme of found families in a variety of ways. But I miss Finch! I like all of the quirky residents.
May 31, 2023
Lori Shepherd is making good on her promise to do some good in the wider world. She's been visiting Elizabeth Beacham, a retired legal secretary in the hospital while Miss Beacham undergoes cancer treatment. Miss Beacham enjoys hearing Lori's stories about her twins and life in Finch with the eccentric villagers. She also likes hearing about Lori's priest friend, Father Julian, and the St. Benedict's Hostel for Transient Men but doesn't share anything personal about herself. When Miss Beacham dies unexpectedly, Lori is incensed that her friend died alone and no family or friends came to visit in the entire two weeks Miss Beacham is in the hospital. Lori becomes curious about Miss Beacham's family and a posthumous bequest leads Lori on a quest to discover the whereabouts of Miss Beacham's brother Kenneth who seems to have disappeared. Not even the lawyer, Mr. Moss, knows where Kenneth is. Lori feels compelled to track down Kenneth, inform him of his sister's death and give the man a piece of her mind! She drags along Miss Beacham's anti-social neighbor, Gabriel Ashcroft and maybe, just maybe, help him out.
This is one of the better books in the series. I think it's my new favorite. There's a nice balance between mystery and cozy. The search for Kenneth Beacham and mystery of Miss Beacham's personal life kept me guessing and turning pages. I liked that there's just enough village to revisit the familiar location and people but not so much that it gets overbearing reading about nosy gossips the whole book. The reveal made sense to me when it was explained. I figured something like that had happened. It's similar to another character's story. Aunt Dimity is in this book a lot and for once, agrees with Lori and also shares a possible clue.
Lori is far more likable in this story. She's finally made good on her promise to return to St. Benedict's. She isn't just providing money but making beds and working hard. She even brings the twins to teach them how fortunate they are to live in their cozy cottage and have everything (almost everything) their little hearts desire. The twins take to the unusual characters who frequent St. Benedict's and it turns out that Lori's volunteering and the little boys' admiration puts the men firmly in Lori's corner when she needs information. Lori also parents her children more although she still has a nanny and pawns the kids off on other villagers when she can. She's still somewhat of a helicopter mother. ONE shriek from the twins sends her running and leaping to rescue them. She isn't such a hands-on mother that she can tell the difference between a happy shriek and a distress shriek. I could usually tell when my nieces were shrieking with excitement and when my oldest niece was fake crying (while playing) when she was younger than the twins. Lori should know the difference and also trust that Kit will keep them safe and has taught them how to be safe around horses. Lori also still tries to impose on Emma and make Emma do her sleuthing online because Lori is clueless about technology. It's not so hard to do an internet search! Just go to the library and sign up for classes.
One other thing I liked about Lori in this novel is that she is NOT attracted to the handsome stranger for once. This time her feelings are motherly and purely focused on helping a sad man find love again. Bill and Lori even get in some alone time! Their marriage is solid and happy now they've discussed Lori's wandering eye. Gabriel Ashcroft is a nice enough man. He's another sad sack to add to Lori's collection. He's a cat lover whose ex-wife left with all the furniture. He proclaims to love his cat and they've been through the wars together, yet he has no idea his cat escapes every evening and visits Miss Beacham for gourmet food and a comfy bed! He doesn't even realize his cat is climbing up a tree four stories to Miss Beacham's flat! I think Gabriel is too busy feeling sorry for himself. He's a talented artist, gifted, according to Lori, but forced to paint flattering portraits of Oxford egos for a living. (Oh boo hoo!) His ex left him and his heart is irreparably broken. He is uninterested in Lori! What a change! Aunt Dimity, Miss Beacham and Lori all seem to feel he needs a woman to make him happy again. That plot seemed implausible. It happens very quickly and doesn't make sense in the real world but given other relationships in this series, I guess it makes sense!
Miss Beacham was a kind lady who gave generously of herself and her time. She reminded me a lot of Aunt Dimity. Miss Beacham was a listener and not a talker. It's obvious she was highly intelligent and observed everything about her neighbors, decided what to do to help them and went about quietly fixing them. She was more than a good customer or good restaurant patron. She was a good person. Her death is sad but I think Lori may be overreacting a bit. There could be a good reason no one came to visit. I think Miss Beacham may have been one of those people who didn't want to make a fuss, didn't want to put people out or accept thanks for anything she did. Like Aunt Dimity, she seems to have loved and lost someone, in this case a brother. What happened to Kenneth is the mystery.
