The Saddlemaker's Wife

At first you might be disappointed that Benni Harper is missing, but you will fall in love with Ruby. Another stunning book by Earlene Fowler that I could not put down! I consumed it in one sitting. 3 of the most stellar characters are Ruby, Lincoln Holyoke, and Birch. These are solid, dependable people that have had their share of life's rollercoaster, but you'll want to hop on and ride with them. Thank-you Earlene. I cannot wait for your next book.

Earlene Fowler's first mainstream novel is a winner! The characters of Ruby and Lucas, Bobby and Birch, and even Cole will stay with you long after you turn the last page. I loved the town of Cardinal and Lucas's saddle shop, and wanted to book a room at the Tokopah Lodge for myself. This book is part love story, part family saga, and all a great book I will definitely read again and buy for my friends.

I was originally disappointed when I learned that there wouldn't be a Benni Harper mystery this year. However, my disappointment was quickly eliminated. I couldn't put the book down. The characters were so well written and believable. I was immediately taken to Cardinal and drawn into the characters lives. The whole McGavin family is so easy to relate to, yet so complex you can't stop turning pages to learn more. I loved the fact that it was a mystery, a love story, and a drama, all at the same time.

Cole and Ruby McGavin were married six months when he died in an apparent accident in which his truck was found in the bottom of a ravine. Ruby mourns her sudden loss, but receives a second shocker when she learns that she inherited part of his family spread, the Circle MG Ranch in Cardinal, Tokopah County, California. The stunner is that Cole insisted his entire family died ironically in a car accident near Bakersfield. Taking Cole's ashes to his hometown while also planning to sell her share of the ranch, Ruby meets her in-laws. Cole's Aunt Birch is especially welcoming to her, the total opposite of her mother-in-law June, who treats her with disdain and fears she will bankrupt their spread with her quarter share. However, the biggest surprise is Lucas, Cole's younger brother, a former San Francisco lawyer who came home to become an impoverish saddlemaker. He has the same obsession as her, a need to know what drove Cole to deny his family's existence. They team up to learn the truth, but family members are silent leading them to Cole's friends as their only hope. Displaying her talent without Benni Harper to help, Agatha Award winner Earlene Fowler provides a deep family drama starring two likable protagonists needing to know the secret that led to Cole's actions. The story line is character driven especially indirectly by the late Cole. Fans of powerful psychological thrillers that require a one sitting read will want to know why at least as much as THE SADDLEMAKER'S WIFE needs to know too Harriet Klausner

I love the Benni mysteries but this was a really terrific book. For some reason as I read this one I was really taken by her ability to write. There were just a lot of passages that I'd read and think how terrific they were. The story is compelling, the characters, as always so very human. I never thought I'd want to encourage anything that would take away from my getting a Benni book but I really want to know what happens next to these people. Again, I don't understand telling the story in a review because that's why we buy books, but it is a story of self discovery as well as of unpacking a husband's past that the wife was unaware of. That past includes a family she thought was dead. As you can imagine things don't run smoothly with the family. I will be glad to recommend this book to any of my friends who love a good book. The editorial review said this might be her breakout book and I hope that is true. She deserves a lot more attention than she gets. If you love Earlene Fowler's Benni books you'll love this. They are in no way the same but the quality is just as high. In the end I was surprised by some of the revelations and pleased by others. There's sadness and love and struggles, all the things life is all about. Just a great read.