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Aunt Dimity Mystery #22
Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse
Nancy Atherton's twenty-second cozy mystery in the beloved, nationally bestselling Aunt Dimity series.
It's early April in the small English village of Finch. Lori Shepherd's husband and sons are spending Easter break camping, and Lori is perfectly happy to be left at home with Bess, spared a week of roughing it with a curious toddler. The two attend a village events committee meeting and Lori is astonished when the elderly, soft-spoken widow Mrs. Annabelle Craven stands to make an announcement: she's decided to hold a quilting bee in the old schoolhouse.
At the quilting bee, Lori ends up seated beside Mrs. Craven, delighted at the opportunity to learn more about her neighbor's life in the village of Old Cowerton. But dear, sweet Mrs. Craven's stories reveal a startling secret about her first husband's death.
With Aunt Dimity's advice, Lori sets out to learn the truth about what the residents of Old Cowerton refer to as the "widow's curse"--and the deeper she digs, the more horrifying the tale becomes, until she discovers the most astounding revelation of all.
It's early April in the small English village of Finch. Lori Shepherd's husband and sons are spending Easter break camping, and Lori is perfectly happy to be left at home with Bess, spared a week of roughing it with a curious toddler. The two attend a village events committee meeting and Lori is astonished when the elderly, soft-spoken widow Mrs. Annabelle Craven stands to make an announcement: she's decided to hold a quilting bee in the old schoolhouse.
At the quilting bee, Lori ends up seated beside Mrs. Craven, delighted at the opportunity to learn more about her neighbor's life in the village of Old Cowerton. But dear, sweet Mrs. Craven's stories reveal a startling secret about her first husband's death.
With Aunt Dimity's advice, Lori sets out to learn the truth about what the residents of Old Cowerton refer to as the "widow's curse"--and the deeper she digs, the more horrifying the tale becomes, until she discovers the most astounding revelation of all.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2017
313 people are currently reading
2416 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Atherton
63 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 331 reviews
June 21, 2017
Aunt Dimity and the Widow’s Curse by Nancy Atherton is a 2017 Viking Books publication.
Another wonderful visit with Lori and the gang in the friendly, but gossipy, village of Finch!!
I know I’ve told this story before, but Aunt Dimity is a special series for me. It is the first ‘modern’ cozy series I ever read. I usually grabbed the darkest, most twisted mystery/suspense novels on the market, but I received an ‘Aunt Dimity’ book as a gift, and eventually, mostly out of pure, and quite skeptical, curiosity, I finally decided to give it a try.
I’ve been a cozy mystery fan ever since. This series still remains one of my favorites, and is always consistent, never losing its charm, even after twenty-two installments!
In this chapter, Lori’s elderly friend and champion quilter, Mrs. Craven, makes a startling confession to Lori, that has her very worried. Concerned, Lori and Bree, set off to Old Cowerton, looking for proof to back up Mrs. Craven’s claims, and will have you asking, ‘How well do I really know my neighbors?’
The author immediately puts me into a Cotswolds state of mind in the first chapter, reacquainting me with the village regulars, and reminding me of the quirky, but wonderful, homey, sense of community that Finch offers.
From there, we learn Bob and the boys are camping, which leaves Lori free to pursue her ‘case’ at Aunt Dimity’s urging.
For those of you, who follow this series, you know that these mysteries are not the traditional murder variety, and are usually more about the characters, but does indeed solve a mystery along the way. While, Lori’s amateur sleuthing skills are a bit unconventional, they eventually get the job done, with the help of 'Aunt Dimity'.
*It's not absolutely necessary to read the series from start to finish to enjoy the later installments. I've skipped around quite a bit myself, but I would check out a few older installments for background so you will understand the characters and setting more.
I especially enjoyed this installment, which calls attention to selfless acts of kindness, which often pays off in ways we never thought possible. The characters Lori and Bree meet in Old Cowerton, were well drawn, and the plot is rich with deceptively benign details, that come together quite nicely.
There are some laugh out loud moments, some girl bonding, and a host of interesting characters to round out the puzzling mystery behind the seemingly angelic, Mrs. Craven. The story ends with a nice warm and fuzzy feeling, but, as always, I’m always sad to have to end my visit with these characters, all of whom feel like old family friends.
So, until next time…
4 stars
Another wonderful visit with Lori and the gang in the friendly, but gossipy, village of Finch!!
