Beatrix is approached by neighbor Grace whose plans to marry the local vicar may be put on hold as Grace has been receiving poison pen letters, threatening her happiness if she goes ahead with the marriage. Beatrix agrees to look into the matter, but at the same time, the village is up in arms over the local testing of new flying machines, especially one which lands in the water. Injury to one of the plane’s developers, Frank L. Baum, heightens everyone’s concerns, but in the end Rascal, a Jack Russell terrier, and the rest of the animals, including Tabitha Twitchit the cat, help make everything come out right.   

The Tale of Oat Cake Crag is a delightful mixture of the enchantment of Beatrix Potter’s world and fictional personified animals, historical figures and events of the time, and a gentle mystery. The village of Near Sawrey and its environs are very well depicted, lulling the reader back to a quieter time. The narration is told from an omniscient point of view, but one that swoops down gently on the village and carefully describes the scenes as they unfold. 

The animals, familiar to many readers of Beatrix Potter’s classic children’s books, with their distinctive personalities are as real as any of the human characters in the book. While the mystery is not the forefront of the plot, readers will enjoy the scenery and fauna and will eagerly hope that Beatrix is able to win her parents over where her new fiancé is concerned.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry