Aunt Dimity's Good Deed (An Aunt Dimity Mystery)

Product Details

• Notes: BUY WITH Poise, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and utility to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• ISBN13: 9780140258813
• Equip: New

Description

Nancy Atherton's growing number of fans will certainly be delighted by Aunt Dimity's latest appearance in the honey-colored English cottage she bequeathed to her "niece," Lori Shepherd. Thanks to Aunt Dimity, Lori's life has taken on fairy-tale proportions: she's financially set for life and happily married--or so she thinks. When Lori's plans for a second honeymoon to England with her workaholic husband fall through, she begrudgingly takes along her father-in-law--who promptly disappears, leaving behind a mysterious note. Inspired and guided by the ghost of Aunt Dimity and her inimitable blue journal, Lori's search for the elderly gentleman turns into a harrowing mission to uncover a centuries-old family secret--complicated by mistaken identities, falsified deeds, family feuds, and Lori's unseemly attraction to her husband's beguiling English cousin. In a delightful chase that takes her all over the English countryside, Lori discovers the true meaning of marital bliss, and Nancy Atherton's fans, new and old, will savor a masterpiece of old-fashioned fun.

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Customer Reviews

cute and sweet mystery
The Aunt Dimity books are perfect for relaxing with a cozy mystery book. I've read the first 4 now, and plan to read more when I start back at work and need a break when I get home. It's a nice change from your average mystery book.

2010-08-02 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Aunt Dimity's Good Deed
I became an instant fan with the first Aunt Dimity book. I hated to put the book down and hated even more when I reached the end of the book. These people feel like best friends! Thanks Nancy Atherton for keeping the characters alive with each new book! I am on my third one and am extremely grateful you are continuing to write more! May you live forever!

2010-07-24 | My Grankids G'ma (AZ) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Aunt Dimity Is Back (Book 3)
This book takes off right where the first one leaves off. Aunt Dimity hasn't been back to the little cabin since she was barred under a tree with the love of her life (well their rings anyway). Our main character, Lori, is lonely and missing her husband (who has become a workaholic). They have decided to take a second honeymoon in England when the adventure starts. Lori shows up, Bill stays in the states to work, but Bill's father comes with her. Out of the blue he disappears to dig up the true history on the Willis family and Lori must stop him, with the help of Aunt Dimity of course. This book is a quick fun read with great characters and love is always in the air.

2010-01-01 | Christina Scovel (Los Alamos, NM) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Sometimes happy endings hit a rough patch
At the end of the first novel in this series of paranormal/romance/mystery novels penniless orphan divorcee Lori Shepherd has become an heiress and married her wealthy lawyer Bill Willis and by the epilogue of that novel (AUNT DIMITY'S DEATH), set some years after the events of the novel, she describes her life as busy but happy as she cares for their children. It is a bit of a surprise then when AUNT DIMITY'S GOOD DEED opens two years after the events of the first novel to reveal that Lori has felt the need to arrange a second honeymoon to get Bill's attention. At the last minute Bill though is not able to go and his father William Sr has graciously offered to accompany Lori instead. While Lori adores her father-in-law this is definitely not the romantic trip she had in mind to reconnect with her husband and perhaps even to finally start their family. Little did she know that things were going to get much worse before they got better. First William Sr. disappeared, then Bill became unreachable, then Lori met a long lost relative of Bill's and began to wonder if she had perhaps married the wrong Willis. Supported by her friends and accompanied by the delightful Nell (AUNT DIMITY AND THE DUKE) with Bertie and Reginald and guided by Aunt Dimity, Lori manages to sort out the mysteries, locate her father-in-law and make some wonderful discoveries of her own.

This series of G-rated romance/mystery stories is delightful. The characters are the appeal here, not any mystery puzzles - most readers will be pages ahead of Lori. The on-going story arc is so pronounced that this series needs to be read in order. The stories are gentle, suitable for reading aloud to anyone from a child to an elderly person, interesting enough to hold attentions and no spicy scenes that need to be censored.

