Irish Chain

Benni Harper #2

by Earlene Fowler

Benni's taking time from her curator's job at the folk-art museum to sponsor a "senior prom" - with a Mardi Gras theme - at San Celina's retirement home. She hopes Police Chief Gabe Ortiz can get away from his job for at least one dance. But instead she ends up waltzing with Clay O'Hara, the Colorado cowboy she had a crush on when she was seventeen. Benni also finds herself refereeing an argument involving Clays' curmudgeonly uncle. Both events have unforeseen consequences when Benni later walks into a resident's room and finds the murdered bodies of an elderly spinster and Clays' uncle. Gabe warns Benni to stay out of the investigation and away from Clay O'Hara who is a suspect in the killings. Those are fighting words for a woman like Benni. She's determined to see whomever she wishes - and to look for patterns in the backgrounds of the two victims. The zigs and zags of their long lives lead to a common thread - a past where secrets of love and passion were nearly forgotten. But like links in a chain, the truth has held together across the years. Unraveling it could reveal Benni's own vulnerabilities and true feelings - or put her face-to-face with a murderer's twisted heart.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Quilting, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Romance

309 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1995

About the author

Earlene Fowler was raised in La Puente, California, by a Southern mother and a Western father. She lives in Southern California with her husband, Allen, a purple pickup truck, and many pairs of cowboy boots. She is currently working on the next Benni Harper mystery.

Series:
* Benni Harper Mysteries
* Love Mercy Johnson Mystery

Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irish Chain is a mystery novel written in the cozy style, with gentle language, no graphic content, and PG murder scenes by Earlene Fowler. It is the second book in the Benni Harper series. I won this book in an eBay lot, with 19 other mystery books. I was unfamiliar with this author and was pleasantly surprised at my enjoyment of the book. The title refers to a quilting pattern, which is odd, but as I have said previously, many mystery series rely on some homey/cozy/slice of Americana device to link the amateur detective to a series (whether it be a venue, a detective, or an entire town). Benni Harper is an all-American girl (the term is encountered in the blurb) in her 30s who works at a folk-art museum. When she sponsors a senior “prom night” at the San Celina retirement home, and two of the retirees are found dead, it is her link to the victims which spurs her involvement and investigation. I was captivated by the excellent character development and plot. Although I liked it a great deal, I do struggle with people classifying a 300-page book as 'cozy.' I am new to the sub-genre so maybe the confusion is mine, but it seems like a good book all on its own without having to be misclassified to fool me into reading it. I am a straight male lover of mysteries, and I was not at all intimidated by the unique (to me) milieu.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the first, but possibly because the motive for murder was (IMHO) pretty weak. I did still enjoy the character of Benni and I like her boyfriend Ortiz, but the characters use Spanish in the weirdest way. It's almost like the author doesn't think Hispanic characters are authentic if they don't use a palabra of Spanish at least every chapter. And it is really peeving me that the story is set in "San Celina" which is obviously SLO for anyone who has lived in California for any length of time. She keeps the surrounding towns, she keeps Cal Poly, she even keeps the gum alley. Is there a rule that you have to rename the town you set your story in?

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, I absolutely devoured this book! I am on board for the next one!

[Mir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weaker mystery plot showcases the romance of widow Benni and divorced police officer Gabe. Although Fowler doesn't seem to mean in this way, I always thought their relationship was terrible. Neither treats the other with respect or honesty. I was offended by Fowler's implication that the two were equally guilty of "messing around" when Benni had lunch in a public place with a teen crush (from before she was married!) and Gabe was alone in a bedroom at night with the woman with whom he previously committed adultery. The first is perfectly fine, in my book, and the second is at the very least poor judgment. And you know an American popular-audience author would never make the woman the one who had cheated on her husband and expect the reader to be ok with it, but because Gabe is a man and hispanic (which seems to = exotic and hot-blooded in her world ) it was excused.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy Irish Chain as much as the first book in the series. The mystery wasn't as well done. In fact, it seemed like the focus was more on the various romances of the main character Benni than on solving the mystery. Since I wasn't super invested in any of Benni's beaus, I was kind of bored for a large chunk of this book. The ending revel of whodunnit was super sad, but I think the author did a good job with it for the most part. Also, I didn't understand the choice the author made to fast-forward the romance. So overall kind of disappointing.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il libro parte un po' lento, poi la storia si fa più interessante, soprattutto quando si parla di come vennero trattati i nippo-americani dopo Pearl Harbour. Stavolta il modo di agire della protagonista mi ha un po' urtato i nervi, trovo che si sia spesso comportata in modo infantile. Comunque sia, alla fine il libro non mi è dispiaciuto.

