I first read this book not long after it first came out way back in the 90s. Upon re-reading it recently, I have to say I learned that I gave it way too little credit back then.
The book, and the series for that matter, is quite unusual for the Cozy Mystery genre. There are lots of differences from the standard Cozy. One is that the books are mostly shorter than the norm for today. Aunt Dimity’s Death is listed at 196 pages. I know we have discussed the length of modern Cozies before (see here and here for a couple of our earlier discussions) — with many of you suggesting that you want the books to be longer – in the 300 page or longer vicinity. However, I find this book to be refreshingly short.
Oddly enough, even though the book is short, the pacing is leisurely. This is not a Cozy for those of you who want the murder to be in the first two chapters! In fact, although there are mysterious goings on in the first half of the book, I don’t think the real mystery that needs to be resolved is revealed until somewhere approaching half-way into the book!
Another difference is that the series has a number of books where there is no murder at all to solve. I don’t think I am giving too much away to suggest that in this first book of the series, the mystery is not a murder but rather is one of love and separation, and guilt and regret.
I understand now why this series is so often recommended and is so beloved by its fans. The series began in 1992 and the newest book, number 22 of the series, will be released this year. Nancy Atherton only releases about one book a year – another unusual fact for a modern Cozy author!
The book is charming; it tells a beguiling story of a little girl now grown up, a friendship that was sustained only by letters for decades, a woman who had lost everything including her faith in humanity, a haunted English cottage, and the spirit of “Aunt” Dimity who was filled with regret and guilt but whose love for her friend’s daughter leads to both her and the daughter learning again the power of love, friendship and laughter.
Yes, there is a paranormal aspect to this series. However, in re-reading Aunt Dimity’s Death I was surprised by what a relatively small role the paranormal played in the story. Normally, I am not one for paranormal mysteries, but, to me, in this book the paranormal was both literally and figuratively “magical”.
If you are in the mood for a charming and whimsical mystery with a touch of paranormal and a large dose of heart, I heartily recommend Aunt Dimity’s Death.
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stella says
Oh, I so much agree with every word you wrote! I found this series before I really knew “cozy” was a genre, though I knew I liked mysteries along the lines of Christie, et al. Nancy Atherton writes books which draw one in, and make me wish to live in the village too. I like some better than others, but I do like all of hers. Thank you for reminding me it’s probably time for a re-read, lol.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stella, I almost wasn’t certain if I’d even call this a Cozy – since there isn’t always a murder, and that’s definitely an important part of most Cozy books! In the end I decided that the overall “feel” of the series still made the term appropriate.
Kate says
That book hooked me on the series, way back when! It is charming and unique, and I still welcome each new title.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kate, it’s always appreciated when a particular favorite series manages regular releases for a long time. This one definitely seems like it would qualify.
Patti says
One of my top 5 favorite series! So sweet, amusing at times, and a group of villagers who are nosy but lovable. I always feel warm and cozy (no pun intended) while reading her books. I read several books before I even realized the mystery involved isn’t necessarily a murder!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Patti, it certainly was a surprise the first time, realizing that there wasn’t necessarily going to be a murder in what has been described as a Cozy series! Still, it can be a refreshing change of pace to get something very different like this once in a while.
Sharon says
Love this series and have read every one. So memorable as well. I can remember most of the books with a little prompt, pretty good for my age.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sharon, a distinct identity to each book is definitely a good sign in any series – especially a long one like this. It shows that a lot of care and craft went into each book, not just churning them out to get another book on the shelves.
Patti says
Danna, I thought I’d read this book before, but after your wonderful description, I don’t think I have. Guess I’d better order it now and add it to my always growing To Be Read list! Thanks!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Patti, I’m always glad when something I write gets people reading!
Bootigs says
I’ve been reading the Aunt Dimity series for years too and totally agree with your blog. These stories move more slowly but they are character driven and I love them. They definitely would not be everyone’s cup of tea (slight pun since they take place the village of Finch in Britain). They aren’t the most exciting mysteries I read but I always feel like I’m catching up with happenings in Finch. I’ve preordered Aunt Dimity and the Widow’s Curse set for release May 30, 2017. Thanks for writing about this series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bootigs, sometimes it’s nice to just slow down and enjoy the pace of an author you enjoy.
Moira says
I love the Aunt Dimity stories as well! Even some of the cozies these days are too violent or otherwise upsetting to me. I can always open an Aunt Dimity knowing that love and compassion will win the day.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Moira, there’s definitely something to be said in favor of enjoying a more “gentle” sort of mystery from time to time.
