Lori Shepherd, niece of one of the most benevolent ghosts in fiction, discovers there's life (and death) after motherhood in this charming, neo-Gothic tale of haunted castles, time-traveling spirits, and hidden treasure. Leaving her twin toddlers at home in the Cotswolds with her husband, an American lawyer working in England, Lori sets off for Wyrdhurst Hall to evaluate a private library for a wealthy client who has given the castle to his niece Nicole and her new husband, Jared Hollander. But a mysteriously open gate leads Lori dangerously astray. Rescued from a potentially fatal accident by a handsome and charming stranger to whom she is immediately attracted, she resumes her journey to the gloomy Scottish estate. Once ensconced at Wyrdhurst, Lori finds the young mistress is terrified by the sounds and apparitions that haunt the castle and equally frightened of her cold and controlling husband. Lori uncovers a secret cache of letters from an earlier era that hint at a tragic love affair and a death that must be avenged before Wyrdhurst's ghost--and its present inhabitants--can rest in peace. With Aunt Dimity's magic journal warning her that danger surrounds her passionate infatuation with Adam Chase, who has his own reasons for wanting Lori to get to the bottom of the mystery, our intrepid heroine traces the ghostly apparitions to their source. In the process she makes the acquaintance of the restless spirit whose love for a World War I soldier was thwarted, but not destroyed, by Wyrdhurst's original owner and provides the happy-ever-after ending to this charming and lively mystery. Nancy Atherton's fans will adore Lori and Aunt Dimity, and readers new to the series will be delighted to discover the fearless duo in this atmospheric and very well-paced story. --Jane Adams


From Publishers Weekly
"Plucky women long for action," asserts Lori Shepherd, who finds plenty of mischief, both ghostly and human, at Wyrdhurst Hall in her action-packed sixth supernatural cozy. Leaving husband Bill at home in the Cotswolds with their 18-month-old twin boys, Lori drives to a remote spot near the Scottish border to evaluate an old library for the new residents of Wyrdhurst, newlyweds Jared and Nicole Hollander. Alas, she takes a wrong turn in a rainstorm on the high Northumberland moors and narrowly escapes a landslide that washes her car off the road. Brought unconscious by handsome writer Adam Chase to his isolated hut, Lori later feels strangely attracted to her rescuer. The next day she learns from army captain Guy Manning that she'd driven on to a restricted military area because someone had left open a gate that should have been locked. Her accident may have been no accident. Finally arriving at Wyrdhurst, she has to wonder about her hosts, ascetic Jared and meek Nicole, who admits to Lori that Jared has yet to consummate their marriage. Investigating the library, Lori uncovers love letters between Claire Byrd, daughter of Wyrdhurst's formidable first owner, and Edward Cresswell, a soldier who died in WWI, that point to past tragedy. In the present, Captain Manning moons over Nicole, Adam remains a dangerously attractive presence and Lori's late Aunt Dimity provides sound advice from the beyond. What might be merely silly or ridiculous in lesser hands, Atherton here pulls off with irresistible flair and charm. 4-city author tour. (Oct.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Not every sleuth can call on a friendly ghost, or ghost-writer , for assistance. Lori Shepherd's house in the Cotswolds is the legacy of Aunt Dimity, who makes her thoughts known through a blue-bound volume where her writing appears. Lori has left her husband and the twins to examine the private library of a great old house, Wyrdhurst, near the Scottish border; the trip starts with her car going off the road in the rain and her rescue by an appallingly handsome young man named Adam. When Lori finally gets to the house, she finds mysteries upon mysteries, all swirling about Wyrdhurst's young mistress, Nicole, and her impossibly Victorian husband, Jared. Why does Jared spend so much time away from his new bride? Who is Adam, and why does he know so much about Wyrdhurst? Why are there so many odd noises and creepy events? Lori's husband sends along Aunt Dimity's book, and the hunt begins. In the library, Lori finds a cache of love letters between Edward, a soldier of the Great War, and Claire, daughter of old Josiah of Wyrdhurst, and begins to unravel a tragic mystery. Amidst the gothic trappings and the whiff of illicit desires, there's a romantic tale with echoes of A. S. Byatt's Possession and enough dreamy and ghostly wish-fulfillment to satisfy readers across several genres. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
"A romantic tale with echoes of A. S. Byatt's Possession and enough dreamy and ghostly wish-fulfillment to satisfy readers across several genres." (Booklist

With rain crashing down on her Range Rover, as it climbs up a steep embankment on the Northumberland moors, Lori Shepherd is beginning to doubt the wisdom of her decision to evaluate a rare book collection at Wyrdhurst Hall.

