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Aunt Dimity Mystery #12
Aunt Dimity Goes West
Everyone's favorite sleuth heads to the Rocky Mountains in the twelfth installment of Nancy Atherton's cozy mystery series Lori Sheppard barely survived her last adventure in Scotland before she's off on her next. This time in the mountain town of Bluebird, Colorado. No sooner than she's arrived do things start to go amiss. Someone has mysteriously disappeared, a charming and charismatic man seems to know more than he's letting on, and the whole town is hiding a dark secret. With Aunt Dimity's help, Lori sets out to solve a hundred-year-old mystery and discovers in the process that sometimes the strangest places can seem the most like home.
Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series has charmed its way into the hearts of mystery fans through eleven installments. In "Aunt Dimity Goes West," Atherton's vivid storytelling and knack for bringing a setting to life will have fans lassoed to their chairs and guessing to the very end.
Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series has charmed its way into the hearts of mystery fans through eleven installments. In "Aunt Dimity Goes West," Atherton's vivid storytelling and knack for bringing a setting to life will have fans lassoed to their chairs and guessing to the very end.
228 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Nancy Atherton
82 books1,189 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 173 reviews
July 8, 2009
Perhaps it's just me, but I'm finding the Aunt Dimity books to be going rather downhill. They are growing painfully formulaic, and what sympathy I once had for Lori is about gone. She's become an idiot, and Bill should dump her into a sanatorium for an extended stay.
I may pick up some others when they're on the cut-out shelves and cheaper than paperbacks, but unless Atherton suddenly starts producing plots that make suspending disbelief a little more tempting, I may just go immerse myself in science fiction for a while.
I may pick up some others when they're on the cut-out shelves and cheaper than paperbacks, but unless Atherton suddenly starts producing plots that make suspending disbelief a little more tempting, I may just go immerse myself in science fiction for a while.
February 14, 2024
I fell in love with Nancy Atherton’s unique premise and loveable characters, even though they have never been very paranormal. Starting in August 2011, I gave 5 stars to all but one book, until volume 8. Quality has varied since then. Similar to increasing my faith by leaving religion, I improved the suspense and depth of my reading by choosing “standard mystery”. In my breaks between these novels, my tolerance for the fluffy focus of most “cozy mysteries” bottomed out. Humour is different from silliness. Antics merely to be quirky should not interfere with a mystery’s ability to be compelling.
“Aunt Dimity Goes West” 2007, unfortunately began with Lori’s exaggerated reactions, which have worn thin for veteran readers especially. An American born and bred among the downtrodden in Chicago, would not flinch over a vacation in the hills, prior to seeing their accommodations.
I love her delight in her intelligent Sons. I appreciate that Lori realistically overcomes the terror and injury from events in volume #11.
My patience is gone for authors who use “have got” contractions. I will also enjoy these more if Bill partners with Lori. How many books are there, of beloved spouses solving mysteries? Even Charlotte Pitt does not work directly with Thomas.
An annoying note was a 21 year-old kid, hired as the cottage caretaker, too often giving an opinion and scoffing at superstitions. This novel was SUPPOSED to be paranormal. Worse, he stiflingly went with Lori into every room. NO ONE DOES THAT. Read a damn book!
About 60% into the story, the trajectory switched and became intriguing. I wish the mystery had pertained to the sunken town and that we had visited it. Another spirit BOOSTED THE MYSTICISM, which is exactly what this series needs! The end culminated in satisfying suspense and relief.
“Aunt Dimity Goes West” 2007, unfortunately began with Lori’s exaggerated reactions, which have worn thin for veteran readers especially. An American born and bred among the downtrodden in Chicago, would not flinch over a vacation in the hills, prior to seeing their accommodations.
I love her delight in her intelligent Sons. I appreciate that Lori realistically overcomes the terror and injury from events in volume #11.
My patience is gone for authors who use “have got” contractions. I will also enjoy these more if Bill partners with Lori. How many books are there, of beloved spouses solving mysteries? Even Charlotte Pitt does not work directly with Thomas.
An annoying note was a 21 year-old kid, hired as the cottage caretaker, too often giving an opinion and scoffing at superstitions. This novel was SUPPOSED to be paranormal. Worse, he stiflingly went with Lori into every room. NO ONE DOES THAT. Read a damn book!
