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Aunt Dimity Mystery #16
Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree
The gentle spirit's sixteenth adventure is a New York Times bestseller and as "cozy and charming as a cup of Earl Grey" (Bookpage.com). And watch out for Nancy Atherton's latest, Aunt Dimity and the King's Ransom , coming in July 2018 from Viking!
After a dizzying time Down Under, Lori Shepherd returns to Finch and finds that her wealthy father-in-law, William Willis, Sr., has just purchased a splendid ten-acre estate nearby. While William fends off local ladies intent on romance, Lori oversees the painstaking restoration of a peculiar painting found during renovations. It's nothing Lori can't handle-until moving furniture, strange sounds, and the theft of the painting prompt her to call on Aunt Dimity for help uncovering the estate's shadowy past.
After a dizzying time Down Under, Lori Shepherd returns to Finch and finds that her wealthy father-in-law, William Willis, Sr., has just purchased a splendid ten-acre estate nearby. While William fends off local ladies intent on romance, Lori oversees the painstaking restoration of a peculiar painting found during renovations. It's nothing Lori can't handle-until moving furniture, strange sounds, and the theft of the painting prompt her to call on Aunt Dimity for help uncovering the estate's shadowy past.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 17, 2011
163 people are currently reading
1115 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Atherton
59 books1,184 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 269 reviews
November 29, 2023
2.5 stars
Willis Sr. is ready to open Fairworth House after extensive renovations. He's excited to be near his grandsons and interested in raising sheep. The only hitch in the plan is staffing. He needs to hire live-in staff, preferably an older married couple who will cook, clean, garden and take care of everything. First he must deal with the welcoming party and having a gaggle of widows stalking his every move. Lori is surprised when Sally Pyne, the village tea shop owner, calls to send her regrets for the party. She has a terrible head cold. While Lori believes Sally, the other ladies in the village gossip about Sally's Mexican vacation and the stories she's told about her adventures there. When Sally's granddaughter, Raine, insists Sally needs to speak to Willis, Sr. AFTER the party, Lori is surprised and curious. They never dreamed Sally needs help from Willis, Sr. to host her Mexican boyfriend who thinks she's Lady Sarah Pyne of Fairworth House! With help from Aunt Dimity, Lori, Bill and the staff that finally arrived, Sally may just be able to pull it off - IF she can avoid the prying eyes of the village ladies. Just as everything is ready to go, furniture and objects are moved. Everyone denies it but SOMEONE had to move the objects. Then a possibly priceless antique painting found in the house goes missing in the village. Who could have done such a thing and why?
In spite of normally loving the other mysteries set in Finch, I didn't enjoy this one as much. There's no mystery until 2/3 of the way into the book. It kept me up late reading just as I was about to put the book down. I thought I had it figured out and the plot would turn out to be ho-hum predictable. I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. I didn't expect some of the plot twists. I had a hard time with this one because of some of the outdated language used to describe the Mexican character and also someone with dementia. The dementia subplot is wildly inaccurate and unrealistic. I WISH it worked like that but sadly it doesn't. The portrayal of the one gay couple is stereotypical and made me roll my eyes.
Aunt Dimity is hardly in the story. She doesn't have much to do except propose the initial scheme and then come up with a theory for the mystery. Then she has to talk Lori down because Lori is an Olympic gold medal-winning conclusion jumper. Lori is a little better in this one. I can forgive her for NOT wanting to do her job since once and then I'm sure staying in Finch is much safer than having adventures but I liked Aunt Dimity Digs In because it was set in Finch and had a mystery that required Lori to do her job. Lori still manages to run around and therefore dumps her kids on the next available adult. In this case, Nell and Kit. She claims she does all the housework, feeds her kids, gets them dressed, etc. but in this story as with Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon, Bill seems to be doing most of the childcare. It's Bill the twins turn to when they have questions. I guess Daddy is for teaching and Mummy just saves them from random bad guys? The twins are indistinguishable from one another, even though they are now 7. They have the same personality and interests. They're twins, not clones. I would think by now Will and Rob would be starting to diverge and have interests and friends outside of each other. They're still into riding so pawning them off on Nell and Kit makes sense. Bill is practically a saint. He's the one who initiates the romance (Lori's eye has finally stopped roving) and she brushes him off! Now he's fit and dresses better, their relationship seems to be better but only just.
