What do you think?
Rate this book
Benni Harper #3
Kansas Troubles
On her honeymoon visit to meet the in-laws, Benni has to sort through sweetie's childhood and longtime best friends to find who killed ex-Amish ambitious singer. The quilt is the clue, an obvious reason, but the names of the pattern is what Benni has to remember to solve the person responsible.
306 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1996
17 people are currently reading
568 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
February 4, 2016
This was one of my favorite books in this series. I love the affection between Benni and Gabe and in this one they are newlyweds. Of course I forgot they spend most of the book mad at each other, but the end made up for it. I also like how you get to see a little bit more into Gabe's past in this one, he's so stoic and non-sharing (which Benni points out all the time) that parts of his character remain mysterious for books and books.
September 21, 2011
I think this series just keeps getting better and better. I normally dislike books within a series that "travel" - take place outside the normal setting. This book was an exception. Really, the mystery was just excellent and the character development, the relationship between Benni and Gabe, is outstanding. I'm really looking forward to catching up with this series.
February 11, 2010
Harper and Ortiz are not only still together, but take a trip to Kansas to meet Ortiz' family. As if that ordeal weren't enough, Ortiz' high school friends come under suspicion when an aspiring local singer is murdered.
The setting for this book definitely aided character development. That's probably why I liked this book better than Irish Chain. It's likely that I'll read another in the series, but I'm not going to be running to the bookstore to buy it.
The setting for this book definitely aided character development. That's probably why I liked this book better than Irish Chain. It's likely that I'll read another in the series, but I'm not going to be running to the bookstore to buy it.
October 22, 2008
As the third book in this series, the characters are now firmly in place. This story lets you see more depth to their personalities. The murder mystery comes a little more close to home and pulls more at your emotions. Well written.
November 9, 2019
The Benni Harper series, the murder mysteries by Earlene Fowler which are named after quilting patterns, originally attracted me because the California Central Coast location for most of the stories was near the area where I grew up from elementary school through high school. Indeed, it was through Mary Daheim’s and Earline Fowler’s cozy mysteries that I decided to risk my perceived manhood by reading a genre usually featuring female protagonists and written “for” women. Frankly, some of these “cozies” are better written and have richer characters than mysteries featuring male protagonists and written “for” men. Kansas Troubles is no exception to Earline Fowler’s string of satisfying mysteries. But, as for my perceived manhood, I’m going to have to risk it by admitting that I became tremendously emotional during the epilogue/denouement.
When the mystery is solved, the reader knows that the first instinct, the armchair detective’s paranoia is correct. That’s as it should be because Kansas Troubles is a rollercoaster ride that puts a lot of ups and downs on those alleged flat plains of Kansas where the action takes place. After Benni meets the in-laws (mother and sisters-in-law), she meets an up-and-coming country western singer. After said singer is murdered, Benni is informed that this woman had left her Amish family and faith. At the same time, Bennie’s husband Gabe continues his patronizing sense of “protecting” Benni while she is inadvertently (at least, that would be her story) drawn into the mystery. It is one of those mysteries where there are plenty of good motives, but none of the motives fit quite squarely with the apparent characters of the suspects. And to complicate matters, there is trouble in paradise between Benni and her husband brought about by the stress of in-law relations, old friends, and murder.
Naturally, since the mystery hinges on the death of a former Amish woman, there is more about Benni’s faith than Fowler usually puts in the mysteries. Benni’s church upbringing, Dove’s somewhat hypocritical approach to faith (though, her idiosyncrasies are somewhat endearing in that regard and provide a comical backdrop for some of the events in this story), and Benni’s occasional thoughts about God appear throughout the series, but I don’t remember them as being as overt as the one’s in Kansas Troubles.