2008-11-25 (Trapped in the Midwest) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Endearing characters & engaging stories!
This is my third Aunt Dimity novel. They truly keep getting better! Each one more enjoyable than the last. I can't wait to read the next in the series. Great characterizations! The author has you empathizing with every characater, she draws them with a very full brush. They are all so interesting and unique!

2008-06-09 | F.F. (Hartford, CT USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree

Description

Cozy lovers' favorite otherworldly detective cracks a classic country-house case.

In Atherton's sixteenth mystery, Lori Shepherd returns from Down Under to her normal life in the village of Finch. But Lori's normal quickly becomes anything but.

Her debonair father-in-law has moved to town and is renovating Fairworth House, a grand estate nearby. William Sr. expects a quiet, small-town life, but among the spinsters vying for his attention, shifty servants, and the discovery of a mysterious painting of a family tree in Fairworth's attic, he discovers that life in Finch is anything but quiet. On top of it all, Lori and William are embroiled in a case of deception and false identity by one of Finch's own. It's nothing the plucky Lori can't handle, but once things get truly peculiar at Fairworth-moving furniture, strange sounds, and mysterious visitors-she calls on Aunt Dimity for her otherworldly guidance and uncovers the shadowy past beneath the estate's magnificent surface.

Nancy Atherton's titles continue to delight fans who eagerly anticipate each new book. Her latest will draw cheers and bring new readers to this charming series.

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Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon (Aunt Dimity Mystery)

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780143116585
• Circumstances: New
• Notes: BUY WITH Poise, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and assistance to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Description

Everyone's favorite supernatural detective steps in to thwart unchivalrous deeds at a Renaissance fair

With Penguin's Fall 2009 publication of Introducing Aunt Dimity, Paranormal Detective certain to attract new readers to the popular cozy series, Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon is poised as the perfectly irresistible gem that will leave them eager for more. After living in the small English village of Finch for eight years, Lori Shepherd longs for some excitement to spice up her all-too-familiar routine. So when a Renaissance festival complete with wizards, wenches, knights, and jesters sets up in town for the summer, Lori gets her wish-and more. She soon discovers a sinister stalker, a jealous saboteur, and an evil assassin behind the scenes of King Wilfred's Faire, and it's up to Lori-with Aunt Dimity's otherworldly guidance-to prevent the medieval revelry from ending in modern-day tragedy.

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Customer Reviews

Not her best
I agree with other reviewers that this book was a little painful to read at times. Lori's spirit and ability to see a mystery where others could not was part of her charm. This book seems to have her constantly struggling with restraint, and frankly, she's a little boring. This book focuses so much on the Ren Fest and the mystery is sadly lacking. Most of the previous books were page turners even for cozies. I found it hard to make my way half way through this book and finally gave up. I'm glad I bought it at the library sale for $1 instead of paying full price for this one.

If you're just starting this series, I'd recommend the earlier Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea or Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil. There are so many good reads in the earlier books, so I wouldn't base the series on this one. Truly not Ms. Atherton's best.

2010-09-06 | DJ (IL) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 2

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Advice from a sprit
This is a story about a lady named Lori, who gets advice from a sprit. Aunt Dimity is the sprit of Lori's mothers best friend. Lori's mother and Aunt Dimity are both deceased. Lori inheritated a cottage in England, from Aunt Dimity. Lori, her husband and two boys now live in the cottage outside a village named Finch.

In "Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon" a Renaissance fair comes to the village of Finch. A local gentleman returns from America, as King Wilfred. His real name is Calvin Malvern,and as King of the Fair,he in counters sevral accidents that could injure him.

Lori has a very active imagination, and communicates with Aunt Dimity through a journal. Aunt Dimity writes in the journal the advice that she gives Lori. She tries to help Lori control her imagination.

Lori's husband Bill is the one who solves the mystery, concerning the accidents that King Wilfred in counters.

It is an interesting story, not very frightening as a mystery. It gives you a interesting view of Village life in England.

I would recomend this book to people who like just a touch of mystery in the books they read.