I know I’ve told this story before, but Aunt Dimity is a special series for me. It is the first ‘modern’ cozy series I ever read. I usually grabbed the darkest, most twisted mystery/suspense novels on the market, but I received an ‘Aunt Dimity’ book as a gift, and eventually, mostly out of pure, and quite skeptical, curiosity, I finally decided to give it a try.
I’ve been a cozy mystery fan ever since. This series still remains one of my favorites, and is always consistent, never losing its charm, even after twenty-two installments!
In this chapter, Lori’s elderly friend and champion quilter, Mrs. Craven, makes a startling confession to Lori, that has her very worried. Concerned, Lori and Bree, set off to Old Cowerton, looking for proof to back up Mrs. Craven’s claims, and will have you asking, ‘How well do I really know my neighbors?’
The author immediately puts me into a Cotswolds state of mind in the first chapter, reacquainting me with the village regulars, and reminding me of the quirky, but wonderful, homey, sense of community that Finch offers.
From there, we learn Bob and the boys are camping, which leaves Lori free to pursue her ‘case’ at Aunt Dimity’s urging.
For those of you, who follow this series, you know that these mysteries are not the traditional murder variety, and are usually more about the characters, but does indeed solve a mystery along the way. While, Lori’s amateur sleuthing skills are a bit unconventional, they eventually get the job done, with the help of 'Aunt Dimity'.
*It's not absolutely necessary to read the series from start to finish to enjoy the later installments. I've skipped around quite a bit myself, but I would check out a few older installments for background so you will understand the characters and setting more.
I especially enjoyed this installment, which calls attention to selfless acts of kindness, which often pays off in ways we never thought possible. The characters Lori and Bree meet in Old Cowerton, were well drawn, and the plot is rich with deceptively benign details, that come together quite nicely.
There are some laugh out loud moments, some girl bonding, and a host of interesting characters to round out the puzzling mystery behind the seemingly angelic, Mrs. Craven. The story ends with a nice warm and fuzzy feeling, but, as always, I’m always sad to have to end my visit with these characters, all of whom feel like old family friends.
So, until next time…
4 stars
July 16, 2017
I listened to the audio version and totally enjoyed all the English accents of all the gossipy residents of the village of Finch. This was a fun, light cozy mystery which is #22 in the series. This was my first and worked just fine as a stand-alone. I will definitely read some more.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed the book. I was very skeptical I must say, but no fear! I especially enjoyed the character of Annabelle Cravens, an elderly demure and seemingly angelic neighbor. I also enjoyed the quilting bee that was held at a schoolhouse. Mrs Cravens was described as "quilting like she was possessed!" She was chatting with Lori Shepard when she blurted out that she had murdered her husband.
Lori begins her quest to learn the truth about Mrs. Cravens and all her dead husbands. Is there really such a thing as a "widows curse?"
July 4, 2017
Aunt Dimity books are dependably comforting and satisfying for me. I found this one more predictable than usual and edging on the saccharine at times, but it's still Aunt Dimity, so what else can I say? As always, I can't wait for the next.
July 25, 2017
The Aunt Dimity series has been a very favourite of mine since the first book, and while some have been "more favourite" than others, not a single book has disappointed me, and this installment was no different.
These books make small town busybodies lovable, and quiet village life funny and exciting, and as someone who grew up in a small town [I only WISH mine had been more like Finch!] I am here to tell you, that is no small feat.
The Aunt Dimity books are [I've said this before in reviewing them, but it bears repeating] like that stretched out old sweater that you love in spite of its age, and that you sigh with deep and genuine pleasure over, each time you slip into it. This is exactly how I feel each time I listen to the newest Aunt Dimity [my library gets them in audio book format and the narrator is absolutely perfect delivering them]. I find kindness, sweetness, humour and a perspective on life and the world in these books that is sorely lacking in much of the actual world these days. It is a joyful interlude each and every time I have the chance to re-visit Finch and go on adventures with Lori and her friends and neighbours.
We also always receive a lesson - albeit gentle and subtle - on how to be better to one another, and ways to make the world just a tiny bit less cold and difficult. I don't know if Nancy Atherton does that purposely, or if it is just part of how she sees her characters and the world they live in, but it's a lovely bonus for those paying attention, and who are open to a little small-town wisdom.
I ADORE this series, and hope Atherton plans to keep adding to it for many years to come, because we are all a little better after a visit to Finch!
These books make small town busybodies lovable, and quiet village life funny and exciting, and as someone who grew up in a small town [I only WISH mine had been more like Finch!] I am here to tell you, that is no small feat.