About 60% into the story, the trajectory switched and became intriguing. I wish the mystery had pertained to the sunken town and that we had visited it. Another spirit BOOSTED THE MYSTICISM, which is exactly what this series needs! The end culminated in satisfying suspense and relief.
March 3, 2025
Atherton is always good for a light diversion, and this one made me miss my mountains.
July 25, 2023
3.5 stars
With Lori still having nightmares after being shot by a homicidal maniac, Bill decides what Lori needs is a change of scene. He arranges for Lori, Anneliese and the twins to go on vacation to the beautiful town of Bluebird, Colorado high in the Rocky Mountains where a wealthy client has a vacation cabin. Lori frets about not having basic amenities but can't bring herself to complain. Her fears are unfounded, however, when they arrive to discover a real live treehouse in the woods complete with caretaker and everything they need! The town is populated by Finch's doubles and Lori feels at ease. Not even the previous caretaker's abrupt departure or rumors of a curse can dampen her enthusiasm for Bluebird. The twins are having the time of their lives and the nightmares have vanished. Lori is determined to get to the bottom of the curse story and find out why the caretaker left. Help comes from Dimity and another surprising source. Can she solve the mystery before the owners sell their beloved vacation home or will another homicidal maniac appear to threaten her babies?
This story took awhile to get into but once the curse plot appeared and they started digging into the history of the town, I was hooked. I stayed up late reading the first half of the novel. The description of the Colorado Rockies and the small town is so amazing! I feel like I was there. I did not enjoy how just about everyone in the town not only was a double of the residents of Finch, their names were similar too. I thought I knew what the mystery was all about but there sure was a major surprise. I only figured it out at the last minute just as Lori and Toby are about to face the villain. The presence of a second ghost, and an Englishman at that, was a little silly.
Lori is a strange character. One minute she's letting her kids go off on adventures and then the next she turns into a helicopter mom. OF COURSE Bill can't go with her on this latest adventure and OF COURSE there's a handsome young man for her to admire. She has another good excuse this time, at least. I know she loves Bill, he's wonderful, but he really needs to take time off work to have adventures with his family. They could sleuth together. Lori's obsession with the doppelgängers in Bluebird is also weird. I agree with Aunt Dimity or I would if these people didn't happen to look the same and have similar names. That's weird. Lori stays pretty level-headed in this story though. There were a few moments when I thought she might forget she's married but Toby is so much younger, he probably would be embarrassed and confused.
The twins are having the time of their lives in a real live treehouse with daily riding at a dude ranch. I don't understand why they have to wear their English riding gear. After that first day they should have wanted to be cowboys and wear jeans and flannel shirts. They're confusing children. They're also lumped together and neither has an individual personality or interests yet. Twins aren't clones, they usually have differences and Will and Rob are interchangeable at this point. I was happy Aunt Dimity came along for the adventure. It was fun to see her call out Lori's tendency to jump to conclusions, like a kangaroo. If conclusion jumping were an Olympic sport, Lori would have a gold medal. It was unusual for Dimity to be so worried about Lori though. Usually she's a steady, calm influence.
James Blackwell, the previous caretaker, disappeared without a trace after only a few months employment. What happened to him and why? Did he abscond with some forbidden gold? Did he leave because he was scared of the curse? Lori is determined to think the best of everyone and not condemn the man without knowing the truth. The truth was surprising and not all that interesting. The present caretaker is Toby Cooper, a college student from the city who spent his summers with his grandparents exploring Bluebird and the great outdoors. Because of his family connection, he's considered a local and knows the land and the people. He's a very sweet and earnest young man. He knows how to deal with the twins and Lori equally and doesn't fall in love with Anneliese. Toby has a very calming presence but he does display a bit of an uncontrolled temper at times.
The locals include Brett Whitcombe, chief wrangler at the Brockman ranch. Lori thinks he's Kit's double and is obsessed with his dramatic love story because it mirrors Kit and Nell. (How did Nell get to be 18 already?!) Brett doesn't seem as saintly as Kit though and doesn't care much for genealogy. He's good with the twins, helping them with their riding lessons. Carrie Vyne, proprietor of the local cafe, is an amazing cook. She can bake English scones or cookies or sandwiches with homemade bread. Reading this made me hungry! She also enjoys gossip, maybe not as much as Sally Pyne, but she knows everything that goes on in town. Rufe and Lou Zimmer are the male equivalents of the Pym sisters. That's a little too much to be believable. Lori doesn't think to go accost them for the juicy stories from the past. Rose Blanding is the pastor's wife and local historian. I resent the way everyone rolls their eyes and groans about getting an earful about local history from her. That's important and she's doing a great service. I want to like her for being a historian but there's something off-putting about her. She's a little prim and proper and I happen to agree with Amanda's assessment of Sunday School. Maggie Flaxton is the Peggy Taxman of Bluebird. I'm not sure what her story is but she bullies everyone into community participation. Again, that's a good kind of bullying.