Joanna Quinn is the legal secretary for Miss Beacham's lawn firm. She won't do anything to jeopardize her job but she's willing to share what she knows with the sleuths. She seems nice but she's still grieving the loss of her husband five years ago. She's a single mom, like Lori's mom, trying to keep it together for her young daughter. Chloe is 5 years old, like Rob and Will, and horse crazy like the twins. While Lori doesn't share stories of her similar childhood with Joanna, she does invite Chloe to join the twins and anyone else under 6 in pony rides at the grand opening of Emma Harris and Kit Smith's new riding center.
The humor comes from the men of St. Benedict's, all of whom have unusual nicknames like Big Al and Blinker. Blinker comes across as the nervous sort, probably someone who was in trouble with the law one too many times. I also think he doesn't realize how he appears to outsiders who don't know him and that causes a bit of minor drama. There's also a humorous section with a Mrs. Pollard, a desperate housewife who never has visitors and spends her days drinking and eating biscuits. She's a funny drunk and likes to gossip. Percy Pelham, an eccentric friend of Lori and Bill's is a speed demon. He loves fast vehicles and seems to be a bit careless with his own safety. He's a good friend. We will meet him again next time.
The cat, Stanley, is a nice cat. He's selfish, like all cats, and enjoys a more comfortable lifestyle than his human provides him. Nothing but the best for Stanley! He doesn't have a bad life though, he's just a cat! He wrapped Miss Beacham around his paw and does the same with Lori. Mr. Moss, the solicitor, may be eager to get his hands on some of Miss Beacham's money. He claims he can't find Kenneth and indicates it's not a huge deal. Even Bill is a little suspicious and helps Lori figure out how to thwart any shady plans the solicitor might have.
Finally, when we learn what happened to Kenneth, I wasn't surprised. Kenneth
The recipe is for Miss Beacham's raisin bread. We didn't get to try it at our monthly book club meeting. That's OK because I don't do raisins. I don't do lemon either so I shall not comment on next month's recipe either.
This is one of the better books in the series. I think it's my new favorite. There's a nice balance between mystery and cozy. The search for Kenneth Beacham and mystery of Miss Beacham's personal life kept me guessing and turning pages. I liked that there's just enough village to revisit the familiar location and people but not so much that it gets overbearing reading about nosy gossips the whole book. The reveal made sense to me when it was explained. I figured something like that had happened. It's similar to another character's story. Aunt Dimity is in this book a lot and for once, agrees with Lori and also shares a possible clue.
Lori is far more likable in this story. She's finally made good on her promise to return to St. Benedict's. She isn't just providing money but making beds and working hard. She even brings the twins to teach them how fortunate they are to live in their cozy cottage and have everything (almost everything) their little hearts desire. The twins take to the unusual characters who frequent St. Benedict's and it turns out that Lori's volunteering and the little boys' admiration puts the men firmly in Lori's corner when she needs information. Lori also parents her children more although she still has a nanny and pawns the kids off on other villagers when she can. She's still somewhat of a helicopter mother. ONE shriek from the twins sends her running and leaping to rescue them. She isn't such a hands-on mother that she can tell the difference between a happy shriek and a distress shriek. I could usually tell when my nieces were shrieking with excitement and when my oldest niece was fake crying (while playing) when she was younger than the twins. Lori should know the difference and also trust that Kit will keep them safe and has taught them how to be safe around horses. Lori also still tries to impose on Emma and make Emma do her sleuthing online because Lori is clueless about technology. It's not so hard to do an internet search! Just go to the library and sign up for classes.