I missed Derrick and Emma. Derrick's job is literally doing what Willis, Sr. wants done to Fairworth house. I don't know why Lori doubts the house can be saved. Emma may have retired from her tech job since she seems to have been running the riding school in the last few books but gardens are her thing and she could absolutely redesign the gardens at Fairworth. I missed having them in the story. Kit and Nell appear briefly. Kit has a bigger cameo. Nell and Kit know Lori well enough now to know how her mind works. I did enjoy Nell sleuthing with Lori. Now she's an adult she doesn't seem to be into that. She just teaches riding.
Sally's granddaughter Rainey has returned to Finch for the first time since Aunt Dimity Digs In. She was just a wild young girl then and now he's 16 and apparently as good a baker as her grandmother and capable of running the tea room by herself. She's not totally alone, she has Bree Pym to help. Bree is amazing! She's the only one who stands up to Peggy Taxman and the way she does it is brilliant. Bree has Peggy's measure and knows the older woman won't take kindly to being lectured by a young adult (or anyone, really) but a few snide comments and a well-placed deathbed threat from Ruth and Louise go a long way! Annie Hodge also reappears and clears up the mystery of the nanny with the same name. Annie Hodge is still a nosy gossip and her son is buddies with Will and Rob so Annie thinks she can be first to get the exclusive scoop on the goings-on at Fairthworth.
Sally Pyne is one of my favorite villagers. She's sweet and earnest. She's a simple, uncomplicated woman who runs her tea shop and participates in village life. Sally went on an amazing vacation and did a lot of cool things. I don't believe she did ALL of them given her size and energy level but I think she may have done those things but not exactly in the way she said she did. She had a great time and it was well-deserved. Sally broke out of her comfort zone and Unfortunately for Sally, she doesn't seem to be too intuitive. She's not wise in the ways of the world and is used to village life. She doesn't seem to know about con artists and gold diggers. I fear she may be in trouble. I like her and I don't want to see her hurt.
The village widows are out in full force. Peggy Taxman may be married but she still runs the village with an iron fist and that extends to goings-on at Fairworth. She needs to know what Sally Pyne is up to and what was in the contents of the letter from Mexico. WHO is it from? WHY is someone from Mexico writing to Sally Pyne of all people? Peggy is so cruel and snippy even to her friend. It's nobody's business but Sally's. The widows all want a chance to marry Willis, Sr. Widowed gentlemen are scarce in Finch. The village reminds me of Cranford, a village of women of a certain age! After Peggy, Elspeth Binney is the absolute worst! What she does is so far beyond acceptable snooping! The other ladies aren't much better. We have never met them before and I think that's unusual. Finch seems to be bigger than it sounded at first! Maybe they just live in the parish and not in the village proper.
Call my cynical but I don't trust Henrique. His motive for coming to visit seems fishy to me. I can't believe he falls for Sally's scheme hook, line and sinker. I sense a con artist/gold digger. I don't believe he is wealthy at all. A wealthy man would not eat what he does or believe Sally's story. His romancing seems to come out of a playbook of cheesy moves as seen in Hallmark movies, B-movies and bad romance novels. There's no way he's sincere. I'm not sure I trust the Donovans either. I do believe Deidre is an Oxford educated art historian! There's no money in the arts and humanities these days so yes, cleaning houses for a living is what she has to do to make ends meet. They claim they ran a guest house in Ireland. That failed and now they're working on their own. Lori has some good reasons not to trust Deidre and I agree. My theory is I don't trust Declan. He's Irish, making me wonder if he has an agenda of some kind, something to do with the original owners of Fairworth House perhaps? Or maybe he's just a thief and a con artist. I get weird vibes from him. Both of them seem to be unusual types of servants. When I realized how much work Willis, Sr. put on one person, I had more sympathy for Declan but I'm not sure Declan is doing what he's being paid to do. There's something going on here.
