Thursday, April 30, 2015

Aunt Dimity and the Summer King

Title: Aunt Dimity and the Summer King
Author: Nancy Atherton
Published: April 14th 2015 by Viking
Format: ebook; Hardcover, 240 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Aunt Dimity #20

Why does Lori stick her nose into things that are none of her business? That is what I was thinking throughout this entire book. She is becoming a character that is more annoying than endearing.

Early in the series, she was zany and found herself in one madcap adventure after another but now she has either become a stale characters or I have become bored with her. Nancy Atherton needs to broaden out this series and focus on the side characters more. Not necessarily lose Lori all together, but bring the people of the village more into the forefront.

A great deal of this book rehashes who each of the villagers are and their odd quirks. If you have been reading this series, all nineteen previous books, you already know who they are and there is no need to repeat what has already been said. Her twin boys should be about eight years old, but Lori constantly treats them as if they are four. Lori and Bill have recently become parents to a daughter and the weary reader will be told repeatedly how singularly fantastic this child is. By the way, thank goodness the word “diaper” was not being used in a drinking game since it would have involved taking approximately sixty-two shots.

Lori takes it into her own nosey ways to find out why two cottages in the village have not been sold. She is determined to find out whom or what are driving the buyers away. As she tries to unfold this mystery, she is also stressing over the arrival of her husband’s dreaded aunts. They are coming to Finch for the upcoming wedding of Willis, Sr., and their arrival is putting a damper on the festivities. Apparently, these women are awful, but by the end of the book, the table will be turned on these two and it does not involve extra strong martinis.

Deciding to take her daughter on a jaunt up a craggy trail, Lori meets the elusive Summer King. Arthur Hargreaves, the owner of Hillfont Abbey comes to her aid when the wheels literally come off the pram. They spend time together and this Hermit of Hillfont Abbey and his hoard of children and grandchildren that inhabit his family’s home enchant Lori. The Hargreaves have stayed to themselves ever since a feud began a century ago between Finch and neighboring Tillcote and Lori is finding out how deep this feud went and how Quentin Hargreaves, the original owner of Hillfont, was the puppet master behind the village of Finch.

Lori’s eyes may have been opened, but she loves Finch and its people so maybe she will be able to forgive what has happened in the past and love the Summer King for what he has created.

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