The Aunt Dimity books are [I've said this before in reviewing them, but it bears repeating] like that stretched out old sweater that you love in spite of its age, and that you sigh with deep and genuine pleasure over, each time you slip into it. This is exactly how I feel each time I listen to the newest Aunt Dimity [my library gets them in audio book format and the narrator is absolutely perfect delivering them]. I find kindness, sweetness, humour and a perspective on life and the world in these books that is sorely lacking in much of the actual world these days. It is a joyful interlude each and every time I have the chance to re-visit Finch and go on adventures with Lori and her friends and neighbours.
We also always receive a lesson - albeit gentle and subtle - on how to be better to one another, and ways to make the world just a tiny bit less cold and difficult. I don't know if Nancy Atherton does that purposely, or if it is just part of how she sees her characters and the world they live in, but it's a lovely bonus for those paying attention, and who are open to a little small-town wisdom.
I ADORE this series, and hope Atherton plans to keep adding to it for many years to come, because we are all a little better after a visit to Finch!
June 19, 2017
OK, go ahead and take away my man-card now. I will admit it. I am a devotee of Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity's series. I thoroughly enjoy Atherton's cozy mysteries about village life in rural England (ala Miss Marple) and the gentle and charming writing that she brings to the pages. There is always a crime to solve, but never does the book rely on shock value to entice the reader to follow the protagonist to, usually, a happy and moralistic ending. Walking a fine line between sedate and comatose, sweet and saccharine, Atherton manages to keep the book on an even keel. At times, she does veer towards an uncomfortable aura of excessive sentimentality, especially when it comes to baby Bess, but she does come back to the center, eventually. Her prose is excellent and her characters are wonderful, although they are much the same as we find in many cozy mysteries. A good read, and one that the followers of M.C. Beaton and Alexander McCall Smith will enjoy.
July 24, 2024
(On the plane, describing my reading to my husband)
Me: Aunt Dimity did it again.
Him: What, solved the mystery?
Me: Well…this author likes to have her characters think there was a crime and discover there wasn’t.
Overall a fun installment, hilarious in spots, extra points for more Bree and a delightfully growing-up Bess.
Me: Aunt Dimity did it again.
Him: What, solved the mystery?
Me: Well…this author likes to have her characters think there was a crime and discover there wasn’t.
Overall a fun installment, hilarious in spots, extra points for more Bree and a delightfully growing-up Bess.
July 19, 2017
This was a very sweet book, which almost hides the savage conclusion that homes for the elderly, such as convalescent homes, are so terrible that a person could prefer jail to such places.
Lori is flabbergasted to suddenly receive a confession of a serious crime (murder of course) from someone she had considered a very upright pleasant person who is a real artist in creating quilts. She takes a friend and investigates the confession. She comes to a conclusion but still doesn't know why such a confession was made to her. When she discovers why, we suddenly realize that she is showing us how terrible convalescent homes can be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really doubt I'll remember the details of the story, just as many of the stories do not seem to stick with me. However, I need to go back to the beginning and read them through in order, especially since I have missed a number of them over the years. Maybe then I'll have better luck at remembering what happens in these stories.
Lori is flabbergasted to suddenly receive a confession of a serious crime (murder of course) from someone she had considered a very upright pleasant person who is a real artist in creating quilts. She takes a friend and investigates the confession. She comes to a conclusion but still doesn't know why such a confession was made to her. When she discovers why, we suddenly realize that she is showing us how terrible convalescent homes can be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really doubt I'll remember the details of the story, just as many of the stories do not seem to stick with me. However, I need to go back to the beginning and read them through in order, especially since I have missed a number of them over the years. Maybe then I'll have better luck at remembering what happens in these stories.
November 1, 2023
This is my first book of this series,Iwill be reading a few more of them.
Good cozy mystery read. Nice believable characters too.
Good cozy mystery read. Nice believable characters too.
June 22, 2017
I've read all 22 AD books. Every summer I look forward to reading the latest book. I still contend that the first book was by far the best book, and really they aren't mysteries, as there is always a logical explanation for the "mystery". They are however charming stories of very interesting characters in what sounds like a town I'd like to visit.
May 23, 2017
Another delightful addition to the Aunt Dimity collection.
Lori Shepherd, our intrepid protagonist, begins another quest for the truth. With the help of her neighbor Bree Pym, her 13 month old daughter Bess, and of course Aunt Dimity, Lori searches for answers about the "widow's curse".
