Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday

This book is a good mystery. The plot is always complex, but not confusing, and very well written. These stories are perfectly situated in England. The titles of these Aunt Dimity series are a bit misleading. By the title I thought it would be about a little lady who travels and gets involved in little mysteries, like Agatha Christie's Poirot and also her Miss Marple, etc. The stories are about a woman named Lori, who is married to a lawyer husband (who travels a lot) and has two little twin baby boys. In this particular story, she is invited, by her neighbor and friend, Emma, to come with her to meet her husband's wealthy English family (who she doesn't know existed). Her husband is the lawyer for Emma's in-laws, and so Lori is invited and goes with both her friend and her husband. On their arrival a sculpted bush (to look like a turtledove) is in flames. Soon, anonymous poison pen threat notes start arriving to a certain person in the book, and Lori has to figure out who's writing the notes, etc. Aunt Dimity was a rich eclectic woman. She was the best friend of Lori's mother, and having no family of her own to pass on the huge trust fund she had accumulated over the years, she passed it on to Lori when she died, along with her little stone cottage, set in the heart of the English countryside, and a blue bound journal. Through this journal she communicates with Lori, even after her death. This part is kind of strange, though I say it myself, but adds a bit of quirkiness to the book that is charming.This book is a great (shorter) mystery novel, a great way to just cuddle up, read, and relax during the weekend.

I have read all of Aunt Dimity's adventures and have grown fond of these people. The author moves the plot along quickly without treating the clearly drawn characters as puppets. I felt Lori's growing fondness for the people she met and grew to understand them with her. The author is very relationally centered. I don't consider this "light" or fluff. I had tears at the ending. Though I hated for it to end, I couldn't put it down till it did. Hope I don't have to wait too long for the next one.

I love this series. I've read every one so far and have never been disappointed. This is the best one yet. Her characters show sensitivity and the plot was intriging. Keep it up...PLEASE!

I am an avid mystery reader but this is the first Aunt Dimity book I've read. I LOVED it. It's funny, delightful and charming. Set in an English manor the author gives enough description of the home, the rooms, the grounds, etc to make the reader feel they are there. The central characters are fully developed so the reader feels that these people are, at the very least, friendly acqaintances if not friends. It's an easy read and not heavy on the blood and gore which is just fine. What can I say, Aunty Dimity has gained a new fan.

The Harris family is in turmoil. Everyone understands that Derek is estranged from his father the Earl. When the family is summoned to a family reunion of sorts, Emma finds out that she was never told the whole story. Derek never even told her his real name! Understandably upset and apprehensive about the upcoming visit, she asks Lori Shepherd to come along with her. Lori's husband Bill informs her that he is one of the Earl's lawyers and they were going already. Lori and Emma wonder what other surprises are in store for them, and what secrets of the past will be revealed.This is one of my favorite series and I always look forward to the next. Although a little short for my taste, this is a wonderful cozy. Derek's background was always a mystery, and everything is explained in this novel, Nell is featured as usual, and we see a little more of Peter, who has been largely invisible since, Aunt Dimity and the Duke, which is a shame. I read this one in one sitting and plan to reread it soon. It is nice to read something that is not too violent and ends happily once in a while, so I look forward to these books.