After a hectic Christmas Holiday season Lori Shepherd is exhausted. Her friend and her husband encourage her to a take a long hike in the country to clear her head. She takes a light backpack with lunch, Aunt Dimity's notebook, and Reginald (stuffed bunny). A freak snow storm forces her to take shelter at an empty manor along with 2 other stranded hikers and the caretaker. However, the other hikers are not who they seem and soon Lori is trying figure out their secrets and those of the empty manor's former owners. Good story. ( )

Lori Shepherd goes out for a hick, but is caught in a sudden and harsh blizzard. Coming up on Ladythorne Abbey, she seeks refuge from the storm. She also finds two other hikers sheltering there.

Ladythorne Abbey has a dramatic history and has recently been purchased and restored to its original glory. It also has an on-site caretaker, with his own historical links to the property, and who isn’t pleased with the three hikers.

While waiting out the storm, Lori begins to feel that the stories of the other two hikers aren’t truthful and may be tied to the history of some priceless family jewels that are rumoured to be hidden within the abbey walls.

This is a fun series to read. There is a bit of magic, humour and a pinch of romance. I only wish Lori hadn’t kept jumping to conclusions without more thinking things through this time. ( )

This is better than the last one, but not as good as the first one I read....

This Lori, chick...just goes on & on & on & on....Chattering & Chattering incessantly to herself, Aunt Dimity & others, like Chip & Dale in an argument.....Until I thought my brain would explode.

As for Aunt Dimity, she's just some moralistic "proper" old lady ghost, who only offers platitudes & moral compass...but no insights or clues, as one would think a ghost might.

Ok: in this installment at the urging of a friend & neighbor, Lori goes for a hike in the woods so that she may shake the post-holiday blues, but of course she takes a wrong turn and ends up in a supposedly abandoned manor.... There she comes upon a snarky & secretive young woman, and the stereotypical young dark, tall, handsome & loin stirring young man..... They find themselves snowed in during the worst blizzard known to that area! yadda yadda yadda....

The history of the manor is revealed, an old crime is brought to light...and the two "thieves", really are not who they seem to be.

These stories could be so very much more interesting, if only Atherton would develop the ghost..... Aunt Dimity seems to always take the far back seat to Lori & her freaky pink stuffed bunny Reg. ( )

I didn't realize this was part of a series when I purchased it. However, I enjoyed it so much that I have started the series at the beginning. These are easy read, grown up Nancy Drew books and I find them to be quite charming. ( )

Really enjoyed this book! It was my first "Aunt Dimity" book and I look forward to reading more. ( )