One other thing I liked about Lori in this novel is that she is NOT attracted to the handsome stranger for once. This time her feelings are motherly and purely focused on helping a sad man find love again. Bill and Lori even get in some alone time! Their marriage is solid and happy now they've discussed Lori's wandering eye. Gabriel Ashcroft is a nice enough man. He's another sad sack to add to Lori's collection. He's a cat lover whose ex-wife left with all the furniture. He proclaims to love his cat and they've been through the wars together, yet he has no idea his cat escapes every evening and visits Miss Beacham for gourmet food and a comfy bed! He doesn't even realize his cat is climbing up a tree four stories to Miss Beacham's flat! I think Gabriel is too busy feeling sorry for himself. He's a talented artist, gifted, according to Lori, but forced to paint flattering portraits of Oxford egos for a living. (Oh boo hoo!) His ex left him and his heart is irreparably broken. He is uninterested in Lori! What a change! Aunt Dimity, Miss Beacham and Lori all seem to feel he needs a woman to make him happy again. That plot seemed implausible. It happens very quickly and doesn't make sense in the real world but given other relationships in this series, I guess it makes sense!
Miss Beacham was a kind lady who gave generously of herself and her time. She reminded me a lot of Aunt Dimity. Miss Beacham was a listener and not a talker. It's obvious she was highly intelligent and observed everything about her neighbors, decided what to do to help them and went about quietly fixing them. She was more than a good customer or good restaurant patron. She was a good person. Her death is sad but I think Lori may be overreacting a bit. There could be a good reason no one came to visit. I think Miss Beacham may have been one of those people who didn't want to make a fuss, didn't want to put people out or accept thanks for anything she did. Like Aunt Dimity, she seems to have loved and lost someone, in this case a brother. What happened to Kenneth is the mystery.
Joanna Quinn is the legal secretary for Miss Beacham's lawn firm. She won't do anything to jeopardize her job but she's willing to share what she knows with the sleuths. She seems nice but she's still grieving the loss of her husband five years ago. She's a single mom, like Lori's mom, trying to keep it together for her young daughter. Chloe is 5 years old, like Rob and Will, and horse crazy like the twins. While Lori doesn't share stories of her similar childhood with Joanna, she does invite Chloe to join the twins and anyone else under 6 in pony rides at the grand opening of Emma Harris and Kit Smith's new riding center.
The humor comes from the men of St. Benedict's, all of whom have unusual nicknames like Big Al and Blinker. Blinker comes across as the nervous sort, probably someone who was in trouble with the law one too many times. I also think he doesn't realize how he appears to outsiders who don't know him and that causes a bit of minor drama. There's also a humorous section with a Mrs. Pollard, a desperate housewife who never has visitors and spends her days drinking and eating biscuits. She's a funny drunk and likes to gossip. Percy Pelham, an eccentric friend of Lori and Bill's is a speed demon. He loves fast vehicles and seems to be a bit careless with his own safety. He's a good friend. We will meet him again next time.
The cat, Stanley, is a nice cat. He's selfish, like all cats, and enjoys a more comfortable lifestyle than his human provides him. Nothing but the best for Stanley! He doesn't have a bad life though, he's just a cat! He wrapped Miss Beacham around his paw and does the same with Lori. Mr. Moss, the solicitor, may be eager to get his hands on some of Miss Beacham's money. He claims he can't find Kenneth and indicates it's not a huge deal. Even Bill is a little suspicious and helps Lori figure out how to thwart any shady plans the solicitor might have.
Finally, when we learn what happened to Kenneth, I wasn't surprised. Kenneth
The recipe is for Miss Beacham's raisin bread. We didn't get to try it at our monthly book club meeting. That's OK because I don't do raisins. I don't do lemon either so I shall not comment on next month's recipe either.
January 30, 2008
I've been reading cozy mysteries as research since I have a couple series I'm writing. Unfortunately, I'm finding that most are rather disappointing. They aren't well written, the characters are pretty two dimensional, the mysteries are transparent and so on.
This one was a pleasant surprise. Lori Shepherd has inherited a house in England from her late mother's best friend, "Aunt" Dimity. She found out when she took possession of the house that Aunt Dimity can still communicate with her through a journal. Now Aunt Dimity helps her solve mysteries.
In this book, Lori befriends an old woman in a retirement home. When the woman dies, Lori sets out to find the woman's long lost brother. Along the way, Lori is involved in the grand opening of a riding academy and the lives of her twin five-year-old boys.
While there is the expositional dialogue problem that a lot of cozies suffer from as well as the really convenient plot points, this one has well rounded characters--especially Lori and her husband. And I didn't feel the ending was cheat. I'll definitely pick up more of Nancy Atherton's books in the future.