Dick Major is a bully plain and simple. Not the good kind of bully like Peggy Taxman and her double but a pain in the behind, nasty, mean bully. He belittled and bullied James to no end. Is that why James left town? I have my suspicions about why he's the worst neighbor and such a bully. I think he started the curse rumors to get his hands on the Aerie property. I think he's an evil developer in disguise. Or he wants the abandoned Lord Stuart mine for cheap because he thinks or knows there's gold left inside. Amanda Barrow, the town's resident hippie, is nothing like Miranda Morrow. I like Miranda because she has a sense of humor about her profession and is kind of smug and superior to the locals. Amanda is a quackpot. She reminds me of Sybil Trelawny in the Harry Potter books. Amanda is not just a hippie but also a psychic, medium and witch. Or she thinks she is. She even has a black cat for good measure. This woman is horrible and she does more harm than good with her hocus pocus stuff. Could she be a clever villain or just someone who likes attention? Is she actually a medium? I have my suspicions about her revelations. Given her personality, I think I don't dislike her as much as Lori and Toby do but I don't like her much either.
Danny Auberbach, owner of the Aerie, sounds like a decent man but why wouldn't he hire a married caretaker? Is he as careless of his employees as his ancestor? It doesn't seem that way but it's kind of odd that he would have that requirement. His wife and daughter seem pretty silly to me, especially his wife. I think she's pushing to sell because she wants more civilization and is using the curse as an excuse.
This book was a fun adventure for a bit of light reading. I was surprised the cookies were called "Calico Cookies" because I have heard them called the perfect name "Cowboy Cookies." (Also "Everything but the kitchen sink.") Please include the coconut and omit the nuts and almond! Coconut is yummy, almond is not.
Back in 1896, the Lord Stuart Mine on the Auerbach property collapsed with 20 miners inside. The schoolmaster, Cyril Pennyfeather, tried to save his pupils but none survived and he lost his own life trying. He's a local hero and celebrated with a monument in the cemetery. His story is intertwined with the mystery. Did the mine close because it collapsed due to cheap construction? Did it close because the miners quit after the accident? Or did it just get played out and there's no more gold? Cyril Pennyfeather holds the key to that mystery but he's been dead for over 100 years! How else to figure things out? Archives! There's a box of archival material and a photo that freaks Lori out. A ha! Could Abaddon have an ancestor who tried to strike it rich in Colorado or was there another crazed homicidal maniac in Bluebird in 1896? Let's hope he didn't have descendants.
With Lori still having nightmares after being shot by a homicidal maniac, Bill decides what Lori needs is a change of scene. He arranges for Lori, Anneliese and the twins to go on vacation to the beautiful town of Bluebird, Colorado high in the Rocky Mountains where a wealthy client has a vacation cabin. Lori frets about not having basic amenities but can't bring herself to complain. Her fears are unfounded, however, when they arrive to discover a real live treehouse in the woods complete with caretaker and everything they need! The town is populated by Finch's doubles and Lori feels at ease. Not even the previous caretaker's abrupt departure or rumors of a curse can dampen her enthusiasm for Bluebird. The twins are having the time of their lives and the nightmares have vanished. Lori is determined to get to the bottom of the curse story and find out why the caretaker left. Help comes from Dimity and another surprising source. Can she solve the mystery before the owners sell their beloved vacation home or will another homicidal maniac appear to threaten her babies?
This story took awhile to get into but once the curse plot appeared and they started digging into the history of the town, I was hooked. I stayed up late reading the first half of the novel. The description of the Colorado Rockies and the small town is so amazing! I feel like I was there. I did not enjoy how just about everyone in the town not only was a double of the residents of Finch, their names were similar too. I thought I knew what the mystery was all about but there sure was a major surprise. I only figured it out at the last minute just as Lori and Toby are about to face the villain. The presence of a second ghost, and an Englishman at that, was a little silly.