The grim, neo-gothic hall that greets her upon arrival is full of surprises-including a charming, secretive stranger, and a cache of World War I letters that tell a tale of doomed love and hint at a hidden treasure. It will take all of Dimity's supernatural skills to help Lori solve the puzzle and restore peace to a family haunted by its tragic past.


About the Author
Nancy Atherton is the author of five other Aunt Dimity novels, all of which are available from Penguin.

FROM OUR EDITORS

It takes all of Aunt Dimity's supernatural sleuthing skills to help her niece Lori solve a decades-old puzzle and restore peace to a family haunted by its tragic past.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"A romantic tale with echoes of A. S. Byatt's Possession and enough dreamy and ghostly wish-fulfillment to satisfy readers across several genres." (Booklist

With rain crashing down on her Range Rover, as it climbs up a steep embankment on the Northumberland moors, Lori Shepherd is beginning to doubt the wisdom of her decision to evaluate a rare book collection at Wyrdhurst Hall.

The grim, neo-gothic hall that greets her upon arrival is full of surprises-including a charming, secretive stranger, and a cache of World War I letters that tell a tale of doomed love and hint at a hidden treasure. It will take all of Dimity's supernatural skills to help Lori solve the puzzle and restore peace to a family haunted by its tragic past.

Author Biography: Nancy Atherton is the author of five other Aunt Dimity novels, all of which are available from Penguin.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

"Plucky women long for action," asserts Lori Shepherd, who finds plenty of mischief, both ghostly and human, at Wyrdhurst Hall in her action-packed sixth supernatural cozy. Leaving husband Bill at home in the Cotswolds with their 18-month-old twin boys, Lori drives to a remote spot near the Scottish border to evaluate an old library for the new residents of Wyrdhurst, newlyweds Jared and Nicole Hollander. Alas, she takes a wrong turn in a rainstorm on the high Northumberland moors and narrowly escapes a landslide that washes her car off the road. Brought unconscious by handsome writer Adam Chase to his isolated hut, Lori later feels strangely attracted to her rescuer. The next day she learns from army captain Guy Manning that she'd driven on to a restricted military area because someone had left open a gate that should have been locked. Her accident may have been no accident. Finally arriving at Wyrdhurst, she has to wonder about her hosts, ascetic Jared and meek Nicole, who admits to Lori that Jared has yet to consummate their marriage. Investigating the library, Lori uncovers love letters between Claire Byrd, daughter of Wyrdhurst's formidable first owner, and Edward Cresswell, a soldier who died in WWI, that point to past tragedy. In the present, Captain Manning moons over Nicole, Adam remains a dangerously attractive presence and Lori's late Aunt Dimity provides sound advice from the beyond. What might be merely silly or ridiculous in lesser hands, Atherton here pulls off with irresistible flair and charm. 4-city author tour. (Oct.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Kirkus Reviews

Aunt Dimity, that garrulous, well-meaning ghost who communicates via automatic writing in a journal kept in the Cotswold cottage of Bill and Lori Shepherd, keeps thrashing her way off the bookshelf until Bill forwards her to Lori, who is up in Northumberland evaluating the private library belonging to newlyweds Jared and Nicole Hollander. The Hollanders' manse, Wyrdhurst Hall, comes complete with a dungeon, a secret staircase, a portrait with peepholes drilled through the eyes, and, of course, a ghost of its own, who seems determined to possess poor Lori. In its former earthbound state, the ghost was Claire, in love with Edward, but separated from him by the Great War and the machinations of her papa. Claire's spirit won't be appeased until Lori finds herself lusting after a mysterious writer, cuddling up to an ancient teddy bear, encouraging Nicole to defy her bridegroom and tarry with a dashing army captain, and uncovering a cache of century-old love letters and a gem beyond price. Then it's back to the Cotswolds, her rambunctious toddler twins, and her devoted husband before Aunt Dimity, like Raggedy-Ann, is reshelved till next time.