Book Review: Fool’s Puzzle by Earlene Fowler

Title: Fool’s Puzzle
Author: Earlene Fowler
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 1995
Pages: 256
Series: A Benni Harper Mystery #1
Source: borrowed from my friend Kiera, Thanks!
4 Stars: I Really Liked It

Leaving behind memories of her late husband, Benni Harper is making a fresh start…Moving to the trendy California town of San Celina, she takes an exciting new job as director of a folk-art museum. While setting up an exhibit of handmade quilts, she stumbles upon the body of a brutally stabbed artist. Hoping to conduct an investigation on her own, she crosses paths with the local police chief, who thinks this short and sassy cowgirl should leave detecting to the cops and join him for dinner. But it’s hard to keep a country girl down, and soon Benni uncovers an alarming pattern of family secrets, small-town lies–and the shocking truth about the night her husband died…

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My Thoughts:
This was a great read. I love murder mysteries. I actually read book 15 for a book club awhile back so now I’m going back and reading the first books of the series. The beginning books show the budding romance which is the best part. I loved how Benni and Gabe drove each other crazy at the beginning.

Benni was 34 years old and a 9 month widow. She had been married to her late husband for 15 years. This book goes into the heart ache and loneliness that comes with that life changing event. Every day memories of her and her husband broke my heart.

There were times during the murder solving parts where I was like “Use You Cell Phone!” but then I remembered this was written in the early 90s when cell phones weren’t as prevalent. Hahaha. Just keep that in mind.

This was a fun mystery! At times it felt a little slow, but the plot and characters kept me entertained.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( jokes, talk, kissing )
Language: mild ( a**-7, s***-8 )
Violence: mild ( murders, blood )

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Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Adult Fiction