This one was a pleasant surprise. Lori Shepherd has inherited a house in England from her late mother's best friend, "Aunt" Dimity. She found out when she took possession of the house that Aunt Dimity can still communicate with her through a journal. Now Aunt Dimity helps her solve mysteries.
In this book, Lori befriends an old woman in a retirement home. When the woman dies, Lori sets out to find the woman's long lost brother. Along the way, Lori is involved in the grand opening of a riding academy and the lives of her twin five-year-old boys.
While there is the expositional dialogue problem that a lot of cozies suffer from as well as the really convenient plot points, this one has well rounded characters--especially Lori and her husband. And I didn't feel the ending was cheat. I'll definitely pick up more of Nancy Atherton's books in the future.
February 15, 2023
This just in: Lori's wandering eye is finally curbed. Hallelujah. The plot in this one was especially light and fun. Always nice to spend time with a book that restores my hope in human kindness, and also my desire to be kind.
June 11, 2013
Despite my misgivings about the stuffed animals, I have to say this was a delightful way to pass the time. What I like best about this series is that there's none of the silly plot devices that annoy me so much. No car chases, no damsel in distress. Just a nice, light mystery.
June 18, 2019
I read one of these books some time ago and had a run of bad books, so I thought I would try another uplifting sort of book as a departure from the norm. This one really makes you look in the mirror and consider what you have done lately for your neighbors.
Once upon a time I had more than a few traits possessed by Lori, the main character in this series, but it is far easier to become involved in the lives of others when you are raising children. You fill the roles of coach, helper, caregiver, provider as a natural part of investing in the community you live in.
But now...? You get older if you're lucky, and you live alone and there are safety limitations that certainly prevent people from interacting with neighbors when they all seem to have guns at the ready. This series, however, is set in the Cotswolds, not the mean streets of Chicago.
Otherwise, nice little story about Lori caring about a lady in hospital, visiting her daily and reading to her, etc.; lady dies; lady leaves interesting will that takes Lori into interesting situations with new opportunities to spread her kind of cheer.
Once upon a time I had more than a few traits possessed by Lori, the main character in this series, but it is far easier to become involved in the lives of others when you are raising children. You fill the roles of coach, helper, caregiver, provider as a natural part of investing in the community you live in.
But now...? You get older if you're lucky, and you live alone and there are safety limitations that certainly prevent people from interacting with neighbors when they all seem to have guns at the ready. This series, however, is set in the Cotswolds, not the mean streets of Chicago.
Otherwise, nice little story about Lori caring about a lady in hospital, visiting her daily and reading to her, etc.; lady dies; lady leaves interesting will that takes Lori into interesting situations with new opportunities to spread her kind of cheer.
June 22, 2010
I enjoyed Lori's adventure as she probes into the seemingly mundane and obscure life of the now deceased Elizabeth Beacham as she searches for Ms. Beacham's next of kin--a brother who mysteriously disappeared from Ms. Beacham's life. This book illustrated that there is so much more to so many people than we ever realize, or know, and made me appreciate the humble and quiet way in which Ms. Beacham went about her life helping others, avoiding the limelight and certainly not seeking after the praise of "man".
One quote that I found interesting was when Lori talked about Julian Bright, the priest at St. Benedict's Hostel for Transient Men. "When I'd first come to St. Benedict's Hostel for Transient men, I'd been reluctant to cross the threshold. The building was smelly, damp, and so run-down that it would have been condemned if any but the underclass had used it. I was put off by its inhabitants, as well. Like the bulding, they were smelly and run-down, and I did my best to avoid them.
"Julian Bright had inspired a change of heart in me. he was a good man, and I wanted to be good--or at least better than I was--so I gritted my teeth and forced myself to look beyond the grimy faces, into the eyes of men who'd once been invisible to me. There, I discovered a hundred kinds of pain I could do something about, even if it was as simple as making a bed for a man accustomed to sleeping in doorways. I knew I'd never achieve Julian's level of selfless devotion, but my soul was a little larger because he'd shown me, by example, how infinitely large a soul can be." (pg. 84)
One quote that I found interesting was when Lori talked about Julian Bright, the priest at St. Benedict's Hostel for Transient Men. "When I'd first come to St. Benedict's Hostel for Transient men, I'd been reluctant to cross the threshold. The building was smelly, damp, and so run-down that it would have been condemned if any but the underclass had used it. I was put off by its inhabitants, as well. Like the bulding, they were smelly and run-down, and I did my best to avoid them.
