Plot
summary and comments: Lori Shepherd learns that she will inherit a sizeable estate from her recently deceased Aunt Dimity, but there is a catch--Lori must first discover the secret hidden in the letters in Dimity's cottage. Reprint.
::READERS REVIEWS::
Just Wonderful - After finishing this book I'm not even sure how to title it. It is flat out wonderful. Not what I expected but so incredible that I will probably re-read it. Aunt Dimity's Death was found in the mystery section. I wouldn't call it a murder mystery and not even really a mystery. Lori, our main character, is a down and out young lady whose father died after she was born and her mother just passed away. Nothing has ever gone her way. She finds out that the night time stories her mother told her were stories from letters, and that Aunt Dimity wasn't just a character, but a real person - and she has happened to pass away. Lori is tasked with writing an intro to a book of Aunt Dimity's stories. This takes her to England and a world outside of her regular one. Magic, mystery, romance and heart breaking love!
I cried the final 10 pages. It was romantic and tragic and tear jerking. This is a glorious story of match making beyond the grave and over coming the earth shattering life-changing events that the death of a loved one can cause. I can't wait to bite into the second book in the series!
What a find! - I "stumbled" across Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil, on audio book. What a find! I had to find more and decided to start at the beginning. To my delight I found Aunt Dimity's Death. I'm having so much fun with these books. I lOVE listening to the Aunt Dimity series while driving to work. Who wants to listen to the depressing news when you can listen to Aunt Dimity! I don't think the other books are on audio, so I'll have to enjoy a good read at home. Good work Nancy Atherton!
Introducing Aunt Dimity - This is the first in a long running series featuring the late Dimity Westwood. These gentle stories are a blend of several genres, fantasy, cozy mystery and romance and could be made into Disney films with no altering or censoring.
As the story opens Lori Shepherd is suffering through a prolonged stretch of misfortune, her marriage has failed, her old job is gone leaving her to attempt to survive as temp worker and then her mother died unexpectedly, which only further depressed Lori. Things began to change for her though when she was contacted by a prominent legal firm concerning an inheritance from 'Aunt' Dimity who had been a friend of Lori's mother. Lori was shocked by the bequest, particularly so since she had thought that Aunt Dimity had only existed in her mother's bedtime stories, not as a real person. Lori, and a member of the law firm, are dispatched to Dimity's cottage in the English countryside to attend to some stipulations of the will. Once at the cottage though odd things begin to happen, leading to Lori on a journey far stranger than she could ever imagine.
In many ways this story, and the others in the series, are reminiscent of the stories that appeared in 'ladies' magazines of the '50's and '60's. The stories are heavy on romance, but without any sexual content, there are mysteries but no dead bodies, and the paranormal aspects are completely non threatening. There are also holes in the plot big enough to drive a truck through. So why then a five star rating? Because the stories are totally charming little tales that create a world that while the reader knows quite well does not exist wishes it did. The overall story arc of this series is quite pronounced so the reader should begin at the beginning and proceed in order.
Too sweet - I read this first title in the series thinking the ghost would be the crime-solver, and was disappointed to find she was not. The main character is Lori Shepherd, the first person to have dealings with the ghost of Dimity, and the book is largely from her perspective.
The author has a very pleasant style, but this is primarily a romance, and I don't like romances. That I finished it is sort of a tribute to the author, but it was soooo sweet, so very very sweet, that I think it left a cavity in my left frontal lobe and I need a reverse lobotomy. I'll have to pass on others in the series.
Utterly charming, such a likable character! - Absolutely engaging mystery with a loving touch of supernatural. Nostalgic, without being sappy. Lori's character was so sympathetic, and I fell in love with all the other characters as well, especially the father & son of the lawfirm.
::AMAZON REVIEWS::
Just WonderfulAfter finishing this book I'm not even sure how to title it. It is flat out wonderful. Not what I expected but so incredible that I will probably re-read it. Aunt Dimity's Death was found in the mystery section. I wouldn't call it a murder mystery and not even really a mystery. Lori, our main character, is a down and out young lady whose father died after she was born and her mother just passed away. Nothing has ever gone her way. She finds out that the night time stories her mother told her were stories from letters, and that Aunt Dimity wasn't just a character, but a real person - and she has happened to pass away. Lori is tasked with writing an intro to a book of Aunt Dimity's stories. This takes her to England and a world outside of her regular one. Magic, mystery, romance and heart breaking love!
I cried the final 10 pages. It was romantic and tragic and tear jerking. This is a glorious story of match making beyond the grave and over coming the earth shattering life-changing events that the death of a loved one can cause. I can't wait to bite into the second book in the series!
What a find!I "stumbled" across Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil, on audio book. What a find! I had to find more and decided to start at the beginning. To my delight I found Aunt Dimity's Death. I'm having so much fun with these books. I lOVE listening to the Aunt Dimity series while driving to work. Who wants to listen to the depressing news when you can listen to Aunt Dimity! I don't think the other books are on audio, so I'll have to enjoy a good read at home. Good work Nancy Atherton!
Introducing Aunt DimityThis is the first in a long running series featuring the late Dimity Westwood. These gentle stories are a blend of several genres, fantasy, cozy mystery and romance and could be made into Disney films with no altering or censoring.
As the story opens Lori Shepherd is suffering through a prolonged stretch of misfortune, her marriage has failed, her old job is gone leaving her to attempt to survive as temp worker and then her mother died unexpectedly, which only further depressed Lori. Things began to change for her though when she was contacted by a prominent legal firm concerning an inheritance from 'Aunt' Dimity who had been a friend of Lori's mother. Lori was shocked by the bequest, particularly so since she had thought that Aunt Dimity had only existed in her mother's bedtime stories, not as a real person. Lori, and a member of the law firm, are dispatched to Dimity's cottage in the English countryside to attend to some stipulations of the will. Once at the cottage though odd things begin to happen, leading to Lori on a journey far stranger than she could ever imagine.
In many ways this story, and the others in the series, are reminiscent of the stories that appeared in 'ladies' magazines of the '50's and '60's. The stories are heavy on romance, but without any sexual content, there are mysteries but no dead bodies, and the paranormal aspects are completely non threatening. There are also holes in the plot big enough to drive a truck through. So why then a five star rating? Because the stories are totally charming little tales that create a world that while the reader knows quite well does not exist wishes it did. The overall story arc of this series is quite pronounced so the reader should begin at the beginning and proceed in order.
Too sweetI read this first title in the series thinking the ghost would be the crime-solver, and was disappointed to find she was not. The main character is Lori Shepherd, the first person to have dealings with the ghost of Dimity, and the book is largely from her perspective.
The author has a very pleasant style, but this is primarily a romance, and I don't like romances. That I finished it is sort of a tribute to the author, but it was soooo sweet, so very very sweet, that I think it left a cavity in my left frontal lobe and I need a reverse lobotomy. I'll have to pass on others in the series.
Utterly charming, such a likable character!Absolutely engaging mystery with a loving touch of supernatural. Nostalgic, without being sappy. Lori's character was so sympathetic, and I fell in love with all the other characters as well, especially the father & son of the lawfirm.