The Tale of Holly How

Another charming excursion into the fantasy of English village life at the turn of the century (the last century that is.) As usual, practical but generous Beatrix finds herself drawn into the difficulties of her adopted village, and happy to be drawn. She would live on her farm in this rural village full time if not for the unreasonable, selfish demands of her parents, who insist they cannot do without her and manipulate her into being the dutiful daughter by any means available to them.

The books are faitful to Beatrix's real life: "In 1905, Potter and Norman Warne became unofficially engaged. Potter's parents objected to the match because Warne was "in trade" and thus not socially suitable. The engagement lasted only one month until show more Warne died of leukemia at age 37. That same year Potter used some of her income and a small inheritance from an aunt to buy Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey in the English Lake District. Potter and Warne may have hoped that Hill Top Farm would be their holiday home, but after Warne's death Potter went ahead with its purchase as she had always wanted to own that farm, and live in "that charming village.

"The tenant farmer John Cannon and his family agreed to stay on to manage the farm for her while she made physical improvements and learned the techniques of fell farming and of raising livestock, including pigs, cows and chickens; the following year she added sheep. Realising she needed to protect her boundaries, she sought advice from W.H. Heelis & Son, a local firm of solicitors with offices in nearby Hawkshead. With William Heelis acting for her she bought contiguous pasture, and in 1909 the 20 acres (81,000 m2) Castle Farm across the road from Hill Top Farm. She visited Hill Top at every opportunity, and her books written during this period (such as The Tale of Ginger and Pickles, about the local shop in Near Sawrey and The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse, a wood mouse) reflect her increasing participation in village life and her delight in country living.

"Owning and managing these working farms required routine collaboration with the widely respected William Heelis. By the summer of 1912 Heelis had proposed marriage and Beatrix had accepted; although she did not immediately tell her parents, who once again disapproved because Heelis was only a country solicitor. Potter and Heelis were married on 15 October 1913 in London at St Mary Abbots in Kensington. The couple moved immediately to Near Sawrey, residing at Castle Cottage, the renovated farm house on Castle Farm. Hill Top remained a working farm but was now remodelled to allow for the tenant family and Potter's private studio and work shop. At last her own woman, Potter settled into the partnerships that shaped the rest of her life: her country solicitor husband and his large family, her farms, the Sawrey community and the predictable rounds of country life." ~~Wikipedia

I was drawn into her life -- a successful author who was supporting herself, yet still under the thumb of her demanding parents. She felt it her duty to take care of them, even though she longed for the freedom to live her own life. How differently we think about that situation today than they did in the early 1900s! I often found myself wanting to shout at Beatrix: "Just leave it! Walk away! What can they do about it?" Beatrix never reached that fever pitch of rebellion, but took it in her own slow, quiet way (you'll note that she married Willie Helix in the end.) show less

Really enjoyed this second installment of the series -- another puzzling death, some different animals take the mainstage, and we learn a little more about the countryside surrounding Sawrey as Beatrix starts to settle into life as a confident farmer.

Oh boy, how I love this series. It is such a gentle, charming, wonderfully written mystery series. Just a wee bit of fantasy since the animals talk amongst themselves and the reader is in on the conversations and their own investigation.
There are two mysteries going on in the book, each is resolved nicely. I kind of had an idea on whodunnit on one mystery, but I kept reading as the story is just so wonderfully told. And there was the other mystery going on and I didn't figure it out.
I am looking forward to the next in the series, THE TALE OF HAWTHORNE HOUSE, when it comes up either on Mt Git'r'Read or RecordedBooks. Ideally, I'll listen to as many as I can, especially if Virginia Leishman continues to narrate. She has a lovely voice show more and is perfect for the voice of Beatrix and all of the characters.
Five English countryside beans..... show less

It took a while to get used to the idea of the talking animals, but once I got into it, this was a fun, cute murder mystery. Any murder mystery in which a brave orange guinea pig is involved has to be good, right?

Pleasant read but not spectacular. Interesting use of Potter's biographical information.
Wittig also writes mysteries set in the Texas Hill Country.

Synopsis: Beatrix has purchased some sheep. When she goes to collect them she finds that the shepherd has been murdered. In trying to solve this murder, a group of badger baiters are uncovered, as well as other ne'er-do-wells. Had she listened to the animals, many dark deeds would have been resolved much quicker.
Review: This is a nice 'cozy mystery' highlighting the area in which Beatrix Potter lived and worked. It is also an interesting treatment of child and elder abuse.

Bit more stark than the first in the series, slightly more of a traditional detective story with villains and a conspiracy. Also some animal rights stuff, in context that is grim but not overly graphic.