From time to time we have reviewers who drop by with a review. This page is for them.
AUNT DIMITY & THE VILLAGE WITCH
NANCY ATHERTON
Viking Press April, 2012
Put up a pot of tea, light a fire and read the coziest lady since Jane Marple. For those of you who might be unfamiliar, Aunt Dimity is a lovely spirit who exists in the pages of a blue journal, who communicates in a beautiful, flowing copperplate handwriting to Lori Shepherd, an American ex-pat who lives with her husband and twin boys in the lovely village of Fitch, England, established in the 1600s. Aunt Dimity was a loving friend of Lori's mother, and left her lovely cottage to Lori. Lori's husband Bill, an attorney with clients from all over the world, was able to make Fitch his central office. The boys love their school, have their ponies at the stable and couldn't be happier.
Fitch is a very small village and nothing happens without the knowledge of everyone in the village. Amelia Thistle is moving into "Pussywillows", a cottage right in the middle of the town center, and is naturally the object of everyone's curiosity. A few people, including Lori, know her secret. She's actually Mae Bowen, a botanical painter whose skill and talent are awe-inspiring. Thistle was her married name. Her husband died, and a year later her brother died. After Alfred's death, she found a piece of parchment beginning the story of Mistress Meg, who may have been a witch. It was written by the Reverend Gowland of Fitch in the mid-1600's. The vicar was a distant relation. Because of her brother's interest, she's moved to Fitch so that the mystery can be solved.
Trying to keep her true identity a secret is important because she's the object of a fanatical group, led by a very smarmy man, who worship her and hound her every move. Despite the precautions taken, her identity is revealed and creates some hard feelings with the villagers because she hasn't been honest, until some of the zealots show up in their little village and they get a taste of what a misery Amelia's life is like. Ultimately they all rally 'round her to help solve the puzzle of where all of the pieces of parchment are hidden.
The search for the pieces of parchment takes them into the secret recesses of Fitch that are still standing almost four hundred years later. As each parchment is found and Meg's story unfolds, the village grows more and more protective of Amelia. Each piece has a glyph at the end which is the clue pointing to where the next piece can be found. As it is written in Latin, the vicar's wife translates. Willis, Lori's father-in-law (who is a widower) is brilliant at deciphering the glyphs. Lori and a dozen of the more curious and dedicated villagers do the physical searching. As the pieces are found, translated and read, everyone waits to discover if Meg survived the charges of witchcraft that were brought against her.
Lori fills Aunt Dimity in on all of the day's happenings and is given the benefit of Aunt Dimity's kindness and wisdom. She helps Lori control her frustration and keeps her on the right track. Since Aunt Dimity knows everyone in the village, she provides an unbiased viewpoint as to any pitfalls. Strangely enough, one of the biggest is the jealousy of four women who have been trying to get Willis to notice them as potential wives. They have all failed miserably, but it seems Amelia Thistle has succeeded. Amelia has to announce to them she has no interest in marriage in order to keep the peace. Time will tell how that works out.
Over the course of sixteen previous books, we've come to know how the inhabitants of Fitch have welcomed and ultimately become such an integral part of Lori and her family's lives. Discovering their quirks and strengths is a fascinating journey and each new book takes us further into their continually developing stories. If you haven't had the pleasure of visiting Fitch, AUNT DIMITY & THE VILLAGE WITCH is as good a place to start as any. The mystery and puzzle are very interesting. And, if you have the time some year, go back to the first book and give yourself a huge treat. RECOMMENDED.