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Benni Harper #15
Spider Web
Benni Harper is back in an unforgettable new mystery from national bestselling author Earlene Fowler.
The Memory Festival is a celebration of recollections and loved ones through crafts. But when a local cop is wounded by a mysterious sharpshooter who seems to have a vendetta against the police, Benni fears for her loved ones, especially her police chief husband. Benni is determined to make her hometown safe-before their peaceful street fair becomes a day to remember in the worst way.
The Memory Festival is a celebration of recollections and loved ones through crafts. But when a local cop is wounded by a mysterious sharpshooter who seems to have a vendetta against the police, Benni fears for her loved ones, especially her police chief husband. Benni is determined to make her hometown safe-before their peaceful street fair becomes a day to remember in the worst way.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2011
42 people are currently reading
575 people want to read
About the author
Earlene Fowler
45 books358 followersEarlene 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 purple pickup truck, and many pairs of cowboy boots. She is currently working on the next Benni Harper mystery.
Series:
* Benni Harper Mysteries
* Love Mercy Johnson Mystery
Series:
* Benni Harper Mysteries
* Love Mercy Johnson Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
June 15, 2012
I adore Earlene Fowler's books, and have a soft spot for Benni Harper Ortiz. I've eagerly awaited and consumed each and every entry in the series.
Never before have I been disappointed in the writer, the series, or Benni herself... until Spider Web.
The writing is as flawless as ever, and all our favorite characters are there, from Dove to Elvia to Hud. BUT... what is missing is a real mystery. The whodunnit in this book is a mere side note, and what takes center stage is Benni's personal angst. Who is this stranger who seems to know more about Benni and her husband than she should? Is she a past love of Gabe? If so, why is she here?
What bothers me the most, though, is why Benni automatically assumes that this woman is up to no good. And instead of just asking her directly, or going right to Gabe, she BREAKS INTO THIS WOMAN'S HOTEL ROOM and hires a private investigator (at cousin Emory's expense) to figure out what's going on. She's definitely flipped a cork, and taken Hud and Emory with her. Not at all what I would expect from someone who claims to care so much about right and wrong.
If these guys were real friends they'd tell her to knock it off and just ask Gabe what was up, instead of jumping into Benni's delusions with her.
What saves this book from being a two-star is the seamless writing and Earlene Fowler's obvious love for her characters and the central coast of California. I hope she reins Benni in before the next book in the series.
Never before have I been disappointed in the writer, the series, or Benni herself... until Spider Web.
The writing is as flawless as ever, and all our favorite characters are there, from Dove to Elvia to Hud. BUT... what is missing is a real mystery. The whodunnit in this book is a mere side note, and what takes center stage is Benni's personal angst. Who is this stranger who seems to know more about Benni and her husband than she should? Is she a past love of Gabe? If so, why is she here?
What bothers me the most, though, is why Benni automatically assumes that this woman is up to no good. And instead of just asking her directly, or going right to Gabe, she BREAKS INTO THIS WOMAN'S HOTEL ROOM and hires a private investigator (at cousin Emory's expense) to figure out what's going on. She's definitely flipped a cork, and taken Hud and Emory with her. Not at all what I would expect from someone who claims to care so much about right and wrong.
If these guys were real friends they'd tell her to knock it off and just ask Gabe what was up, instead of jumping into Benni's delusions with her.
What saves this book from being a two-star is the seamless writing and Earlene Fowler's obvious love for her characters and the central coast of California. I hope she reins Benni in before the next book in the series.
April 26, 2021
I read the first 14 volumes in this series over a decade ago, and it honestly never occurred to me to see if there were any of Fowler's books that I hadn't read until I happened to spy this one on the library's shelves. This was a series, like many cozy mysteries I was reading at the time, that I picked up out of habit more than real interest. This series first attracted my attention as its main character, Benni Harper, works at a folk art museum. Unfortunately there is little time spent dealing with exhibits and folk art, and most of the pages are taken up with the day-to-day lives of Benni, and her large extended family.