The epilogue sets up the next story which sounds really good! I want a prequel book featuring
The recipe is for seed cake which has connections to Aunt Dimity but is not the tastiest treat in the series. There was something else we thought should have been the recipe. I made a half recipe in an individual skillet. The batter was very dry and crumbly like a scone. I added a bit of water and turned the mixer on to mix it that way and it worked out better than mixing by hand. Turns out no one likes caraway seeds so we all just tried a little slice each. I also made the ANZAC biscuits from last week and they were a big hit.
Willis Sr. is ready to open Fairworth House after extensive renovations. He's excited to be near his grandsons and interested in raising sheep. The only hitch in the plan is staffing. He needs to hire live-in staff, preferably an older married couple who will cook, clean, garden and take care of everything. First he must deal with the welcoming party and having a gaggle of widows stalking his every move. Lori is surprised when Sally Pyne, the village tea shop owner, calls to send her regrets for the party. She has a terrible head cold. While Lori believes Sally, the other ladies in the village gossip about Sally's Mexican vacation and the stories she's told about her adventures there. When Sally's granddaughter, Raine, insists Sally needs to speak to Willis, Sr. AFTER the party, Lori is surprised and curious. They never dreamed Sally needs help from Willis, Sr. to host her Mexican boyfriend who thinks she's Lady Sarah Pyne of Fairworth House! With help from Aunt Dimity, Lori, Bill and the staff that finally arrived, Sally may just be able to pull it off - IF she can avoid the prying eyes of the village ladies. Just as everything is ready to go, furniture and objects are moved. Everyone denies it but SOMEONE had to move the objects. Then a possibly priceless antique painting found in the house goes missing in the village. Who could have done such a thing and why?
In spite of normally loving the other mysteries set in Finch, I didn't enjoy this one as much. There's no mystery until 2/3 of the way into the book. It kept me up late reading just as I was about to put the book down. I thought I had it figured out and the plot would turn out to be ho-hum predictable. I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. I didn't expect some of the plot twists. I had a hard time with this one because of some of the outdated language used to describe the Mexican character and also someone with dementia. The dementia subplot is wildly inaccurate and unrealistic. I WISH it worked like that but sadly it doesn't. The portrayal of the one gay couple is stereotypical and made me roll my eyes.
Aunt Dimity is hardly in the story. She doesn't have much to do except propose the initial scheme and then come up with a theory for the mystery. Then she has to talk Lori down because Lori is an Olympic gold medal-winning conclusion jumper. Lori is a little better in this one. I can forgive her for NOT wanting to do her job since once and then I'm sure staying in Finch is much safer than having adventures but I liked Aunt Dimity Digs In because it was set in Finch and had a mystery that required Lori to do her job. Lori still manages to run around and therefore dumps her kids on the next available adult. In this case, Nell and Kit. She claims she does all the housework, feeds her kids, gets them dressed, etc. but in this story as with Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon, Bill seems to be doing most of the childcare. It's Bill the twins turn to when they have questions. I guess Daddy is for teaching and Mummy just saves them from random bad guys? The twins are indistinguishable from one another, even though they are now 7. They have the same personality and interests. They're twins, not clones. I would think by now Will and Rob would be starting to diverge and have interests and friends outside of each other. They're still into riding so pawning them off on Nell and Kit makes sense. Bill is practically a saint. He's the one who initiates the romance (Lori's eye has finally stopped roving) and she brushes him off! Now he's fit and dresses better, their relationship seems to be better but only just.
I missed Derrick and Emma. Derrick's job is literally doing what Willis, Sr. wants done to Fairworth house. I don't know why Lori doubts the house can be saved. Emma may have retired from her tech job since she seems to have been running the riding school in the last few books but gardens are her thing and she could absolutely redesign the gardens at Fairworth. I missed having them in the story. Kit and Nell appear briefly. Kit has a bigger cameo. Nell and Kit know Lori well enough now to know how her mind works. I did enjoy Nell sleuthing with Lori. Now she's an adult she doesn't seem to be into that. She just teaches riding.
