Helpful Score: 20
This was a wonderful book. My favorite cozy so far that I've read! The characters are terrific and have been brought to life. The mystery/ghost/fantasy aspect is different and catches the imagination. I loved the descriptions of Aunt Dimity's cottage and grounds. You feel like you are there with them. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series.
Helpful Score: 16
First of all, allow me to say that I truly enjoyed this book. It moved along at a reasonable pace, neither too quickly nor too slowly. The characters are well-developed, and interesting enough that I want very much to know more about them.
That being said, however, I did not get what I expected from this book. To me, a mystery is synonymous with a whodunit - there has been some crime commited (usually murder, though sometimes theft), and the protagonists must discover the who, or sometimes just the how, of things. That is not what this book is about.
I would classify this as a quest story. That the quest is as much mental & spiritual as it is physical does not diminish this. Yes, there is something that must be discovered, but you will find no crimes here, and the only corpses died of natural causes.
Really, this is much more a story about how much and, sometimes, how little we know about our parents. About how our parents seem to us, at least for a time, to be nearly perfect, and how difficult it is to live up to that. But it is also about love - not only romance, though that is certainly included, but also about the love for family.
So, if you're looking for Miss Marple, move along. But if you're looking for a book that will catch you and hold you until the last page, you've come to the right place.
That being said, however, I did not get what I expected from this book. To me, a mystery is synonymous with a whodunit - there has been some crime commited (usually murder, though sometimes theft), and the protagonists must discover the who, or sometimes just the how, of things. That is not what this book is about.
I would classify this as a quest story. That the quest is as much mental & spiritual as it is physical does not diminish this. Yes, there is something that must be discovered, but you will find no crimes here, and the only corpses died of natural causes.
Really, this is much more a story about how much and, sometimes, how little we know about our parents. About how our parents seem to us, at least for a time, to be nearly perfect, and how difficult it is to live up to that. But it is also about love - not only romance, though that is certainly included, but also about the love for family.
So, if you're looking for Miss Marple, move along. But if you're looking for a book that will catch you and hold you until the last page, you've come to the right place.
Helpful Score: 8
Wonderful and lighthearted book with a romance, a mystery from the past, and a helpful spirit. While it is technically the first in the series, I recommend reading Aunt Dimity and the Duke first.
Helpful Score: 6
Aunt Dimity's death is an enjoyable read. The characters are so much fun to be around that I hated to put the book down.
Helpful Score: 3
I'd read a lot about this series and was curious to see if it warranted the hype. It definitely does. I look forward to more.
Helpful Score: 3
First book in the series and it was absolutely wonderful. If you haven't read Aunt Dimity, start now!
Helpful Score: 2
I don't know how I missed these books for almost 20 years, but I'm glad this one caught up to me. It was simply delightful.... Entertaining, endearing characters and a plot that kept me interested during the quick read. A great book to pick up after you've just finished a heavy tome and just want to read something enjoyable that leaves you feeling good.
Helpful Score: 2
I've actually read most of the series at this point but thought I would post my review to the first of the series. This is a 'cozy' mystery series- light and entertaining and the kind you curl up with before falling asleep. Our main character might be Aunt Dimity (or perhaps it would be more accurate to say her ghost) but really the focus tends to be on Lori Shepherd whose mother was best friends with Aunt Dimity. Lori tends to stumble into puzzles and, while tenacious in her efforts to figure things out, Aunt Dimity is there to advise and guide along with Reginald the stuffed rabbit, husband Bill and a solid cast of friends which expands with each book.
Once you've read this first book, the rest are capable of standing alone and you are not required to read in a particular order to enjoy them. 1 part mystery, 1 part light romance and 1 part gentle humor= an Aunt Dimity book.
Once you've read this first book, the rest are capable of standing alone and you are not required to read in a particular order to enjoy them. 1 part mystery, 1 part light romance and 1 part gentle humor= an Aunt Dimity book.
Helpful Score: 2
This book sets up the series and gives the background information on Aunt Dimity and how she and Lori are linked. A definite read if you like this series.
Helpful Score: 1
Fun Series.
Helpful Score: 1
Lori Shepherd knew Aunt Dimity through her mother's bedtime stories. She never knew Aunt Dimity was a real person until a few years after her mother died. She is contacted by a lawfirm, telling her Aunt Dimity has died and she must come for the reading of the will. This book moves from a bed time story, to a mystery to a ghost story and it is a wonderful book that helps you understand grief and love and how to carry on in spite of adversity.