Lori is a strange character. One minute she's letting her kids go off on adventures and then the next she turns into a helicopter mom. OF COURSE Bill can't go with her on this latest adventure and OF COURSE there's a handsome young man for her to admire. She has another good excuse this time, at least. I know she loves Bill, he's wonderful, but he really needs to take time off work to have adventures with his family. They could sleuth together. Lori's obsession with the doppelgängers in Bluebird is also weird. I agree with Aunt Dimity or I would if these people didn't happen to look the same and have similar names. That's weird. Lori stays pretty level-headed in this story though. There were a few moments when I thought she might forget she's married but Toby is so much younger, he probably would be embarrassed and confused.
The twins are having the time of their lives in a real live treehouse with daily riding at a dude ranch. I don't understand why they have to wear their English riding gear. After that first day they should have wanted to be cowboys and wear jeans and flannel shirts. They're confusing children. They're also lumped together and neither has an individual personality or interests yet. Twins aren't clones, they usually have differences and Will and Rob are interchangeable at this point. I was happy Aunt Dimity came along for the adventure. It was fun to see her call out Lori's tendency to jump to conclusions, like a kangaroo. If conclusion jumping were an Olympic sport, Lori would have a gold medal. It was unusual for Dimity to be so worried about Lori though. Usually she's a steady, calm influence.
James Blackwell, the previous caretaker, disappeared without a trace after only a few months employment. What happened to him and why? Did he abscond with some forbidden gold? Did he leave because he was scared of the curse? Lori is determined to think the best of everyone and not condemn the man without knowing the truth. The truth was surprising and not all that interesting. The present caretaker is Toby Cooper, a college student from the city who spent his summers with his grandparents exploring Bluebird and the great outdoors. Because of his family connection, he's considered a local and knows the land and the people. He's a very sweet and earnest young man. He knows how to deal with the twins and Lori equally and doesn't fall in love with Anneliese. Toby has a very calming presence but he does display a bit of an uncontrolled temper at times.
The locals include Brett Whitcombe, chief wrangler at the Brockman ranch. Lori thinks he's Kit's double and is obsessed with his dramatic love story because it mirrors Kit and Nell. (How did Nell get to be 18 already?!) Brett doesn't seem as saintly as Kit though and doesn't care much for genealogy. He's good with the twins, helping them with their riding lessons. Carrie Vyne, proprietor of the local cafe, is an amazing cook. She can bake English scones or cookies or sandwiches with homemade bread. Reading this made me hungry! She also enjoys gossip, maybe not as much as Sally Pyne, but she knows everything that goes on in town. Rufe and Lou Zimmer are the male equivalents of the Pym sisters. That's a little too much to be believable. Lori doesn't think to go accost them for the juicy stories from the past. Rose Blanding is the pastor's wife and local historian. I resent the way everyone rolls their eyes and groans about getting an earful about local history from her. That's important and she's doing a great service. I want to like her for being a historian but there's something off-putting about her. She's a little prim and proper and I happen to agree with Amanda's assessment of Sunday School. Maggie Flaxton is the Peggy Taxman of Bluebird. I'm not sure what her story is but she bullies everyone into community participation. Again, that's a good kind of bullying.
Dick Major is a bully plain and simple. Not the good kind of bully like Peggy Taxman and her double but a pain in the behind, nasty, mean bully. He belittled and bullied James to no end. Is that why James left town? I have my suspicions about why he's the worst neighbor and such a bully. I think he started the curse rumors to get his hands on the Aerie property. I think he's an evil developer in disguise. Or he wants the abandoned Lord Stuart mine for cheap because he thinks or knows there's gold left inside. Amanda Barrow, the town's resident hippie, is nothing like Miranda Morrow. I like Miranda because she has a sense of humor about her profession and is kind of smug and superior to the locals. Amanda is a quackpot. She reminds me of Sybil Trelawny in the Harry Potter books. Amanda is not just a hippie but also a psychic, medium and witch. Or she thinks she is. She even has a black cat for good measure. This woman is horrible and she does more harm than good with her hocus pocus stuff. Could she be a clever villain or just someone who likes attention? Is she actually a medium? I have my suspicions about her revelations. Given her personality, I think I don't dislike her as much as Lori and Toby do but I don't like her much either.
Danny Auberbach, owner of the Aerie, sounds like a decent man but why wouldn't he hire a married caretaker? Is he as careless of his employees as his ancestor? It doesn't seem that way but it's kind of odd that he would have that requirement. His wife and daughter seem pretty silly to me, especially his wife. I think she's pushing to sell because she wants more civilization and is using the curse as an excuse.