"Julian Bright had inspired a change of heart in me. he was a good man, and I wanted to be good--or at least better than I was--so I gritted my teeth and forced myself to look beyond the grimy faces, into the eyes of men who'd once been invisible to me. There, I discovered a hundred kinds of pain I could do something about, even if it was as simple as making a bed for a man accustomed to sleeping in doorways. I knew I'd never achieve Julian's level of selfless devotion, but my soul was a little larger because he'd shown me, by example, how infinitely large a soul can be." (pg. 84)
January 1, 2011
I love stories with a little mystery, a mildly twisty plot, nice people and evil people, and the nice people win in the end. Although many writers, including Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and other eminent names, have used this formula, sometimes its nice to read a "nice, little book." This series is like that, and this one is, I think, my favorite of the series so far. I won't ruin it for you. It's safe for everyone, but small children might not understand some of the nuances. Besides the nice characters, witty dialogue, mystery, and correct ending (good wins, evil doesn't), at the end of each story is a recipe -- this one is a raisin bread, that I'm going to make today.
January 2, 2011
The story was fair, but the author intersperses boring details about her family and domestic life which I find boring and annoying. At least I managed to finish the book, drawn on by the hook of the mystery.
I had hoped that Atherton's cozy mysteries might entertain me as much as Dorothy Gilman's "Mrs. Pollifax" cozy mysteries did, but, alas, Gilman is a hard act to follow.
I had hoped that Atherton's cozy mysteries might entertain me as much as Dorothy Gilman's "Mrs. Pollifax" cozy mysteries did, but, alas, Gilman is a hard act to follow.
June 9, 2013
I haven't read an Aunt Dimity book for a few months so it was fun to return to her. This time Lori is on the search for a missing brother of a woman she befriended in the hospital where she does volunteer work. As always, the characters are very real and the story holds you to the surprising end.
December 9, 2021
This book finished with something I fully agree with: there’s the family you are born into and the family you choose and both can be valid and of first importance in your life. Aunt Dimity and Lori took on someone with that kind of choice in life. Miss Beacham and Lori meet when Lori did a visit to her in the hospital. She had an arrangement with the nurse that she’d be called if there was anyone without visitors. Although Lori knew she was terminal, she’s shocked when her new friend dies and even more shocked to discover that she, her sons, and various people she mentioned in passing to Miss Beacham got bequests in her will. The question is: where is her brother that was listed as next of kin? Lori befriends the first floor neighbor of Miss Beacham, Gabriel, and they start investigating. Everything wraps up as one might expect in this cosy mystery and it reminds me of why I enjoy this series. The mystery is all heart, there isn’t a chance that the family by choice will ever forget Miss Beacham, and the cat ends up in a happy family that will enjoy and serve the cat properly!
Recommended. While I still feel strongly you should read in order, it isn’t essential. However, a lot will make more sense if you do. On to the next in the series!
Recommended. While I still feel strongly you should read in order, it isn’t essential. However, a lot will make more sense if you do. On to the next in the series!
August 5, 2017
Yay! Finally! This Aunt Dimity was pretty good!
Not much mystery in this one, but the story was believable so that's GOOD! In fact, the story line hit a little close to home with the truth that there's the family you're born into and the family you choose. I'm so thankful for my little village of chosen family!
Lori's irritating moments were limited in this story and the inconsistencies were few. I've got books 11-14 now to read through and then I'll have tackled all this library has to offer in the way of Aunt Dimity. Can I do it? Yes I can!
Not much mystery in this one, but the story was believable so that's GOOD! In fact, the story line hit a little close to home with the truth that there's the family you're born into and the family you choose. I'm so thankful for my little village of chosen family!
Lori's irritating moments were limited in this story and the inconsistencies were few. I've got books 11-14 now to read through and then I'll have tackled all this library has to offer in the way of Aunt Dimity. Can I do it? Yes I can!