Helpful Score: 1
I ordered this book just because it sounded interesting. I absolutely loved it.
Leanne D. (eclecticmusicmama) reviewed Aunt Dimity's Death (Aunt Dimity, Bk 1) on + 426 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
My favorite cozy mystery of all time! If you're not feeling well or feeling down, spend some time with Aunt Dimity...she will cure all your ills! Don't miss the audiobook...the reader really brings these characters to life in her portrayal.
This and "The Help" are my top-rated books of the last few years.
This and "The Help" are my top-rated books of the last few years.
Helpful Score: 1
A warm family connection that really makes you feel the strong bonds. Aunt dimity is so real.
Helpful Score: 1
This was such a nice little book to read between the more serious stuff. Liked it enough to order the second in the series.
Helpful Score: 1
Spellbinding - I haven't gotten this involved in wanting to find out the answer to a mystery in a long time.
Lori Shepherd grew up on stories of Aunt Dimity. She always thought that Aunt Dimity was someone her mother made up in order to tell her bedtime stories. Imagine her surprise when a law firm summons her to a reading of Aunt Dimity's will. Down on her luck Lori gets an all expense paid trip to Aunt Dimity's cozy English country cottage. All she needs to do is figure out the secrets held within Dimity's large accumulation of letters. This was a lightweight cozy mystery which I enjoyed reading.
Being a newcomer to this series, I thought it best to start at the beginning. Besides, I was intrigued by the idea that the assumed heroine apparently dies to start off a series. I soon discovered that this was not my usual fare, it not actually being a mystery in the usual sense, but the story kept my interest and was written well enough to finish. No gratuitous gore, expletives, or vivid sexual narrative made it a nice change from today's writing too.
I'm not sure I'll read another from this series, but I don't regret having read this one.
I'm not sure I'll read another from this series, but I don't regret having read this one.
Sandra (mycatscanread) -
Sweet, enjoyable, cozy mystery.
This is a cozy mystery with some otherworldly elements. The places are places I would like to see and the situation is one that everyone has always dreamed of. An unknown "relative" dying and leaving us money.
Enjoyable fast read
Bonnie A. (ladycholla) -
Enjoy this story very much and the characters are interesting. Looking forward to others in the series.
Being the first in a series, I found it delightful and am looking forward to reading more.
The characters are interesting and while the book is not a high suspense or psycho thriller, it held my interest and was an enjoyable read.
The characters are interesting and while the book is not a high suspense or psycho thriller, it held my interest and was an enjoyable read.
Finally found the first in this series. It's nice to see where it starts. I've read a couple, and while they tend to be not quite completely together (as compared with older mysteries. Compared to most modern cozies they are wonderful), they are enjoyable. It's nice to have a mystery series where it isn't all murder mysteries. This one was a bit scripted, but then again, one of the characters kinda scripted it. Sets the series up, so I suppose it's expected to be a bit less mystery than later ones.
It's one of my preferred fluffy mystery series. It has a nice hook, it has a interesting lead, it doesn't rely on stupid humor, and the lead tends to actually go do things. All of which are a bit muted in this book because of being the introductory book. I'll keep reading the series as I find it, but I'm not going to seek them out actively.
The lead's utter confusion at the behavior of the other male as well as her descriptions of her situations were well done. I am sad his father does not appear much in the other books--I did like his father. One good thing about the series is there aren't that many supporting characters--four or five in this book. So they all get to have a personality!
It's one of my preferred fluffy mystery series. It has a nice hook, it has a interesting lead, it doesn't rely on stupid humor, and the lead tends to actually go do things. All of which are a bit muted in this book because of being the introductory book. I'll keep reading the series as I find it, but I'm not going to seek them out actively.
The lead's utter confusion at the behavior of the other male as well as her descriptions of her situations were well done. I am sad his father does not appear much in the other books--I did like his father. One good thing about the series is there aren't that many supporting characters--four or five in this book. So they all get to have a personality!
A fun mystery to read, I didn't want to put it down until I finished and would recommend this book to mystery lovers. I enjoyed following the main character as she solved the mystery behind Aunt Dimity.
Great story--love the ghostly aspect. The story was fun, with gentle humor and a nice romance. I will read more of the series.
I enjoy Aunt Dimity. She has a quiet way of looking at the trials and pitfalls in the life of her friends daughter.
I read a later one in the series before I got this one and enjoyed it so I wanted to get this one to find out how the setup started. It was good, I enjoyed it very much. Who doesn't like a Cinderella story? From down and out to inheriting a nice cottage and finding happiness. Just fun to read and I enjoy the British terms since they are different from American Engish.