This book was a fun adventure for a bit of light reading. I was surprised the cookies were called "Calico Cookies" because I have heard them called the perfect name "Cowboy Cookies." (Also "Everything but the kitchen sink.") Please include the coconut and omit the nuts and almond! Coconut is yummy, almond is not.
Back in 1896, the Lord Stuart Mine on the Auerbach property collapsed with 20 miners inside. The schoolmaster, Cyril Pennyfeather, tried to save his pupils but none survived and he lost his own life trying. He's a local hero and celebrated with a monument in the cemetery. His story is intertwined with the mystery. Did the mine close because it collapsed due to cheap construction? Did it close because the miners quit after the accident? Or did it just get played out and there's no more gold? Cyril Pennyfeather holds the key to that mystery but he's been dead for over 100 years! How else to figure things out? Archives! There's a box of archival material and a photo that freaks Lori out. A ha! Could Abaddon have an ancestor who tried to strike it rich in Colorado or was there another crazed homicidal maniac in Bluebird in 1896? Let's hope he didn't have descendants.
August 7, 2017
This is the second Aunt Dimity that I've actually abandoned at partially through. I read to about page 80 but I'm so sick of Lori's extramarital wanderings that I had to let it go. Lori's crush on 21 year old Toby is not cute, funny, or endearing. It's disgusting---for many reasons, but most obviously because this whole vacation was her faithful husband Bill's idea in the first place. We're not dealing with a silly school girl...isn't she like 40 or something? Please. Any concessions I gave Lori in the last book---one I actually enjoyed---have now been revoked. In this story, Lori has found a "clone" for every Finch person in those she meets in Colorado. I think introducing a clone for her husband is going a little too far---especially since the author has created these people as church-going people of faith. Ugh. I think I need another break from this series.
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.
November 10, 2010
I thought the prospect of solving mysteries with otherworldly guidance would be an interesting twist to a classic genre. Sadly, I was mistaken. The book was filled with typographical errors (publisher's issue, in my view). So, that was annoying. But the more irritating part was that the book was more of a modern day Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys mystery. Personally, I believe these books should be relocated from the mystery section of bookstores to the young adults section. I guess I should not be too harsh about this series as the author has published 13 books, I believe. So, someone out there likes them. That person just does not happen to be me. Unfortunately, I picked up an additional Aunt Dimity book when I purchased this one. So, I'll be reading that one at some point. It would be great to draw an alternative conclusion but I believe I have her format down...
January 7, 2019
Not my favourite of the series. I think I prefer the ones set in England. It wasn’t bad and a lot of the coziness was there. But Dimity seemed grumpy as did Annilese. I did like the history and the happily ever after these books always bring.
April 3, 2017
Remains one of my go-to series for when I need cheering up.
February 11, 2023
More of a 3.5 than 4 stars but I’m feeling generous. My last few books were disappointing so I grabbed this for my next one. I figured I could rely on Atherton to give me a good experience and I was right. I pretty much figured whodunit. No, I’m not telling! Read and find out yourself if you can figure it out! I did get distracted at one point and I certainly didn’t figure out or expect some of the plot points. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story thoroughly and can’t wait to read the next in the series! I do suggest reading this series in order. You cannot really understand Lori’s reactions without the prior book in the series.
July 9, 2019
Aunt Dimity rides again -- this time in Colorado. Lori and the boys and faithful nanny Annelise spend the summer in the Rockies, hiking, fishing, roasting marshmallows, riding horses, and recuperating from their brush with a madman in Scotland. Of course, if Lori, Aunt Dimity, and Reginald the bunny are there, a mystery is guaranteed to be close by. I enjoyed the trip to Bluebird, the mystery of the curse, and meeting Cyril Pennyfeather. The doppelganger angle was amusing, although I think it was exaggerated by Lori. And, best of all, they all lived happily ever after again.
May 23, 2021
Another fun, if over the top, tale of mysterious happenings with a bit of danger mixed in. Aunt Dimity proves, as always, to be a good sounding board and source of advice for Lori as she tries to make sense of it all.
