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The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter #1
The Tale of Hill Top Farm
The author of Peter Rabbit and other creature tales, Beatrix Potter is still, after a century, beloved by children and adults the world over. In this first Cottage Tale, Albert introduces Beatrix, an animal lover who has just bought a farm in England's beautiful Lake District. As Beatrix tries to win over the hearts of her fellow villagers, her animal friends set out to solve a mystery all their own.
286 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2004
About the author
Susan Wittig Albert
129 books2,228 followersSusan is the author/co-author of biographical/historical fiction, mysteries, and nonfiction. Now in her 80s and continuing to write, she says that retirement is not (yet) an option. She publishes under her own imprint. Here are her latest books.
A PLAIN VANILLA MURDER, #27 in the long-running China Bayles/Pecan Springs series.
Two Pecan Springs novella trilogies: The Crystal Cave Trilogy (featuring Ruby Wilcox): noBODY, SomeBODY Else, and Out of BODY; and The Enterprise Trilogy (featuring Jessica Nelson): DEADLINES, FAULTLINES, and FIRELINES.
THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE POINSETTIA PUZZLE #8 in the Darling Dahlias series, set in the early 1930s in fictional Darling AL
THE GENERAL'S WOMEN. Kay, Mamie, and Ike--the wartime romance that won a war but could have derailed a presidency.
LOVING ELEANOR: A novel about the intimate 30-year friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, based on their letters
A WILDER ROSE: the true story of Rose Wilder Lane, who transformed her mother from a farm wife and occasional writer to a literary icon
THE TALE OF CASTLE COTTAGE, #8 in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
DEATH ON THE LIZARD, the 12th and last (2006) of the Robin Paige series, by Susan and Bill Albert
TOGETHER, ALONE: A MEMOIR OF MARRIAGE AND PLACE
AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR OF ORDINARY DAYS
WORK OF HER OWN: A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO RIGHT LIVELIHOOD
WRITING FROM LIFE: TELLING YOUR SOUL'S STORY
A PLAIN VANILLA MURDER, #27 in the long-running China Bayles/Pecan Springs series.
Two Pecan Springs novella trilogies: The Crystal Cave Trilogy (featuring Ruby Wilcox): noBODY, SomeBODY Else, and Out of BODY; and The Enterprise Trilogy (featuring Jessica Nelson): DEADLINES, FAULTLINES, and FIRELINES.
THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE POINSETTIA PUZZLE #8 in the Darling Dahlias series, set in the early 1930s in fictional Darling AL
THE GENERAL'S WOMEN. Kay, Mamie, and Ike--the wartime romance that won a war but could have derailed a presidency.
LOVING ELEANOR: A novel about the intimate 30-year friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, based on their letters
A WILDER ROSE: the true story of Rose Wilder Lane, who transformed her mother from a farm wife and occasional writer to a literary icon
THE TALE OF CASTLE COTTAGE, #8 in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
DEATH ON THE LIZARD, the 12th and last (2006) of the Robin Paige series, by Susan and Bill Albert
TOGETHER, ALONE: A MEMOIR OF MARRIAGE AND PLACE
AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR OF ORDINARY DAYS
WORK OF HER OWN: A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO RIGHT LIVELIHOOD
WRITING FROM LIFE: TELLING YOUR SOUL'S STORY
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 518 reviews
September 29, 2022
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In 2009 I experienced England. Its Peak District was beautiful. My friend from there, said Lake District is beyond compare and that he must take us another time. In 2010 I discovered this novel on a charity table, drawn to talking animals. This realm was very much a delight, in that the village pets are granted their opinions, tasks, and are integral. The approach completely new to me was utilizing real author Beatrix Potter as the protagonist, blending recorded facts about her life, extrapolating what it must have been like in Near/Far Sawrey, and having her solve mysteries.
I had certainly heard of her children's story "Peter Rabbit" but didn't know it nor anything of her. Well-studied on the subject, Susan Wittig Albert takes us through real early 1900 events. Beatrix bypasses wealthy London upbringing with her own income and property as a single lady. We learn she was a conservationist and animal lover, crafting her stories after pets and drawing her own illustrations. It seems in upper class breeding, a working man is frowned upon as well. Beatrix loved her publisher Norman Warne, a fiancé with whom she dreamed up her first several stories. However he died and it is then that she sought a country refuge.
We’re introduced with poignancy to the village pets. Tabitha Twitchit's mistress passes away and the senior kitty sits with her alone. She joins the home of another villager and a mystery arises pertaining to the contents of Tabitha's and the late Mrs. Tolliver's house.
In 2009 I experienced England. Its Peak District was beautiful. My friend from there, said Lake District is beyond compare and that he must take us another time. In 2010 I discovered this novel on a charity table, drawn to talking animals. This realm was very much a delight, in that the village pets are granted their opinions, tasks, and are integral. The approach completely new to me was utilizing real author Beatrix Potter as the protagonist, blending recorded facts about her life, extrapolating what it must have been like in Near/Far Sawrey, and having her solve mysteries.