First in the very popular Aunt Dimity series. This introduces you to the main characters and their situations very well. A must for those who want to know the beginning or begin at the beginning. Recommended!
Sweet, cozy, thoughtful read...not your usual mystery at all but very enjoyable
This is the first book in the series of Aunt Dimity books and I enjoyed reading this and the other books following it very much.
Sherry S. (SherryKaraoke) -
A delightful "cozy" with a very unusual protaganist
First in the series, reading this gentle, funny mystery is a great way to spend a wet afternoon!
Good book! It was an enjoyable read and it kept you guessing to the end. I Loved it!!
Quirky but fun, a little mystery, a little ghost story
Mystery and fantasy collide in this Cinderella story.
Lorraine T. (mysterylover) reviewed Aunt Dimity's Death (Aunt Dimity, Bk 1) on + 318 more book reviews
This is a fun series, started by this book, I believe.
First time I have read a book by this author...I enjoyed this book alot....couldn't wait to figure out the mystery...kept me on my toes to try to figure it out...a real page turner. Will be reading more in this series.
A wonderful, delightful book about love, loss and rememberance with a intriquing mystery too.
Very cute Cinderella/Mystery/Ghost Story. This is the first in the series. I plan to read them all
Lori Shepherd thought Aunt Dimity was just a character in a bedtime story-until she inherited a sizable estate and needs Aunt Dimity's help. Can Aunt Dimity help Lori discover how true love can conquer all?
Linda S. (ChoctawLady) - , reviewed Aunt Dimity's Death (Aunt Dimity, Bk 1) on + 59 more book reviews
Fun read. If you like cozy mysteries you will enjoy this book.
Wonderful story!!
I really enjoyed reading this first in the series of Aunt Dimity. It wasn't a hard mystery or a love story, but a combination of both. I really would recommend it - it's a nice relax to a busy day.
A nice cozy mystery series. The first book is a bit of a fairy tale, but a nice escape!
1st book of aunt Dimity's series...Lori Shepherd thought Aunt Dimity was just a character in a bed time story...until!
A great "cozy mystery" read to keep you entertained! Looking forward to reading the series.
I loved this book.
Untilthe Dicken sion law firm of Willis & Willis summons her to a readomg of the woman's will. Down-on-her-luck Lori learns she's about to inherit a sizable estate-if she cam discover the secret hidden in a reasure trove of letterss in Dimity's English ountry cottage.
What begins as a fairy tale becomes a mystery-and a ghost story-in an improbably cosy seting, as Aunt Dimity's indomitable spirit leads Lori on an otherworldly, quest to disover how, in this life, true love can conquer all.
What begins as a fairy tale becomes a mystery-and a ghost story-in an improbably cosy seting, as Aunt Dimity's indomitable spirit leads Lori on an otherworldly, quest to disover how, in this life, true love can conquer all.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Wonderful start to an enjoyable series. This is definitely a "tea and shortbread cookie on a bad weather day" book. I look forward to the second book.
Very cute ghost story/romance/mystery.
I love this series. Probably the best cozy mystery series I have ever read.
I just finished this book and was not impressed. I had high hopes, which is why I read it but for me it was flopped. Too unrealistic. Too many people dead. Too far fetched, basically.
This book borders "mystery", sci fi and well just "casual" reading.
The only postive thing I can say about this book was the "writing" friendship between the two dead women. That part was interesting and made me sad to think that actual written communication is on the way out, with emailing and texting.
I gave this 2 stars. One for the cute bunny and the other because of the writing friendship aspect of the book.
This book borders "mystery", sci fi and well just "casual" reading.
The only postive thing I can say about this book was the "writing" friendship between the two dead women. That part was interesting and made me sad to think that actual written communication is on the way out, with emailing and texting.
I gave this 2 stars. One for the cute bunny and the other because of the writing friendship aspect of the book.
Love this series!!
I like the premise of these books but have some that are more favorite plot lines than others. The first is an exceptional launch to the storyline.
Started out as an interesting mystery and ended up a stupid, unbelievable romance.
A fun fairy tale with a bright heroine and other endearing characters.
I really enjoyed this book. It was recommended to me as a clean mystery without murder. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I found that I really enjoyed getting to know Lori and the cast of characters that showed up. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of these.
First time I've read this author. I've ordered several more by her in anticipation of a pleasant, uncomplicated read.
Main character dies, which means there won't be any sequels.
