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Benni Harper #1
Fool's Puzzle
Meet Benni Harper... a spirited ex-cowgirl, quilter, and folk-art expert who's staking out her own corner of the contemporary American West. She's got an eye for murderous designs - and a talent for piecing together the most complex and cold-blooded crimes...
Leaving behind memories of her late husband, Benni's making a fresh start... Moving to the trendy California town of San Celina, she takes an exciting new job as director of a folk-art museum. While setting up an exhibit of handmade quilts, she stumbles upon the body of a brutally stabbed artist - and hopes to conduct an investigation of her own. She crosses paths with the local police chief, who thinks this short and sassy cowgirl should leave detecting to the cops and join him for dinner. But it's hard to keep a country girl down, and soon Benni uncovers an alarming pattern of family secrets, small-town lies - and the shocking truth about the night her husband died...
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1994
95 people are currently reading
2909 people want to read
About the author
Earlene Fowler
45 books358 followersEarlene 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
Series:
* Benni Harper Mysteries
* Love Mercy Johnson Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
November 19, 2010
The style is smooth enough, and Benni Harper, our narrator, is sympathetic enough to have kept me reading for about 150 pages, but she acted stupidly one too many times, so that not even the resolution of the mystery or romance or Arts and Craft themes could make me keep going.
I hate mysteries where some amateur detective keeps things from the police, or lies to them or hides evidence. Now, there are reasons people act this way I could buy, without marking them in my eyes as Too Stupid to Live. Some people have had bad experiences with the police that makes them wary. It could be a case where there's reason to believe the department of this small California town is corrupt. Or maybe there's reason to believe the police aren't taking the case seriously. I could even understand, even if not condone, wanting to protect someone very close to you--a best friend, child, spouse. None of those things apply here--and Benni does it again and again, in one case over a "fifth cousin" she doesn't care for and another time she doesn't hand over the computer disk belong to a murdered acquaintance because she doesn't want to embarrass him! She even hides evidence after she's been called on her behavior several times by the acting police chief, been threatened by him with jail and after delaying telling them what she found caused the loss of key evidence. Then she does it again. She removes crucial evidence she doesn't entrust to the police in the person of an acting police chief who is conscientious, smart--and with whom she has a mutual attraction.
Really, the detective protagonist doesn't have to be as brave as Buffy and brilliant as Miss Marple to win my liking and respect--but I do like at least some common sense.
I think we were supposed to feel sympathy for Benni acting that way because the chief was soooooo mean as to be annoyed when she does this again and again. But my sympathies were completely with Chief Gabe Ortiz--too bad Benni is a fool.
I hate mysteries where some amateur detective keeps things from the police, or lies to them or hides evidence. Now, there are reasons people act this way I could buy, without marking them in my eyes as Too Stupid to Live. Some people have had bad experiences with the police that makes them wary. It could be a case where there's reason to believe the department of this small California town is corrupt. Or maybe there's reason to believe the police aren't taking the case seriously. I could even understand, even if not condone, wanting to protect someone very close to you--a best friend, child, spouse. None of those things apply here--and Benni does it again and again, in one case over a "fifth cousin" she doesn't care for and another time she doesn't hand over the computer disk belong to a murdered acquaintance because she doesn't want to embarrass him! She even hides evidence after she's been called on her behavior several times by the acting police chief, been threatened by him with jail and after delaying telling them what she found caused the loss of key evidence. Then she does it again. She removes crucial evidence she doesn't entrust to the police in the person of an acting police chief who is conscientious, smart--and with whom she has a mutual attraction.
Really, the detective protagonist doesn't have to be as brave as Buffy and brilliant as Miss Marple to win my liking and respect--but I do like at least some common sense.
I think we were supposed to feel sympathy for Benni acting that way because the chief was soooooo mean as to be annoyed when she does this again and again. But my sympathies were completely with Chief Gabe Ortiz--too bad Benni is a fool.
November 16, 2021
As a reader of mysteries and other "manly" books Benni Harper has always been my secret pleasure. In this, her first book, we are introduced to many of the recurring characters in the series. I agree with other reviewers that Benni is hardheaded and often makes not so smart decisions, but this is the character. This one is well plotted and the dialogue seems real. Recommended.
August 7, 2016
Even though I had heard nothing but good reviews of this book, I let it sit on my shelves for more than two years. Fool's Puzzle delves deep into a western small-town and exposes secrets and lies. It was an excellent first-in-a-series book!