Sally's granddaughter Rainey has returned to Finch for the first time since Aunt Dimity Digs In. She was just a wild young girl then and now he's 16 and apparently as good a baker as her grandmother and capable of running the tea room by herself. She's not totally alone, she has Bree Pym to help. Bree is amazing! She's the only one who stands up to Peggy Taxman and the way she does it is brilliant. Bree has Peggy's measure and knows the older woman won't take kindly to being lectured by a young adult (or anyone, really) but a few snide comments and a well-placed deathbed threat from Ruth and Louise go a long way! Annie Hodge also reappears and clears up the mystery of the nanny with the same name. Annie Hodge is still a nosy gossip and her son is buddies with Will and Rob so Annie thinks she can be first to get the exclusive scoop on the goings-on at Fairthworth.
Sally Pyne is one of my favorite villagers. She's sweet and earnest. She's a simple, uncomplicated woman who runs her tea shop and participates in village life. Sally went on an amazing vacation and did a lot of cool things. I don't believe she did ALL of them given her size and energy level but I think she may have done those things but not exactly in the way she said she did. She had a great time and it was well-deserved. Sally broke out of her comfort zone and Unfortunately for Sally, she doesn't seem to be too intuitive. She's not wise in the ways of the world and is used to village life. She doesn't seem to know about con artists and gold diggers. I fear she may be in trouble. I like her and I don't want to see her hurt.
The village widows are out in full force. Peggy Taxman may be married but she still runs the village with an iron fist and that extends to goings-on at Fairworth. She needs to know what Sally Pyne is up to and what was in the contents of the letter from Mexico. WHO is it from? WHY is someone from Mexico writing to Sally Pyne of all people? Peggy is so cruel and snippy even to her friend. It's nobody's business but Sally's. The widows all want a chance to marry Willis, Sr. Widowed gentlemen are scarce in Finch. The village reminds me of Cranford, a village of women of a certain age! After Peggy, Elspeth Binney is the absolute worst! What she does is so far beyond acceptable snooping! The other ladies aren't much better. We have never met them before and I think that's unusual. Finch seems to be bigger than it sounded at first! Maybe they just live in the parish and not in the village proper.
Call my cynical but I don't trust Henrique. His motive for coming to visit seems fishy to me. I can't believe he falls for Sally's scheme hook, line and sinker. I sense a con artist/gold digger. I don't believe he is wealthy at all. A wealthy man would not eat what he does or believe Sally's story. His romancing seems to come out of a playbook of cheesy moves as seen in Hallmark movies, B-movies and bad romance novels. There's no way he's sincere. I'm not sure I trust the Donovans either. I do believe Deidre is an Oxford educated art historian! There's no money in the arts and humanities these days so yes, cleaning houses for a living is what she has to do to make ends meet. They claim they ran a guest house in Ireland. That failed and now they're working on their own. Lori has some good reasons not to trust Deidre and I agree. My theory is I don't trust Declan. He's Irish, making me wonder if he has an agenda of some kind, something to do with the original owners of Fairworth House perhaps? Or maybe he's just a thief and a con artist. I get weird vibes from him. Both of them seem to be unusual types of servants. When I realized how much work Willis, Sr. put on one person, I had more sympathy for Declan but I'm not sure Declan is doing what he's being paid to do. There's something going on here.
The epilogue sets up the next story which sounds really good! I want a prequel book featuring
The recipe is for seed cake which has connections to Aunt Dimity but is not the tastiest treat in the series. There was something else we thought should have been the recipe. I made a half recipe in an individual skillet. The batter was very dry and crumbly like a scone. I added a bit of water and turned the mixer on to mix it that way and it worked out better than mixing by hand. Turns out no one likes caraway seeds so we all just tried a little slice each. I also made the ANZAC biscuits from last week and they were a big hit.
March 5, 2011
I liked this one more than several of the last ones. Finally, Lori has grown up and stopped falling for every man around. This one is set in Finch, so we get to see and hear some of the town's characters. I thought the plot was a little contrived. I knew as soon as Sally became Lady Sarah that the gentleman she had met was also pretending to be "better" than he was. The parallel of Frederick and Reginald was interesting.
Still, keep the mysteries coming, Nancy!
Still, keep the mysteries coming, Nancy!
November 30, 2017
Totally Enjoyed
This was my first Aunt Dimity book and it won't be my last.
I loved the way the ghost of Aunt Dimity is portrayed. A very unique concept.
And since this is my first book I read in the series it was like reading a stand alone yet at the same time I can read early books to find out how Lori and Bill met and how Lori discovered Aunt Dimity.
So much book fun to look forward to.
And an English Seed Cake recipe.
This was my first Aunt Dimity book and it won't be my last.
I loved the way the ghost of Aunt Dimity is portrayed. A very unique concept.
And since this is my first book I read in the series it was like reading a stand alone yet at the same time I can read early books to find out how Lori and Bill met and how Lori discovered Aunt Dimity.
So much book fun to look forward to.
And an English Seed Cake recipe.
April 2, 2024
Lori's father-in-law, William, has just moved into his newly-renovated ancient home, where he discovers an old painting of some sort. He sends it to be restored, and a family tree is discovered hiding under years of grime. But the painting is stolen before any names can be identified on the family tree. Meanwhile, Lori's neighbor, Sally Pyne, is in desperate need of help and she turns to William, hoping that his expertise as a lawyer will help her out of a pickle. But the whole family gets involved in helping Sally to lie to the entire village! Lori is also very suspicious of William's new housekeeper and groundskeeper. Could they be hiding something nefarious? Lori will need Aunt Dimity's wisdom every step of the way!
I enjoyed this book so much! I especially loved the history that is unfolded in this plot, and we get to learn more about the little village of Finch. I really enjoyed the puzzle aspects of the story!
The plot has many little details that made it fun and engaging. I still think it's hilarious that Aunt Dimity is a ghost who talks to Lori through a journal. I still love Lori's delightfully stubborn character, and her relationships with everyone in her little town. I love seeing Lori meet new people in every book, making friends and enemies, and being her own wild self.
The writing is good, clear, and funny! The characters are adorable and complex.
This book in particular has some really sweet emotional scenes that deal with falling in love and family connections, and we get to see these characters comforting and encouraging each other in a really meaningful way. It's not all fluff all the time with Aunt Dimity. But there are also some really hilarious scenes. There's an excellent balance of serious subjects with more light-hearted scenes.
I love it all!
I enjoyed this book so much! I especially loved the history that is unfolded in this plot, and we get to learn more about the little village of Finch. I really enjoyed the puzzle aspects of the story!
The plot has many little details that made it fun and engaging. I still think it's hilarious that Aunt Dimity is a ghost who talks to Lori through a journal. I still love Lori's delightfully stubborn character, and her relationships with everyone in her little town. I love seeing Lori meet new people in every book, making friends and enemies, and being her own wild self.
The writing is good, clear, and funny! The characters are adorable and complex.
This book in particular has some really sweet emotional scenes that deal with falling in love and family connections, and we get to see these characters comforting and encouraging each other in a really meaningful way. It's not all fluff all the time with Aunt Dimity. But there are also some really hilarious scenes. There's an excellent balance of serious subjects with more light-hearted scenes.
I love it all!
September 8, 2018
The perfect antidote to the hard emotion of Wild Swans.
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.
July 31, 2023
Another solid entry. I like where the characters are going in this one and look forward to seeing some new ones in future books. Dimity books are just the right length for an airplane ride and are easy to follow in a noisy environment.
April 2, 2011
If you are looking for a genuine, cozy mystery, one that will keep your interest without resorting to any of the blood and gore so often found now, even in cozies, look no further than Nancy Atherton’s latest installment in her Aunt Dimity series, Aunt Dimity & the Family Tree. Lori Shepherd is at her best, taking care of her family, helping her father-in-law at his newly renovated manor, and keeping one step ahead of the gossipy townsfolk. It’s up to Aunt Dimity to slow down Lori’s impetuousness, but will Lori listen to Aunt Dimity’s wise counsel before she gets into more trouble? Make yourself a cup of English tea, settle down in a comfy chair, and travel across the pond to an English village where all is not roses, but love and mystery are definitely in bloom.
November 28, 2011
This latest in the lite Aunt Dimity series is much like all the others. We read this series not for the mystery (non-existant) but for the weird characters that abound in the tiny hamlet of Finch, England. All the zany inhabitants are back, along with a few new ones, including William Willis, Sr. who has finally retired (sort-of) and moved to Finch to be close to his beloved grandsons.
July 26, 2017
I think this is the sixth Aunt Dimity book I've read/attempted. It's definitely on the higher end of the scale when it comes to rating the Aunt Dimitys...but still pretty low on my list of favorites, in general. I've always found this author to be pretty inconsistent quality-wise. In some places, she's brilliant; in others, there are obvious inconsistencies. No one is perfect, I know, but this is such a regular thing for this author that one would think her editor would be more on the ball. One thing I always think of when I read these stories---I wonder if the author regrets writing in children for Lori, because they are always being shoved off on a babysitter.
Still, if one is needing a quick escape (like I was after 800+ pages of Tudor history) one could do worse than the Aunt Dimity cozies. They're pretty fun---if a LOT far-fetched.
Still, if one is needing a quick escape (like I was after 800+ pages of Tudor history) one could do worse than the Aunt Dimity cozies. They're pretty fun---if a LOT far-fetched.
January 18, 2021
I looked at my TBR shelf on Bookcrossing to see if I had any orange or purple covers to fulfill a challenge prompt. When I saw this one I got excited. I love this series because it is delightful and a nice palate cleanser after heavier fare. I would love to live in the village of Finch, where mysterious events usually have benign explanations and people get embroiled in shenanigans in order to avoid the gossip of their neighbors, which only makes things worse. I was delighted to see Aunt Augusta and Henry added to the village and look forward to their appearance in future installments of the series.
September 26, 2022
One of my favorite cozy mystery series - you gotta suspend belief a bit, to accept Aunt Dimity's "appearance", but Lori and Bill, Bill Sr., the twins and all the inhabitants of this charming little English village never fail to delight!
January 21, 2018
Loved this great British cozy set in the small village of Finch. 4.5*
July 7, 2021
Another satisfying cozy mystery.
November 23, 2021
What a tangled web we weave . . . A preposterous but utterly entertaining tale of deception, busybodies, and love.
March 8, 2023
So silly. Yet very entertaining with a little mystery to keep you guessing. I like the characters. It isn't perfect. It is a cozy that gives you a bit of intrigue and mayhem without too much hurt.
February 8, 2022
A really good one. I thought I had it figured out but wrong! I love this series!
March 25, 2021
Two mysteries in one! Atherton continues her series of the delightful and quirky resident of Finch in the Cotswolds where Willis Sr has purchased and renovated Fairworth, a Georgian estate, to be near his grandsons. The main character is Lori, married to Willis Jr (Bill), with 7-year-old twin boys at this juncture. Everybody in Finch, including Lori, are busybodies into everyone else's business. What isn't freely shared becomes fuel for wild speculation.
The family tree refers to an old painting that Willis Sr finds in the stables during renovations.
Willis Sr hires a housekeeper/cook and gardener/handyman.
And Sally, the teashop owner, entertains a Mexican gentleman as lady of the manor. Try keeping that from the busybodies!
The family tree refers to an old painting that Willis Sr finds in the stables during renovations.
Willis Sr hires a housekeeper/cook and gardener/handyman.
And Sally, the teashop owner, entertains a Mexican gentleman as lady of the manor. Try keeping that from the busybodies!
November 10, 2011
I love this series; it is like comfort food for me.
No matter how much Lori Shepherd says her instincts tell her something I have to giggle since her “instincts” have gotten her turned so far around, she never comes to the correct conclusion without the helpfulness of her friends and family, not to mention her dearest companion Aunt Dimity herself.
Since this is book number sixteen in the series, I recommend that you start at the beginning to find out who exactly Dimity is and how their lives are so intertwined, but I can assure you that each book is a delight and each builds on the next explaining their lives and the busybodies in the village of Finch.
Village living is never dull and Finch lives up to that saying when Willis, Sr. buys and refurbishes Fairworth House and Sally Pyne returns from her Mexican adventure with a reputation to live up to.
Quote:
"There is nothing wrong with pretending to be someone else for a little while, is there?"