2010-08-06 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Aunt Dimity goes to a Ren Faire!! Ok, not really....
Nancy Atherton continues to write her ultra-cozy series of Aunt Dimity "mysteries," and I only put that in quotes because usually there is at least a murder or crime committed in a mystery novel. This series continues to entertain its fans as well as anybody who decides they just don't want that much danger in the books they read. Atherton's latest, Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon, is pretty much more of the same, though there is a bit more of a sinister atmosphere to the whole thing. Incidentally, given how Aunt Dimity works in this series, I would have loved it if she actually *did* slay a dragon. It would make a nice little fantasy tale. Be that as it may, this book succeeds even more so than some of the previous books, and I have to say I really enjoyed it.

Life in the sleepy English village of Finch continues to go on as it usually does. Local art competitions, "Best Decorated House" contests, and the like, all have to be organized so that the summer fun can be the same as it is every year. That is until Calvin, the son of a local farmer, comes in to the town meeting, announcing that this year will be different! This year, he and his compatriots are bringing a true Renaissance Faire to the village! Excitement flares, but as the Faire begins, local resident Lori Shepherd becoming increasingly convinced that somebody's trying to murder Calvin. Is it a case of intense romantic jealousy? Or is Lori once again imagining things that aren't there?

What's this I see? Can that be...character development? Yes, Atherton continues on from the success of Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter, developing Lori's character and actually changing her a bit. The previous book taught her a lesson about jumping to conclusions, when she was so worried about her sons going to school that she saw vampires or pedophiles around every corner. With that lesson learned, she's increasingly unsure of herself in this novel, wondering whether she is truly leaping at shadows where there is no substance. As more and more evidence comes out that something may be happening, she brings up her fears to the always-wise Aunt Dimity. I should state for those who don't know that Aunt Dimity has been dead for a few years, but she interacts with Lori through an old journal, with Lori talking to the journal and Dimity's replies showing up in glowing ink.

Atherton populates Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon with a bunch of quirky characters that most English Village novels have, but they are interesting to read about and you never actively want to put the book down. It's not so engrossing that you *can't* put it down, but there is nothing in the book that forces you to do so. One thing I've always enjoyed about Atherton's books is the characters, and this is another great example of that. She also captures the atmosphere of a Renaissance Faire very accurately, at least from my limited experience.

Once again, I must warn all non-fans of the "cozy" mystery: stay FAR AWAY from this novel. Once again, almost everybody is just so nice, even the "villain" of the piece (and I hate to actually use that word here) really isn't that bad of a person. For once, there actually is a caddish character, but he's there more for atmosphere and humor than anything else. He does make for a delightful scene when Lori is trying to investigate the person who she is sure is the attempted murderer.

There are, of course, a couple of downsides to this novel. One is that she makes Lori incredibly dim in a few spots, mainly in how she completely misses how one character is trying to seduce her. It actually becomes a plot (or at least motivational) point later in the novel, but it was so obvious what he was trying to do that even I caught it (I'm not the most perceptive person when it comes to things like that).

The biggest problem, though, and it's a problem with most of the series, is that Aunt Dimity just doesn't do much. She's an interesting character, with good insights, but it would be nice if she were more than just Lori's sounding board at times. In the previous three Dimity books I've read, she has come up with a crucial idea, commented on a dead character (of course the character didn't actually die *in* the book, as that would throw the entire series off-kilter!), and led Lori around by the nose to teach her a lesson. This time, she really doesn't do anything at all. I wish she could become more involved in the series, in at least one book, but that obviously can't happen because it would actually require somebody to *die* first!

Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon is another good example of Atherton's writing, and if you're in the mood for an extremely light novel, with interesting characters and a relatively thin plot, this book's for you. Don't expect much substance and you won't be disappointed. But it's a nice way to spend a couple of hours before moving on to much headier stuff. It's not a 4-star novel compared to other novels or series, but for what it's trying to be, it does an excellent job of it.

Originally published on Curled Up With a Good Book. © David Roy, 2009

2010-04-19 (Vancouver, BC) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Aunt Dimity
The book is in perfect condition, and I received it in very timely fashion. Good job, Seller.

