What a great series! More fun than one could expect from a book. And, love the recipes in each book!

I just "found" this series of books and have now read 4 and find them to be delightful. This is a well written book but easy to read. It's like going on a vacation.

I happened upon Aunt Dimity Digs In, while in a bookshop about two years ago, read and absolutely delighted in Lori and Bill's antics with their twins. I was absolutely hooked!! Purchased and voraciously read Atherton's other Aunt Dimity novels in their proper order, delighting in each volume as does a chocoholic when gifted a box of heavenly morsels. Aunt Dimity's Good Deed was a great read. Lori's going to England with her father-in-law when she intended to have a second honeymoon with Bill was an adorable twist. From the beginning as Mr. Willis mysteriously disappears along with Reginald and Aunt Dimity (and her blue leather bound journal), through to the totally satisfying end, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I was very sorry when the story ended .... as I am when all of Aunt Dimity's tales end. All of Nancy's (sorry, I can't help but feel on a first name basis with her) Aunt Dimity stories have been satisfying delicious. Each and every of Aunt Dimity's stories brings out a different character's personality, and brings each and every one of them more to life. From Lori, Bill and their beautiful twin boys to the Pym Sisters, each unique person seems chosen by Aunt Dimity to add spice, merriment, intrigue and life to each other's lives and the story. Do I believe that Aunt Dimity can have possibly found a way to come back from the dead? Could I possibly believe that she is able to make contact through journalistic entries in her blue leather notebook? You bet, I do !!! Horray for Nancy Atherton ... The only thing I can't believe is how long it's taken Nancy to gift us with more of Aunt Dimity's wisdom.

Fitzgerald may not have been overly fond of his short stories, but his writing skill and insight shine through anyway. In The Ice Palace and Bernice Bobs her Hair and the Four Fists in particular, Fitzgerald captures individuals struggling with themselves. Who/what should they be, and why? While I wasn't too fond of the pirate story, as it lacked these elements, the other stories in the book show a depth of understanding and introspection that makes for a wonderful, thoughtful read.

Fitzgerald's stories manage to unite his otherworldly grasp of the fluctuations in the human soul. He is a master at presenting its contrivances and vanities as things that happen to people. The tension in these tales rises with almost unconscious force. Red herrings of possible conclusions are whispered but almost in the style of a trickster. Someone always gets conned and someone unmasked- all within that now long-gone era that held a fullhouse of interesting details and premonitions of an ominous future. "Beatrice Bobs her Hair" always has something more to say about savage young ladies. It deserves its place, I think, in every highschool English curriculum. The spoiled rich girls inevitably fall madly in love- with the cads or the tricksters. It was interesting to read "Benediction" in this era of the priest scandals. How priests were seen by Fitzgerald, or perhaps how he conceived his alter ego- is apparent in his return to his natural self through the heroine's choice at the end. This writer always has a trick up his sleeve for the unpredictable conclusion.
I am surprised that there are not more raves over this collection, but perhaps that is the nature of the post modern era. I on the other hand -rave. Story, resolution, all those little formulas that separate the artist from the amateur in the impossible short story form. Fitzgerald, except for perhaps in Gatsby, never achieved such form and plotting in his novels. His youth too, can be sensed in the humorous and rather light-hearted manner by which he casts his characters and those obstacles that they encounter.

This collection of short stories takes a candid look at America in the early 20th century. There isn't a stinker in the lot, but I think "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" is my favorite. Fitzgerald has a way of making his readers connect with unlikeable characters that seems almost magical.

I love Aunt Dimity and couldn't wait to read the latest. The size of the volume alone should have been a red flag. The Dimity books have never been what you would consider 'heavy reading' but all were well crafted, with memorable characters and an excellent sense of place. This is all missing. Everyone is a cardboard cutout; I never felt any one of the characters' emotions -and with the issues dealt with in this book, there should have been many strongly felt feelings. Also, pressure from Lori's critics over her flirtatiousness has won out- there is nothing more than a motherly friendship between Lori and Simon, and even that feels shallow. But the worst offense, to me, is at the end when the plump red haired maid becomes the petit gray haired maid.....I was so busy blathering "What...??!!" to myself that the emotional climax evaporated completely. I hope Aunt Dimity's next outing will be more substantial.

And better than one or two of the previous Aunt Dimity books
that I've read. I've seen this series described as "light as
a feather," and I suppose that it is, but there is usually
enough substance to hold my interest. I found a couple of the
books to be almost too light, but Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday
returns to a more entertaining level. There is more of a
mystery within the story, and Lori doesn't seem quite so
inclined to fall into another man's arms. (Occasionally I
am more than a bit distracted by the heroine's inclinations
to find men other than her husband so terribly attractive. A
little less of this would be welcome.)

