The tale of Hawthorn House: the cottage tales of Beatrix Potter

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Thorndike Press
Publication Date
[2007]
Language
English

Description

The joyous Summer Fete brings people from far and wide to the village of Sawrey for a day of music, arts, and food. But Miss Beatrix Potter receives an unexpected - and possibly long-term - visitor in the form of Baby Flora, left in a basket on her doorstep with a note, a sprig of hawthorn, and a scarab ring. All Beatrix knows about Flora's previous guardian is that she was a gray-haired woman, capable of scaling a brick wall in seconds ...With Hill Top Farm to run, Beatrix leaves the baby in the care of Captain Miles Woodcock, the Justice of the Peace, and his sister Dimity, who happily takes Flora into her heart. No one in Sawrey has recently become a parent, so the Captain deduces that the child must belong to the band of gypsies camped just outside of town.But the gypsies deny knowing anything J about the child - or the mysterious ring inscribed To R. K. Forever. Further investigation reveals that the ring was pawned and reclaimed in Sawrey by a resident of Hawthorn House. The legendary manor is supposed to be vacant - and rumored to be haunted. Now Beatrix and her animal friends are left pondering the possibility of fairy folk involvement in these utterly puzzling happenings.

More Details

ISBN
9781597226172

Discover More

Also in this Series

  • The tale of Hill Top Farm: the cottage tales of Beatrix Potter (Cottage tales of Beatrix Potter Volume 1) Cover
  • The tale of Holly How (Cottage tales of Beatrix Potter Volume 2) Cover
  • The tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood (Cottage tales of Beatrix Potter Volume 3) Cover
  • The tale of Hawthorn House: the cottage tales of Beatrix Potter (Cottage tales of Beatrix Potter Volume 4) Cover
  • The tale of Briar Bank: the cottage tales of Beatrix Potter (Cottage tales of Beatrix Potter Volume 5) Cover
  • The tale of Applebeck Orchard: the cottage tales of Beatrix Potter (Cottage tales of Beatrix Potter Volume 6) Cover
  • The tale of Oat Cake Crag: the cottage tales of Beatrix Potter (Cottage tales of Beatrix Potter Volume 7) Cover
  • The tale of Castle Cottage (Cottage tales of Beatrix Potter Volume 8) Cover

Author Notes

Loading Author Notes...

Similar Series From Novelist

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for series you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Though the sleuth in Grantchester is a Church of England priest whose dog doesn't actively investigate mysteries, these cozy mysteries, like the Cottage Tales, offer similar tone, a village atmosphere, quirky characters, and tangled puzzles. -- Katherine Johnson

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the appeal factors evocative, leisurely paced, and atmospheric, and they have the theme "starring famous figures"; the genres "historical mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives" and "dalrymple, daisy (fictitious character)."
These books have the appeal factors leisurely paced, and they have the themes "starring famous figures" and "the butler did it!"; the genres "historical mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives" and "aristocracy."
These books have the theme "sherlock paws"; the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; the subjects "animal detectives," "women amateur detectives," and "cat detectives"; and characters that are "anthropomorphic characters."
NoveList recommends "Grantchester mysteries" for fans of "Cottage tales of Beatrix Potter". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors evocative, leisurely paced, and atmospheric, and they have the theme "the butler did it!"; the genre "adult books for young adults"; and the subject "women amateur detectives."
These books have the appeal factors witty, and they have the theme "starring famous figures"; the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives" and "aristocracy."
These books have the appeal factors richly detailed and evocative, and they have the theme "starring famous figures"; the genres "historical mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "amateur detectives," and "aristocracy."
These books have the appeal factors richly detailed, evocative, and leisurely paced, and they have the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subject "women amateur detectives."
These books have the appeal factors richly detailed, evocative, and leisurely paced, and they have the theme "starring famous figures"; the genres "historical mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subject "women amateur detectives."
These books have the appeal factors witty, and they have the themes "starring famous figures" and "the butler did it!"; the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives" and "english history."
These books have the theme "sherlock paws"; the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; the subjects "misadventures," "animal detectives," and "women amateur detectives"; and characters that are "anthropomorphic characters."
These books have the appeal factors richly detailed, evocative, and leisurely paced, and they have the theme "starring famous figures"; the genres "historical mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives" and "aristocracy."

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Nancy Atherton incorporates fantasy elements into her cozy mysteries set in small-town England. These are puzzle mysteries that don't always involve murder, and the quirky characters, humor, and strong social conscience of the detective character are vital elements in the stories. Recipes feature prominently in each book. -- Katherine Johnson
Three Pines, Quebec is the attractive setting for Louise Penny's police procedurals featuring Armand Gamache. Penny's environment offers the same attraction as Susan Wittig Albert's Pecan Springs, Texas. Both are appealing locales populated with a variety of engaging people and shops that lure the reader to visit again and again. -- Maureen O'Connor
Readers who enjoy Albert's blend of fantasy and cozy in the Cottage Tales might enjoy Brown's mysteries, both the "Sister" Jane Foxhunting mysteries and the Mrs. Murphy series. A strong sense of place, a hint of romance, and numerous intrigues among the locals are aspects that may appeal to Albert's fans. -- Katherine Johnson
Both Susan Wittig Albert and Carolyn G. Hart are versatile writers whose cozy mystery series share an interesting mix of characters, including intelligent female protagonists. Wittig richly describes settings, adding multiple puzzles with ingenious plot twists, and a specialty, such as herbal lore, watercolor painting, or animal characters. -- Katherine Johnson
Ann B. Ross writes a gentle, entertainingly whimsical series with many similarities to Susan Wittig Albert's stories. A strong, intelligent female protagonist with a highly developed social conscience; colorful supporting characters; intrigue and gossip common to small-town environments; and gradually developing romantic subplots will appeal to of Albert's readers who don't require mystery plots. -- Katherine Johnson
These authors' works have the genres "historical mysteries" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives" and "murder investigation."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

Albert takes a break from China Bayles to return to her charming Cottage Tales series featuring Beatrix Potter as a sleuth. Set in the picturesque Lake Country of England, the series features humans, animals, and fairy folk. Arriving from London for the popular Summer Fete in the village of Sawrey, Beatrix, who owns Hill Top Farm, finds a baby, Flora, left on her doorstep with a note, a scarab ring, and a sprig of hawthorn. As she tries to find Flora's parents, she learns that a mysterious gray-haired woman was the last person seen with the baby. Beatrix leaves Flora with Captain Miles Woodcock and his sister, Dimity, while she investigates. The captain thinks that the child belongs to the gypsies camped outside the town, but they deny knowing anything about her. Could the fairy folk be involved? This is a cozy with family appeal. Those who enjoy Beatrix Potter's animal tales will like this story, too, and readers attracted to strong female characters will be drawn to the independent Beatrix and to Dimity, who refuses to let her brother pick her husband.--Bibel, Barbara Copyright 2007 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Powered by Syndetics

Publisher's Weekly Review

Albert's charming fourth Beatrix Potter mystery (after 2006's The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood) finds our heroine unexpectedly in possession of a foundling child, Baby Flora. The reader knows the mysteriously twinkly Mrs. Overthewall stole Flora from her teenage mother, Emily, a maid at the gloomy and possibly haunted Hawthorn House, and left her on the Potter doorstep, but Beatrix-not having read the prologue-suspects the child of having gypsy origins. Capt. Miles Woodcock and his sister, Dimity, gladly give Flora a new home, leaving Beatrix to solve the mystery of her old one. Other thoughts of families and youngsters abound: Jemima Puddleduck broods over a nest of long overdue eggs; Reynard the Fox struggles with his unnatural fondness for Jemima; and the village gossips bring all their matchmaking powers to bear on Beatrix and the highly eligible Captain Woodcock. The whimsical blend of romance, mystery and nostalgia will keep cozy fans happily entertained. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Powered by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Sundry fairy folk may be the culprits who left a baby on Beatrix Potter's doorstep in the third of the "Cottage Tales" series. "China Bayles" series author Albert lives in Texas. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Powered by Syndetics

Booklist Reviews

Albert takes a break from China Bayles to return to her charming Cottage Tales series featuring Beatrix Potter as a sleuth. Set in the picturesque Lake Country of England, the series features humans, animals, and fairy folk. Arriving from London for the popular Summer Fete in the village of Sawrey, Beatrix, who owns Hill Top Farm, finds a baby, Flora, left on her doorstep with a note, a scarab ring, and a sprig of hawthorn. As she tries to find Flora's parents, she learns that a mysterious gray-haired woman was the last person seen with the baby. Beatrix leaves Flora with Captain Miles Woodcock and his sister, Dimity, while she investigates. The captain thinks that the child belongs to the gypsies camped outside the town, but they deny knowing anything about her. Could the fairy folk be involved? This is a cozy with family appeal. Those who enjoy Beatrix Potter's animal tales will like this story, too, and readers attracted to strong female characters will be drawn to the independent Beatrix and to Dimity, who refuses to let her brother pick her husband. Copyright 2007 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2007 Booklist Reviews.
Powered by Content Cafe

Library Journal Reviews

Sundry fairy folk may be the culprits who left a baby on Beatrix Potter's doorstep in the third of the "Cottage Tales" series. "China Bayles" series author Albert lives in Texas. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
Powered by Content Cafe

Publishers Weekly Reviews

Albert's charming fourth Beatrix Potter mystery (after 2006's The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood ) finds our heroine unexpectedly in possession of a foundling child, Baby Flora. The reader knows the mysteriously twinkly Mrs. Overthewall stole Flora from her teenage mother, Emily, a maid at the gloomy and possibly haunted Hawthorn House, and left her on the Potter doorstep, but Beatrix—not having read the prologue—suspects the child of having gypsy origins. Capt. Miles Woodcock and his sister, Dimity, gladly give Flora a new home, leaving Beatrix to solve the mystery of her old one. Other thoughts of families and youngsters abound: Jemima Puddleduck broods over a nest of long overdue eggs; Reynard the Fox struggles with his unnatural fondness for Jemima; and the village gossips bring all their matchmaking powers to bear on Beatrix and the highly eligible Captain Woodcock. The whimsical blend of romance, mystery and nostalgia will keep cozy fans happily entertained. (Sept.)

[Page 34]. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
Powered by Content Cafe

Reviews from GoodReads

Loading GoodReads Reviews.

Staff View

Loading Staff View.