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The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter #6
The Tale of Applebeck Orchard
The latest delightful tale in Albert's Beatrix Potter series.
Out of spite for having his haystacks burnt, Mr. Harmsworth barricades a common path through his orchard-and Tabitha Twitchet and her Cat Council want answers. Reliable witnesses, including some Big Folk, say the arson was the handiwork of a lantern-wielding specter. The mournful ghost has a message-and Miss Potter, for one, hopes to figure it out.
Meanwhile in Sawrey, romance buds between the schoolmarm and a confirmed bachelor; Hyacinth Badger hopes to be the first female to earn the Badger Badge of Honor; and a rumor has Beatrix and the solicitor practically betrothed. But the matter of the barricade involves everyone-and Miss Potter and her friends might have to take matters into their own hands-and paws.
Out of spite for having his haystacks burnt, Mr. Harmsworth barricades a common path through his orchard-and Tabitha Twitchet and her Cat Council want answers. Reliable witnesses, including some Big Folk, say the arson was the handiwork of a lantern-wielding specter. The mournful ghost has a message-and Miss Potter, for one, hopes to figure it out.
Meanwhile in Sawrey, romance buds between the schoolmarm and a confirmed bachelor; Hyacinth Badger hopes to be the first female to earn the Badger Badge of Honor; and a rumor has Beatrix and the solicitor practically betrothed. But the matter of the barricade involves everyone-and Miss Potter and her friends might have to take matters into their own hands-and paws.
307 pages, Hardcover
First published July 20, 2009
46 people are currently reading
770 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wittig Albert
121 books2,383 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 152 reviews
July 23, 2024
This is a tale of fact and fiction taking place in the Lake District in 1910 in England. The story features Beatrix Potter who is at her farm for the summer. The story wanders among the people of the village and surrounding farms. A haystack is burnt and a path is blocked to walkers. This makes a nice change of pace read.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The story is nine hours and forty-seven minutes. Virginia Leishman narrates the story.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The story is nine hours and forty-seven minutes. Virginia Leishman narrates the story.
March 6, 2024
3.75 stars. This series has been my go to lately for insomnia listening. It’s interesting enough to be distracting but not so interesting that it keeps me awake (usually).
This wasn’t my favorite of the series but I’m enjoying it and am ready to start book 7!
This wasn’t my favorite of the series but I’m enjoying it and am ready to start book 7!
January 31, 2010
This series is one of several that is starting to get on my nerves because of a literary device gone wrong. Eavesdropping on the lives of people and animals around Beatrix Potter is a cute device ... for a while. I enjoyed the genteel, unobtrusive narrator/eavesdropper of the first few books. This book in particular has an annoying, self-referential, and interfering narrator who thinks way too highly of inserting their opinions. I didn't enjoy the twee commentary and self-satisfied tone that the narrator used. The device, while cute, is becoming grating when the narrator's obvious interjections take more time than general transition and description.
The story, however, is cute. The mystery is easy to solve, but it's a cute enough read. I love the idea of this series; I just wish it would return to its original tone.
The story, however, is cute. The mystery is easy to solve, but it's a cute enough read. I love the idea of this series; I just wish it would return to its original tone.
January 6, 2017
Reading this series is very like sitting down with a bag of Reese's miniatures. One knows they are far too sweet and shouldn't all be eaten at once, and yet, I simply can't help myself. Annoying narrator and anthropomorphized animals notwithstanding, the stories and animals and scenery and human characters are just so charming (well, most of the human characters are charming).
In this one, a local farmer closes a footpath that has been used for centuries, causing a hullabaloo in the village. He says it's because a hiker burned his haystack. Then the buttery behind his house burns.
Captain Woodcock, local JP, and Miss Nash, the headmistress of the village school, discover they love each other and announce their forthcoming marriage.
Will Heelis makes up his mind to declare his feelings for Beatrix Potter. She feels she cannot promise to marry him because of her parents but she does promise to "marry no one else but Will."
I do love the bits set at The Brockery. Bosworth Badger finally decides who will succeed him as the head of the community and in charge of the History - Hyacinth, the first female to hold the position (feminism amongst the animals!).
There were sufficient hints that I knew the arsonist's identity before any village fires were set, but that didn't spoil the story.
