The Tale of Hill Top Farm

By: Susan Wittig Albert

Narrated by: Virginia Leishman

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Susan Wittig Albert is the best-selling author of the China Bayles mysteries. In this cozy, she fictionalizes the adventures of acclaimed author Beatrix Potter.

It's 1905, and to recover from the loss of her fiance, Potter moves into a small farmhouse in Sawrey. Populated by colorful characters, both humans and critters, her new life is full of promise. That is, until a villager dies and murder is suspected. Now it's up to this amateur sleuth to find a killer roaming the English countryside.

©2004 Susan Wittig Albert (P)2007 Recorded Books

Fun to read

I really enjoy this series of books! They are entertaining for adults and children especially if you are an animal lover! My mother has trouble reading but can listen to these books and it helps to fill her days.

Rich wonderful characters. Delightful

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The author crafts a delightful tale. A real gem. The visual language creates such a vivid picture I could smell the lands and see into the characters eyes

Who was your favorite character and why?

Beatrix is breaking from overbearing. Parents, doing what she loves.

What does Virginia Leishman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Oh my a third dimension of charm

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes found the clock rang 3 am and had to force myself to sleep

Any additional comments?

Bravo Susan

Beatrix Potter comes to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I enjoyed reading Beatrix Potter's stories to my son when he was young. This is a grown up version along the lines of a traditional English cozy mystery. I loved the way the author brought Beatrix and her animal friends to life. Incorporating the life of Ms. Potter kept me wanting to listen longer. I really didn't want the story to end.

Any additional comments?

I'm so glad to know there are more books in the series and as soon as I am through writing this review I will be ordering book 2.

Splendid

This is such a delightful tale. All the characters are believable and the story is very well written. Suitable for adults and children with intellect and imagination. The naration is very well done.

Brings the heart and mind of HBP to Life!

Absolutely wonderful narration and story! Who knew Beatrix Potter was a woman ahead of her time and a true animal person and artist and all great human being. She struggled with anxiety and shyness, but still was able to find ways, to overcome, while being true to her best self. and enriching the lives of millions as a result. This story is for everyone, and especially for those feeling "less than" in a modern society. This is a timeless story about a real person. I just puchased the other 7 audiobooks in this series. Grayefulnfor the author and narrator for this beautiful story.

Fabulous!

What did you love best about The Tale of Hill Top Farm?

I'm a cozy mystery lover & Beatrix Potter admirer so this series I couldn't pass up. This series focuses on the making of Beatrix, her independence and her new life away from her parents as a single woman on her own in the country. Those things all very risqué for the times. Susan Wittig-Albert includes the animals that made up Beatrix's life and found their ways into her classic children's stories. Of course this is a fun novelization not a biographical portrayal but enjoyable and quite fun!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Beatrix of course is going to be everyone's favorite! If you enjoy Rita Mae Brown's Sneaky Pie books or her foxhunting series the animal character's are quite similar in this series

Have you listened to any of Virginia Leishman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Virginia did a fabulous job. Many entertaining voices as she acts out the narration and her own lovely English accent adds a great deal to the story

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The book is relaxing as most cozy mysteries are, never any bad language or uncomfortable situations. The simple lunch in the field of bread & cheese was the best scene, the author has a talent for making it feel as if you've just taken a journey to the lake district

A subtle yet entertaining tale

A mix of the whimsical animal voices set in a series of small village mysteries, simple and delightful

Not my cup of tea...the animals talk?

I didn't even get through the first chapter. This isn't what I expected. My mistake for not reading the description more carefully. I like a good English village mystery with a local sleuth, but my initial impression is that this is like a childrens book with talking animals. I am more inclined toward Louise Penney, Arnaud Gamache series (set in a Canadian village), or period mysteries by Georgette Heyer, Tasha Alexander, or Deanna Rayybourn. I will return.

Cozy mystery I love!

If you like cozy mysteries and Beatrix Potter you will like this book. Charming and relaxing it helped me forget my worries.

A cosy village story, sterotypical characters

This is a tranquil read. The characters are totally stock, nothing unfamiliar with the exception of imaginary conversations between characters. There is some mild criminality and essentially no violence if you give a pass to the horribly constrained and desperate lives of women in Victorian England. Given that the heroine is Beatrix Potter, this somewhat annoying feature only cost the story one star. As an introduction to a series, it is a bit underwhelming, but I am going to give it a second chance to heat up by listening to the second novel.