2009-10-26 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Aunt Dimity loses her fizz
I avidly read the first few books in this series. The series began with Lori living like a modern-day Cinderella in a not great job, living in drab conditions with few clothes and friends when her life takes an abrupt turn for the better through Aunt Dimity, her dead mother's best friend, who, although dead herself, ends up a central character. The early books were whimsical and charming and wove a subtle magic in telling the tale of Lori and her adopted village and the recurring cast of locals and friends.

What can I say? The magic is gone and recent books have been formulaic at best. With Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon, I slogged through about 45 pages and finally realized I just wasn't having fun and closed the book for good.

With a cozy mystery, if it's not fun, why keep turning the pages? A sad decline of what had been a fun series.

2009-09-29 | marylandreadr (MD) | Helpful Votes: 4 | Rating: 2

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Aunt Dimity and the Duke

Description

a mystery by the author of 'Aunt Dimity's Good Deed'

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Customer Reviews

A Pleasant Surprise
I'm not sure quite what I expected, and reading them out of order began to start the confusion but seemed to actually add to the fun, at least it did once I figured out about Aunt Dimity and how she fit into the plot.
This series by Nancy Atherton is a fast and fun read. The characters (the two children - one complete with teddy bear, the vain celebrity, a boisterous agent) could easily have been written by Agatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh. The countryside setting (a forgotten chapel in a forlorn English seaside town) is also a throwback to the golden age of English cottage mysteries.
But Ms. Atherton has her characters living in the present time (complete with mobile phone and lap top computers) but this does nothing to diminish the quaint feeling I got reading THE DUKE.
If you enjoy intelligently written and plotted mysteries, I heartily recommend Ms. Atherton's AUNT DIMITY entries.

2010-03-05 | The Joe Show (New York, New York United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Wonderfully Entertaining
I thought that the first Aunt Dimity book was stellar, but this book out passes it. Aunt Dimity and the Duke isn't really as much about Aunt Dimity as it is about the Duke and the people around him. In this story a young man's life is changed by the few kind words that Aunt Dimity gives him as a boy. After this transformation his life is on a path that brings a lonely American gardener, a widower with two children, and his life long love together. This story is touching and poetic.

2009-12-06 | Christina Scovel (Los Alamos, NM) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Cozy mystery/romance/ghost story
This is the second in the AUNT DIMITY series of mystery/romance/ghost cozies.

As the story opens a young boy is fleeing from his father who is selling off the family home, a country estate in Cornwall, destroying the only security his son had. The action then shifts forward twenty years and to Boston where Emma Porter, a forty-something, career woman is enduring yet another round of sympathy from a co-worker over the end of Emma's long term romance. She was looking forward to her upcoming trip to England even though she would now be going alone. Little did she realize that a chance encounter in the midst of a garden maze would lead her to a Cornish estate to become a member of a duke's extensive and eccentric household.

The Aunt Dimity series encompasses several genres, romance, mystery, ghost story, and this one is no exception. Aunt Dimity is a ghost and her role in the story is small and subtle, she sets things in motion, and then influences the action with gentle little well timed nudges. The mystery aspects are quiet little problems, usually with little or no violence, the romances are quite chaste, brief kisses and embraces. The series could be turned into a Disney film without any alterations.

The story is charming, a work of complete escapism that even though it is not a challenging puzzler, is a pleasant way to relax for a few hours.

2008-11-17 (Trapped in the Midwest) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Terrible book - don't bother
This is one of the worst books I have ever read! It is billed as a mystery and there is no mystery. It is pure romantic fantasy drivel and only an idiot could believe in this poorly conceived fairy tale.

2008-08-11 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 1

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A Little Off the Beaten Path...
Unlike the other books in this series, Lori Shepherd, the usual heroine, makes no appearance. Also, Aunt Dimity doesn't show up much, and the mystery is of a bit different tenor and solution than the others! The wit, charm, and wisdom Dimity usually guides with are still to be found, but in this story they're the job of other characters. The American Emma has just suffered heavy loss, and to collect and rejuvenate herself she embarks on a trip to visit the famous gardens of England, where she unknowingly attends a "divine appointment" with the Pym sisters. The eccentric twins send her to the garden of a duke, where a comedy of errors land Emma right where she needs to be. At the duke's estate she meets Derek and his family for the first time, and suddenly her seemingly commonplace skills become very valuable as she's drawn into a mystery that affects everyone at the estate. After introducing us to these characters in Book 1, Atherton does a lovely job of fleshing them out in Book 2, in preparation for the rest the series. I missed Lori and Dimity, but enjoyed this story as much as I did the others!