This book was no exception - personal problems take precedence over the drama of a sniper's attacks on local police officers. Things draw to a mild and bloodless conclusion, with Benni's help, of course. Fowler is still alive, but apparently no longer writing. Published in 2011, this appears to be the last book in the series. Everything is summed up nicely, and it could well serve as a coda.
On the whole, the Benni Harper mysteries are pleasant, and fairly entertaining . . . but mostly forgettable.
This book was no exception - personal problems take precedence over the drama of a sniper's attacks on local police officers. Things draw to a mild and bloodless conclusion, with Benni's help, of course. Fowler is still alive, but apparently no longer writing. Published in 2011, this appears to be the last book in the series. Everything is summed up nicely, and it could well serve as a coda.
On the whole, the Benni Harper mysteries are pleasant, and fairly entertaining . . . but mostly forgettable.
June 11, 2011
Was disappointed with this one. I felt like the author was grasping to fill the pages. So much description of things that did not have anything to do with the plot, or plots. Too much going on in this one. Gabe and his nightmares, the sniper, Bennie's hangups with Gabes past and the women he had in the past. She is starting too look like a pathetic jealous nutcase! I've always enjoyed this series, but this may have done it for me.
May 31, 2011
I enjoyed this newest Benni Harper mystery (this is one of my favorite series). This book touches on the importance of the veterans around us and the problems that many veterans from vietnam have. They also found the bad guy in the end!!
January 8, 2018
This is the latest in a series of mysteries "starring" Benni Harper -- err, Ortiz. A young widow now married to the Hispanic police chief Gabe Ortiz, Benni somehow manages to get involved in all sorts of mysteries and murders. This series takes place in a town on the central coast of California -- there are ranches, wineries, galleries, historical societies, churches, festivals -- and these are settings in which Benni is very much involved. Her grandma Dove and her dad raised her on a ranch. She is a curator at a folk art museum. Her best friend is the owner of a book store in town. Her cousin runs the local newspaper. Benni is currently planning a Memories festival, setting up booths and activities. Her husband is preoccupied with the fact that a sniper has been taking potshots at police officers. And there is a strange woman in town asking probing questions about Benni and Gabe, whether they like children, what they do in their spare time, what their family is like, etc. So who IS this woman? Another one of the women Gabe "knew" before he settled down with Benni?
The mystery is engaging enough. This is not Fowler's strongest entry in the series. There are several "timing" discrepancies. And though she starts by having Benni tell everyone how BUSY she is, and how things will get easier next week after the festival, she still somehow ends up giving Benni two or three "free" afternoons when she has "nothing to do." A good editor would have caught that. And at the ending, when she is catching us up on what has happened since the climactic scene, she talks about Gabe seeing a psychiatrist for "several weeks" before resuming the current action -- and it has only been 11 days since the climactic scene. Hmmm. But it's a good enough story. What I like about this series is the "everydayness" of it. She DOES seem extremely focused on what everybody eats. But she realistically portrays how people fill their time with conversations, errands, internal thoughts, etc. I really like Benni. And that makes me wonder what Earlene Fowler is like. I think I would like to be her friend.
The mystery is engaging enough. This is not Fowler's strongest entry in the series. There are several "timing" discrepancies. And though she starts by having Benni tell everyone how BUSY she is, and how things will get easier next week after the festival, she still somehow ends up giving Benni two or three "free" afternoons when she has "nothing to do." A good editor would have caught that. And at the ending, when she is catching us up on what has happened since the climactic scene, she talks about Gabe seeing a psychiatrist for "several weeks" before resuming the current action -- and it has only been 11 days since the climactic scene. Hmmm. But it's a good enough story. What I like about this series is the "everydayness" of it. She DOES seem extremely focused on what everybody eats. But she realistically portrays how people fill their time with conversations, errands, internal thoughts, etc. I really like Benni. And that makes me wonder what Earlene Fowler is like. I think I would like to be her friend.
May 15, 2011
I was a bit disappointed with STATE FAIR, the previous Benni Harper book, but this one was truly a 5-star read. I read about things I didn't know about before, like the Bataan Angels, and this story just had me from the beginning. Some of Benni's observations in the first chapter were wonderful. Like when she talked about Jack her first husband and how when she thought about him years later how it wasn't so overwhelming, it was like a soft pinch to her heart. To me that was such a beautiful, lyrical statement. There were lots of things like that in this book. And a passage at the Memory Festival where a nurse who served in Vietnam is telling some smart-ass college girls what it was like had me in tears and actually sparked a conversation with my husband about that time and the things I saw when I was a ward clerk at a VA Hospital from 1972 to 1974. Thanks, Earlene, for an excellent read! Last night was the season finale for my favorite show, The Vampire Diaries, and I almost forgot it because I was so involved in this book!
May 19, 2011
Do you ever wonder why a particular author or series becomes wildly popular while other authors, apparently just as good, don't make that leap? I have nothing against Fowler's Benni Harper mysteries, but I don't know why they are best sellers. There are several military nurses in this book, which makes me wonder why the marvelous mysteries about nurses by Sharon Wildwing are not read more. At any rate, Benni is organizing a Memory festival when the town of San Celina is disrupted by a sniper who's targeting police officers. There's also a mysterious woman who is stalking Benni, who is afraid that she's another of husband Gabe's exes. There are quilters, wise elders, supportive friends, loyal horses and a loving dog.
January 23, 2014
The Final? installment in the Benni Harper Mystery series. I don't really have a favorite, they are all really well done.
Ms Fowler does some careful research and her characters are developed well. The mysteries are solvable with clues along the way.
My favorite characters have been Dove, Benni's gramma and Detective Ford(Hud)Hudson. Dove is a head strong cranky and loveable old lady with more stamina than I had 1/2 her age. Hud is a smart alec bad boy that you just gotta love.
As with all series, now that I have read the last one(and there are 15) I wonder what will happen in Benni and Gabe's life now.
Ms Fowler does some careful research and her characters are developed well. The mysteries are solvable with clues along the way.
My favorite characters have been Dove, Benni's gramma and Detective Ford(Hud)Hudson. Dove is a head strong cranky and loveable old lady with more stamina than I had 1/2 her age. Hud is a smart alec bad boy that you just gotta love.
As with all series, now that I have read the last one(and there are 15) I wonder what will happen in Benni and Gabe's life now.
June 27, 2011
I love this series!
March 18, 2018
A very enjoyable quick read. The characters are well developed and the story moves along quickly.
At times, I found the main character to become very annoying with her paranoia but the story was engaging enough to overcome it. The basic mystery was rather simplistic and could have been wrapped up with a better motive but the secondary story was more interesting with a nice twist.
I liked the memory festival and the basic questions about what home means along with the story structure.
At times, I found the main character to become very annoying with her paranoia but the story was engaging enough to overcome it. The basic mystery was rather simplistic and could have been wrapped up with a better motive but the secondary story was more interesting with a nice twist.
I liked the memory festival and the basic questions about what home means along with the story structure.
September 8, 2025
Good climax for the series
August 13, 2015
I've been a fan of this series since its inception, and in many ways I think this fifteenth book is the strongest of them all-- which is saying a lot. There's quite a bit going on in the book: that sniper shooting at police officers, a mysterious woman following Benni around, the Memory Festival, working on photographer Isaac Lyons' latest book, and-- the coup de grâce-- Benni's husband Gabe showing signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But none of the plot threads are rushed, and all of them blend seamlessly into a story that's hard to put down.
There's some serious stuff going on in Spider Web, but Earlene Fowler knows how to add just the right touches of comic relief; most notably the octogenarian ladies of the Coffin Star Quilt Guild, and sisters Dove (Benni's grandmother) and Garnet (Benni's aunt). Dove and Garnet are the type of sisters who love to fuss and squabble with each other, but you can feel the love between them. These ladies have been studying something called cane fu, and all I can say is... if you see an older person with a cane who mentions taking lessons in this discipline, I wouldn't do anything untoward unless I were out of cane's reach. Just sayin'.
Fowler has proven time and again that she can hold her readers in the palm of her hand. She's created a superb cast of characters whom I care for deeply. When one of them is in danger, my heart is in my throat. I've also laughed myself silly, and shed tears of joy and of sorrow. Her series is imbued with a deep and abiding faith. For those of you unfamiliar with these books and who don't care to read anything remotely religious-- don't worry. This is faith done the way it should be. None of these people thump their chests and proclaim what good Christians they are. These folks see what needs to be done, and they quietly roll up their sleeves and get it done. No strings. No homilies. Just a simple matter of doing the right thing. Reading books like Spider Web can make you feel as though there is some good in the world after all.
Fowler is on a self-professed writing sabbatical, and for all intents and purposes it looks as though this is the end of a wonderful series. It's one that I've grown with over the years. From the beginning when I didn't like Benni's husband or grandmother and doubted I'd continue reading, all the way to now when I'm so glad that I read each and every one. Earlene Fowler's characters grow and change as the years pass. Just as real people do. Just as I have.
And isn't that a marvelous thing to say about a series of books?
There's some serious stuff going on in Spider Web, but Earlene Fowler knows how to add just the right touches of comic relief; most notably the octogenarian ladies of the Coffin Star Quilt Guild, and sisters Dove (Benni's grandmother) and Garnet (Benni's aunt). Dove and Garnet are the type of sisters who love to fuss and squabble with each other, but you can feel the love between them. These ladies have been studying something called cane fu, and all I can say is... if you see an older person with a cane who mentions taking lessons in this discipline, I wouldn't do anything untoward unless I were out of cane's reach. Just sayin'.
Fowler has proven time and again that she can hold her readers in the palm of her hand. She's created a superb cast of characters whom I care for deeply. When one of them is in danger, my heart is in my throat. I've also laughed myself silly, and shed tears of joy and of sorrow. Her series is imbued with a deep and abiding faith. For those of you unfamiliar with these books and who don't care to read anything remotely religious-- don't worry. This is faith done the way it should be. None of these people thump their chests and proclaim what good Christians they are. These folks see what needs to be done, and they quietly roll up their sleeves and get it done. No strings. No homilies. Just a simple matter of doing the right thing. Reading books like Spider Web can make you feel as though there is some good in the world after all.
Fowler is on a self-professed writing sabbatical, and for all intents and purposes it looks as though this is the end of a wonderful series. It's one that I've grown with over the years. From the beginning when I didn't like Benni's husband or grandmother and doubted I'd continue reading, all the way to now when I'm so glad that I read each and every one. Earlene Fowler's characters grow and change as the years pass. Just as real people do. Just as I have.
And isn't that a marvelous thing to say about a series of books?
June 10, 2012
Spider Web is the 15th book of the Benni Harper mystery series by Earlene Fowler, set in fictitious San Celina on California's Central Coast. The series is set in the 1980s, each mystery lasting about a week, with only a few months elapsed time between the books. The author "freezes time" in order to keep key characters in the series, such as Benni's Gramma Dove and her sister Garnet.
Benni Harper is a lifelong resident of San Celina, born into the ranching community, working as curator for the Sinclair Folk Art Museum. Her husband Gabriel Ortiz is the Police Chief. Benni knows most of San Celina's residents, and volunteers her time for a variety of civic events. In Spider Web, Benni is overseeing the Memory Festival, a celebration encouraging all to record their memories for posterity.
Benni learns a quilter friend at the retirement home is one of the "Angels of Bataan", US Army and Navy nurses who were stationed in the Philipines in WWII and survived 3 years as prisoners of war.
A stranger comes to town and seeks out Benni, and seems to know more about Benni and Gabe than she's been told. Benni becomes uneasy that the woman might be significant to Gabe's past, and intend to restart a past affair with him (as in a previous book in the series).
A sniper shoots a police officer, and the entire town is alarmed. The city decides to continue with the Memory Festival, and Benni is busy on photo interviews with her Gramma Dove's photographer husband. As time permits, Benni tries to find out more about the newcomer. She also meets the newest detective and her photographer husband.
The second officer shot is a close friend, and Benni divides her time between his family and her other duties. Benni finally solves the sniper mystery by accident - her Gramma Dove's and Aunt Garnet's quick wit and bravery save them.
The mystery of the strange woman in town is resolved in an upbeat heartwarming conclusion.
The entire series is primarily about love, loyalty, friendship and family, with mysteries solved along the way. For maximum enjoyment I recommend starting with the first book, Fool's Puzzle, as characters grow and relationships evolve with the series.
Benni Harper is a lifelong resident of San Celina, born into the ranching community, working as curator for the Sinclair Folk Art Museum. Her husband Gabriel Ortiz is the Police Chief. Benni knows most of San Celina's residents, and volunteers her time for a variety of civic events. In Spider Web, Benni is overseeing the Memory Festival, a celebration encouraging all to record their memories for posterity.
Benni learns a quilter friend at the retirement home is one of the "Angels of Bataan", US Army and Navy nurses who were stationed in the Philipines in WWII and survived 3 years as prisoners of war.
A stranger comes to town and seeks out Benni, and seems to know more about Benni and Gabe than she's been told. Benni becomes uneasy that the woman might be significant to Gabe's past, and intend to restart a past affair with him (as in a previous book in the series).
A sniper shoots a police officer, and the entire town is alarmed. The city decides to continue with the Memory Festival, and Benni is busy on photo interviews with her Gramma Dove's photographer husband. As time permits, Benni tries to find out more about the newcomer. She also meets the newest detective and her photographer husband.
The second officer shot is a close friend, and Benni divides her time between his family and her other duties. Benni finally solves the sniper mystery by accident - her Gramma Dove's and Aunt Garnet's quick wit and bravery save them.
The mystery of the strange woman in town is resolved in an upbeat heartwarming conclusion.
The entire series is primarily about love, loyalty, friendship and family, with mysteries solved along the way. For maximum enjoyment I recommend starting with the first book, Fool's Puzzle, as characters grow and relationships evolve with the series.
January 24, 2015
This is one of the best in the Benni Harper mystery series. I've read every one of the series and almost all of Fowler's books. I'm missing only Love, Mercy, which I hope to read soon and her quilt book.
Each of the books in the Benni Harper series is named after a quilt block which is probably what attracted me to them. After fifteen books, the characters feel like old friends I visit each time I read. This time Benni was chairperson of the Memory Festival. This first time event proved to be a very popular idea. I wouldn't be surprised to see them spring up across the country soon.
Benni's had the festival under control, but her husband, Chief of Police Gabriel Ortiz, was working overtime trying to catch a sniper who was shooting at cops. This seemed to flare up Gabe's PTSD. This is the first time Fowler and Benni have dealt with this subject and they both did an excellent job.
Benni knew the subject was a delicate one, the chief of police needed to keep a squeaky clean reputation and even though she wanted him to go for help, she dared not say too much about it. Like her gramma Dove always told her, when the time was right, she'd know. Other things were on Benni's mind. She was very suspicious about Lin Snyder who came out of nowhere and seemed to know more about Gabe than a stranger should. Lin also seemed overly curious about Benni. Amid the festival activities, Benni finds time to break into Lin's motel room and search it and she walks face to face into the sniper.
There was an excellent, graphic description of what happened in Vietnam from a nurse's perspective. It's time people heard the truth. Benni thought so too.
Each of the books in the Benni Harper series is named after a quilt block which is probably what attracted me to them. After fifteen books, the characters feel like old friends I visit each time I read. This time Benni was chairperson of the Memory Festival. This first time event proved to be a very popular idea. I wouldn't be surprised to see them spring up across the country soon.
Benni's had the festival under control, but her husband, Chief of Police Gabriel Ortiz, was working overtime trying to catch a sniper who was shooting at cops. This seemed to flare up Gabe's PTSD. This is the first time Fowler and Benni have dealt with this subject and they both did an excellent job.
Benni knew the subject was a delicate one, the chief of police needed to keep a squeaky clean reputation and even though she wanted him to go for help, she dared not say too much about it. Like her gramma Dove always told her, when the time was right, she'd know. Other things were on Benni's mind. She was very suspicious about Lin Snyder who came out of nowhere and seemed to know more about Gabe than a stranger should. Lin also seemed overly curious about Benni. Amid the festival activities, Benni finds time to break into Lin's motel room and search it and she walks face to face into the sniper.
There was an excellent, graphic description of what happened in Vietnam from a nurse's perspective. It's time people heard the truth. Benni thought so too.
May 9, 2011
Earlene Fowler never ceases to entertain with her Benni Harper series, and Spider Web is no exception.
Benni is planning the first-ever Memory Festival, an event to honor memories through oral history, scrapbooks, photography, quilting, and crafts. Benni has a list 10 pages long of things that must be done in preparation for the festival. When a sniper starts shooting at policemen, her priorities change. If not change, they are at least prioritized differently. With a sniper present, Gabe begins to experience PTSD from Vietnam. To add to the stress, a woman shows up in town asking questions of and about Benni. Benni has been through this before when an old love of Gabe's came back into his life. Bennie needs to help figure out all these mysteries so everyone can get back to every day life.
I seldom read books that have anything to do with the war in Vietnam. It still, after all these years, is a bit too recent for comfort. In this book, however, the whole conflict is handled with care without over dramatizing or over trivializing it. I have enjoyed all of the Fowler books. One thing I really appreciate is Benni seems to have moved away from the "I'll do what I want and you can't tell me what to do" attitude which is refreshing.
Benni is planning the first-ever Memory Festival, an event to honor memories through oral history, scrapbooks, photography, quilting, and crafts. Benni has a list 10 pages long of things that must be done in preparation for the festival. When a sniper starts shooting at policemen, her priorities change. If not change, they are at least prioritized differently. With a sniper present, Gabe begins to experience PTSD from Vietnam. To add to the stress, a woman shows up in town asking questions of and about Benni. Benni has been through this before when an old love of Gabe's came back into his life. Bennie needs to help figure out all these mysteries so everyone can get back to every day life.
I seldom read books that have anything to do with the war in Vietnam. It still, after all these years, is a bit too recent for comfort. In this book, however, the whole conflict is handled with care without over dramatizing or over trivializing it. I have enjoyed all of the Fowler books. One thing I really appreciate is Benni seems to have moved away from the "I'll do what I want and you can't tell me what to do" attitude which is refreshing.
May 16, 2011
I enjoyed "Spider Web" on so many levels that I'm sure to miss listing some of them here. I suggest you get your own copy and read it when you have time for really studying the storyline. I kept stopping and was overwhelmed with my own personal memories.
This book deals with Benni being the Chair of the 'Memory Festival' which is about all memories, life, home, death, youth, military etc. In the midst of this, her husband is faced with a sniper that is shooting patrol Officers on his police force.
Gabe, The chief of police finds the situation triggering his potent memories of being in-country in Vietnam. They are violent. While Benni tries to deal with Gabe's situation, she learns a member of her quilt group was a nurse during the Second World War and was a prisoner for 3 years.
What is the motive behind the snipping? Is it a former military member or a discontent? The city of San Celina is trying to continue their lives while dealing with this very real fear.
I found this book very fulfilling and as I stated, I took my time due to remembering my friends that I made during my time in the USMC, although I was fortunate to be stateside.
This is a book I shall re-read in the years to come. It was an important book to me.
This book deals with Benni being the Chair of the 'Memory Festival' which is about all memories, life, home, death, youth, military etc. In the midst of this, her husband is faced with a sniper that is shooting patrol Officers on his police force.
Gabe, The chief of police finds the situation triggering his potent memories of being in-country in Vietnam. They are violent. While Benni tries to deal with Gabe's situation, she learns a member of her quilt group was a nurse during the Second World War and was a prisoner for 3 years.
What is the motive behind the snipping? Is it a former military member or a discontent? The city of San Celina is trying to continue their lives while dealing with this very real fear.
I found this book very fulfilling and as I stated, I took my time due to remembering my friends that I made during my time in the USMC, although I was fortunate to be stateside.
This is a book I shall re-read in the years to come. It was an important book to me.
Read
August 8, 2011This is my favourite of this series.
Many of the characters that I have previously enjoyed, have continued to be important parts of the story. When I am older I sincerely wish to be Dove and practice Cane Fu.
Each book in this series seems to focus on one issue, earlier State Fair focused on racism. This book focuses on War nurses.
There was a two page dialogue of a Vietnam nurse to some rude teenagers that I read aloud to my husband - he was as moved as I was by it.
There was also a nurse from the second WW, who's story reminds one that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and one should remember that the old woman you may be ignoring in line or on the bus, may be a hero just for surviving to a ripe age, and might have been a true superhero at some point of her life.
I truly can hardly wait for the next book in this series.
Many of the characters that I have previously enjoyed, have continued to be important parts of the story. When I am older I sincerely wish to be Dove and practice Cane Fu.
Each book in this series seems to focus on one issue, earlier State Fair focused on racism. This book focuses on War nurses.
There was a two page dialogue of a Vietnam nurse to some rude teenagers that I read aloud to my husband - he was as moved as I was by it.
There was also a nurse from the second WW, who's story reminds one that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and one should remember that the old woman you may be ignoring in line or on the bus, may be a hero just for surviving to a ripe age, and might have been a true superhero at some point of her life.
I truly can hardly wait for the next book in this series.
December 31, 2017
This June brought another book in one of my favorite mystery series - Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper mysteries. In this latest book, Benni is involved with putting on a Memory Fair in San Celina, CA. I loved the idea of this fair focusing on recording oral histories of local people, scrapbooking, quilts that tell stories. etc. Benni and her police chief husband, Gabe Ortiz, are dealing with two mysteries. Gabe is trying to identify the sniper who is targeting members of the police force. Benni is trying to figure out why a newcomer to town knows so much about Gabe and seems to be poking her nose into Benni's and Gabe's life.
As always, the best part of these books is the relationships between Benni, Gabe, Grandma Dove, Elvia, Emory and all the other regular residents of the town.
As always, the best part of these books is the relationships between Benni, Gabe, Grandma Dove, Elvia, Emory and all the other regular residents of the town.
October 10, 2013
Every once in awhile I go back to Fowler's series and pretty much get the same thing, which isn't necessarily a criticism. She follows the same formula: a spunky, likeable heroine in a small town (actually San Luis Obispo, California, but called something else, a la Sue Grafon), living with her husband assorted colorful relations, and running a small folk museum that features some of the quilts from which this series takes its titles. Oh, yes, there's a mystery of sorts as well, a sniper loose in the town, but the mystery is almost an afterthought, and when the the sniper's identity is revealed, I had to think back and remember when they actually appeared in the story. Still, it's well written and a pleasant enough diversion.
January 30, 2017
This series has seemed to improve book by book, which makes it even sadder that this is the last book at this writing. In this book, Benni is busy organizing the first Memory Festival for the city. As always, there is a mystery and then a ton of personal stuff going on. A sniper who is targeting police officers is creating havoc in in town and in her personal life when it revives Gabe’s PTSD. Her grandmother Dove and great-aunt Garnet are trying to play matchmaker for her dad who is not pleased. And a mystery woman has arrived in town and Benni is sure she’s someone of interest from Gabe’s past—perhaps another threat to her marriage. As always, Benni is surrounded by those who care for her and help her through each situation, often is surprising ways.
May 25, 2011
Not a bad book, but not one of the best either IMHO. Benni spent most of her time worrying about the Memory Festival and being distracted by a stranger who seemed to be stalking her. Gabe got to deal with a sniper who was taking shots at his force, which triggered PTSD. The sniper ending seemed extremely rushed, but the friends and family storylines were fantastic. Sometimes, I think she should spend more time developing those "minor" characters, because they really are interesting. I forced myself to read this over a couple days, rather than my usual "sit and devour every last page" method with this series.
October 3, 2012
I believe Spider Web was Earlene Fowler's best book ever. The background info of the Memory Festival (incredible ideas abounded), tied in with the Vets of all the wars but especially the Vietnam Vets and what they went through, the lovely older quilters, all provided the back drop for the sniper attacks on the police officers. The characters were well developed and very interesting, the pace of the book was excellent, and how she wove all these incredibly interesting people, history and events into the book was done in such a way that the reader was constantly learning something, feeling something, enjoying everything!
August 24, 2013
I enjoyed this book. It had an ok story, but great messages about the importance of family and friends, remembering veterans, and the importance of memories. The characters were realistic and the main ones were well developed. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between the two elderly sisters, becoming more friends and less competing siblings at a time late in life. Good book! I also enjoyed some of the historic information given in the story. I had never thought about nurses from WWII being taken prisoner by the Japanese, or had I heard about some of the quilt types that were described, especially the Spider Web or Graveyard quilts.
September 24, 2013
What do you think of when you hear Morrow Bay, Pismo Beach, and Cal Poly? If you're from California, you think of San Luis Obispo. If you're a fan of mystery writer Earlene Fowler, author of Spider Web, you might think of San Celina, completely recognizable to anyone who has been near San Luis Obispo as SLO itself, as the locals refer to this delightful college/agricultural town in central California (in the no-direction's-land between Northern and Southern California, and not to every be confused with the Central Valley).
http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2011/1...
http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2011/1...
July 15, 2016
The Bennie Harper cozy mysteries are just fun, easy to read, and all have an underlying quilt thread.
Bennie always seems to be where a crime or murder happen sort of like Angela Lansbury in "Murder She Wrote". I do not care. This one is about Bennie, who is the director of the local art museum is organizing a Memory Fair where lots of stories, history, and activities for all ages are offered. Her husband, the hunky Police Chief, is dealing with PTSD from his exposure to violence in Vietnam.
A bit of education about PTSD is about the only thing one might learn from this book. Again, it was a fun book.
Bennie always seems to be where a crime or murder happen sort of like Angela Lansbury in "Murder She Wrote". I do not care. This one is about Bennie, who is the director of the local art museum is organizing a Memory Fair where lots of stories, history, and activities for all ages are offered. Her husband, the hunky Police Chief, is dealing with PTSD from his exposure to violence in Vietnam.
A bit of education about PTSD is about the only thing one might learn from this book. Again, it was a fun book.
November 15, 2017
I like the Benni Harper series but this one wasn't a fun ride through a mystery. It starts out good with a sniper apparently trying to pick off cops and triggers PSTD for Benni's husband, Gabe, but then all these coincidences of VietNam come in and they didn't feel like coincidences. The writer was trying too hard to make a political statement and not letting the reader come to terms with the issue. I am all for veterans and thank them for their service, but this didn't feel authentic, more forced. The mystery got lost in the propaganda.
June 15, 2011
This is the latest addition to the Benni Harper mystery series and it was a real pageturner. Benni's husband, San Celina Police Chief Gabe Ortiz, is dealing with a sniper shooting at police officers and that is causing him to have recurring nightmares as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder. Gabe's PTSD is a result of his tour of duty in Vietnam. While all this is going on, Benni is chairing San Celina's first annual Memory Festival, so life is a bit stressful for Gabe and Benni.
June 16, 2011
Usually, by #15 in a series, boredom is not uncommon for both author and reader. I admire Fowler for not falling victim to some missteps that turn a favorite series into another cookie cutter entry. She continues to develop her characters, devling into parts of characters who have been more in the periphery. Another solid story that's well-written and entertaining, that still contains a few surprises and revelations along the way.
July 10, 2011
Another episode in the continuing story of Benni and her law enforcement husband Gabe Ortiz. While Benni wondering why a new artist at the museum seems to know a lot about Gabe and dealing with the ramifications of a sniper shooting at local police officers, Gabe is also dealing with post traumatic stress from serving in Vietnam. This is a great mystery as well as an entertaining visit to old friends.
July 30, 2011
Good cozy series.
Finished this a week or two ago. Benni Harper is back! Loved this book as a vast improvement over her last, the relationships were more even and the mystery well thought out enough that did manage to guess the guilty party, but not until more than 2/3 of the way through. An enjoyable read that has me once again yearning for the sensibilities of west coast living.
Looking forward to her next!
Finished this a week or two ago. Benni Harper is back! Loved this book as a vast improvement over her last, the relationships were more even and the mystery well thought out enough that did manage to guess the guilty party, but not until more than 2/3 of the way through. An enjoyable read that has me once again yearning for the sensibilities of west coast living.
Looking forward to her next!
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