Mariner's Compass (Benni Harper Mystery) - Hardcover

Fowler, Earlene

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0425168913 ISBN 13: 9780425168912

Publisher: Berkley Hardcover, 1999

Synopsis

Benni Harper journeys to Morro Bay to claim an inheritance from Jacob Chandler, a man she does not know, and embarks on a baffling hunt for clues to the mysteries of the past. By the author of Dove in the Window.

About this title

About the Author:

Earlene 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 large number of quilts, and twenty pairs of cowboy boots.

Review:

Albenia (Benni) Harper is a curator of the Joseph Sinclair Folk Art Museum and Artist Co-op in San Celina California. She married her second husband, a Police Chief named Gabe, just fifteen months ago. When she meets with her friend, who is also a lawyer, she is surprised with the news that a man named Jacob Chandler has left her a house and all his possessions - as long as she agrees to reside in the house for two weeks. Otherwise, the inheritance will revert to the government. What really surprises her about this turn of events is that she has no idea whom Jacob Chandler is. When Benni goes to the house, she finds out that she has also inherited a dog named Scout. This is one of the less disturbing finds. Benni starts to get spooked when she finds a carved horse with the name of her first horse on it and an old jacket that she thought she had lost. Benni starts to investigate who this Jacob Chandler, was using his friends and acquaintances, and finds herself on a strange scavenger hunt. She also has to deal with some antagonism from the people that feel they should have been the recipients of this windfall, a protective husband, a grandmother who has taken the local historical society hostage and the mystery of why this stranger knew so much about her. Benni's two weeks are full of suspense, fear, and confusion and in the end, a surprise she just wasn't expecting. This mystery is a true page-turner (please excuse the cliché). Benni and her family are a treat to read about and the suspense over Jacob Chandler drives the story at a very quick pace. The plot was very well developed, both the story and the character motivations and roles seemed real and even more importantly plausible. Earlene Fowler has written a great mystery. I found myself admiring the mind that came up with this premise and executed it so well. I was really pleased to see that she has written other books and I plan to search them out. An unique story with an intriguing mystery. Earlene Fowler is a name that should show up on every mystery lover's bookshelf. Mariner's Compass is a great why-done-it. Michelle Sawyer -- Copyright © 030199 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

About this edition

• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0425168913
• ISBN 13: 9780425168912
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 322