September 4, 2017
One of the books in the Aunt Dimity series that I have missed along the way. This series is set in the English Midlands in the quaint village of Finch. A perfect setting for a cozy mystery. I always enjoy Nancy Atherton's characters and storyline. This was not so much a murder mystery but a mystery that our heroine needs to solve. It did not disappoint!
June 24, 2021
This is one of the earlier Aunt Dimity books and it is very well plotted. I wanted to tell everyone how Atherton wove all the pieces into a satisfying ending. I still think Hallmark should option this series.
February 16, 2021
More adventure than mystery, and not entirely believable, but a fun tale nonetheless. It also has the positive message of "love thy neighbor" embedded within. I must add: I am glad that the romance in this installment of the series did not involve the already happily married woman.
February 7, 2022
This was one of the best of the series so far. The characters were interesting, and the investigation into the "missing" person had me so enthralled I did not want to put down the book.
November 22, 2025
Re-reading a few of these since it’s been a while and I could use a dependable cozy mystery right now
December 27, 2022
I really enjoyed this one, with Lori meeting all sorts outside of her home town. More wild characters, lots of fun.
September 6, 2024
These books are just nice, cozy mysteries that don't necessarily involve murder. Rather, Lori investigates other, lighter mysteries - in this instance she is intrigued by a woman she meets while volunteering at the Radcliffe Infirmary. When the woman dies within days and her will has been updated to include Lori, she learns that the next of kin (the woman's brother), presumably cannot be found. So she sets out to find him.
I read all kinds of mysteries from Cozies like this to thrillers and sometimes it's nice to have a bloodless tale that rewards the good in people, while highlighting how truly selfish some people can be. I was sad when the brother was found.
My quest to clean up some unfinished series continues...
I read all kinds of mysteries from Cozies like this to thrillers and sometimes it's nice to have a bloodless tale that rewards the good in people, while highlighting how truly selfish some people can be. I was sad when the brother was found.
My quest to clean up some unfinished series continues...
January 30, 2019
A very simple book, okay to pass the time, but not exactly scintillating, I probably wouldn't bother with it if I wasn't bored at work. I don't know why the author bothered giving the main character children since she never spends time with them despite being independently wealthy; it is enough to make me dislike the main character.
December 27, 2010
precious
October 6, 2025
Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin is the tenth book of the Aunt Dimity cozy mystery series set in contemporary England. A refreshing straightforward puzzle to solve by following the clues.
I stopped reading newspapers years ago and I never watch the television news. Endless stories about heart-rending catastrophes occurring all around the globe...the relentless barrage of tragedy just wore me down, filled me with despair. Large scale grief made me feel small and weak and useless, incapable of ever helping anyone.
Lori is (in her own words) "stinking rich", as we are reminded many times in the story, especially near the end. She lives a Cinderella happy-ever-after life. ...no financial worries whatsoever. I'd inherited a fortune from my late mother's closest friend, and my husband Bill had been born into a well-heeled Boston Brahmin clan, so I was able to give spanking sums to charity, and I did.
Instead of gnashing my teeth over the cruel impossibility of curing the world's ills, I set my sights on curing ills closer to home. Not in a flashy show-off way, hostessing fellow rich folks at sumptuous benefit banquets. No indeed. Lori has roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-to-work initiative. She makes beds at a homeless shelter, and visits terminal patients at the hospital who don't get visitors.
I wasn't always Suzy Sunshine, pirouettting through the village with a basket of good cheer. I had grouchy days and lazy days and days when I did nothing but shop for shoes.
One such hospital patient is Elizabeth Beacham. Lori enjoys chatting with her about life in rural Finch, stories of her twins and their escapades, tales of the quirky personalities she enjoys in the men at the homeless shelter. Lori looks forward to many bedside chats. But it was not to be. "Her mortality never crossed my mind," I said dejectedly.
Now Lori has a mission: find Elizabeth's brother Kenneth. And follow Elizabeth's last wishes regarding her flat. The view from the balcony was surprisingly panoramic. I had a birds-eye view of the bustling activity taking place on Travertine Road. "Who needs television when you've got life to watch?"
Suffice it to say Lori's good nature shines through all her efforts, as she makes life better for all those she knows. Lori makes a new friend who assists her in her quest, while she assists him to recover from depression and open up to people.
The generosity afforded by wealth is laid on rather thick, but it's a sweet story regardless.
