#Dame Dimity

[heckyeahponyscans]

G1 My Little Pony UK comic #19 - The Quilt of Memories

[missielynne]

2, 11 and 24 for the book ask!

2 (Did you re-read anything? What?): Definitely! A series of Cozy mysteries called the Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton. I just love them so much.

11 (What was your favorite book that has been out for a while, but you just now read?): A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

24 ( Did you DNF anything? Why?): The Hunchback of Notre Dame because it's a really slow read but I might pick it up again.

[my-52-weeks-with-christie]

(The cookies in the picture are garam-masala chocolate gingerbread cookies - I use a different recipe than the one Nancy Atherton put in her book because it required nuts and I'm allergic!)

Aunt Dimity & the Heart of Gold - Nancy Atherton

Did you ever wonder how Miss Marple honed her investigative abilities? Or in fact, how she remained so sharp in between each case?

I believe she kept her wits keen through continual practise. Miss Marple not only investigated the occasional murder that crosses her path - but all the little mysteries that popped up in her village of St. Mary Mead as well.

Now you shouldn't confuse the word little with unimportant.

As Miss Marple's learned the small mysteries (and therefore their solutions) are often analogous to the bigger mysteries, like murder and blackmail.

Which I think explains how Miss Marple was able to solve Colonel Protheroe murder in her first full-length mystery, Murder At The Vicarage. She'd already had decades worth of parallels to draw from and years of practice finding answers to prickly questions.

Now you might be wondering why on earth I am talking about Miss Marple in a review for an Aunt Dimity mystery.

The answer is this:  Lori Sheperd (our sleuth), in many ways, reminds me of  Miss Marple.

Go with me for a minute here.

Married with three children, an American and decades younger than the Grand Dame herself - I know superficially, Lori doesn't appear to resemble Miss Marple in the slightest. However, if you take a closer look at their traits, striking similarities start popping out of the text.

Both women are fixtures in their community, volunteer their time, help their friends, and enjoy a good chat with their neighbors.

This "chatting" is where we find one of the most significant similarities between these two extraordinary women - their marked partiality to obtaining and occasionally disseminating village gossip. This "newsgathering" allows them both to acquire a richer view of the villages in which they reside and a better understanding of human nature - which is essential in solving mysteries.

The other important trait Lori shares with Miss Marple is her love of solving little mysteries. Any curious puzzle that pops up in Finch - Lori wants to solve it. From a quilting bee that ends with a revelation of a widow's curse to a mysterious wishing well - very little can stop Lori from pursuing the truth.

And by keeping this murderless mystery series, Nancy Atherton has successfully avoided the Cabot Cove Syndrom which oftentimes plagues series of this length (24 books and counting). Meaning? We aren't left wondering why anyone would live in the small village of Finch if people keep getting shot, stabbed, poisoned or garrotted in it.

Similarly, Agatha Christie was able to neatly sidestep this Syndrome by only penning twelve full-length titles and of those she set a fair few of those outside the borders of St. Mary Mead. (Atherton's done this as well only her mysteries are set outside Finch - though wouldn't it be fun if Lori visited St. Mary Mead? Or is that to on the nose you think?)

The most notable difference between these two ladies that I think needs addressing is their outlook on life. Miss Marple's take on the world is one of pronounced pragmatism. Over the years, Miss Marple's heard a plethora of rumors and solved a multitude of crimes. This knowledge has lead to the understanding that while not always pleasant, the dimmest view of someone's motives is often the most accurate. While Lori, who hasn't seen nearly as much, holds a far more upbeat vision of the world and the people in it. Perhaps in time, Miss Marple and Lori's world views will align, but only time will tell.

Until then Lori will continue to hone her skills (much as Marple did) solving every niggly little puzzle that creeps up in Finch.

Such as the latest installment, Aunt Dimity & The Heart of Gold. A lovely mystery which uses Christmas/winter as a backdrop/springboard to propel this mystery forward. Where a mysterious motorist crashes a Christmas party, then discovers a Hindu alter hidden in a priest hole no one, including the homeowners, knew was there!

Lori really has her hands full in this one...

I thoroughly enjoyed every page in this book. Atherton does a great job in balancing the mystery with the Christmastime theme. Happily, she never succumbs to the syrupy sweetness that often plagues book set in December! Again using the time of year to move the mystery forward - not stall it under a ton of garland.

Now, if Atherton's backlist daunts you, don't worry. So long as you understand you are not starting with the first book and are willing to roll with it, you'll be fine. As it was, I was a few books (six) out of date and had no problems picking up the thread of the series again. Now I normally recommend you start with the first book first, so you understand the hint of magic eddying around the fringes of this series, but it's not required.

All that being said, I must say I couldn't put this book down until I finished the very last (and highly satisfying) page. And the only reason I didn't finish it in one sitting is that I needed to get some sleep!

I would recommend this book to anyone like me who loves a great mystery and/or enjoys reading Christmas books in July!

Don’t forget to check out my other blog - Finder of Lost Things!

This week, Dourwood decided it’s time to execute The Brace Affair...what could go wrong?

[room-on-broom]

I have a question about Mildred’s Family tree

So what even is The Star in the Sky? Like what level of badassery is it? like a gymnastics badge and ridiculous to boast about? is it her school nicknamed? Is it like child prodigy name she got when she was tiny? is it like witch equivalent of Olympic standard of flying? or like when Olympians get knighted/made a dame? Is there a whole constellation of stars in the sky who’ve made awesome levels of flying and dimity is just the cos area? Is Dimity a frigging flying knight?

(also where’s Bat gone?)

[missielynne]

1, 7, 23, 24, and 25 for book asks (whichever you want to answer/aren’t already answered)

1 (a book that is close to your heart): Madeline

7. (a book you didn't finish): The Hunchback of Notre Dame

23. (A book that is currently on your TBR): Bill Bryson's A History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

24. (A book on your nightstand): More Bad Days in History by Michael Farquhar

25. (A book by your favorite author): Great Expectations by Charles Dickens or Wait for What Will Come by Elizabeth Peters (Barbara Mertz).and Aunt Dimity’s Death by Nancy Atherton.

Thanks!