I know I've rated most of these books as 4 stars. Really, 3 1/2 would be more accurate, but we can't assign half-stars. :(
In this one, a local farmer closes a footpath that has been used for centuries, causing a hullabaloo in the village. He says it's because a hiker burned his haystack. Then the buttery behind his house burns.
Captain Woodcock, local JP, and Miss Nash, the headmistress of the village school, discover they love each other and announce their forthcoming marriage.
Will Heelis makes up his mind to declare his feelings for Beatrix Potter. She feels she cannot promise to marry him because of her parents but she does promise to "marry no one else but Will."
I do love the bits set at The Brockery. Bosworth Badger finally decides who will succeed him as the head of the community and in charge of the History - Hyacinth, the first female to hold the position (feminism amongst the animals!).
There were sufficient hints that I knew the arsonist's identity before any village fires were set, but that didn't spoil the story.
I know I've rated most of these books as 4 stars. Really, 3 1/2 would be more accurate, but we can't assign half-stars. :(
January 29, 2011
I really loved the Cottage Tales when I first began reading them. This book and the one before features a narrator that is much more vocal and "present" than in the previous novels, and I don't care for that that much. There are phrases like, "Let's follow them, shall we? We do want to hear what they say" .
Bottom line - The story line was pretty good, but the imposing narrator was a turn off. There is one more book out in the series. I will read it to stay current on the series, but I am not as excited about it as I was 3 books earlier in the series.
Bottom line - The story line was pretty good, but the imposing narrator was a turn off. There is one more book out in the series. I will read it to stay current on the series, but I am not as excited about it as I was 3 books earlier in the series.
July 15, 2015
The annoying, self-satisfied and interfering narrator has gradually made this series absolutely ridiculous! I wish she would just get on with the story!! Here are two examples of a nightmarish narrator:
Chapter 13: An Unlucky Chapter
I sometimes think the thirteenth chapter ought to be left out of books, just as the thirteenth floor is sometimes left out of hotels, and the thirteenth row is occasionally omitted from theaters, and some hostesses invite twelve or fourteen guests to their dinner parties but never thirteen. But of course, when you are telling a story and there are unhappy or misfortunate or even tragic events to relate, they have to be told, no matter what chapter they are put into. So the fact that it is in Chapter Thirteen that our story takes an unlucky turn does not make that chapter itself unlucky. Nor is Captain Woodcock’s plan for the arrest of Major Ragsdale turned topsy-turvy solely because it takes place in Chapter Thirteen. No, that is superstitious foolishness. What happens, happens. And whether the chapter is thirteen or fourteen or some other chapter altogether makes not one bit of difference.
Except that there is no getting around the fact that the whole affair was entirely unlucky, from start to finish. And if you like to attribute these misfortunes to the fact that they take place in Chapter Thirteen, well, I suppose I can’t stop you, can I?
Here is what happened. Since it is rather complicated, I must ask you to pay special attention to the sequence of events.
Chapter 18
You will notice that we have come back into the scene just where we went out, and that nothing at all has happened while we’ve been absent. Writers and readers of stories, you see, enjoy special privileges. In books, we are not limited to the arrangement of events as we are in the world of railway timetables and appointment calendars, which are organized chronologically and require one to be in the appointed place at the appointed time or all is lost. This, when you get right down to it, is a very tedious sort of ordering, and I for one am glad we’re not limited by it.
Chapter 13: An Unlucky Chapter
I sometimes think the thirteenth chapter ought to be left out of books, just as the thirteenth floor is sometimes left out of hotels, and the thirteenth row is occasionally omitted from theaters, and some hostesses invite twelve or fourteen guests to their dinner parties but never thirteen. But of course, when you are telling a story and there are unhappy or misfortunate or even tragic events to relate, they have to be told, no matter what chapter they are put into. So the fact that it is in Chapter Thirteen that our story takes an unlucky turn does not make that chapter itself unlucky. Nor is Captain Woodcock’s plan for the arrest of Major Ragsdale turned topsy-turvy solely because it takes place in Chapter Thirteen. No, that is superstitious foolishness. What happens, happens. And whether the chapter is thirteen or fourteen or some other chapter altogether makes not one bit of difference.
Except that there is no getting around the fact that the whole affair was entirely unlucky, from start to finish. And if you like to attribute these misfortunes to the fact that they take place in Chapter Thirteen, well, I suppose I can’t stop you, can I?
