Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree

Title: Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree
Author: Nancy Atherton
Publisher: Viking Adult
Publication Date: February 17, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Aunt Dimity #16
Source: Library

I love this series; it is like comfort food for me.

No matter how much Lori Shepherd says her instincts tell her something I have to giggle since her “instincts” have gotten her turned so far around, she never comes to the correct conclusion without the helpfulness of her friends and family, not to mention her dearest companion Aunt Dimity herself.

Since this is book number sixteen in the series, I recommend that you start at the beginning to find out who exactly Dimity is and how their lives are so intertwined, but I can assure you that each book is a delight and each builds on the next explaining their lives and the busybodies in the village of Finch.

Village living is never dull and Finch lives up to that saying when Willis, Sr. buys and refurbishes Fairworth House and Sally Pyne returns from her Mexican adventure with a reputation to live up to.

"There is nothing wrong with pretending to be someone else for a little while, is there?"

And off they go, the current inhabitants of Fairworthy, all trying to be someone or something that they are not. Each person has a secret and poor Willis, Sr, trying desperately to keep his wits about him and help the best doughnut maker in the area from having to leave the village out of sheer embarrassment and mortification.

Since patience is not one of Lori’s virtues, everything comes to a head one night when she decides to stake out Fairworthy in hopes of learning what is really going on with the new help that Willis, Sr has hired. In so doing, all the secrets will become known and a new pact of friendship and respect can be forged. That is until the next round of gossip and backbiting can begin. This is Finch after all, where they look out for each other, ok some might calling is snooping, but deep down they all have good hearts and an understanding of what a community is.

"You have to stand up to the busybodies or your life will never be your own.”

Though she does not appear until the end of the book, I sure hope Aunt Augusta returns in future storylines. She was my favorite and had me laughing out loud and I really think that she could add quite a bit of spunk to the life of Willis, Sr. I loved her self-depreciating humor.