State Fair

A Benni Harper Mystery

By: Earlene Fowler

Narrated by: Johanna Parker

Length: 9 hrs

Publisher's summary

National best-selling author Earlene Fowler delivers the 14th installment in her popular Benni Harper series. Following the tradition she began in Fool’s Puzzle and has continued through Tumbling Blocks, Fowler crafts a tale as enthralling as the quilting pattern she selected for the title. As Benni becomes embroiled in a new mystery, listeners can be sure she won’t rest until she corrals the truth and hog-ties the culprits.

Crack another case with Benni Harper.

©2009 Earlene Fowler (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Set in 1997, Fowler's folksy 14th Benni Harper mystery (after 2007's Tumbling Blocks) finds the avid quilter, museum curator, and reluctant sleuth readying herself for the annual San Celina (Calif.) County Mid-State Fair. Racial tensions revolving around the fair's first black general manager, Levi Clark; Levi's half-white daughter, Jazz; and Jazz's various suitors stir the plot. So, too, does the visit from Arkansas of Benni's great-aunt, Garnet Wilcox. Garnet and her sister, Dove, Benni's grandmother, get along like two bobcats trapped in a burning outhouse. A valued African-American quilt stolen from a fair exhibit and a corpse in another exhibit add fuel to the fire. Fowler's congenial mix of humor (prickly, surprising Garnet applies lessons learned from mystery books and cop shows), folklore (the history of black cloth dolls), and murder makes this Agatha Award–winning series as much fun to visit as a county fair and a likely ribbon winner." (Publishers Weekly)

More about history then mystery, but still good

Where does State Fair rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Not the best, but not sorry I listened

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Actually, the history she gave was interesting, but the mystery was not so enthralling

What about Johanna Parker’s performance did you like?

She has a good, easy-listenng style

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

Well, I expected more of a mystery, but got more of a drama--lots of information about personal lives not tied to the actual whodunit. If you go into it with this realization, then you will not be disappointed.

love it!

I wish audible would have the whole series. I really enjoyed this! had to go to the library to get the whole book series.

Ms Fowler did it again

Would you listen to State Fair again? Why?

Yes, even though they are mysteries I love to revisit these books. I am a big fan of this author and love her descriptions of life in small town California.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Benni Harper, I loved her from the first book

What about Johanna Parker’s performance did you like?

all good

Storyline not as good as others in series

I like the narrator and seek out books that she has done
I even like the series although audible doesn’t have the first several in the series …. However this story left a lot to be desired. It was way too heavy on what seems to be a personal tribute to social issues and not nearly enough in the mystery department! This is listed as a cozy mystery and it leaves a lot to be desired there.
Also did not like that one of the characters in the book carries on an emotional affair , this point in his own mind evidently with the married woman main character…. And she seemingly does nothing to discourage this emotional affair! But rather seems to continually be flirting with him and egging him on all the while pretending to be an innocent “ victim” of this man’s overreaching affections AND ATTENTION under the guise of friendship. I didn’t like how this part was written at all. Especially based on the fact that she has a religious and moral background and upbringing, but she seemingly thrives on this attention outside of her marriage.

Definitely not my taste

What more can I say. The author does seem to have a fair knowledge of American collectible quilt history. However it’s not enough to drive an entire fictional murder mystery. I found this pale and pandering and contrived. The continual addition of unneeded and often awkward descriptive adjectives became laughable.I’ll not try another by this author. The narrator did present the work in character with the tone of the book. Narrating written work is very difficult I’ve tried it for my children on long car trips and this reader is neither better nor worse than the material she is presenting. I’m going to try to return it.