I am an avid mystery reader but this is the first Aunt Dimity book I've read. I LOVED it. It's funny, delightful and charming. Set in an English manor the author gives enough description of the home, the rooms, the grounds, etc to make the reader feel they are there. The central characters are fully developed so the reader feels that these people are, at the very least, friendly acqaintances if not friends. It's an easy read and not heavy on the blood and gore which is just fine. What can I say, Aunty Dimity has gained a new fan.

So call me cryptic. I think the feeling that remained with me after I finished this book last week was that Atherton's Dimity series shows us human nature--not pasteboard icons, for the most part--and honest characters. She does *not* rely on stereotypes, unless she's pitting them against each other to see what will happen.

In most of her books in this series, I see actual character development and growth--characters learning from their mistakes and human failings. In many of the books, you see people who've been hurt in some way: some of them get stuck in a victim role, and wallow in their hate/fear, and others triumph over their pain, and choose to love and to live. Without being preachy, she quietly demonstrates that you don't have to wallow, but that you can choose to leave the past pain behind and make a new path. When you are caught in the grips of a major depression, it's a beacon, a demonstration that it can be done when the time is right.

Enough of that. This was a ripping good read. I don't know where Ms. Atherton did her research on the plight of the Modern Mother in Western Civilization, but she sure has the isolation in a crowd aspect down right. I adored learning more about the village in this book; I can't speak for the archaeology, but the witch felt right (speaking from experience), and the idea that this was a traditional village of ... incomers hoping to find a home of their own, well, that was really sweet and unexpected.

I had a lot of fun watching events play out, plots get more complicated and then resolved, and you really ought to stop reading this and order it.

I continue to enjoy the way Aunt Dimity manages to communicate, and while I don't think I ever had a similar relationship with any of *my* stuffed animals (what few I had--I was an odd child), I see that relationship in my son and his toys/substitute siblings (his brother is a T. Rex, you know (and glad I am not to have carried THAT to term!)). I also enjoy the culinary overtones in the book.

I look forward to the next one; and to being able to share impressions with other F2F friends who've read it.

I thought that this was a fabulous book. I really enjoyed the way the author wove the story, I think she did a great job. This was the first book I read in the series, and I plan to read all of the other books that she has written about Dimity.

I began reading the Aunt Dimity books by accident. They are wonderful - I've read each of them in approximately 2 nights. I find myself being part of these books - very relaxed - sipping tea! I do not want to part with these stories - I could read them over and over. Perfect books to take your mind away and get caught up in an almost soap opera like story line - where you want to know everything about everyone. I certainly hope that this author writes for a long, long time!!!

Mix Agatha Christie with Stephen King's good twin and you have the Aunt Dimity mystery series--now seven long--by Nancy Atherton. Aunt Dimity is the most benign of ghosts who has left her fortune and a golden cottage in the Cotswalds to her best friend's daughter, Lori Shepherd. In this installment Lori investigates the murder of the village busybody who has created doubt and fear among the eccentric villagers through her malicious gossip mongering.

Assisted by Aunt Dimity, who communicates through elegant copperplate manuscript in a slender blue notebook, Lori eventually uncovers the murderer, and as importantly, is able to, barely, resist her feelings for a man certainly not her husband. This series is frothy and light, all the while acknowledging the sexual side of the the major protagonists. (Agatha missed that trick as I recall!).

I'm a big, burly, slightly profane middle-aged man and I really like this series. You can start anywhere--I started with this one--but were you able to read them sequentially you'd have a better understanding of the characters as the author develops them over time. But wherever you are able to start, start!

American expatriates Bill Willis and Lori Shepherd were staying with his parents in Boston when someone in their English village of Finch killed "Pruneface" Hooper. When the married couple with different last names returns home to Finch, the news of the homicide stun both of them because the last murder in Finch occurred in 1872.

Eleven days pass without the case being solved because everyone seemed to have a reason to see the mean-spited gossip Pruneface dead. Deciding it is time to get involved, Lori turns to her sleuthing guide the spirit of "Aunt" Dimity Westwood, former resident of Lori's cottage. Through Dimity's blue journal, the ghost and Lori communicate. Though the townsfolk remain reticent, Lori and Dimity accompanied by Nicholas Fox, the visiting nephew of the vicar begin to investigate.

