The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix P)

As a child, I was a huge Beatrix Potter fan. I even nagged my mother to change my name to Beatrix (she refused). I still remember the corner of our huge old public library where the "little books" were kept and I borrowed them again and again and again. As an adult, I've read numerous books about Beatrix Potter and introduced her and her books to my 3 children.When I learned that there was a series of mystery books featuring BP as a character, I was thrilled. First, I gave a few of the books to a relative who had visited Hill Top. Then I received the first book, the Tale of Hill Top Farm, as a gift from my husband. Since then, I've been addictively reading my way through the whole series.Susan Wittig Albert has achieved a really remarkable feat. Her Beatrix Potter character is exactly as I would have imagined her, along with the Lake District scenery and inhabitants. She manages to convey the world, thoughts, and conversations of the animals, who have their own society existing in parallel to that of the Big Folk, in a most Beatrix Potter-like way. This volume has a somewhat more complex plot twist than the previous two, and also begins to hint, in a subtle and still-far-off way, at a future romance for Beatrix and Mr. Heelis, her real-life husband.For Beatrix Potter fans who thought adulthood meant leaving their favorite author behind, these books will be a delight. Thank goodness there are a lot of them, because I don't want them to end!!

There is nothing more cozy and heart warming then Beatrix Potter, be you child or adult. This lovely mystery series appeals to anyone who loves the charming tales of Beatrix Potter. This is the third book in the series by Albert, and she once again focuses on Beatrix Potter's farm, the people in the village and the animals that served as models for her children's books. Beatrix has done quite a bit of work to fix up the the house and farm that she loves as a refuge from her demanding and controlling parents, but in an amusing side story, she arrives in the Lake District to find that the farm house is overrun with rats. To fix the problem, she finds several cats to take care of the rats, but once the rat problem has been addressed, she has a cat problem to fix! Readers should know that this isn't a traditional murder mystery, first because there is no murder, and secondly, because the animals play an important part in helping Beatrix solve the mystery in her gentle and non confrontational manner. However, the mystery is there, Beatrix does use her excellent powers of observation to solve it and all ends as it should. In this book, several of the characters from the past two books are more fully developed and we also meet some new ones. We also get a glimpse of the start of Beatrix's romance. This book is the epitome of "cozy" and Anglophiles as well as Beatrix Potter fans will want to read all three books in the series. I certainly look forward to the 4th Cottage Tale.

If you like cozy mysteries, mysteries that take place in a rural English setting, have read and enjoyed Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series  Thyme of Death (China Bayles 1) , or are at all a fan of Beatrix Potter, this series is for you. The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Woods is the third in this series. While it is helpful to have read the other two books  The Tale of Hill Top Farm: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter (Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter Mysteries) , The Tale of Holly How , since many characters both human and animal repeat, the book also stands on its own. I especially enjoy when animals are given a voice in a believable way. The story works in parallel...with the human storyline and the animal one. The animals find the clues and figure out the mystery before the humans but are unable to get the humans to understand. In this way it reminds me of the Rita Mae Brown/Sneaky Pie Brown Mrs. Murphy mysteries  Wish You Were Here (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries) . The characters are well-drawn and the mystery free of the bloody gore and tension in many other less-cozy mysteries. As a sideline, you also learn a lot about the life of the beloved children's author, Beatrix Potter. I sincerely hope this series continues.

Mrs. Albert takes fanciful and makes it endearing. I never would have thought that I would read books where animals think like humans, badgers have underground B&B's, and a wise, intelligent owl presides over his wooded domain. This alone would have been a 'stopper' for me as usually this type of thing evolves into the ridiculous, and then to have a real historical person as the crime solver...nope, thank you, no. But on the strength of Mrs. Albert's other series (which I have loved), I decided to give this one a try. From the first book,I have been enchanted. The animals are a sure fit with Beatrix Potter, the sense of place and time, and the realistic characterizations all combine to give the reader a break from the 21st century and a chance to enjoy rural England (the Lake District). Suspend your disbelief a bit, settle back, and enjoy. Mrs. Albert has a rare gift of gentle storytelling.

I enjoyed the read.Lots of twists and turns.

THE TALE OF CUCKOO BROW WOOD may be the strongest of Susan Wittig Albert's Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter.The story is a fine mix of folklore, devilment, crime, and anthromorphology. The animals do not always know what is happening in a world where enchantment is possible, nor can they control events.Beatrix Potter is at her best when she aids both children and adults to find their way amid wrong doers and neither world intervention.I read these books, one after another as an escape from the heavy luridness of current thriller/chiller mystery fiction and I'm glad I did.Nash Black, author of QUALIFYING LAPS.

These books (series) are very enjoyable! I would recommend to any Beatrix Potter fan!

a book very much in the vein of Beatrix potter, also echoes of some of the characters from the miss read books a great series and I highly recommend you have look at them

Good.

Ein weiterer charmanter Band der Geschichte, der trotz fehlenden Mordes genügend Nahrung auf anderen Gebieten bietet. Gut recherchiert, aus vielen Perspektiven erzählt, geht die Geschichte mit unseren Helden weiter. Sehr vergnüglich, sehr lesenswert, aber nur begrenzt ein Krimi. Dennoch ein Vergnügen.

I have not received this book yet, therefore I cannot tell you whether or not I like it, or whether or not it came within the specified time, or anything else.

This is an awesome edition. the illustrations are so beautiful. It is a truly beautiful book to have. A must have for any library.