[Graculus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in this particular series, following on from Fool's Puzzle, and once again, our protagonist is Benni Harper, recently widowed and now running a small folk art museum and artist's cooperative. In Irish Chain, Benni becomes involved in the history of her small town, when two senior citizens are murdered in a local nursing home and there's apparently more to the past than meets the eye.

Interestingly enough, there seems to be a link with the treatment of Japanese immigrants during the War and Benni is also writing a book on the subject, so she has lots of opportunity to investigate, whether that's wise or not. Her boyfriend, the local Chief of Police, understandably is less than impressed by Benni and her activities.

Like in Fool's Puzzle, the author is working on both a romance sub-plot and a mystery sub-plot at the same time, though for me the romance angle is significantly less interesting. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that some of the behaviour between Benni and her boyfriend would strike me as being a likely deal-breaker in terms of a long-term relationship succeeding. Anyway, the series continues in Kansas Troubles.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two residents of a nursing home found dead in a room. Benni Harper gets involved because she discovers the bodies. Her boyfriend is in charge of the investigation and constantly warns her not to get involved. Of course, she doesn't listen.
Benni begins asking questions. At the same time, an old flame is back in town, and he's one of the prime suspects and Benni finds herself quarreling with her boyfriend and spending too much time with the old flame causing some confused feelings. In the midst of her involvement in the investigation, she's also researching a historical society project concerning the Japanese Americans in the area and their treatment during WWII.
The situation of the Japanese Americans during WWII is not something you often hear about. It was interesting having an author include it in the story.

[Erin L · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled partway through this one. I know a lot of people love Benni, but I'm finding her a little too stubborn for her own good. Which is sad because I think there are a lot of great characters in this series, especially Dove. And Gabe.

Also, I don't understand why they suddenly got married given all of the problems they have just dating each other. A marriage certificate doesn't make that go away.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benni is sponsoring a "senior Mardi Gras" at a retirement home. Later in the evening finds two residents dead. She sets out to find the mystery and the connection between them. Could a 50 year old secret be the cause? To complicate matters, her HS boyfriend shows up just as she is getting involved with Gabe, the interim police chief.

[Sheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this series because i enjoy the characters. However, this book was quite boring until the end. It took way too long to get to the mystery and didn't keep your attention. Too much emphasis was placed on Benni's love life.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one better than the first. I loved the character development and I loved the way she interspersed some of the history in there too. I totally did not see it resolving the way it did, which is an aspect of reading mysteries that I love.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't let the title fool you, it's not about quilts. They may mention quilt here or there, but the book (series) is murder mystey. VERY well written. Strong, sassy female lead character. Ver fun read.

I highly recommend the Benni Harper Mystries!!!!!

[Debie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series involve a number of likable characters. I like the discussions of different crafts. In addition to a murder mystery there was a look at the Japanese Americans living in California during World War II and their relocation and return to the area.

[Ronnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fowler is a great writer.

[Btowsleycomcast.net · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite type of book. Female sleuth with a good plot.

[M Delea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago, I started this series and got through 3 of the books. I will finish the series this time around. In this one, the main character drove me nuts at times, but the mystery itself was very interesting.

