Joan Leotta Reviews: Aunt Dimity and the Enchanted Cottage by Nancy Atherton

You might say, I’m a closet cozy reader but I’m actually quite open about it. Yes, I read harder core mysteries (and write them at least in short form) and I enjoy non-fiction and lots of poetry, but there are moments when nothing will do, but a frothy cozy. One of a number of cozy series I read, the Aunt Dimity set features Lori, American gone to live in England , an enchanted stuffed animal, and a notebook that writes responses and advice in the “voice” of  Dimity the deceased spinster who left Lori the English cottage.

Over the course of the previous twenty-four, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the way Lori and her husband interact, the way they raise their twins and the antics of the toddler daughter. And I am quite happy to believe Reginald the Bunny has special powers and that a notebook where aunt Dimity, long dead, answers questions and gives good advice in perfect penmanship but ink that remains only long enough for Lori to read. This one, number twenty-five,  is, to my mind, the best piece of writing in the bunch. It goes beyond the usual plotlines, giving the reader a bit more meat. Atherton catches you up on all you need to know about the main cast of characters (the villagers et all) in the first few pages—then she launches the new mystery. 

In all of mysteries of this series there are usually no murders but situations, cleverly solved by Aunt Dimity and her live protégé, Lori. The mystery elements in this entry include an incident that happened in the river years ago, and a villager friend of Lori’s who goes missing early in the book. Atherton holds high and tight the high wire of suspense across several rings of action in the min-circus that are the various plotlines-- missing girl, romance gone wrong, haunted place on the river, and the mysterious newcomer, Mr. Windle, who appears to be a curmudgeon, every enter into village life or let anyone know anything about his past. Add to the mix that Windle moved into a cottage folks in the village think is enchanted (as in leading to marriage for however lives there) and we have betting on whether he will become a bigger part of village life and succumb to the blandishments of the area single ladies and the happy enchantment of the cottage. Atherton cleverly manages all of these.

 

The best part of this mystery, for me, is the connection to the present day and the need for awareness of history and the way the novel takes a dip (pun intended for the way in which the novel uses the river that runs by the village) into history and offers the reader insights to the true heroes and martyrs of the industrial revolution.

 

So, if you are looking for  a beach read, check this one out of your library. It’s well deserving of some time in the sun. The book is sold on Amazon in hardcover and kindle format—also audiobook.

 

Joan Leotta ©2022

Joan Leotta plays with words on page and stage. Her poetry, essays, cnf, short stories, and articles are widely published. Mysteries are favorite things to read.. short and long.. and to write. Most recent short story published: "The Confession" in issue 88 Yellow Mama https://blackpetalsks.tripod.com/yellowmama/id2596.html