Annelise took the twins home, after somehow convincing them that Thunder and Storm would sleep more soundly if they didn't have two little boys staring fixedly at them all night.
I stopped reading newspapers years ago and I never watch the television news. Endless stories about heart-rending catastrophes occurring all around the globe...the relentless barrage of tragedy just wore me down, filled me with despair. Large scale grief made me feel small and weak and useless, incapable of ever helping anyone.
Lori is (in her own words) "stinking rich", as we are reminded many times in the story, especially near the end. She lives a Cinderella happy-ever-after life. ...no financial worries whatsoever. I'd inherited a fortune from my late mother's closest friend, and my husband Bill had been born into a well-heeled Boston Brahmin clan, so I was able to give spanking sums to charity, and I did.
Instead of gnashing my teeth over the cruel impossibility of curing the world's ills, I set my sights on curing ills closer to home. Not in a flashy show-off way, hostessing fellow rich folks at sumptuous benefit banquets. No indeed. Lori has roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-to-work initiative. She makes beds at a homeless shelter, and visits terminal patients at the hospital who don't get visitors.
I wasn't always Suzy Sunshine, pirouettting through the village with a basket of good cheer. I had grouchy days and lazy days and days when I did nothing but shop for shoes.
One such hospital patient is Elizabeth Beacham. Lori enjoys chatting with her about life in rural Finch, stories of her twins and their escapades, tales of the quirky personalities she enjoys in the men at the homeless shelter. Lori looks forward to many bedside chats. But it was not to be. "Her mortality never crossed my mind," I said dejectedly.
Now Lori has a mission: find Elizabeth's brother Kenneth. And follow Elizabeth's last wishes regarding her flat. The view from the balcony was surprisingly panoramic. I had a birds-eye view of the bustling activity taking place on Travertine Road. "Who needs television when you've got life to watch?"
Suffice it to say Lori's good nature shines through all her efforts, as she makes life better for all those she knows. Lori makes a new friend who assists her in her quest, while she assists him to recover from depression and open up to people.
The generosity afforded by wealth is laid on rather thick, but it's a sweet story regardless.
Annelise took the twins home, after somehow convincing them that Thunder and Storm would sleep more soundly if they didn't have two little boys staring fixedly at them all night.
November 27, 2024
This is my first sampling of Nancy Atherton's long-running Aunt Dimity series. It amuses me that the Aunt in every book title is not actually a character, since she was deceased before the series actually began, but readers of the series will know about that. Anyone else will have to find a book to discover the core focus of this cozy series (it has zero to do with food, beverages, baking or handicrafts).
Lori Shepherd is an American transplant to the village of Finch, not too far distant from the sleeping spires of Oxford, England. Now happily married to solicitor Bill and with two active twin boys, Lori has settled into her life as wife, mum, church lady and volunteer to assorted charitable organizations. One of her newer efforts is as a hospital visitor to patients who have no family. In this guise, Lori meets Miss Beacham, a lady of indeterminate years but facing a terminal diagnosis.
In a few short visits, Lori becomes quite attached to Miss Beacham, who encourages Lori to share all the details of her life, family, and friends in and around Finch. When Miss Beacham dies overnight, Lori is stricken... even more so when Miss Beacham's solicitor sends a letter from the late lady, with the keys to Miss Beacham's apartment and an invitation to "anything she fancies" as a thank you for Lori's visits and friendship. Miss Beacham's residence proves to be stuffed with priceless antiques and gorgeous furnishings... as well as a photo album about Miss Beacham's brother, Kenneth, and a well-loved but sad toy hedgehog, Hamish. Why hadn't Kenneth come to see his dying sister?
Lori soon finds she is not the only beneficiary of Miss Beacham's apparently considerable fortune. Many of Finch's residents whom Lori mentioned in her stories have received unexpected bequests. And as she explores the area around Miss Beacham's apartment, she learns the tradespeople who knew her have also received bequests. Soon Lori has engaged Miss Beacham's downstairs neighbor, portrait painter Gabriel (who knew Miss Beacham only through his cat) on a hunt for Miss Beacham's surviving relation– her missing brother Kenneth, whom no one seems to know anything about.