Here is what happened. Since it is rather complicated, I must ask you to pay special attention to the sequence of events.
Chapter 18
You will notice that we have come back into the scene just where we went out, and that nothing at all has happened while we’ve been absent. Writers and readers of stories, you see, enjoy special privileges. In books, we are not limited to the arrangement of events as we are in the world of railway timetables and appointment calendars, which are organized chronologically and require one to be in the appointed place at the appointed time or all is lost. This, when you get right down to it, is a very tedious sort of ordering, and I for one am glad we’re not limited by it.
November 7, 2014
Some really nice characters flanked by some rather mediocre storytelling... the moments with Beatrix and her thoughts are lovely, but the narrator is constantly stepping out of the story to say things like, "I know we view things differently in the 21st century but this is how the Victorians felt." She even throws in words like "Freudian," and then explains how she personally would behave in a similar situation. It's very jarring and, to my mind, messes with the very nature of fiction. And sometimes things get overly cute, like when the narrator/author says, oh, I wish that character had let me in on their secret, I'm so surprised by this turn of events. Other reviewers seem to have noticed this, and, yes, it's a real issue. I will be continuing with the last couple books in the series, which is a testament to how nicely Beatrix Potter is drawn, but, oh if only the rest of the experience was as good!
For what it's worth, the first couple books in the series did not have these problems... but the author seems to have made a conscious decision to change the voice. :(
For what it's worth, the first couple books in the series did not have these problems... but the author seems to have made a conscious decision to change the voice. :(
April 27, 2022
Still delicious story-telling. The author reaches through "the fourth wall" to engage the reader in judgments about the characters more than in previous books, and while this might be confusing to a reader who starts reading the series in the middle, for those of us who've been sitting at the author's table for five previous books, it's as welcome as a cup of tea and a cracker with an old friend at that table. The continued interweaving of animal perceptions with human ones, the patent inferiority of the humans' understanding of what's going on, and the occasional permeability of the boundary between animal and human perception, when some of the humans, Beatrix for sure, and the young ones, usually, are apparently able to understand what the animals are trying to tell them -- all this makes for fun reading.
The author is prolific; I'm wondering if her other series are as much fun?
The author is prolific; I'm wondering if her other series are as much fun?
May 8, 2020
3.5 stars, but still likely to re-read next time I start the series up again from book 1.
In most ways, The Tale of Applebeck Orchard is as sweet and engaging as the rest of the series, but it did fall a bit flat in places. For one thing, the main mystery isn't as high-stakes or as page-turning as usual. The footpath plot may have worked better if it were more of a subplot to a mystery with more potential for action and sleuthing. In this book the little subplots, like Bosworth's dilemma and the disagreements over Caroline's future, were actually more interesting.
There is quite a bit of romance in this book, and most of it is endearing and sweet. But the unfortunate exception is
Now that that's out of the way, I can more happily list my favorite parts:
-Max the Manx is so cute, I just want to hug him! His subplot was quite small, but I liked that he got a bit of the spotlight.
-A different proposal scene that was much pleasanter than the main one.
-Hyacinth saving the day and proving her resourcefulness and efficiency.
In most ways, The Tale of Applebeck Orchard is as sweet and engaging as the rest of the series, but it did fall a bit flat in places. For one thing, the main mystery isn't as high-stakes or as page-turning as usual. The footpath plot may have worked better if it were more of a subplot to a mystery with more potential for action and sleuthing. In this book the little subplots, like Bosworth's dilemma and the disagreements over Caroline's future, were actually more interesting.
There is quite a bit of romance in this book, and most of it is endearing and sweet. But the unfortunate exception is
Now that that's out of the way, I can more happily list my favorite parts:
-Max the Manx is so cute, I just want to hug him! His subplot was quite small, but I liked that he got a bit of the spotlight.
-A different proposal scene that was much pleasanter than the main one.
-Hyacinth saving the day and proving her resourcefulness and efficiency.
January 7, 2018
3.5 stars, because this one does better than a few of them in this series in terms of tone. The mystery aspect isn't too dark and menacing, when contrasted with the rest of the tone. Also, the stuff with the animals doesn't go too far, as it felt like it did in the previous one (I get that it's the conceit of the series, but I think the last one crossed the line). This one is mostly charming, if at times it felt a bit too neat, or convenient, and the narrative style is sometimes intrusive. But it's a cozy, and mostly enjoyable. A good book to curl up with on a chilly afternoon.
