Arkansas Traveler (Benni Harper Mystery)

The books in this series are all named after real patchwork quilt patterns. Benni Harper is the curator of a folk art museum in San Celina, California who was raised by her father and grandmother on a ranch. She married at a very young age and ranched with her husband for 15 years. After her husband was killed, she moved to town, where she met and later married her second husband, police chief Gabriel Ortiz. I like the way the author explores class and cultural differences through relationships: Benni's husband is a Latino man who can be very macho; her best friend Elvia is a sophisticated Latina bookstore manager; Elvia is dating Benni's wealthy cousin Emory, who moved from Arkansas to San Celina so he could woo Elvia. Arkansas Traveler is the eighth book in the series. Benni, Emory, Elvia and Gabe travel to Benni's hometown of Sugartree, Arkansas for the Sugartree Baptist Church?s Homecoming. The book is an excellent exploration of life and race relations in a small Southern town, but it is not strident. Benni is angry and embarrassed by the hostility and prejudice some of the townspeople show toward Gabe and Elvia; a black church and a white church need to merge to survive but both congregations are against racial mixing; Benni's childhood friend Amen, the first black woman to run for mayor, is having trouble with white supremacists, one of whom is her opponent's son. The son is killed, Amen's nephew is arrested and Benni gets involved in trying to solve the murder. Secrets and lies abound, but leavening the mix is a comic subplot involving a long-simmering feud between Benni's grandmother and the grandmother's sister that erupts into a cooking battle. This is a thought-provoking book and it's the best in a good series. You will want to run out and get all the other Benni Harper books.

Ms. Fowler doesn't sugar coat the racism issue and the ugliness of it angered me. I say to live and let live. It's sad to think that such treatment of people still happens today. There is so much more to focus on than race. There are no answers found in her book but we can only hope that it will make people think before acting. Words can be more hurtful than physical abuse. With each book Earlene Fowler got better and better. I thought I might get tired of them by the time I read all 8 books. But that didn't happen. I've grown attached to Benni and will miss her antics...but not for long, Ms. Fowler is due to release, Steps to the Altar, in April 2002. I look forward to reading it. Though Mariner's Compass won the Agatha Award for Best Novel in 1999 I believe this last book, Arkansas Traveler, proved to be her best. I felt the emotions, the good and the bad, and the end brought tears to my eyes. Ms. Fowler, keep up the great work!

Earlene Fowler has dealt with the thorny issue of bigotry throughout her Benni Harper Mystery Series, but usually as a subplot for the main character's Hispanic husband, Gabe. In "Arkansas Traveler" she faces traditional Southern bigoty head-on and does not flinch. No wonder it made the L.A. Times Bestseller List!She deftly juggles numerous characters and their individual stories, both new and established. Now I can't wait for the upcoming weddings!Write faster, Earlene!

Arkansas Traveler is a wonderful addition to the Benni Harper series. The author has branched out with a bold statement about racism and the heart of people. She twists in a murder while two churches are attempting to merge. The characters are wonderful. The reader gets a new understanding of Benni's best friend Elvia and Benni's husband Gabe. The rest of her family comes to life too. There is a delightful Southern charm to Arkansas Traveler. Growing up in the South made all of the references to food and stores a lot of fun! From Piggly Wiggly to the Waffle House- I was completely entertained. Yet again, I love how Earlene gives credit to the Lord in her novel. Once again, He has blessed her with the gift of writing!

The author has provided pure reading pleasure in Arkansas Traveler. The character backgrounds are complete. Really like the tie in with the E.R. missing quilt. I was glad Benni was able to see Gabe do his job so well. The homecoming was a wonderful setting for the book. I felt the author did a wonderful job with Amen and her family. You can feel the love throughout the whole book with all that were involved.