Author: Nancy Atherton
Published: May 3rd 2022 by Viking
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Aunt Dimity #25
First Sentence: The Little Deeping River would never be mistaken for the might Mississippi or the Nile.
Blurb: It's early May in the small English village of Finch and the air is crackling with excitement: a newcomer is about to move into Pussywillows, a riverside cottage with a romantic reputation. Will the cottage's newest resident prove yet again its enchanting ability to match-make? But when Crispin Windle arrives, no one knows what to make of him: seemingly a loner, he repels every welcoming gesture and appears altogether uninterested in being a part of the community. Soon, the townspeople have all but dismissed him.
Only Lori and Tommy Prescott, a young army veteran who recently moved to Finch, refuse to give up. They orchestrate a chance meeting that leads to a startling discovery: a set of overgrown ruins. They are, Aunt Dimity shares, the remains of a Victorian wooden mill that once brought prosperity to Finch.
As the three explore, they stumble upon the unmarked graves of children who died working at the mill. Heartbroken, Lori, Tommy, and Mr. Windle get to work on the seemingly impossible task of identifying the children to give them a proper burial. And as Mr. Windle works tirelessly to name the forgotten children, he slowly begins to open up--giving the romantic cottage a chance to heal his heart, as well. (Goodreads)
My Opinion: The dear charming people of Finch are at it again. There are strict rules when it comes to contacting new arrivals, yet there are no rules regarding snooping from afar and jumping to conclusions. This is where Lori Sheppard steps in, and with her insight and cautions from Aunt Dimity, she reaches out to the new arrival since she does have the best interests of others at heart.
If you are not a dedicated reader of this series, the multitude of names that Nancy Atherton throws out will have new readers flummoxed. There is no need to list everyone in the church and then expect the names to be remembered.
As the story languishes — it is surprising how many pages it takes to share what little is known — the author tries to add a nuance of interest with Bree. Unfortunately, that also fell flat. Sad that much of this book seemed irrelevant until the literal end when Atherton revealed the most interesting part.
Blurb: It's early May in the small English village of Finch and the air is crackling with excitement: a newcomer is about to move into Pussywillows, a riverside cottage with a romantic reputation. Will the cottage's newest resident prove yet again its enchanting ability to match-make? But when Crispin Windle arrives, no one knows what to make of him: seemingly a loner, he repels every welcoming gesture and appears altogether uninterested in being a part of the community. Soon, the townspeople have all but dismissed him.
Only Lori and Tommy Prescott, a young army veteran who recently moved to Finch, refuse to give up. They orchestrate a chance meeting that leads to a startling discovery: a set of overgrown ruins. They are, Aunt Dimity shares, the remains of a Victorian wooden mill that once brought prosperity to Finch.
As the three explore, they stumble upon the unmarked graves of children who died working at the mill. Heartbroken, Lori, Tommy, and Mr. Windle get to work on the seemingly impossible task of identifying the children to give them a proper burial. And as Mr. Windle works tirelessly to name the forgotten children, he slowly begins to open up--giving the romantic cottage a chance to heal his heart, as well. (Goodreads)
My Opinion: The dear charming people of Finch are at it again. There are strict rules when it comes to contacting new arrivals, yet there are no rules regarding snooping from afar and jumping to conclusions. This is where Lori Sheppard steps in, and with her insight and cautions from Aunt Dimity, she reaches out to the new arrival since she does have the best interests of others at heart.
If you are not a dedicated reader of this series, the multitude of names that Nancy Atherton throws out will have new readers flummoxed. There is no need to list everyone in the church and then expect the names to be remembered.
As the story languishes — it is surprising how many pages it takes to share what little is known — the author tries to add a nuance of interest with Bree. Unfortunately, that also fell flat. Sad that much of this book seemed irrelevant until the literal end when Atherton revealed the most interesting part.
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