2018 Reading Challenge - A book with a fruit or vegetable in the title
2018 Reading Challenge - A book with a fruit or vegetable in the title
October 9, 2023
An enjoyable series with wonderful characters! There are 2 more books in the series that I will definitely read. Unfortunately I wasn’t very invested in the mystery/storyline of this one. Hoping the next 2 will grip me more.
April 1, 2022
A silly but charming diversion. It is the 1st in the series I've read and will read a few of them when I feel like a cozy read.
July 11, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery. No bodies in this one, though there is a ghost. There is a lot of romance and more fun from the various animals who live in the area. Recommended.
October 3, 2010
The tiny community of Land between the Lakes is not an ordinary community. This municipality is not only the home of the ordinary shops, houses, and all of the regular buildings that make up a community. It’s also the home of a very active and smart animal population. These animals are not your ordinary animals too. They have professions, friendships, and lives like humans do. If may come as no surprise that this particular village is the home of Beatrice Potter. If you’re thinking that Beatrice herself made the animals this way I’d hate to say you’re quite wrong. They were living happy and productive lives before Beatrice ever bought “Hill Top Farm” many years ago. The reason I mention them is because this story takes place during a conundrum for both the animals and humans of the community. You see the Applebeck footpath has been closed off. The reason for this closure being that the owner of Applebeck farm is in the belief that the ramblers are the ones that burned his haystack down and he wishes to keep them off his land. It’s up to both the animals and human community of “Land between the Lakes” to figure out just who did.
This story surprised me. I was quite ready to like it since it started Beatrice Potter. I was just not quite ready to love it. You see this book had everything a lover of animals and Beatrice Potter could ever want. You have the cute and witty animals, a touch of the life of Miss. Potter, and a rather charming mystery. It also had a nice flow. The narrative of the story was like watching the old 1966 “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree” film. You have a narrator outlining what’s going on in the story and bringing you to different places in the community. You then get to read the character parts in between. It was like being a fly on the wall. Susan Wittig Albert was also quite good in explaining “the times” as you might say it. You have explanations on the courtship habits and general beliefs of the time. You also get an insight into the lives of women on the verge of suffrage. The funny thing I have to mention about that is that the animals were a bit keener of giving female animals equalization than the humans at the time. Not to say there wasn’t animals who believed that a female wasn’t as smart as a male. Professor Owl is an example of that. The thing that I really liked about the book thought was that besides the talking animals you could really see the book happening. It’s always the sign of a good author when you can read a fiction book and see it as entirely non-fiction. This is because Susan kept in the spirit of the early twentieth century. Nothing terribly out of the ordinary happened and the people in the book had concerns that those living in 1910 would have. If it wasn’t stated at the beginning of the book that the entire story is fiction you can really see Beatrice Potter, Mr. Hellis, and the rest of the community try to figure out who burned down the Applebeck farm’s haystack. Therefore I have to give the book the high honor of a perfect ten in rating. Anyone who loves Beatrice Potter or just a good turn of the century county mystery will love this book as well.
This story surprised me. I was quite ready to like it since it started Beatrice Potter. I was just not quite ready to love it. You see this book had everything a lover of animals and Beatrice Potter could ever want. You have the cute and witty animals, a touch of the life of Miss. Potter, and a rather charming mystery. It also had a nice flow. The narrative of the story was like watching the old 1966 “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree” film. You have a narrator outlining what’s going on in the story and bringing you to different places in the community. You then get to read the character parts in between. It was like being a fly on the wall. Susan Wittig Albert was also quite good in explaining “the times” as you might say it. You have explanations on the courtship habits and general beliefs of the time. You also get an insight into the lives of women on the verge of suffrage. The funny thing I have to mention about that is that the animals were a bit keener of giving female animals equalization than the humans at the time. Not to say there wasn’t animals who believed that a female wasn’t as smart as a male. Professor Owl is an example of that. The thing that I really liked about the book thought was that besides the talking animals you could really see the book happening. It’s always the sign of a good author when you can read a fiction book and see it as entirely non-fiction. This is because Susan kept in the spirit of the early twentieth century. Nothing terribly out of the ordinary happened and the people in the book had concerns that those living in 1910 would have. If it wasn’t stated at the beginning of the book that the entire story is fiction you can really see Beatrice Potter, Mr. Hellis, and the rest of the community try to figure out who burned down the Applebeck farm’s haystack. Therefore I have to give the book the high honor of a perfect ten in rating. Anyone who loves Beatrice Potter or just a good turn of the century county mystery will love this book as well.
