Atherton is back on her stride with this book.

Lori Shepherd is up to her usual over reactive antics, but when her sons claim that they have seen a vampire in the woods over looking Anscombe Manor, Lori must investigate. After being nearly killed trying to save her sons in the past, this is just something that Lori can't brush away. Granted they have very active imaginations and it doesn't help that a classmate has brought to school a book detailing Rendor, the Destroyer of Souls and put just a little seedling of an idea into their minds.

So, with the help of Aunt Dimity and Kit, Lori sets out to find the vampire, discover a home hidden behind Emma's hill, meet a neighbor that she never knew existed, solve some of Kit's mysteries and last but not least, bring a happily ever after ending to a long awaited love story. All this in a span of less then a week, a week that Bill is out of town and there is no one to rein in Lori.

I adore these books, but I do suggest that you start at the beginning of the series, Aunt Dimity's Death, so you can learn to appreciate Lori at her fullest.

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This cozy series is one of my absolute favorites. It's everything I love in a cozy: a quaint English village with interesting residents, lots of tea, and a spunky protaganist with a lot of heart. I always wait with anticipation for the newest installment.

American Lori Shepherd, her American husband Bill, and their five year old twin sons are continuing to enjoy their lives in their beautiful English village of Finch. The twins are thriving at school (although Lori is experiencing major separation anxiety), but one day, their teacher informs Lori and Bill that the boys have been telling their classmates that they saw a vampire while riding their horses at Anscombe Manor, the estate owned by Lori and Bill's good friends, Emma and Derek Harris.

Lori enlists the help of their other good friend, Kit Smith, whose family once owned the Manor, and who is employed there as stablemaster and riding instructor. Together, with supernatural help from Aunt Dimity, they set out to discover the identity of this vampire. But, much to their surprise, Lori and her friends discover a lot more than that. Indeed, they discover fascinating family secrets, betrayals, and great love stories that occurred forty years ago. The story is well-written, clever, and the multiple mysteries will keep you guessing right up until the end. As is always the case with this series, the ending is completely satisfying and dare I say, warm and fuzzy.

I love this series because it brings back characters/townspeople who have become like old friends, yet the author keeps it interesting by revealing previously unknown things about them. In this installment, it's Kit Smith about whom we learn more. Also, we get introduced to new, intriguing residents and I hope the author brings them back in the future. Lastly, as fans of this series have come to expect, there is a delicious pastry recipe in the back of the book.

I highly recommend the book to all Aunt Dimity fans. (For what it's worth, I liked it better than the previous one, Aunt Dimity Goes West). For those who aren't familiar with the series, I think you'll enjoy it as a "stand-alone", but you might get more out of it if you read the previous books in order. I say that only because the author, as I mentioned, reveals more truths about the main characters, and the emotional impact will be greater if you're already familiar with them.

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A delightful book. My first Aunt Dimity and I was hooked. A plot that keeps you interested and well developed characters. I recommend this series to anyone who likes paranormal cozies.

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A very enjoyable story. Quick and easy to read and a fun nights entertainment!

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A very cozy mystery. I picked this up because I'd read one other in this series and enjoyed it, but I wasn't as thrilled with this one.
In this episode, the main character, whose son has just started school, is worried and stressed about having her kid away from her. Based on stories that get back to her (and no actual evidence at all), she becomes convinced that her son is being stalked either by some kind of pervert or - a vampire. Through the course of the book, she must learn to get over it and not be an over-protective psycho mom - and to re-appreciate the joys of living in a small town where everyone knows each others' business. While I appreciate the former message (if not for myself), I disagree with the latter, but messages aside, the book was rather dull, with no actual crimes to be solved, only misapprehensions and misunderstandings. I thought more supernatural elements in the story might spice it up a bit, but was also disappointed in that regard.

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