October 22, 2024
The Aunt Dimity books are always a lot of fun. I'm honestly torn on the setting change for this one. On one hand, I was super excited to see Lori and Dimity move to Colorado for a short stay. BUT, the characterization of the local characters became a little annoying. It tended to pull me out of the story every time Lori compared the characters to people at home and it felt a little lazy. While also showing that people aren't that different, even if they are from different countries and backgrounds. It was just...weird to me.
Still liked the book and the story.
Still liked the book and the story.
August 2, 2012
Aunt Dimity does it again! This is such a sweet, fun enjoyable series, and I get the next Aunt Dimity when I just want something light and unique with a bit of a mystery. Nancy Atherton never disappoints me!
Having survived her near-death encounter with a crazed mad-man on a secluded Scottish island, Lori is back in Finch but dealing with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Troubled by nightmares, terrified of thunderstorms and barely able to function, Bill decides a drastic change of scenery is needed.
Lori, the twins and nanny-extraordinaire Anneliese are sent off to Bluebird Colorado to vacation in the mountain "cabin" of one of Bill's clients. Envisioning a shack with an out-house, Lori is delighted to discover a spectacular mountain get-away with every luxury one could imagine.
Lori, Anneliese and the boys take to clean mountain air and horses and exercise, but before long, the local townspeople start telling Lori tales about how the cabin is cursed. Given Lori's nightly conversations with Aunt Dimity, who can always sense any evil in any building immediately if it is present, Lori discounts the stories as small-town supersition. But odd things keep happening, and before long Lori's off and investigating, despite all recommendations against it.
This was a fun change of scenery for Lori and family, and there is a clever connection made between the folks of Bluebird and those back home in England. I figured out what was going on slightly before the book revealed it, but the Aunt Dimity books are never about the mystery, as much as they are about beloved characters that you cannot wait to revisit and catch up with in each new story. All the characters you love in ther series are here, and as always some characters specific to this story are introduced to add favour and spice.
Having survived her near-death encounter with a crazed mad-man on a secluded Scottish island, Lori is back in Finch but dealing with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Troubled by nightmares, terrified of thunderstorms and barely able to function, Bill decides a drastic change of scenery is needed.
Lori, the twins and nanny-extraordinaire Anneliese are sent off to Bluebird Colorado to vacation in the mountain "cabin" of one of Bill's clients. Envisioning a shack with an out-house, Lori is delighted to discover a spectacular mountain get-away with every luxury one could imagine.
Lori, Anneliese and the boys take to clean mountain air and horses and exercise, but before long, the local townspeople start telling Lori tales about how the cabin is cursed. Given Lori's nightly conversations with Aunt Dimity, who can always sense any evil in any building immediately if it is present, Lori discounts the stories as small-town supersition. But odd things keep happening, and before long Lori's off and investigating, despite all recommendations against it.
This was a fun change of scenery for Lori and family, and there is a clever connection made between the folks of Bluebird and those back home in England. I figured out what was going on slightly before the book revealed it, but the Aunt Dimity books are never about the mystery, as much as they are about beloved characters that you cannot wait to revisit and catch up with in each new story. All the characters you love in ther series are here, and as always some characters specific to this story are introduced to add favour and spice.
January 22, 2014
I loved the descriptions of Colorado, but the doppelganger bit got old real fast, especially with the names being so similar. Like most people, I don't like to think that there is someone else out there that close to another without being a twin. A unknown twin would have served the plot line better. The history, the introduction of the school teacher who had been dead for a hundred years, and the resolution of the current mystery were wonderful. The twins, as usual, were a treat. I loved their calm use of bad language when they did not have the least idea of what they were saying. So typical. The other thing I didn't like was the re-introduction of Lori being attracted to Toby, a guy fifteen years her junior. At this point, it just got ridiculous. The Auerbachs, who never actually enter the story other than through hearsay, were wonderful characters, and I was very happy that James and his wife ended up with them and that they did not sell their Colorado property. Hopefully Toby will come back into the story at some future date, but without the underlying attraction. Good grief. Is Lori never going to grow up?
August 11, 2014
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
October 11, 2011
I picked this book, and another Aunt Dimity, up in a sale and had never hear do her. I was pleasantly surprised by both books and enjoyed their quite different gentler mysteries. The Aunt Dimity character is certainly an original.
