The Wedding Dress

Annie's Attic Mysteries #11

by Mary O'Donnell

Annie Dawson's attic in Grey Gables has divested itself of many treasures since she inherited the home in Stony Point, Maine, from her grandmother. But none has been as romantic and mysterious as the beautiful wedding dress with a handcrafted veil and a pair of formal gloves that she finds gracing an old mannequin concealed beneath a sheet. The mystery of the dress intertwines with the approaching marriage of Tony Palmer, son of Annie's Hook and Needle Club friend Gwen Palmer. Join Annie and her friends as they join forces to connect all of the clues and solve the mystery of the wedding dress in the attic.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

235 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining mystery that combines the past with the present.

[A.K. Frailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am continuing to enjoy this series. The characters are complete and complex. There are family and friend situations that are resolved with love and understanding, and then, there are situations where the mess stays messy and has to be lived with. A lot like life. Well done.

[Terri Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book in the Annie's Attic series of mysteries with different authors was delightful. There are actually two mysteries that intertwine when Annie finds a gorgeous turn of the 20th century wedding gown, veil, gloves and hatbox in the attic of the house her Grandmother Betsy left her in Stony Point, Maine where she has moved to from Texas after her husband's death. The wedding ensemble is one mystery but when the mayor of Stony Point, Ian, introduces her to Andrew who is a talented and well known artist, Andrew gets entangled in both mysteries. The other mystery involves Dervla, an orphaned young Irish woman brought home by Annie's friend Gwen's son Tony who just graduated with his master's degree and got engaged to Dervla who he met on a short visit to Ireland.

Gwen is not happy nor is banker husband John and they put out the unwelcome mat to Dervla who goes to stay at Grey Gables with a welcoming Annie. Soon Dervla is the center of the mysteries.

[Linda Klager · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have finished reading book # 11 in the series. I really enjoyed this story because it brought a mystery that was intriguing because of the international flare to it. There was a big surprise to one of the members of the Hook and Needle Club. Annie was very instrumental in assisting this member with the consequences of this surprise. I like encouraging stories that involve true friendship and love.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good bedtimes story. I do enjoy the comfort of the Annie's Attic stories.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books from this series so far. I was a little annoyed at first because there was so much refreshing of the previous books but the story was very good. I really like the historical aspects and how they connected with the present.

Annie is moving things in the attic to make room for a handyman to install new lighting. She decides to move the dressmakers manikin to another room. When she moved it she was surprised to find that it had been standing on a hand-painted hat box. The was curious what was on the manikin so she carefully unpinned and removed the sheet covering it. She was shocked to find a beautiful antique wedding dress with crochet accents. When she opened the box she found a matching veil and gloves. She doesn´t remember seeing the dress when she was younger and she knew it wasn´t her grandmother´s dress. She´d seen picture of her grandmother´s dress and this one seemed to be from an older generation. Annie told her friend about the dress when she attended the weekly Hook & Needle club meeting and they all had questions. Someone mentioned it could have been left by the original owner, a sea Captain named Grey. Ann learned that her home, Grey Gables, which she inherited from her grandmother had been named after him. Now she wants to learn more about this man and the wedding dress.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie Dawson's attic in Grey Gables has divested itself of many treasures since she inherited the home in Stony Point, Maine, from her grandmother. But none has been as romantic and mysterious as the beautiful wedding dress with a handcrafted veil and a pair of formal gloves that she finds gracing an old mannequin concealed beneath a sheet. The mystery of the dress intertwines with the approaching marriage of Tony Palmer, son of Annie's Hook and Needle Club friend Gwen Palmer. Join Annie and her friends as they join forces to connect all of the clues and solve the mystery of the wedding dress in the attic.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully told story about a vintage wedding dress that Annie, the main character of this series, finds in her grandmother's attic. Annie is able to learn who the original owner was and through fate, return it to the family who once owned it. In the meantime she also assists two young lovers find happiness.

I have loved every one of this series that I've read so far. These are gentle cozy mysteries and this one, at least, contains no felony.

[Fawn Pender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the most delicious find in Betsy Holden's attic is an exquisite vintage wedding dress and gloves, on a dress form hidden beneath an old sheet. As Annie discovers the dress, a lovely young woman arrives in Stony Point to be married, and the town turns upside down.

I think this is my favorite Annie's Attic Mystery so far. Anything but routine, this story will keep you guessing until the very end.

[Kathryn Catania · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dont get me wrong this was a cute story. I am not a mystery type person and this clearly a very watered down mystery.