For those of you who are new to this cozy mystery series, Lori Shepherd is an American living in the small English village of Finch with her husband Bill, twin boys Will and Rob, daughter Bess and cat Stanley. Well Aunt Dimity lives there too, sort of. Aunt Dimity, Lori's mother's best friend, communicates with Lori by writing in a blue journal. You see, Aunt Dimity is a ghost, a very friendly and wise ghost. She helps Lori, especially when Lori's curiosity and imagination get a little out of control.
This cozy series is fun, light reading. The series deals with "mysteries" but usually not of the murder variety. Generally not scary or violent (although Deep Blue Sea which deals with a stalker is a bit), these stories have interesting characters and lovely local color. If you haven't already, I suggest reading from the beginning.
Lori Shepherd, our intrepid protagonist, begins another quest for the truth. With the help of her neighbor Bree Pym, her 13 month old daughter Bess, and of course Aunt Dimity, Lori searches for answers about the "widow's curse".
For those of you who are new to this cozy mystery series, Lori Shepherd is an American living in the small English village of Finch with her husband Bill, twin boys Will and Rob, daughter Bess and cat Stanley. Well Aunt Dimity lives there too, sort of. Aunt Dimity, Lori's mother's best friend, communicates with Lori by writing in a blue journal. You see, Aunt Dimity is a ghost, a very friendly and wise ghost. She helps Lori, especially when Lori's curiosity and imagination get a little out of control.
This cozy series is fun, light reading. The series deals with "mysteries" but usually not of the murder variety. Generally not scary or violent (although Deep Blue Sea which deals with a stalker is a bit), these stories have interesting characters and lovely local color. If you haven't already, I suggest reading from the beginning.
June 18, 2017
Another awesome installment of the Aunt Dimity series!! Lori, Bree and little Bess go on a girls' getaway but really want to visit a small town called Cowerton to ferret out some long buried information about their elderly friend and neighbor Mrs. Craven! And what a load of information they find! Not all of it is complimentary of Annabelle Craven and some tidbits don't really coincide with the story the old woman gave to Lori in the first place. Did Annabelle really kill her first husband? Who should Lori believe: The Sunnyside Gang or Craven Manor Cronies? All is revealed when Lori ends her holiday and reunites with her neighbors in Finch. The ending is not what you might expect!!
I always love reading the Aunt Dimity books. I would love to have someone like Aunt Dimity to ask advice. She is always the (disembodied) voice of reason! I thoroughly enjoy this series!
I voluntarily reviewed this book from NetGalley.
I always love reading the Aunt Dimity books. I would love to have someone like Aunt Dimity to ask advice. She is always the (disembodied) voice of reason! I thoroughly enjoy this series!
I voluntarily reviewed this book from NetGalley.
February 2, 2018
Having read a fair amount in the Aunt Dimity series, I found that this particular book a disappointment. Aunt Dimity and the Widow’s Curse by Nancy Atherton begins well enough, but at a ‘meeting’, a villager shares a story with Lori Shepard which sends Lori, Bree, & Bess, Lori’s 13-month old daughter, off on a trip to discover the truth. The book hits on a major problem in society today - the elderly and their problems - but it is not truly discuss this. What does take place with the characters appears rather trivial until the ending when the village of Finch and members of another village in The Cotswolds come together to provide assistance to an elderly member of Finch. I got the feeling that I was reading in circles.
July 16, 2017
WHAT a great read. OH MY GOSH I love these books. Every time I think a new Aunt Dimity book cannot be ANY better than the previous one, I am proved wrong, and this one was no exception. So much is going on in this one and I am totally amazed at how wonderful and gracious Lori is, even in the midst of everything that is happening. She is such a great main character, even with all her faults and you cannot help but want to be friends with her.
I love and highly recommend both this book AND this series. To fully understand everything, you must start with book one, but I warn you; ONLY do that if you want to be sucked up into one of the best series I have ever read.
I love and highly recommend both this book AND this series. To fully understand everything, you must start with book one, but I warn you; ONLY do that if you want to be sucked up into one of the best series I have ever read.
September 3, 2017
These very light, gentle, and enjoyable books are always a fun read.
May 30, 2021
Oh, this was a very sweet, very fun entry in the Aunt Dimity series! I loved the characters, the setting, the plot, and Lori’s “gullible” nature. The ending was also such a feel-good ending and honestly, I think that’s why I enjoy this series. Not because every story is plausible, not because every mystery is eerie and creepy, but because inevitably there are feel-good relationships, feel-good characters, and feel-good endings. And that’s such a nice thing to be able to rely on given how stressful life continues to be for me. So thank you, Nancy Atherton, for a sweet, relaxing series of books populated with characters that I love!
