Product Description

Benni Harper starts over as curator of a folk-art museum after her husband's death, but when an artist is found dead and her cousin is accused, the clues lead to a different truth about her husband's death. Reprint.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #224511 in Books
• Published on: 1995-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 256 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Young, recently widowed Benni Harper, the foolhardy heroine in this predictable debut, leaves her ranch after her husband's accidental death and becomes the curator of the folk-art museum in the coastal California town of San Celina. Benni is frantically trying to assemble a quilt show when she discovers a local potter stabbed to death in the museum studio. Benni's flaky 21-year-old cousin Rita, whom Benni had seen driving away from the museum, disappears and becomes a prime suspect. When Rita calls asking for money, Benni determines not to tell the police, whose new chief, Gabe Ortiz, has warned her not to interfere in the investigation, and decides to clear Rita by finding the real murderer. The day that the quilt show opens, Benni finds a plastic bag filled with money in the attic of the museum but waits to tell Ortiz until after the opening party. When he goes to the attic to investigate, he finds, instead, the body of the museum handyman. Fowler connects all the deaths in her plot, leaving no threads hanging, but Benni's reckless actions and her love-hate relationship with the enigmatic Ortiz yield an unconvincing narrative. Mystery Guild alternate.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Albenia "Benni" Harper, a youthful widow, serves as curator of an impecunious folk-art museum in San Celina, California. Just as the deadline for a quilting exhibit arrives, she spots her cousin fleeing from the scene of a murder. Hastening to clear her cousin's name, Benni stays one jump ahead of police, at the same time learning disturbing facts about her husband's death. Hectic action (mostly driving hither and yon) and dialog accompany the amateur sleuth, who actually reads a how-to-be-a-p.i. book for assistance. The start of a promising new series.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Benni Harper debuts in Fowler's neat little mystery set in the central California community of San Celina. Benni, a recently widowed rancher's wife, now serves as curator for the town's folk-art museum and overseer of the attached artists' cooperative. Just before discovering the body of one of the local artists the night before the museum's quilt exhibit is to open, Benni sees her own cousin leaving the scene. Despite the warnings of the local chief of police, Benni cannot help probing into the situation, especially when it seems that the murder in some way is connected to her own husband's accidental death some months before. Fowler depicts a small ranching community and its struggling ranchers with conviction, and her plot is compelling. Her character development could use some work--the subplot about the attraction between Benni and the local police officer comes dangerously close to clich{‚}e. All in all, though, this is a very promising first novel, presumably the first in a series. Keep a lookout for the next one. Stuart Miller

Customer Reviews

Benni and Gabe
This book is a wonderful "cozy" -- the first in a long, strong series by Fowler that sets up the relationship between amateur sleuth Benni Harper and the Chief Gabe Ortiz, one of the sexiest characters in mystery books today. I have read the book and given it as a gift, too. Readers of all ages seem to connect with not only the quirky setting but also the romantic tension and humorous tone. I highly recommend not just this one, but the others in the same series, especially Kansas Troubles and Mariner's Cross -- but I suggest readers start with this one.

Hang in there!
OK, so the title of my review doesn't make you think this book is going to be any good. It was hard to rate. Up front I have to warn you: The plot is contrived; The dialogue gets on your nerves; and The writing is clumsy. BUT . . .

Hang in there, read this one, then sit back and enjoy the ride!!! In all honesty it was very difficult to get through this first book in the Benni Harper series. Despite all the negative things I mentioned, I got through the book and started the second (Irish Chain) and immediately picked up the third (Kansas Troubles)and have just finished the fourth (Goose In the Pond) after a marathon, all-night reading session. There was something about the budding relationship of Benni Harper and Gabe Ortiz that made me continue reading, and I'm glad I did. The writing gets better, the mysteries get better and the romance gets hotter and stronger. Right now I can hardly wait to start on the next book and I won't/can't stop until I catch up to the 9th book and current installment, Steps to the Alter. I'm not even thinking about what I will do when I finish that one and need to wait months for the next one!

I'd strongly urge you to give this series a chance. You don't have to be a quilter to enjoy the books, but the author's use of quilt patterns is really clever. Anyway, hang in there, the adventures of Benni and Gabe get better and remember it had to start somewhere!

Quilts, Mystery and Romance
This story crosses several different paths. There's the quilting interest, because the main character, Benni Harper is the curator of a small folk-art museum in California. In fact, the story starts with Benni getting ready to have a quilt show. The mystery comes in when Benni discovers the body of a local artist in the museum. Finally, a little romance is provided by the attractive detective who's investigating the murder. He's Police Chief Gabe Ortiz and seems to have more than a little interest in the curator. We also meet Benni's grandmother who adds the humorous touch to the story.

Earlene Fowler has made her characters into real personalities and provides us with a fun and enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.