I had certainly heard of her children's story "Peter Rabbit" but didn't know it nor anything of her. Well-studied on the subject, Susan Wittig Albert takes us through real early 1900 events. Beatrix bypasses wealthy London upbringing with her own income and property as a single lady. We learn she was a conservationist and animal lover, crafting her stories after pets and drawing her own illustrations. It seems in upper class breeding, a working man is frowned upon as well. Beatrix loved her publisher Norman Warne, a fiancé with whom she dreamed up her first several stories. However he died and it is then that she sought a country refuge.
We’re introduced with poignancy to the village pets. Tabitha Twitchit's mistress passes away and the senior kitty sits with her alone. She joins the home of another villager and a mystery arises pertaining to the contents of Tabitha's and the late Mrs. Tolliver's house.
September 26, 2022
Although I had a hard time getting into this story at first, it was well worth the wait. This Beatrix Potter-inspired mystery is lovely and the story just gets cozier and cozier as you read it.
The beginning set up of the book challenged me with close to 20 characters introduced in detail (with 2 full pages of description before the chapters began). I was reeling! Learning about the village, surrounding nature of the Lake District, and so many characters were overwhelming.
For over 50 pages, I still had no idea who was who and I had to keep flipping to the front of the book to look at the map (very nice) and the list of characters. Finally, finally, I got the hang of the writing and the people.
Once I was halfway through the book, I was truly enjoying it. Once I was 3/4 of the way through, it was hard to put down because I wanted to know "who did it" and how the story played out.
Labeling this a "cozy" read is well deserved. If you can push through the confusion of the opening chapters, you'll be happy you made the effort. (Also, it may just be me. You may not have this issue.)
Overall, I really liked it and I'll most likely continue on with the rest of the series. I have the others and, now that I'm familiar with the village and its inhabitants, I'm sure I'll start enjoying it quicker than this time around. Give it a try!
The beginning set up of the book challenged me with close to 20 characters introduced in detail (with 2 full pages of description before the chapters began). I was reeling! Learning about the village, surrounding nature of the Lake District, and so many characters were overwhelming.
For over 50 pages, I still had no idea who was who and I had to keep flipping to the front of the book to look at the map (very nice) and the list of characters. Finally, finally, I got the hang of the writing and the people.
Once I was halfway through the book, I was truly enjoying it. Once I was 3/4 of the way through, it was hard to put down because I wanted to know "who did it" and how the story played out.
Labeling this a "cozy" read is well deserved. If you can push through the confusion of the opening chapters, you'll be happy you made the effort. (Also, it may just be me. You may not have this issue.)
Overall, I really liked it and I'll most likely continue on with the rest of the series. I have the others and, now that I'm familiar with the village and its inhabitants, I'm sure I'll start enjoying it quicker than this time around. Give it a try!
December 11, 2022
The Tale of Hill Top Farm is exactly the sort of book you’d want to curl up with on a Sunday afternoon with a cup of tea and a scone. Beatrix Potter and her animal friends visit her new home in the Lake District and help solve a mystery that involves the entire village. The story is cozy, comforting, and delightful. The talking animals may take some getting used to for some readers, but overall the characters and atmosphere of the book are charming.
November 11, 2014
In 1905, Beatrix Potter is a best-selling author mourning the loss of her fiance and trying to become independent of her demanding parents. She has just bought Hill Top Farm in the Lakes District in Yorkshire. She loves the beauty and remoteness of the area and hopes to enjoy many getaways there. She can not yet take possession of the farm house for it is rented to the Jennings family, the tenant farmers. Miss Potter intends to stay with Miss Abigail Tolliver, a spinster in the village of Sawrey, but Miss Tolliver has just died unexpectedly and the village gossips believe it was murder. When Miss Potter arrives, the gossips have something else to talk about : the eccentric city woman who keeps wild animals as pets and wants to farm! Some of the locals are even downright hostile to Miss Potter but she endears herself to some of the ladies by befriending a young boy wrongly accused of stealing money from his school. Miss Potter also discovers that a valuable painting has gone missing from Miss Tolliver's house and the vicar can't find the parish register anywhere. A mysterious woman known only to Miss Tolliver arrives and shocks everyone for being more eccentric than Miss Potter. Miss Tabitha Twitchett, senior cat of Sawrey, formerly belonging to Miss Tolliver, enlists the aid of her canine and feline friends to solve some of the mysteries the stupid humans can't figure out. Meanwhile, Miss Potter's animal companions discover that the country is more exciting than they ever dared to dream.
This is a sweet, charming book that has the flavor of Beatrix Potter's novels and reminds me a lot of Cranford or Lark Rise to Candleford (for you PBS fans). There are twin villages populated by quirky, colorful characters. The story is very quiet. There are several mysteries to be solved and none of them are heart-pounding page turners but simple, ordinary things that are lost and need to be found in the usual ways.
