Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (Aunt Dimity Mystery) [Paperback]

Nancy Atherton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Aunt Dimity Mystery | Publication Date: October 2, 2001

"A romantic tale with echoes of A. S. Byatt's Possession and enough dreamy and ghostly wish-fulfillment to satisfy readers across several genres." (Booklist

With rain crashing down on her Range Rover, as it climbs up a steep embankment on the Northumberland moors, Lori Shepherd is beginning to doubt the wisdom of her decision to evaluate a rare book collection at Wyrdhurst Hall.

The grim, neo-gothic hall that greets her upon arrival is full of surprises-including a charming, secretive stranger, and a cache of World War I letters that tell a tale of doomed love and hint at a hidden treasure. It will take all of Dimity's supernatural skills to help Lori solve the puzzle and restore peace to a family haunted by its tragic past.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Lori Shepherd, niece of one of the most benevolent ghosts in fiction, discovers there's life (and death) after motherhood in this charming, neo-Gothic tale of haunted castles, time-traveling spirits, and hidden treasure. Leaving her twin toddlers at home in the Cotswolds with her husband, an American lawyer working in England, Lori sets off for Wyrdhurst Hall to evaluate a private library for a wealthy client who has given the castle to his niece Nicole and her new husband, Jared Hollander. But a mysteriously open gate leads Lori dangerously astray. Rescued from a potentially fatal accident by a handsome and charming stranger to whom she is immediately attracted, she resumes her journey to the gloomy Scottish estate. Once ensconced at Wyrdhurst, Lori finds the young mistress is terrified by the sounds and apparitions that haunt the castle and equally frightened of her cold and controlling husband. Lori uncovers a secret cache of letters from an earlier era that hint at a tragic love affair and a death that must be avenged before Wyrdhurst's ghost--and its present inhabitants--can rest in peace. With Aunt Dimity's magic journal warning her that danger surrounds her passionate infatuation with Adam Chase, who has his own reasons for wanting Lori to get to the bottom of the mystery, our intrepid heroine traces the ghostly apparitions to their source. In the process she makes the acquaintance of the restless spirit whose love for a World War I soldier was thwarted, but not destroyed, by Wyrdhurst's original owner and provides the happy-ever-after ending to this charming and lively mystery. Nancy Atherton's fans will adore Lori and Aunt Dimity, and readers new to the series will be delighted to discover the fearless duo in this atmospheric and very well-paced story. --Jane Adams --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

"Plucky women long for action," asserts Lori Shepherd, who finds plenty of mischief, both ghostly and human, at Wyrdhurst Hall in her action-packed sixth supernatural cozy. Leaving husband Bill at home in the Cotswolds with their 18-month-old twin boys, Lori drives to a remote spot near the Scottish border to evaluate an old library for the new residents of Wyrdhurst, newlyweds Jared and Nicole Hollander. Alas, she takes a wrong turn in a rainstorm on the high Northumberland moors and narrowly escapes a landslide that washes her car off the road. Brought unconscious by handsome writer Adam Chase to his isolated hut, Lori later feels strangely attracted to her rescuer. The next day she learns from army captain Guy Manning that she'd driven on to a restricted military area because someone had left open a gate that should have been locked. Her accident may have been no accident. Finally arriving at Wyrdhurst, she has to wonder about her hosts, ascetic Jared and meek Nicole, who admits to Lori that Jared has yet to consummate their marriage. Investigating the library, Lori uncovers love letters between Claire Byrd, daughter of Wyrdhurst's formidable first owner, and Edward Cresswell, a soldier who died in WWI, that point to past tragedy. In the present, Captain Manning moons over Nicole, Adam remains a dangerously attractive presence and Lori's late Aunt Dimity provides sound advice from the beyond. What might be merely silly or ridiculous in lesser hands, Atherton here pulls off with irresistible flair and charm. 4-city author tour. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); First Printing edition (October 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141002190
• ISBN-13: 978-0141002194
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This author writes a warm mystey that leaves us feeling good, September 28, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (Hardcover)

Expatriate American Lori Shepherd leaves her Cotswold home to drive to Northumberland to evaluate the Wyrdhurst library rare book collection. However, instead of arriving safely at the Hall, a landslide caused by a torrential storm leads to an accident. Writer Adam Chase takes the unconscious Lori to his hovel. When Lori awakens, she feels an attraction to her rescuer that in turn makes her feel guilty since she just left her beloved spouse with their twin toddlers.

Still, Lori goes about her business and begins to scrutinize the collection. Soon, Lori hears eerie laughter and finds a cache of love letters written by Claire Byrd and W.W.I vet Edward Cresswell, who died in combat. However, an apparent ghost and someone knocking out Adam disturb the serenity of her work. With hints of treasure hidden in the castle, Lori with the help of her spirited Aunt Dimity begins a different type of investigation that could prove dangerous to this amateur sleuth.

On first glance, AUNT DIMITY BEATS THE DEVIL sounds inane, but talented Nancy Atherton turns the tale into an entertaining otherworldly cozy. The story line is simply fun to read due to the strong support cast enabling the lead couple (Lori and Aunt Dimity) to excel. The "dialogue" between Lori and Aunt Dimity is often humorous, but also retains a seriousness that embellishes the plot. Unlike many English cozies, AUNT DIMITY BEATS THE DEVIL contains plenty of action, but the novel as with the previous five books in this series belongs to its two stars.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Aunt Dimity books are a surefire good read, October 6, 2000

By 

Moe811 (New York USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (Hardcover)

When Lori Shepard leaves her home to evaluate a library in the wilds of the border country, she does so to do a favor for her friend Stan, and to take a little time away from her twin toddlers. She doesn't expect to be influenced by another less friendly ghost. Once again, Aunt Dimity comes to the rescue, but not without alot of plot twists and turns. This is a great book and I recommend it highly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aunt Dimity goes gothic, March 18, 2001

By 

algerina "algerina" (Saint Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (Hardcover)

Any Aunt Dimity is a ghost story of course but this one is much more. Nancy Atherton has woven a perfect gothic plot. All the elements are present: forbidden stirrings, revenge, lost loves, war, death, mysterious stranger, a bad marriage, a fainting virgin and things that go bump in the night. The author leaves nothing out. I was hooked from the first few pages and couldn't put it down. As Lori falls under the thrall of the spirits of the house and the seduction of the mysterious stranger I found myself shouting, "Listen to your aunt! Don't do this!" I was completely involved in the tale. This plot is more action filled than some of her earlier Dimity novels. It ventures a bit away from the sweet English cozy adding a pinch of spice to the mix.

I recommend this to all the fans of the series and new readers too.