The Aunt Dimity books are really hit and miss for me. I've really enjoyed a couple, I've totally despised a couple, but most of them are sorta, "meh". This one was on the lower side of "blah" and I gave it up after about 150 pages. I just don't like Lori at all, Dimity didn't make much of an appearance, and the mystery wasn't all that interesting. Oh well. I think it's time I gave up on Dimity. ( )

mother of twins involved in British village feuds centered around archeological dig

Enjoyable book. Read it a long time ago. Lightweight but I always continued to read the series so there is staying power. ( )

Lori Shepherd is a new mom of twins. After three months her husband feels she could use some help and get a little of her own life back. The Pym sisters come to the rescue by introducing Lori to Francesca Angelica Sciaparelli, who is not only a fantastic nanny but also excellent at helping with the house!

This change is great, but Lori then finds herself caught up between Mrs. Kitchen and her upcoming Harvest Festival, and Dr. Adrian Culver and his archaeological digs in Scrag End field. Mrs. Kitchen was planning to use the old school house for some of her activities, but the Vicar had let Dr. Culver use it to store and analyze his findings. Both activities at about the same time. Mrs. Kitchen was making life miserable for almost every one.

There had been rumours that there really weren't any antiquities to be found in Scrag End field, that it was a hoax. The Vicar had a pamphlet regarding this, but it suddenly turned up missing. Lori sets out to find out who stole it and why.

Along the way, she uncovers histories and secrets of the residents of Finch. Not just where they may have come from but the underlying story regarding the longest running feud between two of the ladies.

The Dimity series takes place in a small English village. There are usually not bodies, no murders, no blood, but there is mystery and secrets. A different type of cozy...one that is nice to read on a very wet, rainy day. ( )

I haven't read many Aunt Dimity mysteries. They are a bit cute, a lot prosaic and a touch dull. This is a series that reminds me of a grown up Nancy Drew mystery. No deaths, no violence and just a calm little everyday village mystery to solve. Lori Shepherd is a new mother of twins and she lives in the deceased Aunt Dimity's collage outside the English village of Finch. Lori has run herself ragged trying to be the perfect textbook mother to her twin boys. She is at her wits end and in need of help. She is rescued by Francesca Schiaparelli, a perfect nanny. Nothing much happens in Finch, until Peggy Kitchen, owner of the local Emporium goes on the rampage. She is planning a Harvest Festival and requires the use of the old schoolhouse. However, the local Vicar has loaned it to an archaeologist who is working on a local dig of ancient artifacts. Rumor is that he won't be gone in time for the festival. There is a theft of an old pamphlet from the vicar's home. A ghostly monk is scaring the locals and there may even be sightings of aliens from outer space. Lori and Aunt Dimity, ghostly communicating via an old blue journal, have to straighten out the gossip and rumors which are threatening the peace of the village of Finch. It was a cute albeit a bit dull story. Not enough action for my taste. ( )