The Tale of Hawthorn House : cottage tales of Beatrix Potter #4 / Susan Wittig Albert.

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Title:

Author:

Albert, Susan Wittig

ISBN:

9780425216552

Publication Information:

New York : Berkley Prime Crime, 2007.

Physical Description:

322 p.

Series:

Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter #4

Abstract:

When a baby arrives on her doorstep during Sawrey's annual summer fête, Beatrix Potter sets out to discover the truth about the abandoned baby, following her only clue, a scarab ring, to Hawthorn House, a legendary manor reputed to be haunted.

Personal Subject:

Potter, Beatrix, 1866-1943-Fiction.

Subject Term:

Women authors -- Fiction.

Women artists -- Fiction.

Foundlings -- Fiction.

Villages -- Fiction.

Manors -- England -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

England -- Fiction.

Genre:

Detective and mystery stories.

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... Avon-Washington Township Public Library	Adult Mystery Fiction Book Hardback	120791001705201	M ALB	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

A brand-new mystery in the endearing Beatrix Potter series from a national bestselling author. During Sawrey's annual summer fÂte, Miss Beatrix Potter receives an unexpected 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. An 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 possible involvement of fairy folk in these utterly puzzling happenings.

Reviews (3)

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

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

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.