And off they go, the current inhabitants of Fairworthy, all trying to be someone or something that they are not. Each person has a secret and poor Willis, Sr, trying desperately to keep his wits about him and help the best doughnut maker in the area from having to leave the village out of sheer embarrassment and mortification.
Since patience is not one of Lori’s virtues, everything comes to a head one night when she decides to stake out Fairworthy in hopes of learning what is really going on with the new help that Willis, Sr has hired. In so doing, all the secrets will become known and a new pact of friendship and respect can be forged. That is until the next round of gossip and backbiting can begin. This is Finch after all, where they look out for each other, ok some might calling is snooping, but deep down they all have good hearts and an understanding of what a community is.
Quote:
"You have to stand up to the busybodies or your life will never be your own.”
Though she does not appear until the end of the book, I sure hope Aunt Augusta returns in future storylines. She was my favorite and had me laughing out loud and I really think that she could add quite a bit of spunk to the life of Willis, Sr. I loved her self-depreciating humor.
No matter how much Lori Shepherd says her instincts tell her something I have to giggle since her “instincts” have gotten her turned so far around, she never comes to the correct conclusion without the helpfulness of her friends and family, not to mention her dearest companion Aunt Dimity herself.
Since this is book number sixteen in the series, I recommend that you start at the beginning to find out who exactly Dimity is and how their lives are so intertwined, but I can assure you that each book is a delight and each builds on the next explaining their lives and the busybodies in the village of Finch.
Village living is never dull and Finch lives up to that saying when Willis, Sr. buys and refurbishes Fairworth House and Sally Pyne returns from her Mexican adventure with a reputation to live up to.
Quote:
"There is nothing wrong with pretending to be someone else for a little while, is there?"
And off they go, the current inhabitants of Fairworthy, all trying to be someone or something that they are not. Each person has a secret and poor Willis, Sr, trying desperately to keep his wits about him and help the best doughnut maker in the area from having to leave the village out of sheer embarrassment and mortification.
Since patience is not one of Lori’s virtues, everything comes to a head one night when she decides to stake out Fairworthy in hopes of learning what is really going on with the new help that Willis, Sr has hired. In so doing, all the secrets will become known and a new pact of friendship and respect can be forged. That is until the next round of gossip and backbiting can begin. This is Finch after all, where they look out for each other, ok some might calling is snooping, but deep down they all have good hearts and an understanding of what a community is.
Quote:
"You have to stand up to the busybodies or your life will never be your own.”
Though she does not appear until the end of the book, I sure hope Aunt Augusta returns in future storylines. She was my favorite and had me laughing out loud and I really think that she could add quite a bit of spunk to the life of Willis, Sr. I loved her self-depreciating humor.
March 18, 2012
How lovely that Nancy Atherton has bought Lori and Aunt Dimity home to the landscape that is very much a character of the novels. She's also brought Lori back to her basic family-centered, Bill-loving base, though Bill is still little more than a glorified support mechanism, conveniently being called away on business when Lori must become deeply enmeshed in the goings on. At least there is no awkwardly contrived almost-love-interest for Lori this time. I still believe that Lori would benefit from a girlfriend to keep her company on her treks and adventures, so again I ask "Why can't the author use more significant female supporting characters?"
The ethereal couple Kit and Nell have degenerated in child-minders, which I hope Atherton will remedy in the future. Emma, Derek, and Peter Harris have effectively vanished from the scene. I've always thought that Atherton has overlooked a rather adventurous character in Peter and perhaps newcomer Bree could provide an interesting twist.
But the villagers of Finch are once again on the stage, playing out their marvelous eccentricities in a gentle morality tale. And although the central mystery is a bit underplayed and the ending a bit rushed, this is the most enjoyable Aunt Dimity and Lori adventure since Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea.
The ethereal couple Kit and Nell have degenerated in child-minders, which I hope Atherton will remedy in the future. Emma, Derek, and Peter Harris have effectively vanished from the scene. I've always thought that Atherton has overlooked a rather adventurous character in Peter and perhaps newcomer Bree could provide an interesting twist.
But the villagers of Finch are once again on the stage, playing out their marvelous eccentricities in a gentle morality tale. And although the central mystery is a bit underplayed and the ending a bit rushed, this is the most enjoyable Aunt Dimity and Lori adventure since Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea.