Nancy says
I absolutely love this series! I was reading it before I started to read other cozies and never really considered it a cozy, just a fun story to follow from book to book. Your review of it is perfect and describes it beautifully. The books are so pleasant and relaxing to read, and it’s a joy to get to know the characters. Thank you for singing their praises!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nancy, I know what you mean about not necessarily considering it a Cozy – without a murder, it does feel a bit out of the norm for the Cozy genre! That’s not necessarily a bad thing, of course – changing things up from time to time is definitely a nice change of pace.
Glen says
I’m rereading Kerry Green Woods Phryne Fisher books, which run under two hundred pages. Three hundred is a lot to read, unless it’s a very good book, and not all are. Though some authors could go a lot longer, like the Joel Grey books!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Glen, there’s definitely something more approachable about a book that is only two hundred pages or so. As you say, not everything needs to reach three hundred, especially if it has to be padded to get there.
Patti says
Glen, can you tell me more about the Joel Grey books? I tried looking it up, but all I come up with is Joel Grey the actor! Is Joel Grey the name of the author or character? Would love to know more about these books. Thanks!
sun says
try Joe Grey, first title Cat on the Edge, by Shirley Rousseau Murphy. Great series
Patti B. says
Thanks, Sun, for clarifying the Joe Grey/Joel Grey question. I’ve found the Shirley Rousseau Murphy books, beginning with “Cat on the Edge” and will check them out!
Mary says
You have captured the charm and essence of this series. It is delightful, and at the same time keeps the reader involved with the story line. I have been hooked since the first page of the first book.
Thanks for mentioning this wonderful series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, delightful is definitely another great word to use to describe this series!
Linda says
I discovered Aunt Dimity about a year ago and have really enjoyed this series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it as well!
Margaret StashEmpress says
I absolutely ADORE Aunt Dimity!!!!! This is my all time favorite “comfort” series!!!!! I just wish I had an Aunt Dimity of my own… and a pink flannel rabbit… with a spot of grape juice on his snout…
There are so many things I love about this series, not the least of which is that no actual characters are harmed in the making…! And in the end, the underlying theme is all about love & friendship.
I just love this series so much!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
“Comfort” series definitely seems like a good way to put it!
deb b says
I recently discovered this series and “binge” read through all of them. For me, there doesn’t always have to be a murder in a cozy just some sort of mystery. Which is what this series does best. I’ll wait, not so patiently, for the next one and probably re-read the rest of them before it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Deb, it sure can be fun to read through a series that you’re enjoying for the first time – or for the second, or third time, or more as the case may be!
MaryBeth says
Aunt Dimity’s Death was wonderful, but the second book Aunt Dimity and the Duke is the best one. I enjoy this series very much!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MaryBeth, thanks for the recommendation – I’ll have to re-read that one too when I’ve got the time! I would need to refresh myself on the book – since a lot of the time I don’t remember a whole lot about the books I read years ago. (Though I probably won’t write about it – I usually just write about the first books I read in a given series.)
Marie says
I love this series. Nancy Atherton is such a good writer! I learned about Aunt Dimity through this blog and read all of them. I am not usually a fan of paranormal either, but love this one. Fran Stewart only has 3 books in the Scotshop mysteries and I’m reading the last one. Delightful. Her ghost is great as well.
Thank you for doing this blog.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marie, thanks for the recommendation!
Susan* says
Another fan here! (It seems to be unanimous, doesn’t it?) Wonderful series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan, it certainly does seem that way!
Rita says
Since I started reading the series a few years ago, I have wished I had an Aunt Dimity! Her suggestions and advice are real not paranormal and I’ll always be happy to “cozy” up with the next mystery.
It’s always interesting to see the changes in h er r twins as well.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rita, I know what you mean – a helpful bit of advice from beyond would certainly be useful from time to time!
Pat says
All I can say that hasn’t already been expressed is that I hope Nancy Atherton NEVER quits writing her “Aunt Dimity” series!!! ?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pat, I definitely agree with you – we need more long running series as good as this one!
Lavender says
I love this series. I happened upon the Widow’s Curse at the library and enjoyed it thoroughly. I felt cozy reading it. Then realized it was something called a cozy mystery. Reading this post, it may not be considered a true cozy, so I will have to read the rest of this site etc. But I have been reading the series in as close to order as possible (my library doesn’t have all of the books in book format and I’m not a fan of electronic…) but find they stand alone. I found this post while searching to see if there are plans to make a movie (ie Hallmark Mystery) series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lavender, I hope that you can find the rest of the series in the proper order! I’m sure it would work well enough in whatever order you can find, and as you say a lot of series are “stand alone” enough when you’re not too picky, but it’s still nice to see an author’s style mature as they continue.