I would recommend this series of books to anyone who wants a light entertaining read with no gore or distress, though there was a touch of scary spookiness in both the books, the other was Aunt Dimity: Snowbound: Snowbound (Aunt Dimity Mystery), that I have read.Aunt Dimity Goes West
I would recommend this series of books to anyone who wants a light entertaining read with no gore or distress, though there was a touch of scary spookiness in both the books, the other was Aunt Dimity: Snowbound: Snowbound (Aunt Dimity Mystery), that I have read.Aunt Dimity Goes West
May 24, 2017
I enjoyed this one much more than the last one I read. There was an honest to God mystery and it was actually suspenseful and interesting and I really liked Toby and hope he shows up in a future installment.
June 27, 2018
Another good one
I just finished this and really enjoyed it. As usual, both Lori and I were wrong about what was going on! I have found that, while I like all the Aunt Dimity books, some I like better than others. This is one of the better stories.
I just finished this and really enjoyed it. As usual, both Lori and I were wrong about what was going on! I have found that, while I like all the Aunt Dimity books, some I like better than others. This is one of the better stories.
June 6, 2008
These books are getting too predictable. Okay read but not that good. At least Lori doesn't get herself in too deep.
March 5, 2010
This was my 1st experience with this series (#12 of her series). I am interested in trying an earlier work. I thought it was a fun read --- I consider this a beach or before bed book.
December 13, 2010
This installment was slow and a little boring. It wasn't as much fun to read as some installments of this series which I have read.
October 3, 2016
Another good addition to the series. Liked the setting in this one.
January 23, 2023
Another comfort rereading -how similar can a small town in Colorado be to a small town in England? More than you think.
January 18, 2022
Years ago I had a book column in the company newsletter. Not book reviews but "Something to think about . . . " from a book. I came across a column featuring this book so I thought I would include it here:
In this work of fiction the main character, Lori, panics during a thunderstorm. She then must admit to a new acquaintance that only six weeks before she had run out into a thunderstorm to stop a kidnapper from taking her twin boys, and the kidnapper had shot her.
"I don't want people who don't know me to think I'm weak."
"Weak?" Toby gave a short, incredulous laugh. "You took a bullet to save your children. You nearly bled to death for them. You're one of the bravest people I've ever met."
"Brave people aren't afraid of thunderstorms," Lori said.
"Wounded people are afraid of all kinds of things," he countered swiftly. "But wounds heal. You won't always be afraid of thunderstorms. But you'll always be brave."
When experiencing a challenge in life, we sometimes increase the difficulty by beating ourselves up just for being a part of the experience. But problems are a natural part of life; they show us what we need to learn.
We learn as we work through problems, and those lessons will stay with us. Accept challenges as growth experiences, and work through them patiently. Then appreciate the strength, understanding and other lasting benefits that you have earned.
In this work of fiction the main character, Lori, panics during a thunderstorm. She then must admit to a new acquaintance that only six weeks before she had run out into a thunderstorm to stop a kidnapper from taking her twin boys, and the kidnapper had shot her.
"I don't want people who don't know me to think I'm weak."
"Weak?" Toby gave a short, incredulous laugh. "You took a bullet to save your children. You nearly bled to death for them. You're one of the bravest people I've ever met."
"Brave people aren't afraid of thunderstorms," Lori said.
"Wounded people are afraid of all kinds of things," he countered swiftly. "But wounds heal. You won't always be afraid of thunderstorms. But you'll always be brave."
When experiencing a challenge in life, we sometimes increase the difficulty by beating ourselves up just for being a part of the experience. But problems are a natural part of life; they show us what we need to learn.
We learn as we work through problems, and those lessons will stay with us. Accept challenges as growth experiences, and work through them patiently. Then appreciate the strength, understanding and other lasting benefits that you have earned.
August 22, 2020
It's been ages -- since before I moved to Connecticut, in fact -- since I read an Aunt Dimity mystery. After spending a delightful few nights reading this one I can't help but wonder why? Why in the world did I stop reading this series?
I think that a very little bit of investigating has given me the answer: I'd read through everything that was out in paperback before I moved and, once living here, didn't have easy access to a store with an extensive mystery section. Even so, there was a library and I could order things, so why didn't I order these? I may never be able to explain this foolishness. On the bright side, I have 12 unread books to enjoy now! And I have no doubt that I will!
For those of you who haven't yet met Lori Shepherd and her Aunt Dimity, both characters are absolutely wonderful, as is every page Atherton writes about them. These are true cozy mysteries: lots of speculating but very little violence or blood, if any. These are the kind of books you dream about reading before falling asleep, or while sitting in a chair in front of a warming fireplace, or while sipping a mug of hot chocolate to try to quiet your mind. Books that wrap you in a warm blanket -- or a warm hug -- and remind you that everything really can be okay.
