Customer Reviews

Tumbling Blocks (Center Point Platinum Mystery (Large Print))

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Each time we meet Benni Harper Ortiz, she's one busy lady, and this encounter is no different. With Christmas just around the corner, Benni is eagerly preparing the folk art museum for a new exhibit of California outsider art that includes a featured painting by known recluse Abe Adam Finch. The museum's primary benefactor, Constance Sinclair, demands that Benni simultaneously investigate the death of her friend Pinky Edmondson, one of the members of the prestigious and elite 49 Club of San Celina. Hud, a local policeman, asks Benni for the favor of puppy-sitting over the holidays while he and his family visit relatives in Texas. And then there's the impending visit of Benni's mother-in-law from Kansas, Kathryn Smith Ortiz, who arrives for the season with a few surprises of her own. Anyone would be stressed out in a similar situation; but resilient Benni gives it her all. As if her plate weren't full enough: she also has to deal with the many moods of her best friend Elvia, who is two months pregnant and is in the midst of a crisis of her own -- even if it *is* merely wardrobe related. With Gabe in a close-mouthed and sullen mood invoked by his mother, Benni is left to attend to her responsibilities on her own. As usual, the mysteries she gets tangled up in threaten in the end to tangle her up for a good long time. Was Pinky murdered, or did she die of a heart attack? Will Abe Adam Finch move to San Celina or Cambria and become a local artist for the museum? Will Gabe and his mother ever patch things up? Can Benni get a decent photo taken of Boo on Santa's lap?

The mystery lines might be a tad thin in this installment of the series, but that doesn't mean the book isn't a worthwhile and entertaining read. I had suspicions of my own early on, and they proved to be close to the truth. But I also have to admit that I laughed out loud at the developments on three separate pages -- once in delight, and twice in astonishment. And any animal lover will melt at the literary introduction of Ms. Fowler's own pooch, a little Corgi nicknamed Boo, to the scene. Unlike one reviewer, I cannot recommend skipping this entry; the interaction of Gabe with his mother is a crucial stepping stone to understanding both characters.

Here's hoping that we can continue to share in the lives and adventures of Benni Harper, now Ortiz, and her circle of friends.

What a disappointment! Not only did she not develop any characters in this book, she nearly left out most of the old ones, namely Dove, Isaac, Sam, Elvia, Emory, and even Gabe. These characters all played their steriotypical roles in the backround, never really getting involved with Benni in any meaningful way. Dove and Isaac were wise as usual but hardly around to give any advice or any comfort, Sam was funny and cute and nowhere to be seen unless babysitting the dog, Elvia is apparently now a neurotic pregnant clothes-horse (Please. That's just not in jive with her character), Emory is hardly around except now he's afraid of his neurotic pregnant clothes-horse wife, and Gabe is angry. All these characters put in their cameo appearances, and disappeared right after. Was there really anyone else in the book who could be called a main character besides Benni? Oh wait, yes there was. The puppy, Boo. Give me a break.
Ms. Fowler backed down from any and all emotional moments that could have developed in this book just by having Benni not want to get involved because Dove would tell her not too. I agree with another reviewer who called Benni a doormat. This is getting ridiculous.
On the whole, the "mystery" was way too easy to figure out, and the ending of the book was forced and formulaic. Could Benni fall down and get hurt any more times? Could there be a major "emotional" breakthrough at the very end AGAIN? All in all, the book was pretty bad. I think this is the end for me with this series.

Tumbling Blocks explores the "outsider" art world, the dynamics of family, and features an adorable corgi puppy named Boo. I found myself wanting to look up every artist Earlene referred to, and especially the fictional character of Abe Adam Finch, as the painting the museum receives was mesmerizing in its unique description. I liked the role the museum played in this story, and the 49 Club ladies. I also enjoyed the time spent with Gabe's mother, a character who always seemed a little intimidating to me before. Here I learned another side of her complicated history with Gabe and came to see her in a different light. This book would make a great mother's day present, no matter what age the mother is.