Benni is absolutely hilarious and she's 100% real. I can totally see a woman like her living in a small town in the west. Chief Gabe Oritz was also well-written. I loved his scenes with Benni and found most of them to be laugh-out-loud hilarious. Dove, Elvira, and Rita were also all joys to read about.
The mystery was wonderful. I didn't see the killer coming until the ending, and it all was pieced together wonderfully. From what we saw of the setting I loved it, though I could have used a tad bit more to help me picture things like Benni's house.
Overall, however, a stand-out read. I will be reading the next one.
Benni is absolutely hilarious and she's 100% real. I can totally see a woman like her living in a small town in the west. Chief Gabe Oritz was also well-written. I loved his scenes with Benni and found most of them to be laugh-out-loud hilarious. Dove, Elvira, and Rita were also all joys to read about.
The mystery was wonderful. I didn't see the killer coming until the ending, and it all was pieced together wonderfully. From what we saw of the setting I loved it, though I could have used a tad bit more to help me picture things like Benni's house.
Overall, however, a stand-out read. I will be reading the next one.
February 1, 2024
A small town California widow is trying to separate herself from her former life by becoming the director of a folk art museum.
Because this is a cozy, a body turns up in the museum and her ne'er-do-well cousin is the primary suspect.
Not in the top tier.
Because this is a cozy, a body turns up in the museum and her ne'er-do-well cousin is the primary suspect.
Not in the top tier.
April 20, 2013
An enjoyable first novel that begins a delightful series is books all named after quilt blocks. The book is an easy read and the absence of tons of sex scenes, cussing and total immorality a pleasant change. Good read.
June 27, 2016
(All my reviews contain spoilers) Good first for a series; characters were introduced well and writing is very good. Benni is a farm-girl turned museum curator who is adjusting to her new life nine months after losing her husband Jack, in a car accident. With the murder of one of the museum's co-op members, Marla, Benni decides to try and find out more information on her own (her cousin was semi-involved), without going to police.
I know this is in the 'cozy' genre, which is why I sometimes feel I have to keep that in mind when rating these books. I always feel like these sort of books are meant for the 12 and under. With that being said, even though I liked the plot of the book, there were a few things that I found myself rolling my eyes to ... first of all, Benni walks in on not one, but two, dead bodies (violently killed at that) of people she knew. But what does she decide to do? NOT tell the police - and not just that - but is completely uncooperative when they are questioning her as to what she knew, what she found, etc. The first time she meets Ortiz, she is a complete smart-ass jerk. If someone you know has been murdered, wouldn't you want to be as helpful as possible instead of throwing attitude to the police? Also, her immediate dislike for Ortiz doesn't make any sense; I know the author tried to make him out to be a dislikable fellow, but I didn't find him to be at all. I also found Ortiz's interest in her VERY unbelievable. She didn't seem to have any attractive qualities (not speaking physically either) to her. A police chief would be fired for flirting and carrying on with a murder suspect (which she was at first) the way he was with her. Showing up wherever she was and even spending the night at her house to "protect her"? It was a little bit stalker-ish.
I always feel like "cute" is an appropriate word to describe a cozy read. This was a cute book. I will give credit for the ending and finding out who the murderer was, because I did NOT suspect it to be J.D. at ALL. That was a very good twist -- although I was still a little confused about Carl's involvement: was he DRIVING the car that killed Jack or did his car collide with Jack's, or what?
I would read another one in this series if it came up in any of my groups, but I doubt I'd go out and get one on my own. Too many other great books out there.
I know this is in the 'cozy' genre, which is why I sometimes feel I have to keep that in mind when rating these books. I always feel like these sort of books are meant for the 12 and under. With that being said, even though I liked the plot of the book, there were a few things that I found myself rolling my eyes to ... first of all, Benni walks in on not one, but two, dead bodies (violently killed at that) of people she knew. But what does she decide to do? NOT tell the police - and not just that - but is completely uncooperative when they are questioning her as to what she knew, what she found, etc. The first time she meets Ortiz, she is a complete smart-ass jerk. If someone you know has been murdered, wouldn't you want to be as helpful as possible instead of throwing attitude to the police? Also, her immediate dislike for Ortiz doesn't make any sense; I know the author tried to make him out to be a dislikable fellow, but I didn't find him to be at all. I also found Ortiz's interest in her VERY unbelievable. She didn't seem to have any attractive qualities (not speaking physically either) to her. A police chief would be fired for flirting and carrying on with a murder suspect (which she was at first) the way he was with her. Showing up wherever she was and even spending the night at her house to "protect her"? It was a little bit stalker-ish.