2008-06-05 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday (Aunt Dimity Mystery)

Product Details

• Influence: New
• Notes: BUY WITH Conviction, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and employ to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• ISBN13: 9780142003930

Description

When Lori Shepherd’s husband, Bill, is summoned to the reading of a will at the resplendent country estate of Earl Elstyn, Lori jumps at the chance to come along. She didn’t expect, however, to find herself entangled in a messy—and dangerous—family dispute. The aristocratic earl has called together the entire Elstyn family to disclose the beneficiaries of his fortune, and all present will be affected. But someone has a grudge against the Elstyns and will stop at nothing for revenge.

A burning topiary, a suspicious maid, family secrets, and threatening notes lead Lori to seek her phantom Aunt Dimity’s help in identifying the culprit before he or she can torch the whole house—with the guests in it.

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Customer Reviews

Fun reading

I love the Aunt Dimity series and have read all but the last (#14). It will be next. They are easy, fun reading, without murder and violence.

2009-05-01 | Quilter (Colorado) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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My wife is hooked on Aunt Dimity
I bought one book in the Aunt Dimity series for my wife and she was hooked immediately. Now I've had to go out and buy all the rest. But it's certainly worth it.

2009-04-17 | an observer of history (Walnut Creek, CA USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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I love the Aunt Dimity series!
Nancy Atherton does a great job of developing characters that hold your interest and make you want to see what will happen to them next. The descriptive language paints a vivid picture.

2009-02-24 | travel nona (USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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"Casparetta" the friendly ghost
This is another in a series of highly improbable stories that have a strange fascination for me. While I am not completely averse to sex and gore, it is a pleasure to read about resolving problems with the assistance of a charming other-worldly ghost. I have read all of Nancy Atherton's "Aunt Dimity" books several times over, and they continue to be enjoyable, even though I do not fully understand their fascination. I look forward to reading the latest book, due out this month.

2009-02-21 (Ann Arbor, MI USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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You can choose your friends but not your relatives
As this eighth AUNT DIMITY novel opens Emma Harris has burst into her best friend's cottage and is absolutely furious. Lori Shepherd is shocked to see normally calm Emma so upset and even more so when she discovers the reason for Emma's state. Emma has just discovered that her husband, Derek Harris, is really named Anthony Evelyn Armstrong Seton, Viscount Hailesham and that his estranged father has summoned Derek and Emma to the family estate for a reunion of the extended family. The main topic of discussion is to be Derek's inheritance of the estate. As Lori is even more shocked when her husband Bill informs her that he has been the current Lord Hailesham's attorney for the past few months and that he, and Lori, have also been summoned to the estate.

Once at the estate though it becomes apparent that someone is up to no good, a fire has been set, threatening letters have appeared and then a series of riding accidents occur. Aided once again by Aunt Dimity and comforted by Reginald, Lori once again is on the trail of a mystery and along they way uncovers long hidden secrets.

The AUNT DIMITY series is an interesting blend of genres, combining cozy mystery with romance and paranormal elements. Aunt Dimity was a long time friend of Lori's late mother and guides Lori through her journal even though Dimity herself is also deceased. The series is lighthearted entertainment, usually the reader will have no problem arriving at the answers long before Lori, and the plots are rather loosely constructed, often hinging on the most unlikely of circumstances. The charm of the series is definitely in the cozy vein, that is it is the ongoing stories of the characters that brings the reader back for more rather than any puzzling mysteries or exciting action. In this one though the writer has managed to contrive an even more unlikely and less thought out plot than usual. First we are supposed to believe that Emma, who knew that her father-in-law was an Earl, knew which Earl did not know the family name or that her husband was the sole heir. To make this even more unlikely we are told that her step children spend lots of time with their grandfather, even having their own suites in the family estate, and supposedly no one has ever mentioned family names or inheritances to Emma. In addition several plot points involve people never mentioning very important matters to one another and not behaving in rational manners. One character even changes appearance abruptly and without explanation. The reader's acceptance of dead Aunt Dimity guiding Lori by writing in her journal seems quite logical in comparison.