[Josephine Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet story, in these days badly needed, about good people, especially Annie Dawson, a people person, good hearted, generous, too trusting, as her best friend Alice, tells her. Annie lives in a big Victorian house, left to her by her grandmother. The story goes back to 1895 when Captain Zacharias Grey built this house for his lady love. Captain Grey died, his wife, Amanda, before him, only child,Lydia eloped, ran off. Annie's grandparents bought the house named Grey Gables. The old house needs much work being done. Annie keeps fixing and repairing her home, which she loves.

Annie moved from Texas to Maine's coast. Beautiful, but long, cold winters. In her attic, she finds an old dress mannequin, covered with a sheet under the sheet, a beautiful wedding gown, expensive, very detailed, hand made. Who wore this gown?

When Annie moved to Stony Point, she joined the Hook and Needle Club, there were six members, Annie the seventh. Alice is her best friend, close to Alice is Boots, her spoiled cat.

Stony Point Mayor, handsome Ian Butler, widower has taken a liking to Annie. Much happens at the Cup and Saucer, a small, well liked restaurant. There is so much about food in these books. Ian Butler introduces Annie to an artist, Andrew Gareth, who wants to paint her home. Besides being an artist, Mr Gareth, is also a historian, who looks into the history of the subjects he is painting.

One of the ladies, the sewing group is made up of ladies from different backgrounds, Gwendolyn is the wife of the town banker. One day, Gwen calls Annie. Gwen is having a big party for her youngest son, Tony who graduated from Harvard. As a gift, his parents gave him a trip to Europe. Tony has returned with a young, pretty girl from Ireland, Dervla O'Keefe. Gwen is not happy with this. She asks Annie to put the girl up in her big house. Annie does, but is angry at the way Gwen treats Dervla. Gwen is cold, Tony hasn't known the young lady too long. He should wait. He is too young, he should think it over.

Andrew Gareth comes to paint Annie's house. The artist is impressed with Dervla. He has her dress in the beautiful, old wedding gown and stand in front of the house. All the ladies of the Hook and Needle Club love the wedding gown, it is much talked about, sent to be cleaned at a cleaning company that specialized in old, antique clothes. What is the history of this gown? Who made it? Who was to wear it to be married in?

[Karen Lawsing · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember when this series was first created. I was offered a free book in expectation that I would become a fan; a new book would be appear in my mailbox each month. I didn’t buy in. The book was pablum. I found The Wedding Dress in a used book sale. Once at home, I remembered the Annie’s Attic Mystery label. This was cute; a puzzle, not an actual mystery. This read like a recipe: take a shower, dry off, change clothes, describe clothes, go down stairs, grab keys, leave house. I wondered if the author had even visited the Maine coast. The thunderstorm description was appropriate. The sewing club members kept talking about solving Annie’s mysteries; yet, she didn’t engage them in this mystery? It seemed off. The character development was flat and the whole thing just didn’t flow or hang together. My instincts from years ago were spot on . I won’t pick up another from this series, no matter how pretty the cover.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is one of my favorite reads. I get so much enjoyment from these books. I feel as if I am part of the group! It is so easy to imagine yourself sitting there stitching with them. The stories are well written and develop at just the right pace. They each have a plot of their own but work so well with the others. I wish I had an attic to explore!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, quick read.

[Brenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good though the ending seemed a bit rushed to wrap everything up quickly

[Dorothy Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!! Couldn’t put it down

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it a 4 only because the ending was confusing.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this one out of order, don't know why. But it was an okay book.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love these short but throughly mysterious stories….

[Pam Fredelake · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actually I could only read 3 chapters of this book
It reminded me of Nancy Drew books
Just not for me

[LeAnne Kilman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was one of my favorites in this series. Well done!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I love the way the story unfolded with the finding of the wedding dress in the attic of Grey Gables. Annie was able to find out who the original owner of the dress was, how it came to be in her attic, and she knew what she had to do with the dress. A fun and adventurous read!

[Carly Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book. Knowing so much about another persons life can be so rewarding and make you feel humble. Beautifully set and told by Annie and the mysterious dress she found in the attic. Full of family tresures and a story to melt your heart!

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best in the series. Whose wedding dress is it and why is it in Annie's grandmother's attic?

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book and series. I loved every book in this series.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the storyline in this book was good but the mystery part was a bit confusing trying to remember who was who in the past.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable mystery from Annie and her friends in Stony Point. Maine. Very nice descriptions of the handwork and wedding dress. Nice story.

[Jeanette Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of love and loss, Envy and hope. Mary captured the live of many in this mystery. The artistry and descriptive details were completely entrancing.