Consider this summary meditation on the difference between Benni’s faith and that of the Amish at one point in the book! “…lives governed by their vast set of unspoken rules, it came to me that the quandary of human life was a common predicament, that even within their ordered lives, they were filled with as much confusion and doubt as I was, especially when those lives were touched so closely by violent death, …. And that even though I believed in the same God they did, He was still so much a mystery to me, but that was somehow okay because who, after all, could possibly want to believe in a God small enough to be comprehended.” (p. 159)
And even though it wasn’t specifically about faith, Gabe is continuing to work on his graduate degree in philosophy, particularly on Kierkegaard. On the flight to Wichita, Gabe refers to thoughts about killing. At a crucial point in the story, one learns what the foreshadowing was all about and how it relates to Benni’s faith. “What Gabe’s philosopher said was true—what we fear most isn’t being killed, but killing, because only then do we understand the ugliness of our true natures. How each of us is, without God’s grace, utterly and entirely capable of murder.” (pp. 281-282) I also liked the line which could apply both to philosophy and faith: “Truth, even when it was painful, was eventually always better than lies.” (p. 270)
Though, at times, it seemed like Fowler was overdoing the marital discord scenes, Kansas Traveller continues to be a cut above the other cozies I have risked. Of course, if I were reading a review like this, I would wonder why some emotional old man’s perspective has any value.
When the mystery is solved, the reader knows that the first instinct, the armchair detective’s paranoia is correct. That’s as it should be because Kansas Troubles is a rollercoaster ride that puts a lot of ups and downs on those alleged flat plains of Kansas where the action takes place. After Benni meets the in-laws (mother and sisters-in-law), she meets an up-and-coming country western singer. After said singer is murdered, Benni is informed that this woman had left her Amish family and faith. At the same time, Bennie’s husband Gabe continues his patronizing sense of “protecting” Benni while she is inadvertently (at least, that would be her story) drawn into the mystery. It is one of those mysteries where there are plenty of good motives, but none of the motives fit quite squarely with the apparent characters of the suspects. And to complicate matters, there is trouble in paradise between Benni and her husband brought about by the stress of in-law relations, old friends, and murder.
Naturally, since the mystery hinges on the death of a former Amish woman, there is more about Benni’s faith than Fowler usually puts in the mysteries. Benni’s church upbringing, Dove’s somewhat hypocritical approach to faith (though, her idiosyncrasies are somewhat endearing in that regard and provide a comical backdrop for some of the events in this story), and Benni’s occasional thoughts about God appear throughout the series, but I don’t remember them as being as overt as the one’s in Kansas Troubles.
Consider this summary meditation on the difference between Benni’s faith and that of the Amish at one point in the book! “…lives governed by their vast set of unspoken rules, it came to me that the quandary of human life was a common predicament, that even within their ordered lives, they were filled with as much confusion and doubt as I was, especially when those lives were touched so closely by violent death, …. And that even though I believed in the same God they did, He was still so much a mystery to me, but that was somehow okay because who, after all, could possibly want to believe in a God small enough to be comprehended.” (p. 159)
And even though it wasn’t specifically about faith, Gabe is continuing to work on his graduate degree in philosophy, particularly on Kierkegaard. On the flight to Wichita, Gabe refers to thoughts about killing. At a crucial point in the story, one learns what the foreshadowing was all about and how it relates to Benni’s faith. “What Gabe’s philosopher said was true—what we fear most isn’t being killed, but killing, because only then do we understand the ugliness of our true natures. How each of us is, without God’s grace, utterly and entirely capable of murder.” (pp. 281-282) I also liked the line which could apply both to philosophy and faith: “Truth, even when it was painful, was eventually always better than lies.” (p. 270)
Though, at times, it seemed like Fowler was overdoing the marital discord scenes, Kansas Traveller continues to be a cut above the other cozies I have risked. Of course, if I were reading a review like this, I would wonder why some emotional old man’s perspective has any value.
June 3, 2017
Wow! Fowler had become SUCH a better writer by this 3rd book in her Benni Harper mystery series. Characters more solid. Writing much crisper and more descriptive. Exciting plot on both interpersonal and crime levels. Since I have family in Kansas I really enjoyed the setting. The Vietnam War effect on vets is a well done subplot thread. And I've not even mentioned the Amish angle nor her now established theme of quilting and quilt patterns in the stories' structures. Looking forward to reading more of her!
