Broken Dishes (Benni Harper Mystery)

I like Benni Harper and don't think she's a ninny at all! She's reads like a real person who has married perhaps a little too quickly, but is doing the best she can to learn how to live with another flawed human being. I think that the reviewers who think she is a ninny are just plain wrong! If you look back at all of the other books she has shown herself to be a loyal, compassionate, loving wife, friend and child. So she flirts a little with Hud. Get over it, people. Being married to someone as attractive as Gabe, she probably has to take the backseat way too often in their relationship. All I can say is if the reviewers don't like her as a character, there's an easy solution. Read something else! I like Benni and will continue to follow her adventures for as long as the author wants to write them.

Set at a guest ranch with a group of quilters and a group of hunters, Benni helps her friends begin their new enterprise. All our favorite characters come into play in this book. Dove and Sam are there to help with Gabe, Elvia and Emory coming for the weekend to do their part. Even Benni's cousin Rita is back, avoiding work as much as possible. Fowler brings the reader into the dude ranch world. It's a fun, lively experience with storms, a goose in love, and, of course, a murder...

I have read all of the Benni Harper books written by Earlene Fowler and have enjoyed every single one of them. When I finish one of Earlene's books I always feel a little sad knowing that these characters I have read about have almost become friends and I want to continue to learn more about them and their lives.I love the fact that Earlene keeps quilts as a theme and find it amazing that she can weave a mystery with so many threads! Great job Earlene! Until we meet again.! Watch out for the duck!

I have followed this series from the very beginning and the characters just get deeper and more like real friends. I look forward to each book for a new visit with old friends. This book throws Benni together with several old acquaintances and a group of new people who are great fun. But the real fun is the continuing back and forth with Hud. The setting is a Dude ranch that is an attempt to save a family cattle ranch by the younger generation. Old bones are found by the ranch dog and an investigation into who they are and why they are there and if there was a crime insues. In with that is the tensions among the ranch folks, the guests, Benni's family who are helping and of course, Hud. The addition of Hud's grandfather is a wonderful one and getting to know the new characters and catching up with the old ones is what her readers look for. Add possible arson, a crazy goose and lots of color and you've got a great, fun book.