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The Tale of Briar Bank  By  cover art

The Tale of Briar Bank

By: Susan Wittig Albert
Narrated by: Virginia Leishman
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Publisher's summary

In this fifth delightful entry, Anthony and Agatha Award nominee Susan Wittig Albert re-imagines Beatrix Potter wearing her sleuthing cap as the village of Sawrey lies buried beneath a blanket of Christmas snow. While she and her animal friends investigate a puzzling death, Miss Potter wonders if she can acknowledge her fondness for Mr. Heelis and still remain loyal to her fiancé’s memory.

©2008 Susan Wittig Albert (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Familiar creatures pop up along the way, including Pickles, a fox terrier that belonged to Hugh and may hold the secret to his master's death. As Beatrix reconnects with village life, her 1909 book, The Tale of Ginger and Pickles, begins to take shape. Readers will delight in Albert's special blend of fact and fiction." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Tale of Briar Bank

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Beatrix Potter

I have listen to each of Ms Albert stories based on B. Potter. I have found them a pleasant change of pace. She divides the story between a historical fiction of Potter and the "animal stories" done in the Potter fashion. The description of the Lake District and the life style of the times is great. Looking forward to the next book.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Enchanting & Fun

I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the Beatrix Potter Cottage Tales. They are well written stories, and the narrater does such an amazing job that I find it difficult to read these books myself now without at least attempting to put in the normal accents and voices I'm so use to hearing. Each of these books is set in The Lake District of England and takes place during the various years of Beatrix Potter's life, always referring to whatever book she would have been working on during that time frame. Simplistic and enchanting stories that are fun for the whole family!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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wonderfully narrated and a pleasure to listen to.

I'd loved this book and all of the books leading up to this one. The narrator does such a wonderful job and her voice is so smooth and pleasurable. I enjoy the authors writings. So much so then I can't wait for the next book in the series. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Such an enchanting tale...

I adore the Cottage Tales series. The Tale of Briar Bank does not disappoint and is such a pleasure to listen to. The narration is excellent.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Again?

WARNING: UNAVOIDABLE SPOILERS AHEAD!

I'm a big fan of Susan Wittig Albert's writing. I loved the Darling Dahlias series, and I hope she will write more. I like this Beatrix Potter series, too, although sometimes the whimsy is a bit much for me. That said, I thought the whimsical elements of this particular story were its strongest assets.

Despite the book's overall merits, the plot grated on my nerves. This is the fifth book in the series, and it's the THIRD one in which an imposter has posed as a long-lost relative in order to defraud a wealthy villager. I mean, really, don't you think that by now the people in this little village would be instantly suspicious anytime anyone claimed to be someone's long lost relative? The story makes them look like fools, and the reader may feel the same way. Albert is an immensely creative writer— surely she can come up with some other plot!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Charming mystery.

This was a lovely family friendly listen, takes us to another time and place, a friendly, cozy place, what a way to spend a few cold winter afternoons!

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