February 25, 2023
Love this series. It is on the cozy side, but avoids being cutesy. Does have magic realism (or whathaveyou) but is fun, charming, and interesting. There are few murders in this series, but it still maintains the suspense level with the secrets held by everyone. Recommended if you're looking for a more lighthearted mystery and if you're a fan of the English brand of cozy.
March 4, 2013
More new characters are introduced in this episode, freshening things up a bit and keeping it one of the most enjoyable series available. Lori's father-in-law plays a larger part as he renovates an estate near Lori's family. Once again, I read this in one sitting. It was so much fun I didn't want to put it down, and these books are very relaxing to read.
August 23, 2012
This has been one of my favorite series, but I truly believe that it has run its course. The last five or six just haven't been as fun to read. Lori is becoming close to hysteria in her obsession for jumping to conclusions that are nearly always wrong. And I miss the covers with Reginald!
May 2, 2011
Ah, an Aunt Dimity book. A guilty pleasure. This one seemed a bit predictable to me, but then again, it is something like book 16 in the series so perhaps I'm finally catching on but do I read it for the "mystery,, or to keep up with the characters? Ah well, I enjoyed it, anyway.
March 22, 2011
It's quite refreshing to read a mystery that doesn't include a dead body! Several parts of this book made me laugh out loud. If you love the Aunt Dimity series, you'll enjoy this one.
March 29, 2011
There is something about these books that entice me to chuck it all and move to the Cotswolds. Once there, I'm sure I would go crazy, so it's nice to have these books as a temporary escape.
February 28, 2013
Someone save Willis, Sr., from the village widows!
January 23, 2023
Reread - probably the biggest farce of the Aunt Dimity books - secret identities, people popping in and out of scenes, etc.
August 9, 2019
Aunt Dimity's father in law has renovated and moved into a nearby estate in Finch, to be close to the grandkids. The ladies of the village are crazy about having an eligible bachelor in town. A side story develops - one of the town ladies, Sally, has come back from a Mexico vacation having posed as a noble woman in Mexico, catching a Mexican businessman. Willis Sr agrees to allow Sally to pose as the Lady Sarah at his new estate. Willis Sr also gets two servants - a married couple - that Lori is suspicious of....
The jig is up when a fire starts at the estate - but not a fire but poorly vented fireplace. This exposes that the couple, the Donovan's, were hiding their senile Aunt Augusta to The new estate - where she had grown up as a child.
Ends with the Donovan's staying on with Aunt Augusta (who knew Aunt Dimity as she grew up) at the estate, the Donovan's as caretakers of the house, and Sally and her Mexican - who was actually also a Brit (hiding that he wasn't actually rich) being in love, and the Brit staying in town.
The jig is up when a fire starts at the estate - but not a fire but poorly vented fireplace. This exposes that the couple, the Donovan's, were hiding their senile Aunt Augusta to The new estate - where she had grown up as a child.
Ends with the Donovan's staying on with Aunt Augusta (who knew Aunt Dimity as she grew up) at the estate, the Donovan's as caretakers of the house, and Sally and her Mexican - who was actually also a Brit (hiding that he wasn't actually rich) being in love, and the Brit staying in town.
November 4, 2018
This is one of a series of books in which Aunt Dimity appears. Actually, she doesn’t “appear” … She died and left her cottage in England to the daughter of an American friend. Lori and her husband now live in “Aunt Dimity’s cottage.” Lori’s father-in-law, William, a well-established international lawyer now also lives nearby in a wonderful old 10 acre estate. In the close-knit village of Finch everyone knows everyone else’s business.. but when one of the town’s elderly widows wins a vacation in Mexico and while there, passes herself off as a rich English woman with an estate (the estate she claimed was actually William’s estate.) When her Mexican boyfriend comes for a visit, expecting to find her in her stately mansion things get crazy. Aunt Dimity, who communicates from the beyond to Lori by writing in a specific book comes up with an elaborate plan to save face for everyone. …… Now will it work??
---- A charming fun tale.
---- A charming fun tale.
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