I had mixed feelings as I was reading Aunt Dimity’s Christmas, and I wasn’t quite sure I was going to post a book review for this one. By the end of the book, though, I decided that this well-meaning story is one I wanted to share with you all for the holiday season.
Aunt Dimity’s Christmas isn’t my first book in this Cotswolds crime-solving series, so I knew a little bit of what I was getting myself into with this story: a bit of a mystery, a bit of religious undertone, a smattering of magical realism, and a whole lot of quaint English country charm.
Main character Lori’s going full-speed ahead with all things Christmas. However, her meticulously planned holiday takes a sharp turn when she discovers a half-dead homeless man on her doorstep. After some prompting from her Aunt Dimity, Lori goes on a whirlwind journey full of mystery, intrigue, history, and more than a bit of Christmas magic as she uncovers the truth about her strange visitor.
Half-dead homeless man on her doorstep. Quite the plot twist, right?? And a little heavy for Christmas. Thankfully, every time the miniature Sherlock Holmes case threatens to overwhelm the story, author Nancy Atherton hits you up with a boost of Christmas cheer, complete with a nativity play full of theatrical hysteric, and loads of holiday shopping, baking, and decorating.
I’m always on the lookout for Christmas stories that go a little deeper than Hallmark Channel romances, and Aunt Dimity’s Christmas definitely fits that brief. While the premise gets a bit religious, as with the previous Aunt Dimity book I read, Atherton doesn’t bang you over the head with it.
What I appreciated most about Aunt Dimity’s Christmas is that it’s a good reminder of the “reason for the season.” Whatever you believe, Christmas celebrates the birth of a guy who was all about good will, generosity, and helping those in need. These are all qualities we can get behind. These are also parts of the holiday season that get lost in the face of overwhelming commercialism. It’s always helpful to be reminded of the reason for Christmas — not gifts, but giving — and Atherton does a good job with that.
While Aunt Dimity’s Christmas might not be the Christmas book for everyone, I urge you to give this one a try if you’re looking for a slightly different, more meaningful holiday read.
Stay tuned for my book-inspired recipe: Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies!
