With Fool's Puzzle, Irish Chain, Kansas Troubles, and Goose in the Pond, two-time Agatha Award-nominee Earlene Fowler introduced Benni Harper, the ex-cowgirl of San Celina, whose talent for piecing together quilts is rivaled only by her talent for piecing together clues. Now Benni is sorting out a complicated patchwork of motives that marks someone very close to her as the possible murder suspect of a talented photographer. Once again, Earlene Fowler succeeds in presenting a mystery filled with puzzling twists, delightful atmosphere, and the wit that has made her a favorite among fans.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Dove in the Window
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From Kirkus Reviews
A fifth go-around for Benni Harper (Goose in the Pond, 1997, not reviewed, etc.), the ranch-bred widow of Jack Harper, whos now married to San Celica, California, Police Chief Gabe Ortiz. San Celica is having a Heritage Days celebration, and Benni, as curator of the Folk Arts Museum and Artists Co-op, is in the thick of it. Her elegant southern cousin Emory Littleton (with a mega-crush on Bennis best friend Elvia Aragon) is staying with her, and at her fathers ranch, presided over by Grandmother Dove, a huge family gathering is in progress. Disaster strikes when talented young photographer Shelby Johnson is found dead one early morningmurder or accident? Ranch-hand Kip Waterman and hard-drinking Wade Harper, brother of Bennis late husband, had come to blows over Shelby the night before. Matters worsen when, days latter, Kips drowned body is discovered behind the Frio Saloon. Through it all, Benni has to calm her artist friends Olivia Contreras and Greer Shannon, deal with a zillion chores, and cope with the unexpected presence of renowned photographer Isaac Lyons, Shelbys stepgrandfather, who seems smitten with Grandma Dove. In the end, its Bennis investigative collaboration with Isaac (over Gabes strong objections) that brings a killer to a kind of justice. The quest for whodunit is all but buried under Bennis breezy down-home chatter, sometimes mawkish soul-searching, and descriptions of the celebrations endless eventsfrom the local gallerys show of women artists to the Cow-Plop contest. But Bennis warmly likable persona makes it all worthwhileespecially for lovers of the cozy genre. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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 large number of quilts, and twenty pairs of cowboy boots.
--This text refers to the
Mass Market Paperback
edition.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Karen J
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I thought it was a decent mystery.
That aside, there are two types of novels I read: those I could recommend to my grandmother, and those I cannot. I read both, but unfortunately, this was in the latter category. And it's listed as a quilting novel, for goodness sake! Now I am just 30, not an old lady, and I am no prude; but the trucker's mouth on Benni Harper just wouldn't sit well with anyone else I know who enjoys quilting. Besides that, this book barely touches on quilting. For all that it affects the plot, she could be wrestling alligators. Disappointing, considering all Ms. Fowler's books have quilt pattern titles.
If you are looking for a book that incorporates the spirit of quilting with a good story, I would recommend any of Jennifer Chiaverini's novels, or Alice's Tulips or The Persian Pickle Club, both by Sandra Dallas.
Format:Mass Market Paperback
In this fifth book of the Earlene Fowler quilting series, the community of San Celina is getting ready for Heritage Days and Benni Harper, the curator of the local folk art museum is encouraging quilters, painters and photographers to complete their projects for the show. An exhibit of women artists who specialize in Western scenes is expected to be very popular with the visitors.
Benni and her husband Gabe are still working out the kinks in their new marriage and the surprise visit of a former brother-in-law causes dissention between them. Grandmother Dove is as feisty as ever and cousin Emory visits from Arkansas. At the annual Harper family barbecue, a young and talented photographer is found dead and Benni's concerned because the young woman had confided a serious problem to her.
There's always a lot going on in these stories and the author does a great job of keeping the reader interested in all of the different plots.
Format:Hardcover
Although this is a soft-boiled, fun series, I find that the protagonist is too self-centered and whiny. The fact that she is the only person who believes that her ex-brother-in-law, Wade, is innocent of two murders goes a little ways in redeeming her, but not far. As for the rest of the characters, I always enjoy books like this with large families that are close and stick together to help their own. The festitives are fun, the characters are wonderful, and this book hits the ground running and doesn't stop - despite the fact that two young people were murdered, and Benni puts herself right in the middle of finding out who did it.
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 19 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
I want to like it, but...
I want to like the Benni Harper mysteries, I really do. I like the setting, I like the characters who surround Benni, I like the mysteries, which are well-handled, I even like the... Read more
Published on Jun 14 2000
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great characters, but some irritating techniques
Earlene Fowler has peopled her Bennie Harper series with plenty of enjoyable small-town characters and an authentic, humorous, feet-on-the-coffeetable ambiance. Read more
Published on Jun 12 2000 by Suzanne B. Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars
great, fun, fast read
I love all of Earlene Fowler's books. The Benny Harper series is a great one to read at the beach. Fun, Light mysteries, that don't give you a headache trying to figure it out. Read more
Published on Feb 25 2000 by Judi Kirby
5.0 out of 5 stars
A mystery in the midst of family ties and letting go.
Earlene Fowler manages to deal with tender and poignant family struggles as well as giving the reader an exciting whodunnit. Read more
Published on Nov 2 1999 by Kimberly Bright
5.0 out of 5 stars
You'll love Dove
This is Earlene's fifth book in the series and you know that with Dove in the title, Grandma Dove will be featured a bit more. Read more
Published on May 20 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
You'll love Dove!
Once again, Earlene Fowler had me hooked right from the beginning in this fifth book in her series. For those of us who love Grandma Dove, this book is especially wonderful since... Read more
Published on May 14 1999
4.0 out of 5 stars
Amusing and Sweet
As usual, Earlene Fowler invites us into her story with quick-witted dialog and characters drawn with razor-edged believability. Read more
Published on April 27 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Earlene Fowler just keeps getting better and better!
"I'm going to kill you, Benni Harper." Benni's gone and done it again.....gotten herself mixed up in a murder mystery. Read more
Published on Feb 15 1999 by Quiltmom
5.0 out of 5 stars
Iloved this one
San Celina, California native Benni Harper is curator of the Josiah Sinclair Folk Art Museum and Artist's Co-op. Her spouse of nine months, Gabe Ortiz is the local chief of police. Read more
Published on Mar 19 1998
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
