Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon (Aunt Dimity Mystery) [Paperback]

Nancy Atherton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 26, 2010 | Series: Aunt Dimity Mystery

Everyone's favorite supernatural detective steps in to thwart unchivalrous deeds at a Renaissance fair

With Penguin's Fall 2009 publication of Introducing Aunt Dimity, Paranormal Detective certain to attract new readers to the popular cozy series, Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon is poised as the perfectly irresistible gem that will leave them eager for more. After living in the small English village of Finch for eight years, Lori Shepherd longs for some excitement to spice up her all-too-familiar routine. So when a Renaissance festival complete with wizards, wenches, knights, and jesters sets up in town for the summer, Lori gets her wish-and more. She soon discovers a sinister stalker, a jealous saboteur, and an evil assassin behind the scenes of King Wilfred's Faire, and it's up to Lori-with Aunt Dimity's otherworldly guidance-to prevent the medieval revelry from ending in modern-day tragedy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hardcore fans will no doubt enjoy." --Publisher''s Weekly

"One of the most charming entries in an enduringly popular series." -- Booklist

"Let Nancy Atherton and Aunt Dimity remind you of the reason you got hooked on books in the first place. I promise you will be scouring book stores for more of the series after you give it a taste." - CrimeCritics.com

About the Author

Nancy Atherton is the author of six Aunt Dimity novels: Aunt Dimity’s Death, Aunt Dimity and the Duke, Aunt Dimity’s Good Deed, Aunt Dimity Digs In, Aunt Dimity’s Christmas, and Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (all available from Penguin). She lives next to a cornfield in central Illinois.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); Reprint edition (January 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0143116584
• ISBN-13: 978-0143116585
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #496,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Aunt Dimity loses her fizz, September 29, 2009

By 

Maryland Reader "marylandreadr" (MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon (Aunt Dimity Mystery) (Hardcover)

I avidly read the first few books in this series. The series began with Lori living like a modern-day Cinderella in a not great job, living in drab conditions with few clothes and friends when her life takes an abrupt turn for the better through Aunt Dimity, her dead mother's best friend, who, although dead herself, ends up a central character. The early books were whimsical and charming and wove a subtle magic in telling the tale of Lori and her adopted village and the recurring cast of locals and friends.

What can I say? The magic is gone and recent books have been formulaic at best. With Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon, I slogged through about 45 pages and finally realized I just wasn't having fun and closed the book for good.

With a cozy mystery, if it's not fun, why keep turning the pages? A sad decline of what had been a fun series.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lost Her Way, June 2, 2009

By 

R. L. Jernigan (Round Rock, TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon (Aunt Dimity Mystery) (Hardcover)

I've been reading the 'Aunt Dimity' mysteries ever since the original one came out. I very much enjoyed the first few and would recomend them to anyone who enjoys a good 'cozy'. The last few I've struggled with a bit. This one, I didn't bother finishing. As far as I can tell, Laurie has gone crazy. The plot of the book pretty much involves her wild flights of fancy. It was actually painful to read about her essentially wild ravings.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lori Sheppard is Endearing, January 7, 2011

By 

Nancy Grisso "Stepfordmomto2" (Tehachapi, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon (Aunt Dimity Mystery) (Paperback)

Aunt Dimity is my guilty pleasure. There is just something so fun and relaxing when I settle down and open one of Nancy Atherton's books. Her reoccurring characters make the visits to the small English village of Finch a much needed break to my hectic day.

Lori Sheppard's life has become boring and predictable. Her husband's life as an international estate planning attorney fills his days, her twin sons have their school and ponies to keep their interest but yet Lori has nothing but her day in and day out village life - and her journal with otherworldly Aunt Dimity.

So when a Renaissance festival encamps in the field behind Lori's cottage she is drawn into the drama and spectacle of the lively event. But Lori being Lori sees nefarious deeds and when good King Wilfred seems to have "accidents" Lori feels that it is her job to get to the bottom of this and to save the day, even if she does seem to be falling out of her wench's costume.

As I said, the Aunt Dimity books are fun reads. Some books are better than others, but yet each book builds on the last so you see each character (finally Bill gets a leading role) again and again and it feels more like a homecoming then just another book in a long series.

Treat yourself, start at the beginning and see who Aunt Dimity really is, how Reginald is an intrinsic character and be introduced to Lori a kind hearted woman who is constantly needing to be reined in before her wild imagination gets the best of her.