The seventh Aunt Dimity tale retains the freshness of the series as the supernatural and the mortal combine forces to uncover the identity of a killer. Nicholas gives readers a different view of Lori especially since Bill is in London for most of the novel. The who-done-it is fun to try to figure out as most of the villagers had cause to see Pruneface dead. Anyone who enjoys a contemporary English village mystery with a large dose of the paranormal will enjoy AUNT DIMITY: DETECTIVE and Nancy Atherton's previous supernatural-amateur sleuth stories.

Harriet Klausner

Lori Shepherd has just returned from a holiday visit to her husband Bill Willis' family in Boston. She is surprised to learn that a newcomer to the village, Prunella (Pruneface) Hooper has died, apparently a murder. The vicar's mysterious nephew and Lori are intrigued by the mystery, and the fact that the police have no clues and no witnesses, although many people were out and about that morning. Pruneface was very unpopular with the local populace, being a vicious gossip and possibly a blackmailer. Lori finds out that the people of Finch have many secrets and that Aunt Dimity, although wise, does not know everything.

This is the latest in a very good series featuring Aunt Dimity, a ghost who communicates with Lori and Bill via a blue journal. This is a very good addition to the series and I read it in one sitting.

This is a fine study of a 17th century provincial magnate who who labored hard to gain recognition and promotion from the Court of Charles I, was given an Irish peerage for his vocal support of the Duke of Buckingham in Parliament, and finally was
appointed ambassador to France (1635-9), a position he was little fitted for in view of his dogmatic rigidity and lack of international experience. He also performed disastrously as the leader of the king's party in Herefordshire in the early stages of the Civil War.

He was a staunch royalist and a friend and disciple of Archbishop Laud in his religious views, as evidenced by his extant correspondence with him. Scudamore's own notes on and extracts of his readings are apparently lost, and Atherton makes no attempt to describe his theological beliefs in detail. Instead, he carefully describes Scudamore's recorded behavior in religious matters.

Atherton deserves credit for considerable research and scrupulous adherence to the factual record.

This book can be considered a good source of informatin for custom painting. But I also found that it had a lot of un needed information. I'm basing my reasons on "why would a beginner want to do a difficult custom paint job?"

Overall, the book could use more techniques on masking for flames. I believe people would want to know more than just painting flames.

This book is an excellent choice for anyone interested in rebuilding their smallblock Chevy. It is filled with step by step information that covers every facet of the rebuild process. It also contains additional information which is helpful for those who are building high performance or racing engines. To get the most out of the book, one must have access to precision measuring instruments which are described and used throughout the book to complete the build. Even if one farms out most of the machining and assembly, this book enables them to understand what the many processes are so that they can keep the machine shops honest.

Philip Jose Farmer makes an excelent job as always. Farmer known primarily for his Science Fiction, but has produced two Fantasy series World of Tiers and Riverworld, the latter an afterlife fantasy in the tradition of John Kendrick Bangs. Farmer words flow as easy as ever and this novel is a work of art. It aint as sexy or shocking as 'An exorcism: ritual one/two' or as deeply involving as 'The river world saga', but he builds his story up as the SF/horror/fantasy master he is. God fun, and with a nice climax as always.

I liked this novel, in spite of the often contrived martial arts scenes that were most likely written w/ film in mind. The book was extensively researched, and I found myself learning much about China and of course, the QE2. The Kellogg brothers made interesting heroes, and I'm reading more about them in NIGHTWATCH. I would of liked Mr. Henrick to get the action moved to the QE2 sooner. The last of the great ocean liners is the real star of this book, and I couldn't get enough of this great ship.

The submarine action was a real surprise, and fit in well w/ the story. Of course, what would you expect from the author of one of my favorite movies, CRIMSON TIDE. If you find yourself w/ some spare time on your hands, pick up this book and give it a try. I guarantee you that it will take you to several places that you've never been before, that being one of my definitions of a good read.

I liked this book regardless of several contrived action scenes. Something tells me that Mr. Henrick was writing for the camera, especially when describing the martial arts battles. I sense that there were others advising him where to go in this book, as his usual instinctive story telling abilities are a bit stretched in this one. All in all an interesting read, with fascinating descriptions of the QE2. It should indeed make a hit movie.

I've always been fascinated w/ the QE2, and Henrick's book only made me more interested in this last of the great ocean liners. I certainly see a movie in this fast paced story, that captures all the class and ambiance of a real live ocean crossing. And even if I can't afford a real sea going voyage, at least I have this marvelous book to read once again.