March 13, 2024
Book 22 in the series. At a quilting bee Finch resident Annabelle Craven confines to Lori Shepherd that she killed her first husband and buried him under her rose bushes. This seems entirely out of character for the elderly widow and so Lori feels she needs to investigate. Going to Mrs Craven's home village she is told by the local gossip that not only did Mrs Craven kill her first husband but four other men as well. None of it makes sense and the unraveling is interesting and fun.
Once again fun and easy cozy mystery without the need for dead bodies.
Once again fun and easy cozy mystery without the need for dead bodies.
August 21, 2024
Very cute story. It reaches a little, but always adorable
November 17, 2017
Confession: I downloaded this audiobook by accident (I kept clicking on a slow-loading webpage, and my impatience was punished). I didn't realize until I updated my Goodreads that it's the 22nd (!) book in a series about "Aunt Dimity." So I didn't know what most people reading it probably do: it's a cozy mystery in the first person, and the main character Lori talks to her dead aunt via an old magic journal. As a general rule, I'm not into the paranormal thing, and I wasn't thrilled when 40 pages in Lori starts communing with the dead and confiding in a stuffed bunny named Reginald. I also struggle to summon any interest whatsoever in either quilting or baked goods, both of which carried ridiculously heavy weight in the plot. What little remained of the story hinged on childcare (Lori has a toddler) and gossip.
Ultimately, Aunt Dimity ends up playing a minimal role. But the mystery itself had one of the most anticlimactic conclusions imaginable. Plot summary: while at a quilting bee, Lori's neighbor Mrs. Craven-- quilter extraordinaire-- confesses that she murdered her first husband. Freaked out but unable to believe the nice old biddy killed anyone, Lori takes her baby daughter and her friend Bree up to Mrs. Craven's hometown to investigate. There, she goes to a bunch of tea parties and learns that several deaths have been attributed to Mrs. Craven since her husband's disappearance, and the townsfolk believe she carries "the widow's curse" (which sounds like bad luck to her lovers, but no, it's actually described as a murder-lust that comes upon Mrs. Craven after she terminates her first husband). Spoilers:
The first-person narration didn't help the uninspired mystery; the perspective is limited and the language is cliche-ridden and overly stylized. (And there's a bit of Nancy-Drew-style reference to previous books, which is so cheesy I might've gagged.) It reads like a novel set in the 1950s or earlier, despite its occasional baffled references to technology, e.g. "When Emma told me how much money the first online auction brought in, I was compelled to admit that computers had their uses." Is this a thirty-something with three children or a time traveler? It also annoyed me that the author introduced a journal ghost but had it do almost nothing; the main piece of advice Aunt Dimity gave Lori was to withhold the information about Mrs. Craven’s confession from her husband because "as an attorney, he’d be required by law to go to the police." Whether it's believable or not. Apparently. I mean, Atherton gave us the promise (such as it is) of psychobiddy serial killers and journal ghosts, but no part of the dramatic setup goes anywhere. Lori's whole investigation consists of sitting in parlors eating treats with gossipy old ladies, then going home and dishing to her dead aunt via the journal. There's not one passably scary or even mildly suspenseful moment. We don't get the barest confusion until the very last pages-- and that's just silly story-contrivance confusion rather than exciting mysterious confusion . I'm sure that some people would lap this up (otherwise who let Atherton write 22 of these?), but that's a greater mystery to me than anything I read here.
Ultimately, Aunt Dimity ends up playing a minimal role. But the mystery itself had one of the most anticlimactic conclusions imaginable. Plot summary: while at a quilting bee, Lori's neighbor Mrs. Craven-- quilter extraordinaire-- confesses that she murdered her first husband. Freaked out but unable to believe the nice old biddy killed anyone, Lori takes her baby daughter and her friend Bree up to Mrs. Craven's hometown to investigate. There, she goes to a bunch of tea parties and learns that several deaths have been attributed to Mrs. Craven since her husband's disappearance, and the townsfolk believe she carries "the widow's curse" (which sounds like bad luck to her lovers, but no, it's actually described as a murder-lust that comes upon Mrs. Craven after she terminates her first husband). Spoilers:
The first-person narration didn't help the uninspired mystery; the perspective is limited and the language is cliche-ridden and overly stylized. (And there's a bit of Nancy-Drew-style reference to previous books, which is so cheesy I might've gagged.) It reads like a novel set in the 1950s or earlier, despite its occasional baffled references to technology, e.g. "When Emma told me how much money the first online auction brought in, I was compelled to admit that computers had their uses." Is this a thirty-something with three children or a time traveler? It also annoyed me that the author introduced a journal ghost but had it do almost nothing; the main piece of advice Aunt Dimity gave Lori was to withhold the information about Mrs. Craven’s confession from her husband because "as an attorney, he’d be required by law to go to the police." Whether it's believable or not. Apparently. I mean, Atherton gave us the promise (such as it is) of psychobiddy serial killers and journal ghosts, but no part of the dramatic setup goes anywhere. Lori's whole investigation consists of sitting in parlors eating treats with gossipy old ladies, then going home and dishing to her dead aunt via the journal. There's not one passably scary or even mildly suspenseful moment. We don't get the barest confusion until the very last pages-- and that's just silly story-contrivance confusion rather than exciting mysterious confusion . I'm sure that some people would lap this up (otherwise who let Atherton write 22 of these?), but that's a greater mystery to me than anything I read here.
