Aunt Dimity and the Lost Prince (Aunt Dimity Mystery Book 18)

I am really concerned that the series that I LOVE has taken this turn. The writing which is usually so engaging has become choppy. Aunt Dimity who has been filled with insight and humor shows up in very short passages. I hope that Lori and all the other beloved characters return as the interesting and charming characters they have always been in the next book.

On a wintry day the main character, Lori Shepherd, comes across a young girl admiring an exquisite silver sled in a strange and unique little museum. We only meet this young girl, Daisy, in one scene but she is the catalyst for the entire book when, a couple of days later, Lori finds her coat in a thrift shop with the tiny silver sled in the pocket. This sends Lori, and her very capable side-kick Bree, on a quest to find Daisy and see if her fascinating story of the true owner of the troika sled is indeed a captured Russian prince in need of rescue.

Following the weekly schedule of Daisy’s mother, who cleans in six different houses on different days of the week, Lori and Bree discover various households, each with its own story of how they each came to know and admire Daisy. Daisy has left a trail of stories, like breadcrumbs, about each houses’ occupants. If her stories of those people are true, maybe the story of a captured lost prince is true too?

As Lori and Bree visit each house, we are treated to vignettes of exquisite writing, capturing the details of each house and its occupants. It was such a joy to accompany Lori and Bree on their step-by-step reveal of the basis behind all of Daisy’s stories, each house leading to the next. The combined stories are like a string of jewels on a necklace drawn together by an amazing and imaginative child and two persistent and curious adults.

I always save Nancy Atherton’s books for times of anxiety as they are always written with such goodness, humor, and kindness each novel is a sweet and natural de-stressor. They are the ultimate of cozy mysteries where no one is murdered and with wonderful characters you want to discover living next door to you, with Lori and Bree just down the street. As Bree says about a book in this story: “You know right from the start that each story will have a happy ending, but you can’t imagine how the characters will ever get there.” In each of these books I know that eventually all will end well, in a nice neat package that lightly slips away, like Aunt Dimity’s handwriting, as I close the book.

This is the 18th book in the Aunt Dimity series. I had stopped reading the series for a while because the newer books didn't have the charm of previous books. This one again brings that charm back. I really enjoyed it and enjoyed the story of the little girl being involved and helping her to find her "lost prince." There is a little bit about the protagonists twin boys but the main focus is on solving the mystery of the valuable antique silver sleigh salt celler missing from a private museum and found in a little's girl's donated coat and who the little girl's 'prince' is....and why she has disappeared.

I agree that this could be a good starting place for those unfamiliar with the series and may enjoy a light touch of the paranormal. It is delightful...a mystery but not about murder or anything evil.

Lori Sheperd hates February. It is so cold and being home bound is not a good thing when you have two young boys. Luckily Bree Pym, a friend stops by. She comes up with a brilliant idea to go to the Skeaping Manor. The manor is a museum. There Lori and Bree meet Daisy Pickering. Daisy's mother works as a cleaning lady at the museum.

Daisy tells Lori and Bree about Prince Mikhail. The prince is trapped locked away in a dungeon by an evil man. Daisy shows the ladies a stolen artifact from the prince that the evil man took. Before Lori and Bree can ask Daisy anymore questions she and her mother disappear. Now it is up to Lori and Bree to find the lost prince and save him.

Aunt Dimity and the Lost Prince is the first Aunt Dimity book I have read. What a fun, charming, great, entertaining book. After being introduced to this series, I will go back and read more of these books.

Lori and Bree make a good duo. Lori is the more level headed of the two whereas Bree just like her red fiery hair jumps in with two feet full force. All the other people that Lori and Bree were intriguing. They are what helped to make this book so much fun to read. Lori and Bree are like the new Nancy Drew and friend. The ending left a smile on my face. Aunt Dimity and the Lost Prince receives two crowns. It is a gem.

Lori Shepherd seems like a caring mother and a great friend. Their visit to the creepy Skeaping Manor is more for her boys and Bree. And the series is named after Lori's deceased Aunt who communicates with Lori through a blank journal. This is the first I've read in the series and was actually expecting a bit more of the paranormal. But it's a good standalone mystery novel. Fans of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple should enjoy.

The mystery of the Lost Prince takes Lori and Bree on a journey around various historic homes in the area. They're searching for the truth behind little Daisy's story about the prince and for more information on where Daisy and her mother went suddenly. Aunt Dimity & the Lost Prince is an unpredictable, quick read with colorful characters. It's a fun and entertaining mystery that kept me guessing. I'll most likely be checking out more episodes in this mystery series.

Previously posted at SciFiChick.

An interesting mystery being solved with the help of a friend and the ghost of Mum's best friend. Communication with Aunt Dimity is via a journal of sorts with everything being done in handwriting. Nothing gory except Russian history, and no gratuitous erotica, just a pleasant read and inadvertent learning opportunity. See publisher's blurb for clues to plot, no spoilers here.
Gifted through Goodreads Giveaways courtesy of Viking Books.

I am absolutely hooked on this series of books. Each new book is as good or better than the last. I like the character of Lori Shephard and I love the town of Finch, the way Nancy Atherton describes the town and the myriad of quirky characters makes me wish that I lived there. I like how she teamed up Lori and Bree Pym, two very different characters that I would not have thought to put together, but works beautifully. Nancy's books are never formulaic and are always enjoyable. I would recommend the entire series to anyone, they are that good.

What a wonderful book. Great characters, great story and I love Aunt Dimity. So Ms. Atherton is an excellent story teller! Build of the setting and characters was inventive and the turn of events didn't confuse but took you to the next page with heightened expectation. Nice setting, nice characters and just enough detail. ENJOY!

My wife enjoys this 'cozy' series and looks forward to each new title. O.K., I do sneak a peak at them too. At one time I would not have admitted to that as I had issues with some content. Then, I realized that if you keep things in perspective it is just good fun fiction. I'll leave it at that.

Adorable characters, plot that keeps you guessing. Gratefully - -Nancy Atherton is an intelligent author who doesn't stoop to vulgar language, gory details and trashy amour. Funny, enjoyable, and very re-readable.

I read this one quickly, didn't feel like lingering, when I discovered it was a linear plotline - visiting one English manor house after another. A lot of filler and not much story. Also, no real tension involved. Maybe it's time for the author to start a new series; I think she's running out of ideas in this one. She continues to be a good writer, in spite of the lack of an interesting plot.

I won this book through Goodreads. It's the first of the Aunt Dimity books I've read. I found it
light, easy to read, good characters, and very entertaining. I plan on checking with my library for
more Aunt Dimity books. Recommend for kids and adults.