I think that a very little bit of investigating has given me the answer: I'd read through everything that was out in paperback before I moved and, once living here, didn't have easy access to a store with an extensive mystery section. Even so, there was a library and I could order things, so why didn't I order these? I may never be able to explain this foolishness. On the bright side, I have 12 unread books to enjoy now! And I have no doubt that I will!
For those of you who haven't yet met Lori Shepherd and her Aunt Dimity, both characters are absolutely wonderful, as is every page Atherton writes about them. These are true cozy mysteries: lots of speculating but very little violence or blood, if any. These are the kind of books you dream about reading before falling asleep, or while sitting in a chair in front of a warming fireplace, or while sipping a mug of hot chocolate to try to quiet your mind. Books that wrap you in a warm blanket -- or a warm hug -- and remind you that everything really can be okay.
January 25, 2019
In the previous tale in this series, Lori is chased by a madman and shot. We start with here several months into recovery and not really succeeding. As pointed out, Lori is headstrong, opinionated, jumps to conclusions and is always right. Wrong!
To help her recovery, Bill arranges for Lori, the twins and Annalise to stay at a cabin in Colorado. She starts to imagine all kinds of dangers - as she always does - and dreads the trip. Upon her arrival she starts to learn that once again she is wrong in almost all of her preconceptions. But there is a danger and as usual she has to react.
This series is very light hearted for the most part but as with the previous tale, there are very serious events.
To help her recovery, Bill arranges for Lori, the twins and Annalise to stay at a cabin in Colorado. She starts to imagine all kinds of dangers - as she always does - and dreads the trip. Upon her arrival she starts to learn that once again she is wrong in almost all of her preconceptions. But there is a danger and as usual she has to react.
This series is very light hearted for the most part but as with the previous tale, there are very serious events.
October 15, 2019
Another great entry in this wonderful series from Nancy Atherton. I thought the story was engrossing and well written. I read it in two days. It's a nice change of pace for me from the main-line mysteries and police procedurals that I usually read. Sometimes you just have to pick up a cozy book, put the coffee on (with maybe a cookie or two ;-), put your feet up and enjoy the adventure. I really like this series and am thrilled there are about a dozen more to go. It's just a charming series populated with endearing characters.
(If you like cozies, I'd also recommend M.C. Beaton's "Hamish MacBeth" series. She also writes the "Agatha Raisin" series, but I personally don't care for that one.)
(If you like cozies, I'd also recommend M.C. Beaton's "Hamish MacBeth" series. She also writes the "Agatha Raisin" series, but I personally don't care for that one.)
January 30, 2024
Yes, I'm on an Aunt Dimity binge. In this installment Lori, the twins and nanny are off to Colorado in hopes the trip will help Lori who is suffering from PTSD after being shot protecting the twins in book #11. Her image of a rustic log cabin couldn't have been more wrong. They will be staying at a beautiful mansion of a log cabin just out side the village of Bluebird. Lori meets villagers who remind her very much of villagers in Finch. Toby, the caretaker of the log cabin shows Lori around the village and old mine site while the boys and Annalise (the nanny) spend time at the nearby ranch. A mystery surrounding an old curse reveals itself and Lori can't resist digging into it. A lovely read :)
March 6, 2018
I'm rounding up a little.
This installment of the Aunt Dimity mysteries is not quite as dark as the preceding, but does have the somewhat welcome realistic touch of showing how the events of that book led to Lori's PTSD. On the other hand, there's a set of quite unrealistic and unexplained facts (though Atherton leaves open the possibility that Lori exaggerates them) that weren't crucial to the story.
As is often the case, we have new interesting characters joining the main series characters, as well as more well-described settings. The mystery is resolved nicely, with no deus ex machina element. Overall, I quite enjoyed the book.
This installment of the Aunt Dimity mysteries is not quite as dark as the preceding, but does have the somewhat welcome realistic touch of showing how the events of that book led to Lori's PTSD. On the other hand, there's a set of quite unrealistic and unexplained facts (though Atherton leaves open the possibility that Lori exaggerates them) that weren't crucial to the story.
As is often the case, we have new interesting characters joining the main series characters, as well as more well-described settings. The mystery is resolved nicely, with no deus ex machina element. Overall, I quite enjoyed the book.
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