I always feel like "cute" is an appropriate word to describe a cozy read. This was a cute book. I will give credit for the ending and finding out who the murderer was, because I did NOT suspect it to be J.D. at ALL. That was a very good twist -- although I was still a little confused about Carl's involvement: was he DRIVING the car that killed Jack or did his car collide with Jack's, or what?
I would read another one in this series if it came up in any of my groups, but I doubt I'd go out and get one on my own. Too many other great books out there.
February 8, 2015
I've read a couple reviews that suggest that the writing improves throughout the series. I don't know if I will ever find out. a couple issues, in brief:
*despite the narrative indicating that benni is good at everything she tries (accounting, managing horses, investigating etc), she sort of bumbles through the story, giving everyone attitude and thinking of little but herself.
*what is the point of making such a big deal of her deceased husband AND the lightning quick romance with the new police chief? we get very little information about what brought jack and benni together, and chief ortiz goes from unknown to infatuated with and fiercely protective of this lady who disrespects him and interferes with his investigation. on the flip side, having some dude invite himself into my house with his authority as a police officer and then brush my hair ? ? ? ? ? it's not romantic? I mean have you ever met dudes in authority who attempt to use that as leverage against you? it's upsetting, even if they're super babe former marine blue-eyed mexicans who know how to french braid. so I found that storyline entirely unappealing and actually off-putting.
*also having competent police officers around made me wonder why benni had to get involved in the investigation?
*one tertiary character is a vietnam veteran. at first, benni finds him gentle and friendly. then, following the murders, she wonders what he did in vietnam and what he is capable of. soon thereafter, he physically menaces her in her office. SPOILER this actually has NO bearing on the story, what is the point of going out of the way to cast shade on vets?
so, I wasn't super impressed! alas.
*despite the narrative indicating that benni is good at everything she tries (accounting, managing horses, investigating etc), she sort of bumbles through the story, giving everyone attitude and thinking of little but herself.
*what is the point of making such a big deal of her deceased husband AND the lightning quick romance with the new police chief? we get very little information about what brought jack and benni together, and chief ortiz goes from unknown to infatuated with and fiercely protective of this lady who disrespects him and interferes with his investigation. on the flip side, having some dude invite himself into my house with his authority as a police officer and then brush my hair ? ? ? ? ? it's not romantic? I mean have you ever met dudes in authority who attempt to use that as leverage against you? it's upsetting, even if they're super babe former marine blue-eyed mexicans who know how to french braid. so I found that storyline entirely unappealing and actually off-putting.
*also having competent police officers around made me wonder why benni had to get involved in the investigation?
*one tertiary character is a vietnam veteran. at first, benni finds him gentle and friendly. then, following the murders, she wonders what he did in vietnam and what he is capable of. soon thereafter, he physically menaces her in her office. SPOILER this actually has NO bearing on the story, what is the point of going out of the way to cast shade on vets?
so, I wasn't super impressed! alas.
February 15, 2019
What a great cozy. It had a good mixture of everything I love in my cozies - mystery, romance, humor, and believability. It was also short and sweet, so no parts felt like they dragged on at all. I will definitely read book 2.
July 28, 2012
A new favorite mystery writer! I love her Benni Harper, love the quilt theme of her books & have a crush on Benni's new fella, Gabe Ortiz. I can hardly wait to find the next one & read it!
August 1, 2008
FOOL'S PUZZLE - G
Fowler, Earlene - 1st in Benni Harper series
Thirty-four-year-old widow Benni Harper takes a job as curator of the San Celina folk art museum, only to find herself embroiled in the murder of an artist and small-town intrigues that shed new light on her own late husband's death.
It was good, light reading
Fowler, Earlene - 1st in Benni Harper series
Thirty-four-year-old widow Benni Harper takes a job as curator of the San Celina folk art museum, only to find herself embroiled in the murder of an artist and small-town intrigues that shed new light on her own late husband's death.
It was good, light reading
January 11, 2018
4 stelle e mezzo
All'inizio sono rimasta scombussolata dalla marea di nomi che emergono nelle prime pagine, poi, piano piano, la storia mi ha preso sempre di più e il finale mi è piaciuto tantissimo. Infine, confesso che mi sono presa una bella cotta per Gabe. Morale della favola: un'altra serie da seguire... O meglio, da leggere, perché credo che sia terminata.
All'inizio sono rimasta scombussolata dalla marea di nomi che emergono nelle prime pagine, poi, piano piano, la storia mi ha preso sempre di più e il finale mi è piaciuto tantissimo. Infine, confesso che mi sono presa una bella cotta per Gabe. Morale della favola: un'altra serie da seguire... O meglio, da leggere, perché credo che sia terminata.
March 8, 2023
I dabble in quilting so when I saw there was a cozy mystery with quilt square titles, I had to give it a try. Fool's Puzzle was a really good mystery story. I loved the main character Benni who when we meet her is still grieving the loss of her husband as she tries to make a new life for herself in town rather than at her family's cattle ranch. She is the manager of an artist's co-op and runs the art gallery attached to it. The mystery begins when Benni discovers one of the artists murdered. She then decides to get involved after her cousin flees the scene. I thought the mystery was well done, the side characters could be quirky without being over-the-top silly, and the romance between Benni and the temporary police chief was filled with possibilities. I have never done a Fool's Puzzle pattern, but I have done an Irish Chain quilt which is the next title in this series, and I can't wait to read it.
January 6, 2012
A Benni Harper mystery
Benni is not the person she was ten months ago. Jack, her husband, died nine months ago in an accident that is not totally clear. She struggles with losing him and with living day to day. As director of the Folk Art Museum she needs to be together and guide artists in preparing works for shows and display. If you know anything about artists, they can be unpredictable and tempermental as well as stand-offish. The coop artists at Benni's museum were less than a cohesive group. but they were preparing for an important festival. Each artist was working on their particular medium and working late hours. Benni had enlisted Eric to hang quilts and she was smoothing ruffled feathers and appealing to supporters for their attendance. Then Benni found Marla's body in a puddle of blood in one of the workrooms. Who would do this? Why? Chief Ortiz for some reason wanted to be personally involved in the investigation and he wanted people to be open with him about what they knew. He suspected that Benni was hiding something and trying to investigate this herself. Not a smart move. Another body was found and there was more questioning by the chief. Who was killing artists and was it just because of their chosen profession? Someone even took a shot at Benni. Maybe she was getting close to the killer and didn't know it.
Benni is not the person she was ten months ago. Jack, her husband, died nine months ago in an accident that is not totally clear. She struggles with losing him and with living day to day. As director of the Folk Art Museum she needs to be together and guide artists in preparing works for shows and display. If you know anything about artists, they can be unpredictable and tempermental as well as stand-offish. The coop artists at Benni's museum were less than a cohesive group. but they were preparing for an important festival. Each artist was working on their particular medium and working late hours. Benni had enlisted Eric to hang quilts and she was smoothing ruffled feathers and appealing to supporters for their attendance. Then Benni found Marla's body in a puddle of blood in one of the workrooms. Who would do this? Why? Chief Ortiz for some reason wanted to be personally involved in the investigation and he wanted people to be open with him about what they knew. He suspected that Benni was hiding something and trying to investigate this herself. Not a smart move. Another body was found and there was more questioning by the chief. Who was killing artists and was it just because of their chosen profession? Someone even took a shot at Benni. Maybe she was getting close to the killer and didn't know it.
August 28, 2017
This cozy was fantastic!! And to think it was the author's first novel.. wow.. I had written a review a few days ago about another first-in-series cozy, while well-written, was much too fast-paced and lacked meaningful character development for me. This gem is the complete opposite. While I generally prefer Southern and/or East coast mysteries, this is set in cattle country California. Benni Harper is a recent widow and now manager of a art co-op. She is the first one to discover her friend and ceramic artist Marla's recently murdered body. Benni unearths more mystery after she continues to hunt down leads, directly disobeying the new chief of police's orders. The plot has many twists and turns, red herrings, and one learns much about Benni, her family, her now "former" in-laws, all painted vividly by Ms. Fowler.
I stayed up for hours reading this book last night and woke up early to finish it. Already ordered the next installment from the downtown library! This should definitely be on your TBR list.. No matter how long it is--move this one to the top of it...
I stayed up for hours reading this book last night and woke up early to finish it. Already ordered the next installment from the downtown library! This should definitely be on your TBR list.. No matter how long it is--move this one to the top of it...
October 11, 2013
Good cozy mystery set in central California has a recent widow who runs the local folk art museum who still grieves her husband, dead less than a year. That doesn't stop her from inserting herself into murder investigations. Since they occurred on her turf they would be hard to ignore. Benni Harper is determined and soon bumps up against Gabe Ortiz, the temporary police chief of San Celina.
Author Earlene Fowler is masterful in weaving together the locale of the California ranching community and folk art world. The resolution was a surprise, but made sense. There was a bit too much of the "stubborn novice versus the police" theme, but it didn't overpower the book's many good points.
I noted it's the first of three in a series, and I'll read the others.
Author Earlene Fowler is masterful in weaving together the locale of the California ranching community and folk art world. The resolution was a surprise, but made sense. There was a bit too much of the "stubborn novice versus the police" theme, but it didn't overpower the book's many good points.
I noted it's the first of three in a series, and I'll read the others.
December 29, 2007
I read this book (the first in the Benni Harper series) shortly after reading Catering to Nobody (the first in the Goldy Bear series - culinary mysteries). I liked this book so much better than Catering to Nobody! I found the two books to be similar in construction which is why I'm comparing them here. The characters in Fool's Puzzle were much more likable and the mystery itself was more interesting to me. For a light mystery, this was a great pick. I'll be reading the next in the series soon.
February 7, 2008
This book was recommended by a friend of mine who loves quilts and quilting. She noted that the series gets stronger after this first book and that there is also a book of quilt patterns available based on the books. (Thanks Mary!) I enjoyed the book as a nice evening read, although I thought the heroine was more hardheaded than humorous at times! I'm looking forward to reading more as I have time.
May 1, 2009
Great first novel - introduces Benni Harper as an amateur sleuth who is the director of a folk art museum in California. The appealing feature of this novel is that the background stories - Benni's job and a new romantic interest after losing her husband recently - never get in the way of the main story. The main plot revolves around Benni finding several bodies and how she solves these murders as a way to remove suspicion from herself.
I'll be looking to read future books in this serious.
I'll be looking to read future books in this serious.
April 25, 2017
Wie schade, dass mein Englisch nicht ausreicht, die Feinheiten der Käbbeleien zwischen den Protas im Detail zu verstehen, sonst könen nte ich die fehlenden Bücher ja in Englisch lesen.
Die Kombinantion Quilting und Krimi ist wundervoll - mit Strickrunden würde es mir sicher noch besser gefallen - aber Handarbeit und Museum ist ja schon toll
Die Kombinantion Quilting und Krimi ist wundervoll - mit Strickrunden würde es mir sicher noch besser gefallen - aber Handarbeit und Museum ist ja schon toll
dnf
July 1, 2016I just couldn't really get into this and when my choices where this or rereading an Asaro book, there wasn't much competition.
October 9, 2017
The writing style was fine but the too many poor decisions on Benny's part and out of nowhere instant romance with the police chef, despite her still mourning her late husband, just killed it for me.
January 2, 2018
Fresh and funny.
January 27, 2018
Although it takes place in Southern California, it is filled with Southern humor. The Characters are well developed in this cozy murder mystery.
January 8, 2020
What a pleasure to read this 1994 mystery, where people leave messages on answering machines (no ubiquitous cell phones) and protagonist Benni wears nylons! It takes place on the Central Coast of California in a fictional town called San Celina. The town is well described and makes an indelible impression. Outside town are Ramsey Ranch, where Benni grew up, and Harper Ranch, where she lived with her husband until his death in an automobile accident.
There are many characters, all unique and interesting. Benni’s job of 3 months is managing a folk art museum with artist studios, so an array of oddball artists are involved. Her aunts Dove and Garnet are maybe a bit over the top. There are cocktail waitresses, good ole’ cowboys, Latino friends and family, newspaper guys, and a new chief of police named Gabe Ortiz who falls for Benni and her long blond braid.
The plot involves one death by awl, and another by bullet. There’s quilt lore and a quilt display, sleepless nights, blackmail, good friends who go way back to grade school, people who drink too much, anger and grief. Events challenge the two main characters, forcing them to move forward with their lives. There’s a love-hate romance, of course, and by the last page, a mystery is solved that few knew existed.
When I was younger and felt overwhelmed by problems and too much to do, I used to (ridiculously) clean out my purse, a delaying tactic that was at least doing something. A good friend and I once discovered we both have this habit, which cemented our friendship. Here is Benni doing the same thing, so I had to like her (and the author).