I really liked the setting though I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight and kept referring to the cast list in the front of the book. I liked the the setting and the characters' actions felt realistic. No one was doing anything that someone from that time should not be doing, especially the female characters. Miss Potter is really a secondary character in the novel. The main characters are really the cats and Rascal, the Jack Russell Terrier. This book may not be to everyone's liking. The animals can talk to each other and even read and write. They can not talk to humans though.
This book would be best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a good English scone. Those who love Beatrix Potter's books will enjoy this story and want to learn more about the author.
This is a sweet, charming book that has the flavor of Beatrix Potter's novels and reminds me a lot of Cranford or Lark Rise to Candleford (for you PBS fans). There are twin villages populated by quirky, colorful characters. The story is very quiet. There are several mysteries to be solved and none of them are heart-pounding page turners but simple, ordinary things that are lost and need to be found in the usual ways.
I really liked the setting though I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight and kept referring to the cast list in the front of the book. I liked the the setting and the characters' actions felt realistic. No one was doing anything that someone from that time should not be doing, especially the female characters. Miss Potter is really a secondary character in the novel. The main characters are really the cats and Rascal, the Jack Russell Terrier. This book may not be to everyone's liking. The animals can talk to each other and even read and write. They can not talk to humans though.
This book would be best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a good English scone. Those who love Beatrix Potter's books will enjoy this story and want to learn more about the author.
June 20, 2011
I had recently watched the movie Miss Potter, with Renée Zellweger, so I had great images of English country life at the turn of the century and of the sweeping landscapes of the Lake Country of Britain to accompany this book. The author has a great grasp of small town America which seemed to translate well to turn of the century British village life. But as with her China Bayles novels, I did not get a sense of the greater landscape in which the novels take place. This is a shame as Beatrix Potter was such a great conservationist and champion of Lake District preservation.
MILD SPOILERS!!
Lovely light mystery - no messy deaths or tawdry affairs, believable villagers, four intertwined mysteries, and a satisfactory conclusion. Its apparent that this is the beginning of a series as there was a great deal of exposition, although I feel sure all of the books will be stand alone. I was a bit disappointed that the characterization of Beatrix Potter remained rather shallow, except for a brief interior monologue about her parents. This was such a pivotal time in her life. And having the animals talk and interact with each other in a Potter-esque manner was a bit disconcerting at first. However, I changed my expectations and approached the book as simply a light diverting read and that is exactly what this book turned out to be. I had no trouble with the author’s transcription of Lake District dialect, but she thoughtfully included a glossary at the back of the book, along with a brief biography of Potter prior to 1905. There is a character list at the beginning of the book, which is a delightful read in itself, as well as a charming little map which one must view as “definitely not to scale.”
Oh, and not to forget ... recipes at the back of the book!
MILD SPOILERS!!
Lovely light mystery - no messy deaths or tawdry affairs, believable villagers, four intertwined mysteries, and a satisfactory conclusion. Its apparent that this is the beginning of a series as there was a great deal of exposition, although I feel sure all of the books will be stand alone. I was a bit disappointed that the characterization of Beatrix Potter remained rather shallow, except for a brief interior monologue about her parents. This was such a pivotal time in her life. And having the animals talk and interact with each other in a Potter-esque manner was a bit disconcerting at first. However, I changed my expectations and approached the book as simply a light diverting read and that is exactly what this book turned out to be. I had no trouble with the author’s transcription of Lake District dialect, but she thoughtfully included a glossary at the back of the book, along with a brief biography of Potter prior to 1905. There is a character list at the beginning of the book, which is a delightful read in itself, as well as a charming little map which one must view as “definitely not to scale.”
Oh, and not to forget ... recipes at the back of the book!
April 20, 2019
I'm tempted to create a shelf called "If It Weren't For the Talking Animals" just for this book but the likelihood of my voluntarily reading another mystery featuring talking animals let alone talking animals in waistcoats and pinafores is very, very slim.
Still, if it weren't for the talking animals this would have been a genuinely delightful read. Beatrix Potter is certainly not the first person I'd think of as a natural detective but damned if she isn't a fascinating woman. Coupled with Susan Wittig Albert wonderful ability to describe the English countryside picture perfectly if it weren't for the talking animals I would happily read the other seven books in this series.
I mean I get it on the one hand. Beatrix Potter IS known for her lovely stories about adorable woodland creatures in frocks getting into mischief and learning lessons. So it makes at least a little sense that a historical fiction/mystery with Potter as the main character would include some of the animals that inspired her work. She was, in addition to her work as a writer, an accomplished scientist and naturalist and she kept a variety of unusual pets throughout the years. Its only natural that they'd appear in a book about her life. Just not talking and in period costume.
The animals literally solve one of the mysteries and actually leave a hand written note for the humans explaining what happened. That I just couldn't handle.
This is really a lovely read with a gentle, easily handled mystery and a vast but wonderfully drawn cast of characters I'd love to learn more about.