Those who are fans of the series will not want to skip one even though this is one of the weaker entries into the series. Those new to the series really do need to begin at the beginning.

2008-11-30 (Trapped in the Midwest) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Aunt Dimity Down Under (Paranormal Detective)

Product Details

• Notes: BUY WITH Reliance, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and care to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• Condition: New
• ISBN13: 9780670021444

Description

The original supernatural sleuth is back in the latest cozy Aunt Dimity mystery

A shock wave rocks Lori Shepherd's world when she hears that her beloved neighbors, Ruth and Louise Pym, may be dying. Bracing herself for a final farewell, Lori instead receives a request from the eccentric sisters: Find their long-lost brother before it's too late. Aubrey Pym is a wicked scoundrel who was banished from his family long ago; and much to Lori's surprise, she must travel all the way to New Zealand to find him. In granting her dear friends' dying wish, Lori sets out on a journey full of surprises. And with the help of a charming Kiwi and the otherworldly guidance of Aunt Dimity, Lori goes Down Under to search for the mysterious Aubrey, unraveling a web of secrets that has haunted the Pym family for generations.

Nancy Atherton and her Aunt Dimity series have a dedicated fan base that eagerly awaits each new installment. With its exotic setting, endearing characters, and paranormal storyline, Aunt Dimity Down Under is sure to be a hit with loyal readers and new fans who are just discovering Aunt Dimity.

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Customer Reviews

I used to love Aunt Dimity
This is pretty dreadful. I have most of the AD books and loved them for a long time. The last one wasn't fantastic, and this one is pretty dreadful. The main character, Lori, seems to have turned into a complete idiot: she doesn't seem to know where New Zealand is; she seems shocked that it's a "civilized" country, and then she keeps commenting on how "dangerous" it is. Good grief. How stupid is she? Having her wax romantic on Kit and Nell's relationship is pretty nauseating as well at this point (it's sort of a sweet relationship, sure, but come on...). The book also suffers from all the absurd travelogue stuff other reviewers have commented on, as well as a painfully thin plot. The early books in the series are a joy. This one is almost bad enough to make me avoid any future ones.

2010-08-12 | Jane (Stockton, CA United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 1

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Aunt Dimity is still at it!
I love this series! My mom introduced me to Aunt Dimity about 12 years ago - so I'm pretty hooked! These are the ONLY mysteries I read! Light enough that I can read before going to bed (others give me nightmares, silly, I know) and if I only have a few minutes I can pick them up without having to spend too much time either rereading or remembering what was happening when I last put it down. If you are a lover of mysteries or this is your first foray into the genre, I highly recommend them. Although you don't have to read them in order, it does help! A great read for a rainy afternoon-evening with a cat on your lap!

2010-07-01 | bestteachermom (Katy, TX, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Too annoying
Not having read any of the other books in the series, I may be selling Atherton short, but this was not worth my time. When a character who is described at "cool, calm, and collected" (wow, can Atherton not turn a phrase) tells the narrator to shut up, when the narrator, who is a mother of twins, calls a nineteen-year-old character more mature than she is, when dying elderly sisters speak in breathy voices and neither can utter a complete sentence but each finishes the other's thoughts...well, 25 pages of this nonsense was more than enough for me. There are lots of good books out there. This is not one of them.

2010-06-08 (Pennsylvania) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 1

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I want to go to New Zealand! But not to read this book
Nancy Atherton's "Aunt Dimity" series of mysteries have always been light and fluffy, but her latest, Aunt Dimity Down Under makes the previous books I've read feel like Stephen King novels. Instead, the book reads like a New Zealand travelogue with just a touch of vanilla spice. If this is your cup of tea, you'll enjoy it. But other readers should stay far away.