This was a nice opener into the series for, introducing numerous regular characters, and a few new ones, and giving me a small taste of Aunt Dimity's wise guidance. I enjoyed the writing, with its light-hearted touch, and caring characters looking out for each other. Atherton's books are about finding and building community. Very heart-warming.
Lori Shepherd is an American transplant to the village of Finch, not too far distant from the sleeping spires of Oxford, England. Now happily married to solicitor Bill and with two active twin boys, Lori has settled into her life as wife, mum, church lady and volunteer to assorted charitable organizations. One of her newer efforts is as a hospital visitor to patients who have no family. In this guise, Lori meets Miss Beacham, a lady of indeterminate years but facing a terminal diagnosis.
In a few short visits, Lori becomes quite attached to Miss Beacham, who encourages Lori to share all the details of her life, family, and friends in and around Finch. When Miss Beacham dies overnight, Lori is stricken... even more so when Miss Beacham's solicitor sends a letter from the late lady, with the keys to Miss Beacham's apartment and an invitation to "anything she fancies" as a thank you for Lori's visits and friendship. Miss Beacham's residence proves to be stuffed with priceless antiques and gorgeous furnishings... as well as a photo album about Miss Beacham's brother, Kenneth, and a well-loved but sad toy hedgehog, Hamish. Why hadn't Kenneth come to see his dying sister?
Lori soon finds she is not the only beneficiary of Miss Beacham's apparently considerable fortune. Many of Finch's residents whom Lori mentioned in her stories have received unexpected bequests. And as she explores the area around Miss Beacham's apartment, she learns the tradespeople who knew her have also received bequests. Soon Lori has engaged Miss Beacham's downstairs neighbor, portrait painter Gabriel (who knew Miss Beacham only through his cat) on a hunt for Miss Beacham's surviving relation– her missing brother Kenneth, whom no one seems to know anything about.
This was a nice opener into the series for, introducing numerous regular characters, and a few new ones, and giving me a small taste of Aunt Dimity's wise guidance. I enjoyed the writing, with its light-hearted touch, and caring characters looking out for each other. Atherton's books are about finding and building community. Very heart-warming.
December 30, 2021
Lori Shepherd decides she needs an extra-curricular activity to her busy life of wife and mother to two busy five year-old twin boys. She becomes a volunteer at the Radcliffe Infirmary. Instead of assisting the staff, she creates a job of freelance visitor. Pushing a book-cart with a varied selection, she visits the patients. Her specialty is the ones who have no family or friends visiting them. She spends time listening and talking with them.
When she meets Elizabeth Beacham, something clicks and a friendship is born. Miss Beacham turns the tables and is more interested about hearing of Lori’s life than talking about her own. Lori is more than happy to talk about life with twin boys, a husband and life in a small village.
When Lori returns for a fifth visit, she finds Miss Beacham has passed away. She is also contacted by Miss Beacham’s solicitor regarding the estate.
Lori learns that Miss Beacham has a brother, but where he is or why he hasn’t come to visit is a puzzle. It turns out to be a part of a larger puzzle — one that Miss Beacham has asked Lori to solve.
A missing brother, a missing Hamish — whatever that is, an unexpectedly elegant estate and the story of Miss Beacham’s life — a life that is decidedly not what Lori expected.
Lori searches for the pieces and puts them together with help from Aunt Dimity and Dimity’s blue journal.
Another delightful, cozy read from the Aunt Dimity series.
When she meets Elizabeth Beacham, something clicks and a friendship is born. Miss Beacham turns the tables and is more interested about hearing of Lori’s life than talking about her own. Lori is more than happy to talk about life with twin boys, a husband and life in a small village.
When Lori returns for a fifth visit, she finds Miss Beacham has passed away. She is also contacted by Miss Beacham’s solicitor regarding the estate.
Lori learns that Miss Beacham has a brother, but where he is or why he hasn’t come to visit is a puzzle. It turns out to be a part of a larger puzzle — one that Miss Beacham has asked Lori to solve.
A missing brother, a missing Hamish — whatever that is, an unexpectedly elegant estate and the story of Miss Beacham’s life — a life that is decidedly not what Lori expected.
Lori searches for the pieces and puts them together with help from Aunt Dimity and Dimity’s blue journal.
Another delightful, cozy read from the Aunt Dimity series.
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