The Tale of Hill Top Farm (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix P) (ISBN 0425201015)

Cute but Slow:
Beatrix Potter, successful author, has bought a farm in the Lake District of England. She loves the area and is hoping to use it to set up an independent life from her parents. She expects peace and quite in the village of Near Sawrey. But on her first visit, she realizes that's not to be. Miss Tolliver passed away rather unexpectedly on her birthday. Her death was a shock to all, and the village is buzzing. Additionally, things seem to be disappearing around the village, and Miss Potter gets caught up in the middle. All this is on top of the personal problems Miss Potter faces. She's still reeling from the death of her fiance just a few months before. And, while she may own Hill Top Farm, she must figure out a way to live there while keeping the current farmers there to run it for her. I went back and forth on whether I enjoyed the book or not. The pacing is slow, and at times I was ready for things to speed up. Yet at other times I got caught up in events and couldn't put the book down. The characters were interesting. I especially like the portrayal of Beatrix. I completely believed her temperament from the little I know about this period of her life. Since the book is about Beatrix Potter, there are lots of animals in the story. While they can't communicate with humans, they can talk to each other and actually play an important part in the story. It's handled in a believable way but might bother those who don't like that kind of thing. There were parts that were enjoyable, but on the whole it was an average read.

Beatrix Potter buys a farm...:
It's England in 1905, Beatrix Potter has purchased Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey in the Lake District. Local farmers are upset that the farm is now owned by an outsider and a woman at that. On arrival, Beatrix Potter finds the woman she was to board with, Abigail Tolliver, has died unexpectedly and foul play is suspected. Beatrix rents a room at Belle Greene and begins to get a feel for her farm from Mr. Jennings who she hopes will stay on to run it for her. But the town is uneasy with Miss Tolliver's death, a missing painting, a theft at the school, a head teacher that seem bent on mischief and mayhem, and now a London woman owning a local farm. Since the book is based on an actual historical figure, Beatrix Potter, the story must fit into the spaces in her life not covered by her diaries, writings, letters, and other documentation. I haven't read much about Potter and knew little of her except for her children's books and her love of nature, biology, and science. I was enchanted by the story. The character of Beatrix Potter is rich in contradictions and yet steeped in the traditions and strictures of her time. Albert has given us a woman who yearned for love, independence, and growth but who felt obligated to obey her parents every whim at the expense of her own happiness. Yet, Potter's mind is quick, concise, and her courage, especially when needed by others, is unfailing. I hope to be able to take advantage of some of the suggested resources listed in the back of the book to learn more of Beatrix Potter's life. The story is a wonderful mix of characters including animals as well as humans. The point of view shifts from the animal views to those of humans with distinct and interesting contrasts for the same events. The mystery is low key and while the solution is fitting and satisfying it's not so much the mystery as the wonderful insights into small town mores and society. This is truly a town filled with believeable people living their lives in 1905 England. Reading the story is a quite trip in time and a delightful vacation in another place with people you may end up caring about as if they were your own neighbors. Book also contains a Historical Note, Glossary, List of Resources, and recipes for Tatie Pot, Sponge Cake, Elsa'a Grape's Gooseberry Sauce, Bertha Stubbs's Rhubarb and Strawberry Tart, Gingersnaps, and Mrs. Stokes's Treacle Pudding.

A clever cozy series:
I'm so happy to have discovered the Beatrix Potter mysteries. What a gem! The writing is clever, the characters - both human and animal - are thoroughly engaging, and the author's physical descriptions of the Lake District where the book takes place is first-rate. I love mysteries that take place in small English villages with characters that are so real you feel as though they could walk off the page and enter your life. The mystery itself is not deep or involved, but the author's engaging writing of English village life more than makes up for it. This is the ideal book to read on a weekend afternoon with a cup of tea and a scone.

brilliant entertainment; a pure joy to read:
SWA has found the most clever niche for herself in her Beatrix Potter books; all the readers in my family adore them, we all dream of having such animals around us! I have learned a new respect for the family dog, and now find myself talking to the birds when I am out in the garden. Cannot wait for the next book to be released.

Charming cozy:
The Tale of Hill Top Farm is the first of a planned 8 book series loosely based on the life of Beatrix Potter. This first installment introduces the citizens (human and animal), of the small English town in which the farm is located, and chronicles the arrival of Beatrix Potter. There are several mystery subplots, but they don't really begin until the latter half of the book. Instead the focus is on the characters, and this is indeed where this book's charms lie. In addition to an eccentric crew of villagers who have their doubts about the shy new resident, The Tale of Hill Top Farm features animal characters from Potter's books, including my personal favorite: Mrs. Tiggywinkle, the hedgehog. The animals talk to each other and help Beatrix and the townsfolk unravel the mysteries. This book is absolutely charming, and anyone who likes Beatrix Potter's work is sure to enjoy this story. The author includes a brief biography of Beatrix Potter, and several recipes as well.