Sue's Reviews > The Tale of Hill Top Farm

I started listening to this novel and it began with a bewildering array of characters, plus talking animals who were addressing humans but I was unsure if the humans were answering back and overall I was a little lost. So I pulled out the novel (because I often alternately read and listen)and found that the novel was clear on some points. First off, it was easier to keep track of all the initial characters after seeing them in print, and Ms. Albert's publishers helpfully put the animals dialogue in italics. Thus I was quickly able to establish that the animals frequent talk to the dense humans who should be realizing what's going on, but the humans don't hear or answer. Whew! With that all cleared up, I sat back to enjoy this coziest of cozy mysteries. There is a mysterious death and several stolen articles in the village of Near Sawrey and Miss Beatrix Potter has just purchased Hill Top Farm and come to the area to figure out living arrangements. While there, she helps solve some questions, makes friends, draws frogs for the Jeremy Fisher book, and is generally quite likable. The author uses true facts about her life as the framework for the invented stories. Cute and fun and relaxing.