The Tale of Hawthorn House

July 9, 2007
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.

August 1, 2007
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, whoowns 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 Floras 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 Potters animal tales will like this story, too, and readers attracted to strong female characters will be drawn to the independentBeatrix and to Dimity, who refuses to let her brother pick her husband.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)