If it weren't for the talking animals.
Still, if it weren't for the talking animals this would have been a genuinely delightful read. Beatrix Potter is certainly not the first person I'd think of as a natural detective but damned if she isn't a fascinating woman. Coupled with Susan Wittig Albert wonderful ability to describe the English countryside picture perfectly if it weren't for the talking animals I would happily read the other seven books in this series.
I mean I get it on the one hand. Beatrix Potter IS known for her lovely stories about adorable woodland creatures in frocks getting into mischief and learning lessons. So it makes at least a little sense that a historical fiction/mystery with Potter as the main character would include some of the animals that inspired her work. She was, in addition to her work as a writer, an accomplished scientist and naturalist and she kept a variety of unusual pets throughout the years. Its only natural that they'd appear in a book about her life. Just not talking and in period costume.
The animals literally solve one of the mysteries and actually leave a hand written note for the humans explaining what happened. That I just couldn't handle.
This is really a lovely read with a gentle, easily handled mystery and a vast but wonderfully drawn cast of characters I'd love to learn more about.
If it weren't for the talking animals.
October 19, 2021
This book has me hooked on Beatrix Potter's life story now. I'm enthralled.
If you'd like to read about the mysterious happenings going on at the lake, with most events re-interpreted by the local pets (usually in sarcastic tones about the petty humans), then please pick up this spectacular book and start reading. It's all very British. And comical. And wonderful.
If you'd like to read about the mysterious happenings going on at the lake, with most events re-interpreted by the local pets (usually in sarcastic tones about the petty humans), then please pick up this spectacular book and start reading. It's all very British. And comical. And wonderful.
September 1, 2021
This is a very charming book. I love how the animals are as much a part of the story as the people. They really assist in solving the mysteries.
I really liked the character of Beatrix. I don't know much about Beatrix Potter or her life story, so I enjoyed learning a little more about the woman. Susan Wittig Albert did a lot of research for this story and I appreciated that she included a historical note and list of resources she used for this book. I also enjoyed learning about England's Lake District, a place I didn't even know existed until I read one of the other books in this series.
Susan has really made Beatrix come alive. I really felt for her in this story. She is a very shy, quiet woman, but determined to make a life for herself on her new farm after the death of her fiance, despite what all the villagers think of her. It was a very exciting moment for me when Beatrix stood up to Miss Crabbe. As a very shy person myself I understand how difficult it can be to do things like that, and I admired Beatrix for doing so. You know, I wonder what the real Beatrix Potter would think of her portrayal in these books.
I must admit, I read The Tale of Briar Bank first, so I knew a little about most of the characters in this story, but it really helps to have the background information going forward. My favourite character other than Beatrix herself would be Dimity Woodcock. I also really liked the two cats, Tabitha and Crumpet. Well, really, I liked all the animal characters. They were so sweet!
I loved how this wasn't a murder mystery, but a mystery regarding the disappearances of several important objects in the village. It's a situation of "mysteries upon mysteries," as Beatrix described it. All these mysteries in one was a nice change of pace for me after all the cozy murder mysteries I read.
"'What does money smell like?' Tabitha Twitchit wanted to know... 'It smells like gold and silver, brass and copper,' Rascal said. 'It also smells like sweat and human hands. It smells,' he added half under his breath, 'like greed.'"
I really liked the character of Beatrix. I don't know much about Beatrix Potter or her life story, so I enjoyed learning a little more about the woman. Susan Wittig Albert did a lot of research for this story and I appreciated that she included a historical note and list of resources she used for this book. I also enjoyed learning about England's Lake District, a place I didn't even know existed until I read one of the other books in this series.
Susan has really made Beatrix come alive. I really felt for her in this story. She is a very shy, quiet woman, but determined to make a life for herself on her new farm after the death of her fiance, despite what all the villagers think of her. It was a very exciting moment for me when Beatrix stood up to Miss Crabbe. As a very shy person myself I understand how difficult it can be to do things like that, and I admired Beatrix for doing so. You know, I wonder what the real Beatrix Potter would think of her portrayal in these books.
I must admit, I read The Tale of Briar Bank first, so I knew a little about most of the characters in this story, but it really helps to have the background information going forward. My favourite character other than Beatrix herself would be Dimity Woodcock. I also really liked the two cats, Tabitha and Crumpet. Well, really, I liked all the animal characters. They were so sweet!
I loved how this wasn't a murder mystery, but a mystery regarding the disappearances of several important objects in the village. It's a situation of "mysteries upon mysteries," as Beatrix described it. All these mysteries in one was a nice change of pace for me after all the cozy murder mysteries I read.
"'What does money smell like?' Tabitha Twitchit wanted to know... 'It smells like gold and silver, brass and copper,' Rascal said. 'It also smells like sweat and human hands. It smells,' he added half under his breath, 'like greed.'"