July 20, 2025
Ah. Be careful once you have married, because the way in which you treat your spouse could end up costing you in the end. And beware abusing an orphan just because you can...! This was one of the more intense books in this series, but just as enjoyable as the first 5!!
November 11, 2014
When Miss Potter arrives in Sawrey in the late summer of 1910 she is surprised to hear the village has been shocked with the news that Mr. Harmsworth, a local farmer, has blocked the footpath that runs through his property. He claims it is in retaliation for someone burning his haystack. He's convinced it was The Ramblers and determined to punish them by blocking access to the path. The villagers, human and animal alike are stunned and determined that the path shall reopen. Captain Woodcock and Constable Braithwaite try their best but they're missing a few key witnesses who would tell them they saw a ghost just before the haystack burned. Caroline Langford, now 16, dreams of becoming a famous composer but as usual her grandmother has difficulty with the idea of letting go. Can Miss Potter help? Mr. Harmsworth's niece Gilly, an unpaid servant in his dairy, is searching for a better life. When Miss Potter hears about Gilly she is of course determined to help the sad girl. Romance is also in the air for the Big Folk. Poor Beatrix must do something about Mr. Heelis and his feelings for her. Bosworth Badger has a dilemma of a different kind. He's growing older and more forgetful. He needs an heir to inherit the Badger Badge of Honor but his top choice, Thorn, has gone roaming and hasn't been heard from since. He'd like to wait for Thorn but there's a possibility the boy will never return. Who else can he choose?
The answer seems obvious to you and me but the book deals with issues about gender roles at the time and the capabilities of women. I found this book rather boring. I figured out who the arsonist was right away and didn't care any more after that. I also realized the solution to Bosworth's problem. That plot ended neatly and exactly how I thought it would. I was mostly interested to find out what had happened to Thorn.
I also did not enjoy the author's inserted comments about what happens to Beatrix Potter and recapping of past events. She could have included a forward and afterward for that purpose.
The narrator's addressing of the audience also bothered me a lot. I've read many Victorian novels and I don't like the style. I did enjoy the sweet romances in this book and I felt sorry for Beatrix being torn in three different directions. I hope (I know) she will find her happiness in a future book. Overall though, this book is the slowest and weakest of the series.
The answer seems obvious to you and me but the book deals with issues about gender roles at the time and the capabilities of women. I found this book rather boring. I figured out who the arsonist was right away and didn't care any more after that. I also realized the solution to Bosworth's problem. That plot ended neatly and exactly how I thought it would. I was mostly interested to find out what had happened to Thorn.
I also did not enjoy the author's inserted comments about what happens to Beatrix Potter and recapping of past events. She could have included a forward and afterward for that purpose.
The narrator's addressing of the audience also bothered me a lot. I've read many Victorian novels and I don't like the style. I did enjoy the sweet romances in this book and I felt sorry for Beatrix being torn in three different directions. I hope (I know) she will find her happiness in a future book. Overall though, this book is the slowest and weakest of the series.
September 26, 2012
Despite stylistic indulgences in large, hindering portions; I've reached novel six because I love this series. I'm invested in its atmosphere, the society of animals, and fusion of real events with mysteries. I love many key players and root for the romance history claims Beatrix and Will shared. After much hinting and messing around by Susan Wittig Albert, it gets going. If only the next-to-nothing increments had been spontaneous and direct, like the igniting of another relationship herein. Due to a spotlight on an unpleasant household and couple, the 'Harmsworths'; I derived less enjoyment from "The Tale Of Applebeck Orchard" than others but deem it quite good.