June 18, 2017
Though the Aunt Dimity books are short and very hit or miss for me, I am glad to say that this book was better than most and packs a very interesting story.
Lori Shepard will admit to anyone that will listen that she is gullible. She tries to accept everyone at face value so when Mrs. Annabelle Craven, a long loved village member, admits that she had killed her husband, Lori is both shocked and curious. Not wanting to jump to any conclusions, and with her husband and son’s out of town, Lori grabs Bree Pym and heads out to Old Cowerton to do a bit of investigating on her own.
I know that the premise does not sound too enticing, but Nancy Atherton was able to wind a very interesting “she-said, she-said” story, almost to the point where you cannot figure out who is actually telling the truth. Just understand that old stories and old jealousies die-hard and when you can fit a scenario to your own liking, just about anything is possible.
Lori Shepard will admit to anyone that will listen that she is gullible. She tries to accept everyone at face value so when Mrs. Annabelle Craven, a long loved village member, admits that she had killed her husband, Lori is both shocked and curious. Not wanting to jump to any conclusions, and with her husband and son’s out of town, Lori grabs Bree Pym and heads out to Old Cowerton to do a bit of investigating on her own.
I know that the premise does not sound too enticing, but Nancy Atherton was able to wind a very interesting “she-said, she-said” story, almost to the point where you cannot figure out who is actually telling the truth. Just understand that old stories and old jealousies die-hard and when you can fit a scenario to your own liking, just about anything is possible.
June 19, 2017
So ends another charming installment in a long-running and consistently well-written series of true mysteries. Lori travels to a nearby village to investigate the scandalous rumor of an elderly Finch neighbor's story of gossip and murder. Of course, there are no murders in this series, just a close-knit and committed village of quirky residents who care for one another, no matter their age or financial situation. I highly recommend this series set in the Cotswolds, but you must read it in order for character development and backstory. It all begins with Aunt Dimity's Death--copyright 1992!
July 29, 2017
A quick cozy British mystery I plucked from my mother's stack of library books as this is one of her favorite genres. Light, well-written, and fun; I loved the from beyond journal communication between the protagonist and her late, ghostly Aunt Dimity, which is the premise behind the series, apparently. I wouldn't seek out others in the series, necessarily, as my tastes tend to run darker and deeper, but every now and then it's fun to read a fluffy mystery like this.
August 12, 2017
http://openbooksociety.com/article/au...
Aunt Dimity and the Widow’s Curse
Aunt Dimity Mystery, Book #22
By Nancy Atherton
ISBN# 9781101981320
Author Website: http://www.aunt-dimity.com/
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
It’s early April in the small English village of Finch. Lori Shepherd’s husband and sons are spending Easter break camping, and Lori is perfectly happy to be left at home with Bess, spared a week of roughing it with a curious toddler. The two attend a village events committee meeting and Lori is astonished when the elderly, soft-spoken widow Mrs. Annabelle Craven stands to make an announcement: she’s decided to hold a quilting bee in the old schoolhouse.
At the quilting bee, Lori ends up seated beside Mrs. Craven, delighted at the opportunity to learn more about her neighbor’s life in the village of Old Cowerton. But dear, sweet Mrs. Craven’s stories reveal a startling secret about her first husband’s death.
With Aunt Dimity’s advice, Lori sets out to learn the truth about what the residents of Old Cowerton refer to as the “widow’s curse”–and the deeper she digs, the more horrifying the tale becomes, until she discovers the most astounding revelation of all. (Goodreads)
Review:
Twenty-two books into this long running series, Aunt Dimity and the Widow’s Curse is sure to please fans of the series. The epitome of cozy, protagonist Lori, with Aunt Dimity’s guidance, travels to a nearby village in hopes of finding out the truth about Annabelle Craven’s first husband’s death.