May 17, 2019
This was a delightful surprise. Less of a mystery and more of life in a small town with well drawn characters and a sentimental fantasy of Beatrix Potter's life in Sawrey. Well researched, but very much its own world, with lovely writing, I really want to continue with this series and try more from this author!
April 8, 2023
3 ⭐️ the mystery didn’t really make me want to keep reading but the country cottage imagery was lovely and perfect for spring.
May 29, 2022
Such a cosy, charming witty read about Beatrix Potter, the Lake District, the villagers of Sawrey and their talking animals. Sprinkled with some mystery. Cant wait to read more books in this series!
May 1, 2013
Part one in what I believe is a series of 8 books, whilst I felt that The Tale Of Hill Top Farm had many things to recommend it there were some things that troubled me.
Not normally one to quibble about the use of American spellings - why should I be when so many of the books I read are by American authors - it did however seem incongruous to me that a book featuring the quintessentially British novelist, Beatrix Potter, should be riddled with such spellings (Color, Organize, Neighbor ...... I could go on but won't).
Not my main gripe though. Not something I will go into at any great length about here BUT given my views on keeping hedgehogs as 'pets' suffice to say the very mention did considerably mar my enjoyment of the book.
Anyway, pet hedgehogs aside. I loved the fact that the animals were given a voice (not that they were understood by humans you understand, only by each other), that their conversations were written in italics so that it was easy to identify that it was Crumpet the cat or Rascal the dog or one of the other animals who was speaking rather than any of the myriad of human characters who by the way almost without exception had such wonderfully quaint names.
A gentle, one could even say, genteel read set in the English Lake District (not 80 miles from where I live). Apart from the cosy mystery at the heart of the story I loved the biographical glimpses into Beatrix's life, of how the author managed to convey that here was a woman yearning for love and independence and yet, at the same time, in many ways a woman of her time, a woman who felt somewhat duty bound to obey her parents wishes.
Copyright: Petty Witter @ Pen and Paper.
Not normally one to quibble about the use of American spellings - why should I be when so many of the books I read are by American authors - it did however seem incongruous to me that a book featuring the quintessentially British novelist, Beatrix Potter, should be riddled with such spellings (Color, Organize, Neighbor ...... I could go on but won't).
Not my main gripe though. Not something I will go into at any great length about here BUT given my views on keeping hedgehogs as 'pets' suffice to say the very mention did considerably mar my enjoyment of the book.
Anyway, pet hedgehogs aside. I loved the fact that the animals were given a voice (not that they were understood by humans you understand, only by each other), that their conversations were written in italics so that it was easy to identify that it was Crumpet the cat or Rascal the dog or one of the other animals who was speaking rather than any of the myriad of human characters who by the way almost without exception had such wonderfully quaint names.
A gentle, one could even say, genteel read set in the English Lake District (not 80 miles from where I live). Apart from the cosy mystery at the heart of the story I loved the biographical glimpses into Beatrix's life, of how the author managed to convey that here was a woman yearning for love and independence and yet, at the same time, in many ways a woman of her time, a woman who felt somewhat duty bound to obey her parents wishes.
Copyright: Petty Witter @ Pen and Paper.
December 28, 2016
This book, which is the first of an 8-book series, will definitely not be everyone's cup of tea. It is, however, mine. I don't recall reading her books as a child myself, but I did read and reread them to my children, and now to my grandchildren.
Set in the Cumbrian village of Near Sawrey, the real-life home of Beatrix Potter, as well as nearby Far Sawrey and Hawkshead (an ancient market town), this is the coziest of cozy mysteries, with a fictionalized Miss Potter as a character along with her animals and other animals of the village. The animals can talk to each other (I do believe that animals can communicate with each other, although not in speech as we understand it), but not to humans, although Miss Potter has a definite affinity with them. Humans and animals work together to solve 3 thefts that have occurred in the village.
There are a plethora of characters, both animal and human, and all are well-fleshed with personalities, faults and talents. Ms. Albert provides a Cast of Characters that will come in handy until you get acquainted with the villagers.
Although these stories are obviously fiction, they do contain historical facts about Miss Potter's life, and are well researched. Ms. Albert includes a bibliography of works that she consulted.
If you are a fan of Miss Potter and are interested in her life, or if you are an animal lover or a lover of village stories, then I recommend these books to you.
Set in the Cumbrian village of Near Sawrey, the real-life home of Beatrix Potter, as well as nearby Far Sawrey and Hawkshead (an ancient market town), this is the coziest of cozy mysteries, with a fictionalized Miss Potter as a character along with her animals and other animals of the village. The animals can talk to each other (I do believe that animals can communicate with each other, although not in speech as we understand it), but not to humans, although Miss Potter has a definite affinity with them. Humans and animals work together to solve 3 thefts that have occurred in the village.
There are a plethora of characters, both animal and human, and all are well-fleshed with personalities, faults and talents. Ms. Albert provides a Cast of Characters that will come in handy until you get acquainted with the villagers.