One quote (p. 164) Benni is in a bar/restaurant, trying to think over something she just learned but her male companion is chatting on, even eating her sandwich because she is so distracted she can’t eat. He doesn’t notice because: “I only half listened, nodding and commenting at the right intervals, a talent most women pick up somewhere in junior high and utilize far more often the rest of their lives than any algebraic formula.”
It was a good read. It became a series, and I may read the next book.
There are many characters, all unique and interesting. Benni’s job of 3 months is managing a folk art museum with artist studios, so an array of oddball artists are involved. Her aunts Dove and Garnet are maybe a bit over the top. There are cocktail waitresses, good ole’ cowboys, Latino friends and family, newspaper guys, and a new chief of police named Gabe Ortiz who falls for Benni and her long blond braid.
The plot involves one death by awl, and another by bullet. There’s quilt lore and a quilt display, sleepless nights, blackmail, good friends who go way back to grade school, people who drink too much, anger and grief. Events challenge the two main characters, forcing them to move forward with their lives. There’s a love-hate romance, of course, and by the last page, a mystery is solved that few knew existed.
When I was younger and felt overwhelmed by problems and too much to do, I used to (ridiculously) clean out my purse, a delaying tactic that was at least doing something. A good friend and I once discovered we both have this habit, which cemented our friendship. Here is Benni doing the same thing, so I had to like her (and the author).
One quote (p. 164) Benni is in a bar/restaurant, trying to think over something she just learned but her male companion is chatting on, even eating her sandwich because she is so distracted she can’t eat. He doesn’t notice because: “I only half listened, nodding and commenting at the right intervals, a talent most women pick up somewhere in junior high and utilize far more often the rest of their lives than any algebraic formula.”
It was a good read. It became a series, and I may read the next book.
September 13, 2019
In Earlene Fowler's Fool's Puzzle, the first installment in the Benni Harper cozy mystery series, this debut would keep you in suspense and care for the characters. Albenia "Benni" Harper is a widow and missing the love of her life. When she works at a museum for the craft show, she discovers the dead body of one of her closest friends. It had left her rattled and shaken to see her friend Marla died. While she did some snooping around, she ran into the new sheriff in town, Gabriel Ortiz, who gave Benni a hard time. While she couldn't think of anyone who would harm Marla, she had to deal with her cousin Rita and track her down to locate her for her aunt. Though she goes toe to toe with Ortiz, she ran into some interesting information that might have to do with her husband's death and her former in-law's ranching business. As she learned new information, she discovered a second dead body, someone else who worked for the museum. While Benni looks to connect the dots between the two murders, she gets closer to the truth on what's been going on behind the scenes and who was responsible for her husband's death. Behind the secrets and lies, she comes face to face with the culprit to find out why and deals things her way in an intense climax.
April 9, 2025
Nastolgic read for me. I read these back in my young adult years. I did not remember at all the more mature themes. While we never went into the bedroom, so to speak, the conversation were a little more than I felt comfortable reading, for a prude. 😉
I know this is not published as a Christian novel and it would classify as clean fiction. Some language. It still felt very unnecessary to the story.
The mystery whodunit was fun for me because I had a harder time figuring out the why, until it became clear and that was a fun ride.
Wish there was a bit more quilt information but it was more a theme than anything else.
Can't wait to see what Bennie is up to next.
I know this is not published as a Christian novel and it would classify as clean fiction. Some language. It still felt very unnecessary to the story.
The mystery whodunit was fun for me because I had a harder time figuring out the why, until it became clear and that was a fun ride.
Wish there was a bit more quilt information but it was more a theme than anything else.
Can't wait to see what Bennie is up to next.
May 30, 2021
I read this book when it first came out 16 years ago and decided to re-read it. Fortunately, I had forgotten whodunit, so I enjoyed this cozy mystery as much as I enjoyed it the first time. A likable heroine, interesting people in her life, humor, mystery, and a touch of romance. I plan to read my way through the rest of the series.
February 16, 2025
Really liked Benni...so spunky!
July 30, 2021
Love the Benni Harper series that Im re-reading all of them again.
July 21, 2020
A standard murder mystery is freshened by appealing and relatable characters, cheeky dialogue, and a smolderific romance. Loved this series and enjoyed a revisit with protagonist Benni Harper and gang.
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