Annabelle Craven is a well respected resident of Finch known for her extraordinary quilts. When she requests help finishing one last big project, her neighbors do not hesitate to participate in the quilting bee. Lori is troubled when, as they chat over their sewing, Annabelle confesses to killing her first husband. Faced with the ethical dilemma of confiding in her solicitor husband or keeping the secret to herself, she decides to ferret out the truth herself, taking her toddler Bess and friend Bree along for the journey. Lori has her work cut out for her when she finds the residents of Cowerton fit into two distinct camps – those who do not think for a minute that Annabelle could possibly have committed such a crime, and those who claim that a “widow’s curse” afflicts all who get close to Annabelle.
The Aunt Dimity books are exceptionally docile reads. The whole tone of Aunt Dimity and the Widow’s Curse is mild-mannered and serene. Lori never finds herself in any dangerous situation. There is not much humor or crazy antics. Village residents may have definite opinions about Annabelle and the fate of her beaus, but no one lies or double crosses anyone. Atherton’s words will lull you to sleep if you are not careful. I do not mean this as a criticism; the style is even-keel. It precariously balances the line between sweet and saccharine, and it can become overly sentimental. The unraveling of the truth is interesting, the characters quirky, and I found the reason behind Annabelle’s confession a heartbreaking commentary on the predicament our aging friends often face. The characters, recurring and new to this book, are all likable, even the ones whose outer layer are unpleasant.
So…brew yourself a nice cup of tea, get comfortably cozy with your favorite quilt, and spend some time with Lori and Aunt Dimity.
Aunt Dimity and the Widow’s Curse
Aunt Dimity Mystery, Book #22
By Nancy Atherton
ISBN# 9781101981320
Author Website: http://www.aunt-dimity.com/
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
It’s early April in the small English village of Finch. Lori Shepherd’s husband and sons are spending Easter break camping, and Lori is perfectly happy to be left at home with Bess, spared a week of roughing it with a curious toddler. The two attend a village events committee meeting and Lori is astonished when the elderly, soft-spoken widow Mrs. Annabelle Craven stands to make an announcement: she’s decided to hold a quilting bee in the old schoolhouse.
At the quilting bee, Lori ends up seated beside Mrs. Craven, delighted at the opportunity to learn more about her neighbor’s life in the village of Old Cowerton. But dear, sweet Mrs. Craven’s stories reveal a startling secret about her first husband’s death.
With Aunt Dimity’s advice, Lori sets out to learn the truth about what the residents of Old Cowerton refer to as the “widow’s curse”–and the deeper she digs, the more horrifying the tale becomes, until she discovers the most astounding revelation of all. (Goodreads)
Review:
Twenty-two books into this long running series, Aunt Dimity and the Widow’s Curse is sure to please fans of the series. The epitome of cozy, protagonist Lori, with Aunt Dimity’s guidance, travels to a nearby village in hopes of finding out the truth about Annabelle Craven’s first husband’s death.
Annabelle Craven is a well respected resident of Finch known for her extraordinary quilts. When she requests help finishing one last big project, her neighbors do not hesitate to participate in the quilting bee. Lori is troubled when, as they chat over their sewing, Annabelle confesses to killing her first husband. Faced with the ethical dilemma of confiding in her solicitor husband or keeping the secret to herself, she decides to ferret out the truth herself, taking her toddler Bess and friend Bree along for the journey. Lori has her work cut out for her when she finds the residents of Cowerton fit into two distinct camps – those who do not think for a minute that Annabelle could possibly have committed such a crime, and those who claim that a “widow’s curse” afflicts all who get close to Annabelle.
The Aunt Dimity books are exceptionally docile reads. The whole tone of Aunt Dimity and the Widow’s Curse is mild-mannered and serene. Lori never finds herself in any dangerous situation. There is not much humor or crazy antics. Village residents may have definite opinions about Annabelle and the fate of her beaus, but no one lies or double crosses anyone. Atherton’s words will lull you to sleep if you are not careful. I do not mean this as a criticism; the style is even-keel. It precariously balances the line between sweet and saccharine, and it can become overly sentimental. The unraveling of the truth is interesting, the characters quirky, and I found the reason behind Annabelle’s confession a heartbreaking commentary on the predicament our aging friends often face. The characters, recurring and new to this book, are all likable, even the ones whose outer layer are unpleasant.
So…brew yourself a nice cup of tea, get comfortably cozy with your favorite quilt, and spend some time with Lori and Aunt Dimity.
October 28, 2018
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In the 22nd Aunt Dimity book, Lori is enjoying time with her little girl while her husband takes her twin boys camping. When a member of the village suggests a quilting bee, then shares an impossible story with Lori, she.is quickly roped into another mystery.
Traveling to a new village, Lori and her friend Bree are told of the widows curse that follows her elderly friend, but cannot believe the stories. Of course Lori cannot stop asking questions, especially of her deceased Aunt Dimity, until she finds the truth.
I enjoyed this book a lot, more than some of the other Aunt Dimity books I've read. The end was surprising, and I always enjoy the stories about village life.
In the 22nd Aunt Dimity book, Lori is enjoying time with her little girl while her husband takes her twin boys camping. When a member of the village suggests a quilting bee, then shares an impossible story with Lori, she.is quickly roped into another mystery.
Traveling to a new village, Lori and her friend Bree are told of the widows curse that follows her elderly friend, but cannot believe the stories. Of course Lori cannot stop asking questions, especially of her deceased Aunt Dimity, until she finds the truth.
I enjoyed this book a lot, more than some of the other Aunt Dimity books I've read. The end was surprising, and I always enjoy the stories about village life.
March 2, 2020
3,5 🌟
Dieses Buch war für mich das erste der Reihe rund um Tante Dimity. Das Buch ist Teil 22 . Ich kam auch ohne Vorkenntnisse gut in die Geschichte. Ich mag Cosy Krimis sehr gerne , da sie nichts blutrünstiges haben sondern zum miträtseln anregen aber trotzdem ruhiger sind. Man lernt die Protagonistin Lori kennen und dann Tante Dimity, die anders ist als erwartet ( mehr kann ich dazu nicht sagen ohne zu Spoilern) . Der Fall war sehr interessant und ich wollte unbedingt wissen wie es ausgeht, nun die Auflösung war etwas enttäuschend muss ich gestehen , hatte ich doch was anderes erwartet , aber der Schluss war sehr schön und hat es für mich rund gemacht und ich kann mich mit der Auflösung so anfreunden.
Für Fans von Cosy Krimis eine Empfehlung
Dieses Buch war für mich das erste der Reihe rund um Tante Dimity. Das Buch ist Teil 22 . Ich kam auch ohne Vorkenntnisse gut in die Geschichte. Ich mag Cosy Krimis sehr gerne , da sie nichts blutrünstiges haben sondern zum miträtseln anregen aber trotzdem ruhiger sind. Man lernt die Protagonistin Lori kennen und dann Tante Dimity, die anders ist als erwartet ( mehr kann ich dazu nicht sagen ohne zu Spoilern) . Der Fall war sehr interessant und ich wollte unbedingt wissen wie es ausgeht, nun die Auflösung war etwas enttäuschend muss ich gestehen , hatte ich doch was anderes erwartet , aber der Schluss war sehr schön und hat es für mich rund gemacht und ich kann mich mit der Auflösung so anfreunden.
Für Fans von Cosy Krimis eine Empfehlung
March 30, 2022
During a quilting bee, when Lori and her sweet little old lady friend are the only ones still sewing, her friend confesses to murdering her first husband and burying him in the back yard under the rose bushes. Lori is taken aback, and refuses to tell anyone (hubby Bill is on a camping trip with their boys) until she can verify what her friend has told her. Except for another friend who weasels the story out of her. So the two of them plus Lori's now-ambulatory baby visit the village where the confessed murderer used to live where they get multiple stories about her life and times. It's a fascinating tale and something of a morality play about gossip. I liked it. Good read.
February 27, 2021
I always find Aunt Dimity books to be wonderful palate cleansers, and this was definitely the book I needed now. These cozy mysteries always hit the right spot for me. While the plots are mysterious, they don't often include much in the way of sinister action. On occasion, there is a death, but rarely a murder. I find these books to be engrossing and heartwarming.
November 20, 2020
This was a delightful surprise! I have never read any books from this series or this author. This story was very engaging and the actual mystery was really fun and different! I will be going back to read the earlier ones in this series!
April 12, 2023
This was a wonderful cozy mystery. I'm not reading them in order (selections are based on what my library has). And I love this series. It set in bucolic England, and the super mom sleuth has delightful children that make the connection real and enjoyable.
August 18, 2017
Enjoyable read.
July 12, 2018
Audio. This was a fun book to listen to on audio. Just found this series. Might look for more!
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