Customer Reviews

Aunt Dimity: Snowbound

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Another fun Aunt Dimity mystery story. If you are looking for an Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes type mystery this is not for you. But if you want a good fun read with a little mystery and adventure this is a must. Fun and fast reading.
Lighthearted and happy story.

There are 9 books in this series - short, under 300 pages all, but the kind of book you take on vacation and want to read the rest, so take them all. They are funny, interesting, nostalgic - and although the main character, Lori, sometimes irritates with her roving eye, the books are fun to read and great for a day in the sun, or curled up on a sofa in the mountains. Read them, you won't be sorry.

When her friend persuades her to break her post-Christmas funk with a hike, Lori Shepherd figures on a pleasant five hours walking through the beautiful English countryside, possibly watching lambs gamboling (whatever that is). But when she takes a wrong turn and England is hit by the blizzard of the century, Lori finds herself snowbound in a strange house--deserted except for an ancient caretaker with a shotgun, and two fellow Americans, similarly caught by the unexpected snowfall. Those, along with her stuffed rabbit and the notebook that contains the spirit of Lori's Aunt Dimity.

The odds of three Americans being caught by snow in one small building don't seem high and Lori is suspicious. She gets even more suspicious when Catchpole, the caretaker, tells the tragic story of the late owner of the building--and her hatred for anything American. Following Aunt Dimity's advice, Lori starts a treasure hunt for whatever the building's owner supposedly lost--or had stolen. But Lori isn't the only person hunting and her suspicions quickly turn to Wendy--the American backpacker who just happens to have a crowbar in her pack.

Author Nancy Atherton serves up a fun light mystery. The ghostly Aunt Dimity serves up hints for both Lori and the reader but Lori uses her own common sense and judgment as well. Wendy and Jamie, along with Catchpole are interesting and well developed characters. Lori has an unfortunate habit of being terribly attracted to one of the suspects in each of the Dimity mysteries and this is no exception. Jamie turns out to be exactly the tall handsome and intelligent types that get Lori going--husband and children not-withstanding. In this book, Lori's little weakness (which she womanfully suppresses) adds rather than detracting from the narrative.

Fans of light English-set cozies will definitely want to grab this one.

I love the Aunt Dimity books. They are one of the most charming and delightful series that I have read. The humor that is infused into each book is unlike any other writer. Nancy Atherton has a way of merging mystery and fantasy; mayhem and small English village from another time. Stuffed childhood toys with a will of their own seem perfectly part of one's life. Is this Dan Brown? No. But to me it's like reading an old friend.

If you like the series, I imagine that you will enjoy this latest installment. I enjoyed it thoroughly and I like it better than the last couple. The theme, which I will not reveal lest I give away some of the plot, is certainly one that we all have to deal with. I will probably be thinking about this for quite a while.

For people who are not familiar with the series, This is the ninth book in this series, the first being Aunt Dimity's Death (Aunt Dimity Mystery). They tend to be so sweet and full of good will as well as the somewhat twee touches of "live" stuffed animals and ghosts, that I almost feel guilty for liking them. I've read every one, however, so I tell you only for your information; you presumably know your own taste. Nancy Atherton does deal with some very deep and important issues along the way; they aren't simply fluff. The mystery fan may want to be aware that these are not necessarily murder mysteries, and that the main mystery is sometimes in the past.

This is the second cozy mystery that I have read recently, Jeanne M. Dams' Winter of Discontent: A Dorothy Martin Mystery (Dorothy Martin Mysteries) being the other, that deals with forgiving crimes committed during World War II - must be the anniversary putting it in people's minds. I found this one much more satisfying.

I am one of the people who finds the main character Lori's roving eye rather annoying. She is married to Mister Perfect as it is, and she keeps running into and almost falling for another fabulously attractive man every book for the last few books! This is a less than charming plotline that isn't improved by being overused. It struck me in this book that one of the reasons that it is so jarring is that so much of the series is a tribute to people who are faithful to their One True Love, even after death. There are exceptions, but Dimity never married after her fiance's death, Lori's mother never married after being widowed. Aunt Dimity asserts someone's integrity by stating: "he remained faithful to his first love until his own tragic death ... ." It seems particularly shoddy then that Lori can't stay focussed on her own happy marriage.

Thoroughly enjoyable, a series definitely worth trying for fans of cozies.

All of the Aunt Dimity books are quaint but lively. Aunt Dimity,Snowbound continues as an excellent addition to this series. The people and circumstances are believable, even though you know they are fictional. A nice, relaxing read.

Once again, Lori Shepherd finds herself in a pickle, this time not far from her happy English home. I couldn't imagine how she could get into trouble simply going for a nature hike, but sure enough she does! Only comfort is that she brings her trusted rabbit Reg and the now-famous journal that she uses to communicate with the spirit of Aunt Dimity. It's another fun read - not meant to be too deep or scary - just the right blend of mystery and a light escapist read.

Needing a break from her exhausting Christmas Holiday, Lori decides that a nice hike in the country will do her good. Unfortunately, an unexpected winter storm and her lack of map reading skills put Lori at Ladythorne Abbey with what appears to be two other stranded hikers. With Aunt Dimity's help, Lori finds out the mystery of the Abbey and discovers the ulterior motives of her fellow houseguests. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous, Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday. Very little is mentioned of the steady cast of characters that make Atherton's books so charming and homey.

I have read a number of the Aunt Dimity novels and intend to read the rest. They are a nice light distraction for someone, like me, is too stressed right now to read more "serious" literature. The novels are formulaic, pleasingly so, like the old Nancy Drew novels, except more adult. Lori is once again away from home in an old house, unexpectedly snowbound with two strangers and a somewhat wacky-seeming old retainer. She has of course brought her faithful stuffed rabbit, Reginald, and Aunt Dimity's journal. Of course, whever Lori goes, mystery is sure to follow. This time it has to do with the past. One thing that I did find annoying, as another reviewer pointed out, is that in every book, Lori is swooning after some handsome male she encounters. In this one, she seemed to have gone overboard with lust. I would like it better if the author gave Lori more loyalty to her wonderful husband. A little mild flirting once in awhile is okay, but for heaven sake, give her some self control.

I've just finished this book and am on the look-out for MORE Anut Dimity stories (this being my second).
There's a deeper message here than just an enjoyable adventure-mystery. A transplanted American, living in England finding herself stranded in an old English castle... the mystery takes a twist that completely took me by surprise! I enjoyed this book immensely!