The Tale of Applebeck Orchard

The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter

By: Susan Wittig Albert

Narrated by: Virginia Leishman

Agatha and Anthony Award nominee Susan Wittig Albert has garnered popular and critical acclaim for her whimsical mysteries based on the life and times of Beatrix Potter. In this sixth volume, Miss Potter must help the denizens of Near Sawrey solve a particularly knotty problem. After a suspicious fire consumes his haystacks, Farmer Harmsworth barricades the common path through his Applebeck Orchard. Tabitha Twitchet and her Cat Council are all in a tizzy when woodland creatures claim the fire was the work of a lantern-bearing specter. Hoping to calm her furry friends and reopen the vital thoroughfare, Miss Potter determines to ferret out the truth by deciphering any clues the culprit left behind. Amidst the beauty of the English countryside and the allure of a cozy mystery, listeners will encounter fascinating tidbits about rural life and Victorian society.

©2009 Susan Wittig Albert (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“The best yet in a consistently charming series." ( Booklist)

Don't like the bossy 'narrator'

I listened to the first book in the series, then skipped to this one to hear about the romance between Beatrix and Will Heelis. There were times I almost quit listening because of the annoying 'narrator'. Why, Ms. Albert, why did you think you needed to add this? Did you think your readers aren't clever enough, so that they need everything spelled out for them? I doubt I'll listen to any more now. But the performer does a very good job of reading, and the overall story - except for the intrusive narrative parts - is up to the standard.

Always one of my favorites!

I have read this and listened to it over and over. The writing in engaging. I love that about Wittig-Albert's style. The narration is fittingly perfect for the era.

My favorite in this series

I loved this book, and the narration. This book, and this series are for anyone who loves nature, animals, human psychology from a historical perspective, and mysteries.

Love the story and the narrator.

Fun easy listening story! I’ve listened to the whole series and love it! Recommend it highly.

delightful

This is a tale of fact and fiction taking place in the Lake District in 1910 in England. The story features Beatrix Potter who is at her farm for the summer. The story wanders among the people of the village and surrounding farms. A haystack is burnt and a path is blocked to walkers. This makes a nice change of pace read.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The story is nine hours and forty-seven minutes. Virginia Leishman narrates the story.