[Kate Insley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, easy, pleasant mystery novel. Not an earthshaking read, but just the ticket for when my life feels like a mystery 🤪

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book and the series!!!!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judging from the other reviews, I might be in the minority of people who liked the first book in this series better....I just found this to be a bit too all over the place. Too many new men move to town (and at first I had trouble keeping Mac and Clay separate, if only because they showed up at the same town and both seemed quite handsome and interested in Benni) and two old people are killed in the 3rd or 4th chapter. The deaths are suspicious and since Benni discovers their bodies, she's again in the thick of it. As soon as Todd started working for Benni at the museum, I suspected he had something to do with the murders. I have a hard time believing his grandfather killed Brady O'Hara, but I guess he cared about Miss Violet that much (Brady was trying to kill Miss Violet because she knew he'd been blackmailed after raping Miss Violet's Japanese student in 1941 after he found out his brother had been killed at Pearl Harbor.) And all the drama around Benni and Gabe - and it's absolutely bananas that they end up getting married at the end of this book - is that just so they can sleep together? It won't solve any of their communication problems. Super dumb. What was the hurry?)

More Elvia, please, next time!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far I have not been overly impressed with the relationship between Benni and Gabe. She seems very much like a loose cannon who doesn't take into account the trouble she can get herself and others into just by being stubborn and doing the opposite of what she is asked to do. I have a feeling this is going to be a theme throughout the rest of the series and I have seen it with other series as well. I guess if they all played it safe, then the main character would not find themselves in the trouble which always seems to come their way at the end of the book.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I thought I was going to have to slog through "sophomore slump". The first book in the series was awesome. This one was a little slow to get going, however, when I started it, I was interrupted every 5 minutes, so maybe that was it, because once I had time to read and get into the story, this book was excellent. It touched on a part of history that has always interested me, the "relocation" of the Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor. Second book was great, hoping the rest of the series continues on this way.

[Charlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benni is busy with opening a needlework show at the museum and helping a group of students hold a prom at the convalescent home, but not too busy to also write a paper on local history and become involved in a murder. Unfortunately, the murders happen at the prom and Benni knows both of the victims. She is also trying to sort out her feelings for Gabe Ortiz, the interim sheriff, and Clay O'Hara, a former boyfriend and nephew of one of the victims. Mystery, local history, and personal drama combine to make this another winner.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked Irish Chain much better than the first book in the Benni Harper series (Fool's Puzzle). This was a better-than-average cozy mystery, with a result that really did surprise me. It had the additional benefit of an unusually meaty topic - that being the relocation of American citizens of Japanese descent during WWII.

I'm still relatively new to the cozy mystery genre, but this is one of the best in the category that I've read.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'm a little biased for liking this book since I'm Japanese American, but I really do appreciate how they talked about what people went through during WWII.

But the murder was also awesome as well! It wasn't a straight forward plot, but involved a lot of secrets, shame, and of course revenge.

The relationship between Benni and Gabe also reached a climatic level, and I was satisfied with how it ended. :)

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is the first of this series that I read, and it is one of my favorite quilt patterns. This continues to go well. The writing is not at a high caliber but it is pleasant. I like the quilt references, and Benni Harper is good--sometimes I find her a little annoying but she is largely a good character

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eehh! I wasn't really thrilled with it but it wasn't horrible either. The beginning was a drag but then toward the end it moved a little better. The characters were okay. I really can't pick out something that I hated about it but it just didn't grab me. I thought the quilting tie in was very weak.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Don't ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up." And earlier in the book, something about ranching wisdom--If it's fixing to rain, let it.
Winding through this down home story is the tragedy of the interment of Japanese descent citizens in WWII. An excellently written story.

[Janell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Benni Harper mystery series. Benni has become involved with Gabe, the Chief of Police. When she again discovers a body, the sparks begin to fly between them. Although I enjoyed this one, the plot was a little weak and the mystery itself was pretty dull.

[Kitty Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Investigating the death of the San Celina Senior Citizen Prom king, museum curator Benni Harper goes against the wishes of her police chief boyfriend and uncovers the victim's fifty-year-old affiliation with a World War II Japanese blackmailing ring.