Although these stories are obviously fiction, they do contain historical facts about Miss Potter's life, and are well researched. Ms. Albert includes a bibliography of works that she consulted.
If you are a fan of Miss Potter and are interested in her life, or if you are an animal lover or a lover of village stories, then I recommend these books to you.
May 8, 2020
My dear Mom read us the Beatrix Potter books. I remember them as charming.
Susan Wittig Albert writes an equally charming novel with authoress Potter entering the picture about to purchase her home away from home Hill Top Farm. Although, I have not read any biography or autobiography of the real Beatrix Potter, it is obvious the author did her research. I am presuming, she read Potters journals and used the personal information to write this book.
The Tale of Hill Top Farm is incredibly clever and a cup of fresh air. We have the suspicious of strangers aka outsiders, Ms. Potter and the utterly delightful animal kingdom involved. Potter's unusual pets, the village pets and outlining wildlife all have voices, opinions and intellect to make this novel a delight.
Susan Wittig Albert writes an equally charming novel with authoress Potter entering the picture about to purchase her home away from home Hill Top Farm. Although, I have not read any biography or autobiography of the real Beatrix Potter, it is obvious the author did her research. I am presuming, she read Potters journals and used the personal information to write this book.
The Tale of Hill Top Farm is incredibly clever and a cup of fresh air. We have the suspicious of strangers aka outsiders, Ms. Potter and the utterly delightful animal kingdom involved. Potter's unusual pets, the village pets and outlining wildlife all have voices, opinions and intellect to make this novel a delight.
June 19, 2015
Lake District, 1905. Absolutely charming! This is a delightful country cosy mystery, featuring Beatrix Potter, villagers of Far Sawrey and various "talking" animals. I very much enjoyed Miss Read's "Fairacre" and "Thrush Green" novels, also set in villages during the early part of the 20th century, and "The Tale of Hill Top Farm" reminded me of these, with the cosy mystery element added.
It really amazes me that Susan Wittig Albert, like Deborah Crombie, both Texans, can write such British novels! I shall definitely be reading more in this series, and heartily recommend it to anyone who would like to take a break from murder mystery thrillers and read something more relaxing and picturesque.
It really amazes me that Susan Wittig Albert, like Deborah Crombie, both Texans, can write such British novels! I shall definitely be reading more in this series, and heartily recommend it to anyone who would like to take a break from murder mystery thrillers and read something more relaxing and picturesque.
August 2, 2022
This book really surprised me! I picked it up after a recommendation from a YouTuber and was unsure if I’d like it. I was interested about the telling of Beatrix Potter’s life and mixing the history with the fiction. It involves perspectives from the animals and their conversations between them which leans a bit more on the fantasy side for me. But I was pleasantly surprised and actually enjoyed the conversations! The beginning of the book was slow with introducing characters, setting the scene, etc. Pretty boring to be honest. BUT once the characters started interacting, that’s where I became intrigued! There was such depth, humor and subliminal messages through each character. They talk differently from each other and the characters are so strongly written with their personalities. It was an enjoyable book with some twists and turns and the perfect cottage core vibes 💖
June 19, 2022
I enjoyed every last second of this! So cozy, and with such lovely writing.
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November 24, 2015The Tale of Hill Top Farm is the first book in the extremely cozy mystery series The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter. These are my absolute favorite books to read. They let me wander around the charming English village of Near Sawrey, visit with my dear old neighbors and friends, share pots of tea, and hear the latest village gossip. The books are not particularly dangerous or suspenseful; they are just a wonderful place to spend your time while learning a bit about the life of Beatrix Potter. The story begins on a beautiful October morning in the Lake District village of Near Sawrey where our dear Miss Tolliver of Anvil Cottage is found dead in her cottage and the parish registry is gone missing. Foul play is suspected and Beatrix is determined to discover the truth behind these unhappy circumstances. All the while, she is struggling to live independently of her parents following the death of her fiancé, Norman Warne, and learn the ways of the villagers in this 1905 rural community. In the front of the book, there is a handy map and character list. In the back of the book, some of the villagers have kindly shared a few of their favorite recipes and the author has provided a glossary for those who don’t know the meaning of such terms as “Daft ha’p’orth” and “tupping time.” The books are “clean reading” and young high-level readers might find them enjoyable, too.
If you are an animal lover, dream of living in a quaint English village, and appreciate Beatrix Potter’s “dear little books,” you will surely enjoy this sweet mystery series. I suggest you make a pot of your favorite tea, then find your coziest reading spot and enjoy a magical visit with Beatrix and her various animal and human friends while they solve their latest mystery. Susan Wittig Albert is also known for her China Bayles Mysteries and, along with her husband under the pen name Robin Paige, the Charles and Kate Sheridan Mystery Series.
Carole A.
Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.
