The fifth installment in the bestselling and beloved Aunt Dimity series. Watch out for Nancy Atherton’s latest, Aunt Dimity and the King’s Ransom, coming in July 2018 from Viking!Lori can hardly wait for Christmas this year: lean times are over, the cottage Aunt Dimity willed her is more beautiful than ever, her nine-month-old twins, Will and Rob, are thriving, and she and husband Bill have never … and husband Bill have never been happier. Determined to make this Christmas the best ever, Lori embarks on a round of shopping, holly-cutting, angel-cookie making, and more. When fat snow flakes begin drifting down outside of the window, Lori feels all her holiday wishes are about to come true. But the next day, beneath the lilac bushes now covered by freshly fallen snow, Lori makes a disturbing discovery: the body of a mysterious stranger–a tramp–barely alive.
While the nearby village of Finch continues with its seasonal preparations, including rehearsals for the Christmas Eve Nativity play, Lori puts her plans on hold and teams up with Julian Bright–a devilishly attractive Roman Catholic priest–to search out the stranger’s identity. Their journey takes them from abandoned World War II airfields to homeless shelters, places where the Christmas star shines dimly, if at all. As Lori unveils the tragic secret that led the stranger to her door, she confronts painful truths about herself and discovers the real meaning of a perfect family Christmas.
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I have loved all of the Aunt Dimity books that I have read. As usual this one was a delightful story.
Feel good Christmas book. Hadn’t read any of the series previously, but will now!
I love this series. I’ve read every one and look forward to the next.
Another wonderful installment in this charming series. Set at Christmas, and a perfect holiday read. A+
Love the story, the characters and the recipes.
The whole series is wonderful
A good fiction read
Wonderful book. The mystery slowly unwinds into such a moving ending. Makes you want to live in a place like their little town. Love all the quirky characters and will continue to read the series.
The Aunt Dimity books are delightful. Practical life stories with just a hint of fantasy and a good moral presented in a sweet and clever way. This one was the perfect Christmas read. And good recipes always.
Found myself eager to find time to read the next chapter. I want to check out other books in that series.
Easy to read — which is the definition of a cozy mystery but taking on a thoughtful topic for the holiday season. In the middle of celebration and consumerism, how do we acknowledge those less fortunate? Is the season about gifts and decorations or about people and love?
All this in a fun, frothy classic English Countryside cozy mystery. Perfect read for the Christmas weekend.
Light, easy read for entertainment.
Charming.
All the “Aunt Dimity” books I’ve read so far are great fun. Wonderful writer.
Ok cozy. I made the mistake of coming into the middle of a series, just because I was in the mood for a book about Christmas, but I only made it about 1/2 way through the book. I might have liked it more if I started at the beginning of the series. The heroine’s complete focus on a guy that she found in her driveway and knows nothing about is a little too far-fetched, even for a cozy!
Well written, well-developed characters and plot yet a very easy and enjoyable read.
Even if you haven’t read other books in the Aunt Dimity series, you would definitely enjoy this book -especially during the Christmas season and during such a stressful year as 2020 has been. Everyone in Finch, located in the Cotswolds in England, learns a solid lesson of faith and community from a character most of them have never met – Kit Smith, an apparent vagrant who collapses on the bridle path during the weeks before Christmas. Even though Kit is hospitalized and in a coma for almost the entire book, he exerts a phenomenal influence. Truly an awesome and inspirational read.
The entire Aunt Dimity series is fun with great characters. Talking to her ghostly friend is a little sappy for me, but I still love the device and the advice.
I loved all of the aunt dimity books!
I really enjoy reading the Aunt Dimity books–I’ve read the first six and plan to continue to the end. During the Christmas season, Lori gets caught up in the excitement (as I have) and has high expectations. She has a little mystery to
solve that takes her off track, but it also enhances the magic of Christmas in the end.