I always enjoy reading new installments in this series, and Tumbling Blocks was no exception. The story is good, and the book is very hard to put down. However, I have to admit I removed one star from the total rating because I'm starting to find it extremely annoying that Benni ALWAYS plays the peacemaker with her husband, Gabe. (Actually, rather than "peacemaker", "doormat" was the first word that came to mind.)

Gabe has a quick temper, and has been irritated about one issue or another semi-frequently in this series. Benni always seems to be enduring it, explaining it, or being embarrassed by it all too often. I also find it inexplicable that Benni constantly acquiesces to his insistence that she not ask him any questions when he's in one of his moods, with only the occasional protest.

As for her job, Benni puts up with an obnoxious employer, who clearly goes beyond the pale when it comes to job expectations (esp. in this book). A little insistence on boundaries and self-respect rather than always pandering to others' whims would help me regain respect for this heroine.

Still, good book, good plot, good characters -- I would still recommend. As I would also recommend that Benni grow a spine!

I always love Earlene Fowler's book and her newest is not a disappointment. We get to explore Gabe's family and background a little more in this book, which is a nice shift from the usual focus on Benni's. I will admit that the mystery this time was actually pretty obvious. I normally NEVER guess any ending, but I could tell you what the answer was by about page 20. Not saying it wasn't an interesting mystery, just fairly easy to see. Elvia and Emory's baby should also add something fun to this series. I look forward to the next book to see more on this topic. I hope the series will continue to explore Gabe's backstory as well - maybe more on his sisters. I know I fell in love with the character of Becky in Kansas Troubles.

This is a great book, especially if you are followers of the Benni Harper series, but even if you aren't this is a fun and enjoyable book. Definitely pick it up next time you are out!

I agree with everyone that this is another great book by Earlene Fowler and the insight into Gabe and his mother was one we have been wanting to see. As always, the relationships always take the main focus of her books so the mystery is background to the growth of the main characters. I did figure out who did it early but I didn't get the full understanding of the motive until the end. So you may think you know the answer but I'm betting you'll be surprised by the real why. I wish she had more time to spend on every one of my favorites in each book because Elvia is pregnant and that was fun and I'd love to have had more time with her but her books would be a thousand pages long if I got all I wanted in every book. Earlene's own dog gets his debut as Boo the puppy and that was so much fun as well. If you love the Benni Harper now Ortiz books, this will be no exception, it will be a warm welcome back to the fold.

I think I have read the last Benni Harper book I ever will. I got so tired of listening to Gabe moan, groan, and generally be a pain in the neck to everyone around him. The mystery plot was too thin and not really a mystery at all. Actually the series might be a whole lot better if Gabe were to disappear. He adds nothing to a book or to Benni's life other than a thorn in her side and mine..

Benni doesn't need children, she has a husband who won't grow up. He acts like a bratty teenager way too often. Things seem to reconcile a little bit at the end between Gabe and his mother, but we'll have to see in the next book if he can really grow up and start treating Benni like a wife, rather than a doormat.

I have to say this book disappointed me. We're used to Gabe being an adolescent jerk, but he has grown to have so many rotten characteristics, you have to wonder why a supposedly smart woman like Benni even sticks with him. He's supposed to be some brooding mystery man always on the verge of an emotional breakthrough, but basically he's just a verbally abusive guy who is always dismissive of anything Benni does. And in return, Benni fawns all over him, still mesmerized by how sexy he is. Puh-leeze. In the real world, no smart woman would think his constant nastiness would be remotely sexy. The plot was okay but pretty easy to figure out, and I missed reading more about Dove and Emory. Elvia just came off as a shallow nitwit, which was also disappointing.

I really enjoy Benni Harper...and Gabe and Dove and Isaac...and the new characters in this latest of Earlene Fowler's series. It's like getting together with old friends. My only disappointments were that there was hardly a mention of quilts, quilters, or quilting; and the ending was a smidgen disappointing...But that's just my opinion. I will keep on looking forward to reading each of her books.