If you are an animal lover, dream of living in a quaint English village, and appreciate Beatrix Potter’s “dear little books,” you will surely enjoy this sweet mystery series. I suggest you make a pot of your favorite tea, then find your coziest reading spot and enjoy a magical visit with Beatrix and her various animal and human friends while they solve their latest mystery. Susan Wittig Albert is also known for her China Bayles Mysteries and, along with her husband under the pen name Robin Paige, the Charles and Kate Sheridan Mystery Series.
Carole A.
Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.
February 20, 2011
While I place this in the mystery genre, it's a cozy mystery with a heavy emphasis on cozy. This book is more about an idyllic English village with thatched cottages, a bumbling vicar, several eccentric old maids, hard working farmers, prosperous ladies who gossip over afternoon tea, and beautiful gardens. The townspeople all know one another intimately, as do the animals. The animals are delightful. They eavesdrop, talk, lament that humans are too stupid to understand them, and generally save the day.
Beatrix Potter moves to the lovely village mentioned above with her two rabbits (Flopsy and Mopsy), her hedgehog (Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle), and her mouse (Tom Thumb). I loved the scenes in which she is gaining inspiration for her upcoming book, The Tale of Jeremy Fisher. I was amused by the way in which she sees animal characteristics reflected in people, and vice versa.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Beatrix Potter moves to the lovely village mentioned above with her two rabbits (Flopsy and Mopsy), her hedgehog (Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle), and her mouse (Tom Thumb). I loved the scenes in which she is gaining inspiration for her upcoming book, The Tale of Jeremy Fisher. I was amused by the way in which she sees animal characteristics reflected in people, and vice versa.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
January 8, 2023
Yes, this mystery is based on the actual life of Beatrix Potter (I'm suspicious of authors who base their characters on ones created by famous authors) and I walked by it in the library about 300 times before I checked it out... but I liked it. There are two groups of characters - humans and animals. They don't interact directly (that is, the animals don't talk) but each group does some investigating on their own, and the animals find a way to get the humans to understand them, and the mystery is solved in the end. It's not cheesy, I promise.
November 1, 2018
Challenge: Goodreads RRRCs (belated) - Oct. 12 Old Farmers' Day, a book about a farm (6). A charming first-in-series book chock full of little mysteries, wonderful village characters and their animal friends. An alternative story about the purchase of Hill Top Farm by Beatrix Potter. Look forward to reading the whole series of eight various farm stories.
September 21, 2015
Not my usual genre, but needed a change of pace. Because I've been to Hilltop and have read many B. Potter's bios, I found this an uplifting albeit unusual read. Not really enamored by animals talking (but for some that might be part of the charm).
December 13, 2017
A must read on a relaxing Sunday afternoon with tea.
July 9, 2019
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The first in Albert’s Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series, The Tale of Hill Top Farm focuses on Beatrix Potter’s move to Sawrey, purchase of Hill Top Farm, becoming acquainted with the townsfolk, and witnessing several mishaps and mysteries. The town is thrown into disarray when one of their own, Miss Toliver, dies unexpectedly. Naturally, the death being so unexpected, everyone wonders whether Miss Toliver had been poisoned, and by whom. Then it is discovered that the church register has been stolen, followed by the disappearance of a rare painting from Miss Toliver’s house, cash funds to repair the local school’s roof, and the question of who would inherit Miss Toliver’s cottage. The town devoutly hopes it does not go to her disagreeable nephew. All are surprised when, upon the reading of Miss Toliver’s will, the cottage goes to a Miss Sarah Berwick, a complete stranger. Further shocks come when the village learns why the register and roof repair funds have gone missing, as well as the true fate of Miss Toliver.
This is an utterly charming cozy mystery! While many of the plot details are, of course, pure fiction, the location and events of Beatrix Potter’s life are historically documented and reflected in the story. She did live in Sawrey for many years, and she did travel with a menagerie of pets like hedgehogs, bunnies, and mice. The animals are point-of-view characters throughout the book, and they are the ones who solve all the mysteries well before the humans ever do.
I enjoyed, too, the Victorian manners and etiquette the characters adhere to. I am so glad I am not a Victorian, but it is fun to read all the same.
I definitely plan to read the rest of this series, and probably the other series Albert has written. Highly recommended!
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The first in Albert’s Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series, The Tale of Hill Top Farm focuses on Beatrix Potter’s move to Sawrey, purchase of Hill Top Farm, becoming acquainted with the townsfolk, and witnessing several mishaps and mysteries. The town is thrown into disarray when one of their own, Miss Toliver, dies unexpectedly. Naturally, the death being so unexpected, everyone wonders whether Miss Toliver had been poisoned, and by whom. Then it is discovered that the church register has been stolen, followed by the disappearance of a rare painting from Miss Toliver’s house, cash funds to repair the local school’s roof, and the question of who would inherit Miss Toliver’s cottage. The town devoutly hopes it does not go to her disagreeable nephew. All are surprised when, upon the reading of Miss Toliver’s will, the cottage goes to a Miss Sarah Berwick, a complete stranger. Further shocks come when the village learns why the register and roof repair funds have gone missing, as well as the true fate of Miss Toliver.
