The Aunt Dimity Mystery series by Nancy Atherton is a delightful collection of cozy mysteries that captivate readers with their charm and heartwarming stories. The series follows the adventures of a young American woman, Lori Shepherd, who inherits a cottage in the English countryside from her mother’s friend, Aunt Dimity.
One of the highlights of this series is the character of Aunt Dimity herself, who communicates with Lori from beyond the grave through a journal that only Lori can see. Aunt Dimity’s journal provides clues to the mysteries that Lori must solve, and her wise and gentle spirit is a guiding presence throughout the series.
Another strength of the series is its setting in the English countryside, which the author lovingly describes. They were right there with Lori as she explored the English countryside’s quaint villages, historic estates, and rolling hills. Following the reading order for Aunt Dimity’s books is very important, and I’ll give you the proper reading order. Stay with me!
Aunt Dimity Books In Order (Reading Guide)
Each book in the series is a standalone mystery that can be read independently, but overarching storylines also tie the books together. For example, Lori’s relationship with her love interest, Bill Willis, develops throughout the series, as does her connection to Aunt Dimity and her family. One thing that sets this series apart from other cozy mysteries is its emphasis on character development and relationships.
The characters in the series are well-drawn, and you will find yourself rooting for them and invested in their lives and stories. Therefore, if you plan to read the Aunt Dimity series, I recommend starting with “Aunt Dimity’s Death” and proceeding through the series chronologically. This will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the world of Lori Shepherd and Aunt Dimity and enjoy the full richness of the series.
The Aunt Dimity Mystery series reading order:
- Aunt Dimity’s Death (1992).
- Aunt Dimity and the Duke (1994).
- Aunt Dimity’s Good Deed (1996).
- Aunt Dimity Digs In (1998).
- Aunt Dimity’s Christmas (1999).
- Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (2000).
- Aunt Dimity: Detective (2001).
- Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday (2003).
- Aunt Dimity: Snowbound (2004).
- Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin (2005).
- Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea (2006).
- Aunt Dimity Goes West (2007).
- Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter (2008).
- Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon (2009).
- Aunt Dimity Down Under (2010).
- Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree (2011).
- Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch (2012).
- Aunt Dimity and the Lost Prince (2013).
- Aunt Dimity and the Wishing Well (2014).
- Aunt Dimity and the Summer King (2015).
- Aunt Dimity and the Buried Treasure (2016).
- Aunt Dimity and the Widow’s Curse (2017).
- Aunt Dimity and the King’s Ransom (2018).
- Aunt Dimity and the Heart of Gold (2019).
- Aunt Dimity and the Enchanted Cottage (2022).
Checkout my list: The Aunt Dimity Mystery Books List
Aunt Dimity’s Death: This is the first book in the series and introduces us to Lori and her unexpected inheritance from Aunt Dimity. Lori travels to England to claim her inheritance and uncovers a mystery surrounding Aunt Dimity’s death. Lori is surprised to learn that Aunt Dimity has been communicating with her from beyond the grave through a journal that only Lori can see. Aunt Dimity’s journal contains clues that help Lori unravel a mystery surrounding her friend’s death, ultimately leading her to find true love.
Aunt Dimity and the Duke: Lori travels to a small village in England to help a friend who has inherited an old estate. Once again, Aunt Dimity’s journal provides clues to a mystery that Lori must solve. Along the way, she meets a handsome Duke and learns about the history of the estate. She helps an English duke investigate the disappearance of his heirloom ring and uncovers a family secret.
Aunt Dimity’s Good Deed: Lori becomes involved in a charity auction and bids on a painting, which leads her to Italy to find the artist. She investigates the mysterious disappearance of a village woman, uncovers a long-buried secret, and helps reunite two long-lost siblings.
Aunt Dimity Digs In: Lori is visited by an eccentric gardener who claims that Aunt Dimity has asked her to help Lori with her garden. As they work together, they discover an old burial mound that leads to a surprising discovery. Lori’s neighbor hires her to investigate the disappearance of his fiancée, leading her on a treasure hunt through the English countryside.
Aunt Dimity’s Christmas: Lori plans a Christmas celebration in the village. She’s preparing for the holidays, and Aunt Dimity’s journal leads her to uncover a mystery surrounding a missing heirloom and brings together an estranged family.
Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil: Lori is invited to a weekend party at a castle owned by an old school friend. She helps her friend investigate a haunted Scottish castle and uncovers a sinister plot.
Aunt Dimity: Detective: Lori is investigating a series of thefts in the village. With the help of Aunt Dimity’s journal, she can identify the thief and clear a friend’s name.
Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday: Lori travels to a small island off the coast of Scotland for a vacation with her twin sons. Once again, Aunt Dimity’s journal leads her to solve a mystery surrounding an old castle and a lost treasure.
Aunt Dimity Snowbound: Lori and her family are trapped in their cottage by a snowstorm. As they wait for the storm to pass, they learn about the cottage’s history, investigate a series of burglaries, and find a surprising secret.
Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin: Lori contacts a distant relative who needs her help to settle an estate. Aunt Dimity’s journal leads her to investigate the family feud and uncover a hidden inheritance.
Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea: Lori travels to a small island in the Caribbean to search for possible fraud. Along the way, she meets a charming man and learns about the island’s history. She researches a local boat accident and discovers a family secret.
Aunt Dimity Goes West: Lori and her family travel to the American West to help a friend with a cattle drive. Aunt Dimity’s journal leads them to search for a mystery surrounding an old ghost town.
Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter: Lori involves in a vampire movie production and investigates a series of animal attacks on the set. She uncovers a supernatural secret.
Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon: Lori investigating a murder in a small English village. With the help of a journal, she can identify the killer and bring justice to the victim’s family.
Aunt Dimity Down Under: Lori travels to Australia to help an old friend with a mystery surrounding a missing person. She uncovers a surprising truth about her friend’s past.
Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree: Lori researches her family history that involves her ancestors. With the help of Aunt Dimity’s journal, she finds the truth about her family’s past and reconciles with her estranged father.
Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch: Lori investigates a mystery surrounding a local witch accused of a crime. She discovers a surprising truth about the witch’s past and clears her name.
Aunt Dimity and the Lost Prince: Lori solves a mystery surrounding a missing prince, knows the truth about the prince’s disappearance, and brings justice to his family.
Aunt Dimity and the Wishing Well: Lori again involves in a charity project to restore an old wishing well. On the way, she uncovers a family secret and helps to reunite two long-lost siblings.
Aunt Dimity and the Summer King: Lori goes to a local festival, discovers a mystery surrounding a local folklore legend, and helps to bring peace to the village.
Aunt Dimity and the Buried Treasure: Lori searches for a mystery surrounding a hidden treasure.
Aunt Dimity and the Widow’s Curse: Lori involves in a series of accidents and struggles to bring peace to the widow’s family.
Aunt Dimity and the King’s Ransom: Lori investigates a mystery surrounding a missing artifact. With the help of the journal, she can uncover the truth about the artifact’s history and bring justice to its rightful owner.
Aunt Dimity and the Heart of Gold: Lori investigates a mystery surrounding a family heirloom and tries to help to bring peace to the family.
Aunt Dimity and the Enchanted Cottage: Lori is once again led on a journey by Aunt Dimity’s journal to uncover the truth about an old cottage and its history. Along the way, she discovers a surprising connection to her past.
Overall, the Aunt Dimity Mystery series is a charming and heartwarming collection of cozy mysteries that will delight fans of all ages and genres. Each book is well-written and engaging, and the characters are also endearing. Try it if you enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of whimsy and romance.
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