Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter

An American living in the English countryside, Lori, her husband and their 5 year old twins have dramatic lives. They've survived various attempted murders, but now the boys are in school and take riding lesson at a nearby manor. When her children draw a picture of a vampire and tell everybody that they saw him, Lori takes it seriously and goes looking for the neighborhood vampire.

This is my first of the Aunt Dimity series, and I believe it's around the eleventh of the series, so not the best place to start. There are some good things to say. Some of the characters are interesting, and her conversations with long-dead Aunt Dimity, via book just like Harry and Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, are a good way to show more inject an adult voice next to Lori's, who behaves like she's barely older than her children. This is the problem I had with the story; I didn't like the main character. I know it's fantasy and not meant to be taken seriously, but it irked me right from the beginning that Lori wrings her hands over a meeting with the school's headmistress, she talks to a toy and she immediately believes that her 5 year olds really saw a vampire. She's immature, yet I think she's suppose to be charming or quirky.
I have two or three more from this series on my shelf already. While I didn't hate it, I don't think this series is for me show less

Do you believe in vampires? Well, Lori’s twins think they saw one up on the hill and now she’s frantic to find out if it’s true! She and her friend Kit investigate the history of some strange neighbors who just might be hiding someone up in their attic. As they get to know more about the past, they meet numerous people that all were involved in a mysterious event that occulted more that forty years ago. When the story of that day finally comes out, no one realizes how close to home someone will be affected.

I really enjoyed this book. The story grabs you from the start and you know another good adventure is ahead for Lori. The author adds every day life events and mixes in some mystery, that makes you want to keep reading to the show more very end to solve it!

Nancy Atherton has done it again with her thirteenth book in the ‘Aunt Dimity’ series. I never get tired of this series about Lori Shephard and the situations she finds herself in. She always comes back to opening her blue book and waiting for Aunt Dimity to speak (or actually write to her from the other side), so she can talk to her about her adventures and get advice.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that wants a good, easy and enjoyable adventure to read. Also, I would read the rest of the series too!
This is one series that will bring a smile to your face and a good feeling after every book! show less

A very cozy mystery. I picked this up because I'd read one other in this series and enjoyed it, but I wasn't as thrilled with this one.
In this episode, the main character, whose son has just started school, is worried and stressed about having her kid away from her. Based on stories that get back to her (and no actual evidence at all), she becomes convinced that her son is being stalked either by some kind of pervert or - a vampire. Through the course of the book, she must learn to get over it and not be an over-protective psycho mom - and to re-appreciate the joys of living in a small town where everyone knows each others' business. While I appreciate the former message (if not for myself), I disagree with the latter, but messages show more aside, the book was rather dull, with no actual crimes to be solved, only misapprehensions and misunderstandings. I thought more supernatural elements in the story might spice it up a bit, but was also disappointed in that regard. show less

Lori Shepherd is upset when her twin sons tell her they saw a vampire in the woods behind their riding stable. She's sure it can't be a vampire but she is determined to find out who is hiding in the woods watching the children. She and friend Kit look for clues and traipse the woods finding a camper and leading to a neighboring reclusive estate. Lots of misinterpretations make this a quite unbelievable mystery. As usual Lori is imagining all kinds of scenarios. But the ending was very satisfying, that makes up for a lot.

Absolutely a delight! This is the first I've read in the series, and I'm sure I'll be going back to pick up the others when I have the chance. I found it to be quite the page-turner: mystery, romance, murder (sort of), family, small town community.....this one had it all.

Lori Shepherd is trying to adjust to her twin boys going to school, but she's not doing well - she is fixated on all the terrible things that *could* happen, however unlikely. So when she gets a call from the headmistress at the school, she immediately thinks the worst. Her sons have seen somebody - that looked quite like a vampire - and she goes into panic mode and begins the vampire hunt.

With the help of a friend, they begin investigating and she learns a good deal show more about her community that she didn't know before. Meeting some interesting characters and through some considerable hijinks, all turns out well in the end.....but the questions will keep you going until you find out the secrets of Aldercot Hall.

A great read for mystery lovers! show less

Nancy Atherton is a good writer, technically--all the "stuff" is in the right place, right tense; but, dialogue is a bit "invented" and plot doesn't seem to move anywhere. Characters? Well, I wouldn't invite any of them for Tea, drinks, or dinner-not because I didn't like them, but I just didn't care and I'd be bored to death.

Another good installment of the Aunt Dimity story line. Nice to see Kit's lineage cleared up and left the door open to the next Nell/Kit installment.