I'm not your average mystery novel reader. I'll admit I soaked up loads of Nancy Drew books checked out from the book mobile every couple of weeks,and I read a few Agatha Christie novels at the urging of my friend Tabitha,  but I never really made the leap to Janet Evanovich or any of the other modern writers.

Most modern mysteries are too scary for this reader. I despise violence, gore, anxiety, and anything that will cause me to fear going to sleep at night, even with a 6'5" man sleeping closest to the door.

Unfortunately, I'm also relatively terrible at figuring out "whodunnit," but with practice I think I'm getting better.

All that said, I'm fortunate that my friend and editor Céleste sent me a care package for my post-op forced resting period (thanks!).  It included chocolate raspberry tea (the scent is swoon-inducing) and The Tale of Hill Top Farm.  If you like stories set in Britain, enjoy mysteries that aren't too graphic and fast-paced, and (here's the clincher) you don't mind talking animals, then the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series might be for you.

Set in 1905 in the Lake District where Beatrix Potter bought her first farm, the story is structured around her arrival and brief stay as she attempts to build a new life for herself after the tragic death of her fiance. The woman with whom Miss Potter is supposed to spend a fortnight dies unexpectedly, and many important items in the village disappear.  Was it murder?  Is there a thief in the village?  And what about this crazy idea of a woman farmer?

It's a cozy story.  It's quaint.  If you've enjoyed the movie "Miss Potter" then the talking animals will make more sense to you and you'll appreciate the books as an extension of the ideas in the movie, I think.

Just don't blame me when you start craving tea and sweets while you read it.



Image via Fantastic Fiction.