I love the lost ferret building a life in the forest and that the novel mentions ghosts. 'Max The Manx' deeming his tailless self worthy of a great home, is lovely. Mr. Harmsworth's semi-abused niece is special and we're glad Beatrix takes notice of her. For the first and only time since Bosworth Badger's introduction, it makes sense to reiterate his generational record-keeping and the badge of authority. It's a thrill to walk through abandoned tunnels in his huge, ancestral home and the tone truly grows eerie. A discovery in a very old part convinces Bosworth it's time to hand over the family torch. If his niece Hyacinth were chosen, she'd be the first female ever bestowed the task.
Susan must cease author-to-reader interjection. I grade four stars in appreciation of three enchanting stories. I hope habits that drove me bonkers are edited hereon in. One indignity with cause for complaint: after excessively covering inconsequential tidbits and stringing Beatrix and Will along through six novels; she blots out their kiss! It’s as if description fails her at the paramount parts. In a previous title, I also felt we should have witnessed Dimity’s wedding.
I love the lost ferret building a life in the forest and that the novel mentions ghosts. 'Max The Manx' deeming his tailless self worthy of a great home, is lovely. Mr. Harmsworth's semi-abused niece is special and we're glad Beatrix takes notice of her. For the first and only time since Bosworth Badger's introduction, it makes sense to reiterate his generational record-keeping and the badge of authority. It's a thrill to walk through abandoned tunnels in his huge, ancestral home and the tone truly grows eerie. A discovery in a very old part convinces Bosworth it's time to hand over the family torch. If his niece Hyacinth were chosen, she'd be the first female ever bestowed the task.
Susan must cease author-to-reader interjection. I grade four stars in appreciation of three enchanting stories. I hope habits that drove me bonkers are edited hereon in. One indignity with cause for complaint: after excessively covering inconsequential tidbits and stringing Beatrix and Will along through six novels; she blots out their kiss! It’s as if description fails her at the paramount parts. In a previous title, I also felt we should have witnessed Dimity’s wedding.
July 10, 2016
This one has many more author to reader interjections than in previous novels. Since I have been listening to these, they seem quaint and folksy, but if you're reading the novels it may just be highly annoying. This novel has the historical accuracy I like about Albert's novels, but it's hard to say that in conjunction with books that include magic and talking animals. Maybe the contradictions are appealing. Beatrix and Will make strides in their relationship, Capt. Woodcock makes a sudden realization, the badgers embrace feminism, and we are introduced to an independent artist ferret. The mystery involves a burned haystack and closed footpath, and the introduction of Gilly makes for another nice character. And there's a ghost!
September 14, 2018
Another charming story in this series. However, the overly-involved narrator writing style is getting a little tiresome and while it's a cute trope, it's way overdone. I also think the author spent far too much time on the animal characters - especially the animals who don't live in the village and who do not interact with the human characters at all. I would have liked more of the story to take place in the village, with the human characters and their domesticated animals. I also wanted more of Beatrix herself - in the past couple of books it feels like she's become more of a supporting character, rather than the headlining protagonist.
Still, a cute and fun read.
Still, a cute and fun read.
June 7, 2023
I'm a fan of this series and will continue to read them. However, this one was very slow starting and there was more author intrusion than was needed. There was too much extraneous plot and not as much mystery as in previous books in the series. Still worth reading, especially for fans of the series, because it's pleasant to visit with Ms. Potter and the other characters of the books.
November 1, 2015
A gentle, quiet book featuring Beatrix Potter.
December 1, 2025
Beautifully written
Susan W. Albert has a knack of describing well developed human and animal characters alike. Every character either major or minor jumps out in delightful clarity.
Beatrix Potter' animals in her books were humanized by wearing clothing, cooking delightful foods, entertaining their animal friends and having troubles or adventures.
Albert copies this sentiment throughout her books. The elder badger welcomes travelers within his immense badger sett where there's nettle tea, lemonade with treacle sweets or scones. The animals have chores, jobs and gossip just was the villagers do. All in all it makes a delightfulful read.
The books are also very close to accurate of the Victorian times with an ongoing narrative that explains why a situation is the way it is. Potter's relationship and responsibilities with her parents are true.
Unlike most cozies, there are no murders. A simple arson happens and the villagers being a gossipy bunch have their opinions and the animals are just ad opinionated.
Susan W. Albert has a knack of describing well developed human and animal characters alike. Every character either major or minor jumps out in delightful clarity.
Beatrix Potter' animals in her books were humanized by wearing clothing, cooking delightful foods, entertaining their animal friends and having troubles or adventures.