Rita P says
Love Aunt Dimity. Watching the boys grow, how people change and age. The mysteries are interesting, but fun and not terrifying. These are a great break from other fiction, paranormal stuff.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rita, it can be nice to get a bit more “back to basics” for Cozy mysteries from time to time!
Mary M says
After I found the first Aunt Dimity book I was completely hooked!! Ms. Atherton’s writing is outstanding and her storytelling ability is fabulous. I’ve only been reading cozy mysteries for the last 5 years so I haven’t been exposed to a large number of authors but of the ones I have read, Atherton’s books are my favorite. Based on some other comments I guess NOT having a murder is problem but I think that’s what makes the Aunt Dimity series more interesting for me. There aren’t pages and pages of the protagonist accusing everyone and trying to figure ‘who-dunnit’ and putting herself in harm’s way.
If you get the opportunity do yourself a favor listen to the recordings of some of the Aunt Dimity books, you’ll appreciate Atherton’s talent even more.
I hope to find other authors I enjoy as much as Nancy Atherton and would appreciate a few suggestions.
stellans says
You may already know this author and series, but if you like the Aunt Dimity series, you might also enjoy Ann B. Ross’ Miss Julia mysteries. They first appealed greatly to me because they are set in my beloved North Carolina, and I found the stories very entertaining.
Greenway says
Oh, yes, LOVE Miss Julia mysteries (and offshoots). There are some characters from unfilmed novels that some of us just can’t imagine not being “played” by certain actors. Clark Gable was popularly demanded as Rhett Butler, though author M. Mitchell imagined Groucho Marx! (the zany Marx Brothers were actually handsome and remarkably alike, without makeup). My son can’t imagine “Aunt Sister” Mary Alice of the much-missed Anne George’s wonderful Southern Sisters mysteries without “casting” a much taller version of Paula Deen, and I can’t imagine Miss Julia’s blessed second spouse as Hal Holbrook (kind of keeps him alive; that’s nice).
The Miss Julias are among a number of cozies (mystery or otherwise) with omnicompetent African-American cook-majors-domo. Nancy Bell’s and Miranda James’s are among them, and I love them, too, but it makes me (Left-Coast-er) a little uncomfortable: Are Black servants still that common for affluent whites in the South, or are these Southern authors engaging in “tradition” inspired wishful thinking?
stellans says
Well, I can’t speak for any but those I know myself, but my grandmother had a housekeeper who was Black, and so did several of my aunts. After that generation, it wasn’t very common in my family any more, mostly due to finances. We also (as a family) were from small towns – maybe that was a factor? I don’t know.
stellans says
Oh, and we lived in Texas when I was growing up, though we moved to NC when I started high school, I married and still live in NC since 1967.
Patti Laier says
Good question! I wonder about if black servants are still a custom in the south, they always seem to be so warm and wise.
Ellen says
I just read my first Aunt Dimity book and loved it. My local branch of the library doesn’t have all the books so I am reading out of order, but that feels okay. Second one just signed out. So happy to have discovered this. I wasn’t bothered by the fact there was no murder.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ellen, a great series doesn’t need a murder in every installment, that’s for certain. It’s rare to see Cozies without a murder, but this is a great example of a series that doesn’t necessarily include a murder in every installment.
Kathleen says
I like the idea of Aunt Dimity being more magical than paranormal. However you define her, she is delightful and I wish I had an Aunt Dimity book I could pull out for wisdom and advice when needed.
It is also wonderful that you don’t’ have to have a dead body to have a good mystery. The author does a marvelous job in unraveling knots that lead to solving a conundrum that is bothering the lovely characters that populate this series. I save these books for stressful times as there is an almost automatic release of tension when I enter Aunt Dimity’s world. The author never fails to delight!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathleen, definitely one of my favorite series. Books can bring such joy!
Lori says
Hello,
I thought you might like to know, I noticed that Aunt Dimity and the Enchanted Cottage is listed as being published ’21, and it will be published May 3, 2022.
Thanks – love this site!
Kathleen says
Love this series! There was at least one book in which I don’t think there was one dead body but always entertaining. I’m not seeing a new book since the Enchanted Cottage. Will there be more?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathleen, I haven’t heard anything about a new entry either, unfortunately.