Love is in the air in the sleepy English village of Finch, as Lori Shepherd and the rest of the townspeople prepare for the wedding of the town's Romeo & Juliet (without the harsh ending). Yes, it's finally time for Kit Smith and Nell Harris to have the wedding of the century. Unfortunately, all this preparation goes for naught when it's announced that Ruth and Louise Pym, the village's eldest residents, are dying. They have an unusual request for Lori: track down their long-lost brother Aubrey before death claims them. Lori's search will lead her to New Zealand, and a trek that will span the entire country before she finally finds what she's looking for. But will what she finds want anything to do with the Pyms?

Aunt Dimity Down Under seems to have been written to either showcase Atherton's knowledge of New Zealand or to give her an excuse to go down there and do some research, as the New Zealand Travel Bureau couldn't have written a better advertisement for the country. Lori gets whisked north and south, east and west, to the southern island and then back again, visiting Auckland, Wellington, along with many natural wonders and resorts (must be nice to be independently wealthy along with having all of your expenses paid).

Lori's aided by her husband's best friend, Cameron Mackenzie, a native Kiwi who relishes showing her the sites as well as scaring her half to death with tales of volcanoes erupting, earthquakes, and flying his personal plane into the teeth of a harsh weather system. He also delights in using, and explaining, a bunch of Kiwi terms that Atherton seems to like to indulge in. Even dear old Aunt Dimity gets into the act, telling Lori that she simply must see certain sites that she had heard about when she was in the war and helping some Kiwi soldiers (Aunt Dimity is long dead, but communicates with Lori through a journal, where Lori talks and Dimity's words appear in glowing ink).

I understand wanting to show off your research, and I don't begrudge Atherton the opportunity to do so, but usually it's not quite as blatant as it is in Aunt Dimity Down Under. I've said before that the Aunt Dimity universe is cursed with everybody being "nice," with even the villains often just misunderstood. This book actually has somebody be a bad apple through and through. Unfortunately, he's not a character in the book, but instead somebody who has just died and has made Lori's job harder by forcing his daughter to run away from him.

Another problem with this book is that most of the characters would have to work very diligently to even achieve a second dimension, much less a third one. Lori is, of course, the person readers know and identify with, though even she's coming close to losing that third dimension. She never achieves any insight or changes in any way. She's stubborn and nosy at the beginning of the book, and she is at the end too. Cameron isn't even three-dimensional, with nothing more to his character than his past with Lori's husband and his being a workaholic (hence why his wife encouraged him to help Lori and to stay away from his business for a few days). The other characters they meet, even their ultimate prey, aren't any better.

My final complaint, and maybe long-time readers of the series can correct me on this, is that for some strange reason, Atherton has decided that this entire series takes place before 2003. Atherton uses to a great extent the fact that Peter Jackson is "currently" making the Lord of the Rings films in New Zealand. It even becomes a bit of a plot point. All this time, I thought the series took place in the present, so to have this thrust upon me was quite the rude awakening.

One good thing I will say about this book, however, is that Atherton has made a couple of big changes in the mythology of the series, namely the village of Finch. I am glad that she's willing to modify some things to keep the series a bit fresher. The new addition to the village cast gave me a good feeling, as long as Atherton handles her right. No, she's not any more three-dimensional than the others, but I do like what I see so far. Let's hope Atherton develops her more.

Sadly, Aunt Dimity Down Under only works for the true Dimity fan. All others should avoid it like the plague.


Originally published on Curled Up With a Good Book © David Roy, 2010

2010-05-07 (Vancouver, BC) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 2

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Latest Aunt Dimity is much improved
Ms. Atherton has redeemed herself in this delightful episode. the Last book was profundly dissappointing but Aunt Dimity rose to the occasion in this installment. The New Zealand spin to this book was entertaining and it left open the prospect of the camily going back for a new adventure.
While the book has some endings - the death of the Pim Sisters - there were new beginnings with her father-in-law coming to live near by and the Pimm's niece residing in her inherited home.
All in all, a delightul talk to create nice dreams if one reads before sleep.

2010-04-22 (amarillo, tx USA) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 4

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