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.
Rats! Just when I was telling myself I needed to focus on finishing book series that I've already started, I came across "Fool's Puzzle" by Earlene Fowler. Having a deep interests in quilts, especially the traditional patterns, the cover caught my eye. And being a mystery lover - well, how could I resist?Earlene Fowler has written a mystery that represents to me the best of the cozy genre: intriguing amateur sleuth, small-town atmosphere, and fascinating relationships in a unique setting (in this case, an artists' co-op). Benni Harper is a believable character. Less than perfect, she gets exasperated with some of relatives and friends and is none too kind when she feels backed in to a corner. On the other hand, she has a generous heart and a relatively honest outlook on life. She has had a lot to deal with, with a husband who died after drinking irresponsibly. As many who lose someone unexpectedly tend to do, Benni tries to blame everyone except the deceased. But she is slowly coming to the realization, I think, that nobody really could have done anything to keep her husband from self-destructing. And now it is time for Benni's life to move on.I sometimes wonder why I continue to read cozys. Typically, someone is murdered, an amateur sleuth gets involved to the dismay of the local police, finds herself in danger, but ultimately solves the case with lectures from the police along the way about staying out of it. Ultimately, it all boils down as to whether evokes (1) an emotion, (2) a feeling of connection, or (3) something indefinably intriguing that keeps me wanting to read more. In the case of Benni Harper, I'm three for three.This really is a very good series-starter or as a stand alone. It does have a satisfying ending although with obvious room for a sequel. As for the second book in the series - yes, I plan to read it.
Do You like book Fool's Puzzle (1995)?
Good solid cozy mystery with a feisty, amusing, entertaining main female character. Benni Harper sometimes seems like your basic strong country ranching woman with a solid family and friend support group. At other times she seems flighty and at loose ends. I suppose, like many of us, she's a combination of the two, especially as she deals with the loss of her husband to drunk driving and trying to rebuild her life in a small town. She becomes embroiled in a murder mystery and, of course, gets more involved than she should be. There's some flirtation going on with the temporary chief of police as well as some mild romance with the son of the local newspaper owner. Good characters, fast-moving story, good ending. I'll definitely read more in this series.Favorite quote about Benni, "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. Most of the time anyway. I think."On family: "Because the whole point is, we're all a part of the people we love and they're a part of us and that never changes; it's a whole long chain, not held together by genetics but by something we can't see or measure."
—Connie N.
A Benni Harper mysteryBenni 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.
—Homewood Public Library
This was an enjoyable, fun read. I especially enjoyed the place descriptions, as the town in which the story is set is based on my own hometown of San Luis Obispo, California. This is the first in a series, and I'm looking forward to reading the others as well. The title is based on the name of a quilt pattern, as are all the titles in this mystery series. The stories all have something to do, however loosely, with quilting or other folk art, since the main character, Benni Harper, is the curator of the local folk art museum. I've recently become acquainted with our local quilting organization (and Earlene Fowler's books) through a co-worker. I attended their annual fundraising auction this past autumn. They do a lot of great work in the community, and I've been fascinated to learn more about the quilting subculture, which even extends to literature!
—Leni Leanne Phillips