January 25, 2009
This book in the Fowler Quilt series is a predictable, easy-read that everyone needs every now and again. Benni Harper, amateur sleuth, travels to Kansas and becomes involved in a murder investigation. As in weekly TV series, the reader scrutinizes clues, formulates hypotheses, modifies conclusions based on unfolding events, etc. The book is an easy, predictable problem-solving adventure for mystery lovers.
October 4, 2016
This was my first Benni Harper, recommended by the librarian. In retrospect, I would recommend reading them in order. But by the end of the book, I definitely wanted to know more about these characters. I read all fifteen books in the series in two months. This particular book was fun for me because I am from Kansas. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the story line kept me guessing until the end. Earlene Fowler has rapidly become one of my favorite authors.
December 31, 2013
Whenever I try to do research on Kansas this book pops up so I finally gave in a got a copy. It was a fun mystery set in the general area where I grew up. The heroine has spunk but also a serious side. It was a fun read. Just what we all need at times.
July 20, 2016
#3 in the Benni Harper series. Really enjoying reading these books. The predictable murder or two happens early on, and the twists and turns to find the person responsible makes for a wild rid.
July 11, 2016
I like a mystery that has a surprising ending, AND can make me laugh in places!
May 26, 2022
Benni Harper is always a good read. A little mystery, a little family, a good story and good writing. This is a nice gentle read to escape crazy reality with a dip into a more peaceful Amish world.
Earlene Fowler writes descriptively of the setting. It took me right back to a tiny Kansas town with the grain silos and the pickup trucks. It triggered the PTSD I had from meeting my Kansas mother-in-law. (Of course, Benni's meeting has a much happier ending.)
The characters are well developed and believable. The motivations make sense. It is a very comfortable read.
A great book to grab when you want to go back to a strong community.
Earlene Fowler writes descriptively of the setting. It took me right back to a tiny Kansas town with the grain silos and the pickup trucks. It triggered the PTSD I had from meeting my Kansas mother-in-law. (Of course, Benni's meeting has a much happier ending.)
The characters are well developed and believable. The motivations make sense. It is a very comfortable read.
A great book to grab when you want to go back to a strong community.
April 11, 2025
3.5
I enjoyed the more details about the quilts. I liked the realistic view of the Amish (as one who lives in an Amish community), and getting to see Benni and Gabe more as a married couple was fun.
Would recommend this to mature readers as there is some adult content--again, we're taken to the bedroom but not necessarily inside, so to speak. The mystery whodunit wasn't as challenging as the first one I read. I did appreciate the Vietnam that Gabe was working through and how that was handled.
I enjoyed the more details about the quilts. I liked the realistic view of the Amish (as one who lives in an Amish community), and getting to see Benni and Gabe more as a married couple was fun.
Would recommend this to mature readers as there is some adult content--again, we're taken to the bedroom but not necessarily inside, so to speak. The mystery whodunit wasn't as challenging as the first one I read. I did appreciate the Vietnam that Gabe was working through and how that was handled.
October 1, 2017
This is the first novel by this author that I've read. Even though it's the third in the series I decided to jump in and read it since I already had it, and have been curious about the Benni Harper mysteries that I'd heard so much about. I did find it to be a good read, though there were some inconsistencies, and at least one item was left hanging, IMO. I also really disliked the condescending attitudes of the males in parts of the story, including her husband. And speaking of the latter, he sure wasn't very warm and loving, and, in fact, seem to spend most of the time being aloof and/or disapproving. Ugh.
However, despite those negatives, I did like it. I got a kick out of the setting of Kansas; not too many mysteries are set there so it was refreshing. I really liked her sisters-in-law, as well as Hannah, the Amish sister of the victim. I appreciated that the quilts were an integral part of the story, and not just sprinkled in "because". I felt the story moved right along, and made for an easy read. I'm glad that I finally gave the series a try.
However, despite those negatives, I did like it. I got a kick out of the setting of Kansas; not too many mysteries are set there so it was refreshing. I really liked her sisters-in-law, as well as Hannah, the Amish sister of the victim. I appreciated that the quilts were an integral part of the story, and not just sprinkled in "because". I felt the story moved right along, and made for an easy read. I'm glad that I finally gave the series a try.