This is an utterly charming cozy mystery! While many of the plot details are, of course, pure fiction, the location and events of Beatrix Potter’s life are historically documented and reflected in the story. She did live in Sawrey for many years, and she did travel with a menagerie of pets like hedgehogs, bunnies, and mice. The animals are point-of-view characters throughout the book, and they are the ones who solve all the mysteries well before the humans ever do.
I enjoyed, too, the Victorian manners and etiquette the characters adhere to. I am so glad I am not a Victorian, but it is fun to read all the same.
I definitely plan to read the rest of this series, and probably the other series Albert has written. Highly recommended!
February 24, 2021
Repeat late-night listen. My first listen through years ago was as a preview read before handing to my young teen daughter, she loved this series too ( back then I was checking for any upsetting scenes with animals, and, for any adult content).
With Virginia Leishman narrating, I flat out enjoyed a relaxed relisten through this gentle village mystery, which is a semi-biographical, semi-fictionalised, account of a portion of Beatrix Potter’s life: the animals talk amongst themselves.... giving those portions the feel of "Peter Rabbit - who does not feature in the book - and friends" for grown-ups.
Being the first book in the series Susan Albert is setting the stage for the books to follow: I like the character Sarah more this time through....... so far.
Extra: this book touches on mental health issues, and, break downs.
With Virginia Leishman narrating, I flat out enjoyed a relaxed relisten through this gentle village mystery, which is a semi-biographical, semi-fictionalised, account of a portion of Beatrix Potter’s life: the animals talk amongst themselves.... giving those portions the feel of "Peter Rabbit - who does not feature in the book - and friends" for grown-ups.
Being the first book in the series Susan Albert is setting the stage for the books to follow: I like the character Sarah more this time through....... so far.
Extra: this book touches on mental health issues, and, break downs.
August 8, 2017
Read this over the last few days.
It's not terrible, I'm not sure it completely works. The animals talking to each other borders on gimmicky. It's saved by the fact that they can only talk to each other and not humans.
Also, this was shelved in the mystery section, and the two predominant mysteries seemed to be what happened to the parish register, and who stole the school's roof repair fund. I mean, the lack of murder was refreshing, but there's also not a lot driving this.
On the other hand, I do find that I'm mildly curious about the little village, and I like Beatrix herself, so part of me suspects I'm going to end up reading the next one.
2017 Reading Challenge - A book from a non-human perspective
It's not terrible, I'm not sure it completely works. The animals talking to each other borders on gimmicky. It's saved by the fact that they can only talk to each other and not humans.
Also, this was shelved in the mystery section, and the two predominant mysteries seemed to be what happened to the parish register, and who stole the school's roof repair fund. I mean, the lack of murder was refreshing, but there's also not a lot driving this.
On the other hand, I do find that I'm mildly curious about the little village, and I like Beatrix herself, so part of me suspects I'm going to end up reading the next one.
2017 Reading Challenge - A book from a non-human perspective
October 2, 2017
The plot and setting of this cozy mystery (Beatrix Potter buys a farm in the Lake District) were interesting, and Virginia Leishman's narration of the audio book really pulled me in and kept me listening. But I am not entranced nor charmed by talking animals in books aimed at adults. I do recognize that Potter made her living writing about talking animals who wore clothing, but her books were for children. Most of the animals in this book talked to each other, and were annoyed when humans couldn't understand them. But the rats not only talked, they gambled and wore clothing. At that point I nearly gave it up, but had only one more disc to go. Will not be reading any more of this series.
September 21, 2020
2020 bk 213. The first of Susan Albert's mystery featuring the Lake Region and Beatrix Potter's own life. These gentle mysteries are a tonic to be taken periodically. Too bunched up and they will run together. It also helps to have Beatrix Potter's own works on hand as you will want to read them all over again. This is Albert's second round of taking Beatrix Potter as a character, as Miss Potter also appears in one of the Kate Sheridan mysteries by Mrs. Albert and her husband under the name of Robin Paige. These are good books to read on a hot afternoon, or to take for a walk to the park to read outdoors.
October 27, 2022
I listened to this on audio from the library and although I got used to the many characters I would recommend reading it. As I just mentioned there are a lot of characters including animal ones and they talk although humans can't hear them and can get confusing if your not seeing who is talking. After saying that I thought the story was clever, cozy, and delightful. I look forward to the others in this series! You also get to know Beatrix Potter better and though this is a work of fiction there's a lot of truth about her life in it. I enjoyed it immensely!
August 27, 2017
Some of the characters are real and some are fiction in this delightful tale set in England, 1905, when children's book author Beatix Potter buys a farm in a small rural town. Beatix is hoping to heal after the death of her fiancee but finds the quiet town is anything but when a villager dies unexpectedly. This was a charming cozy mystery and I admire the author's imagination. Susan Wittig Albert also writes the China Bayles mystery series for those who are familiar with it. I'm definitely looking forward to #2 in "The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter" series!
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