Albert copies this sentiment throughout her books. The elder badger welcomes travelers within his immense badger sett where there's nettle tea, lemonade with treacle sweets or scones. The animals have chores, jobs and gossip just was the villagers do. All in all it makes a delightfulful read.
The books are also very close to accurate of the Victorian times with an ongoing narrative that explains why a situation is the way it is. Potter's relationship and responsibilities with her parents are true.
Unlike most cozies, there are no murders. A simple arson happens and the villagers being a gossipy bunch have their opinions and the animals are just ad opinionated.
March 31, 2020
The only edition of this book held by my library was an eight CD set. The first five CDs were dreadful. There was no story, just childish and condescending commentary by the author explaining her opinions on a multitude of subjects arisen from dry recounting of village life. Then she proceeded to dictate to the reader what the reader’s opinion on those subjects was. Odd, irritating, patronizing. Mixed in with these were the retelling of the plot lines from every other book in the series so far, and some plot lines from Beatrix Potter’s books.
Fortunately in the sixth CD she got into the story. No dragons. No fairies. She’s back to telling the charming imagined story of Beatrix Potter’s life. The last three CDs were good.
I do love her characters. I find them compelling and I want to know what they do next.
Fortunately in the sixth CD she got into the story. No dragons. No fairies. She’s back to telling the charming imagined story of Beatrix Potter’s life. The last three CDs were good.
I do love her characters. I find them compelling and I want to know what they do next.
April 2, 2018
“6 of Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series with Miss Potter as keen eyed and canny observer and confidante solving mysteries. This time a grouchy farmer Harmesworth has closed off the public foot path through his orchard after his haystack is set afire and predatory to a secret sale of the property . The ghost of former Applebeck Orchard owner’s wife has been seen by various people and animals. Miss Potter manoeuvres Lady Longford into allowing her granddaughter, Caroline, to attend prestigious London Music School as its first female composer, and into buying the Orchard with the Open public path. Miss Potter also finds he Harmesworth niece a job as Dairymaid at Dimity’s and makes a quiet agreement with Will Heelis.
August 5, 2020
Challenges: RRRCs August 2019 (very belated) - Published in 2009/historical romance (3); Steeped in Books/Stacking the Series - Level 5a/Book 6. This book of the 'Cottage Tales' deals highly with the societal perceptions of women's capabilities of the time (1910) juxtaposed with several high profile romances including Miss Potter's. Reviews many of Miss Potter's personal and real-life situations simultaneous with other female characters in Sawrey both young and mature. As usual, a nice mystery (sans murder) and gratifying solutions for both humans and animals of Sawrey alike.
May 21, 2018
After someone set fire to his haystack, Mr. Harmsworth barricades a common path through his orchard. But some people and even animals say they witnessed a ghostlike creature who set the fire. A committee is formed to figure out the problem of the barricade and Miss Beatrix Potter is on the committee. These books are charming fictional mysteries based on the life of children's book writer Potter. If you like ghosts, magic and talking animals you will especially like them!
September 21, 2022
I was annoyed by the amount of narration that the author felt the reader needed. The questions to the reader whether or not the reader wanted to continue with the eavesdropping or not was not needed. Occasionally breaking the wall to comment about how we, the reader, view situations in current times is not needed. This is a book about Victorian times and should be viewed as such. If this continues in the next volume, I may have to call it quits.
December 14, 2024
I love this little cozy series set in England’s Lake District. I started reading these many years ago but got sidetracked and haven’t finished them. So happy to be back in Near Sawrey! I spent two days there in 2016 and it might be my most memorable trip ever. Out of many. Most of the places in the books are real so I can picture myself right in the story. If you go to England, visit Hill Top. And read some of these books before you go and some after you get home!
October 19, 2020
I do like that there are aside notes, as they can be informative; however, this book had a ton of them. Some of the things she states are a reminder of social norms during the time period (1910). I just felt there are too many asides, maybe a forward note in the beginning of the novel would have sufficed. I do enjoy these books and am looking forward to the next one.
January 26, 2021
This one isn't as strong as the rest of the series -- the narrator becomes too present and there is more and more repetition to keep us caught up on all the things that happened in previous books. I still enjoyed the story, but it did feel a little like having to weed through the commentary in order to get to the book.
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