July 27, 2016
Benni Harper married Police chief Gabe Ortiz just three months after they started dating. Now they are travelling back to Kansas where Gabe's family lives. Shortly after they arrive, a young budding country singer is found murdered while they are at a party held in their honour. Benni loves to be a amateur sleuth much to the dismay of her new husband. She suspects many different people in the town forgetting Gabe grew up with these people. It was a cute book, love the sarcastic humour ours comments between Gabe and Benni.
August 8, 2010
I picked this solely for its title, which turns out to be the name of a quilt pattern. Mystery in small town Kansas with lots of references to Derby, Pretty Prairie, Wichita, and a thinly disguised Yoder Kansas.
I have no doubt that the author visited the places mentioned. Descriptions are dead on.
California folk-art expert meets her new husband's family and solves the murder of an Amish girl by knowing her quilts. Remarkable.
I have no doubt that the author visited the places mentioned. Descriptions are dead on.
California folk-art expert meets her new husband's family and solves the murder of an Amish girl by knowing her quilts. Remarkable.
March 23, 2012
Better than the last in the series. Benni and Ortiz have impetuously married (apparently they don't believe in premarital sex or they would have just knocked boots) and are now wondering if love is enough to overcome stubborness and the problems in their relationship. And one of Ortiz's childhood amigos might be a killer. Count on Benni to get herself in mortal danger at least once (that is getting tired) and to solve the mystery.
May 7, 2015
A good entry in the Benni Harper series. In this one she travels to Kansas to meet her in-laws and Gabe's friends. It seems to me that this cozy series is a little more adult than most cozies and I appreciate that. The murder mystery is well done. Gabe comes across as a non-sharing butthead in this one and Benni seems quite immature, but that served to make it a little more real for me. There are a lot of people like that in the real world. Recommended.
Read
February 25, 2016Newlyweds museum curator Benni Harper and San Celina, California Police Chief Gabe Ortiz go home to Kansas so that Benni can meet Gabe's family. When a promising country singer is found dead, frustrated Gabe is out of his jurisdiction but that doesn't stop Benni from asking questions. This is a great cozy mystery series. I enjoy the imperfect marriage between Benni and Gabe and thought this mystery to be a very good one with a lot of suspects to choose from!
January 20, 2024
Benni Harper and Gabe Ortiz, both strong-willed, newly married, clash as they solve a murder In Gabe's Kansas. For quilt lovers there's LOTS of fun quilt stuff. Also, rodeo details, Kansas touristy stuff, and Benni's Grandma Dove embarks on zany road trip with a travelling evangelist. Oh, and Daphne, a grouchy cute Boston Terrier.
July 14, 2013
Great story! Ms. Fowler has a gift for story telling! Reading about Benni Harper, her friends and family are so detailed, I feel like they're my friends! And all the quilting information is a wonderful bonus! Thank you!!
Read
August 10, 2013I just love Earlene Fowler's books about the lovable Benni Harper. This novel explores more of the relationship between Benni and her husband Gabe. It is an absolute must read. This is the second time I have read it and it never gets tired.
March 30, 2016
I didn't realize how much I had missed Benni Harper! I'm not really into the whole Western Cattle rancher thing, but it works in this book. The main character has a great personality and the plot is always fresh.
June 1, 2016
Benni and Gabe travel to Kansas to meet his family. At a welcoming party an young singer who has high hopes, is murdered. Benni and Gabe help the locals find the one responsible. Could it be one of Gabe's lifelong friends? A quilt that Tyler made is the clue to solving the case.
November 15, 2017
Benni Harper #3
November 26, 2007
Benni Harper Mystery
June 25, 2008
Loved this one!!!
July 3, 2008
This is my least favorite in the series.
January 19, 2009
Another mystery series that is fun to read without the gore...
March 28, 2010
A good read - especially in the winter, since it takes place during the humid summer in Kansas.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews