After the intensity of David Shields' book on death, I needed something light so read Fool's Puzzle by Earlene Fowler, the first book in her Benni Harper cozy mystery series. It is set on the central coast of California in a ranching community. The main character is a recently widowed young woman who runs a craft coop. She is, like most female leads in cozies, feisty and routinely clashes with the new police chief in town. It was a fun read and I did not figure out the killer before Benni did. I have at least of these on the shelf and they are available from the library so may continue with it. ( )

Benni Harper, Ex-Cowgirl mit einer Vorliebe für edle Quiltdecken, muss noch einmal ganz von vorne anfangen. Nach dem tragischen Unfalltod ihres Mannes verlässt sie ihre Ranch und übernimmt in dem kleinen kalifornischen Küstenort San Celina die Leitung des Volkskundemuseums. Doch schon bei ihrer ersten Ausstellung gerät sie in schwere Turbulenzen. Die attraktive junge Töpferin Marla wird im Museum brutal erstochen, und Benni sieht verblüfft ihre Kusine Rita in Marlas Wagen vom Tatort verschwinden. Gabe Ortiz, der Polizeichef von San Celina, ist entschlossen, auf die Hilfe der kleinen, forschen Frau mit dem wirren Lockenhaar zu verzichten. Doch Benni lässt sich nicht aufhalten. Nach und nach stößt sie bei ihren eigenwilligen Nachforschungen auf alte Familiengeheimnisse, bizarre Lügengespinste - und darauf, was an jenem Abend, als ihr Mann Jack ums Leben kam, wirklich geschah...

#1 Benni Harper

Many years ago, I somehow got hold of and read the fourth in this series featuring Benni Harper who is a folk art museum curator in fictional San Celina, California.

I was attracted initially by the title of Goose in the Pond because it, and the name of all of the books in this series, are quilt patterns. I discovered a likeable protagonist and a good mystery and meant to get back to it before this.

In Fool’s Puzzle, 34-year-old Benni, newly widowed, lands the job just mentioned and then finds herself embroiled in the murder of an artist and small town intrigues.

This series is well worth continuing.

4 stars ( )

Benni Harpers husband died in a car accident nine months ago. She has left the ranch where they lived and started a job running the local craft museum and artists coop. Benni finds one of the coop's potters murdered in the studio and becomes enmeshed in the investigation. The author did a realistic job of describing the grieving process Benni would be going through. The ending was too rushed for me though I will read more in the series. ( )

I checked this one out at the library and they only had the large-print edition, which I found a bit distracting. This was a good first, I really enjoyed it and it moved really quickly. I'd love to read more in the series. ( )