Little did Benni Harper know that when she uttered that statement to her best friend, Elvia, that it would be a sign of things to come. Benni is coming home to Sugartree, Arkansas, to attend a church reunion at Sugartree Baptist. There’s a bit of commotion going on as well, as there is talk of the church merging with another Baptist congregation - a predominantly black congregation. However, Benni isn’t too concerned with this ruckus, as she’s looking forward to showing her friend the sights of her home state.

But her plans for a simple visit are quickly thwarted when she learns that racial tensions in picturesque Sugartree are simmering away like an unchecked pot on the stove. One of her childhood friends, Amen Tolliver, is running for town mayor, and someone isn’t real happy that the young black woman is looking to dethrone the white incumbent. There’s been harassment, including some unsavory swastikas painted on her campaign signs.

Worse still, it appears as if the mayor’s skinhead son, Toby, may be behind the whole mess. When Toby turns up dead, the pot boils over, and Benni soon finds that she doesn’t really know anything about her hometown or the people she thought she knew.

Arkansas Traveler is the eighth entry in Fowler’s award winning Benni Harper series. For readers who like their mysteries with southern atmosphere, look no further, as the author kicks things off with Elvia’s first visit to a Waffle House. While it took me a couple of chapters to get all the characters down, along with the southern-fried names, once I did, I was immediately charmed.

The mystery itself works well by playing on the continued struggle for harmonious race relations in not only the South, but in the rest of the country. It’s compelling stuff, and keeps the story humming along while adding tension to the mix. What I was less intrigued by was the ultimate outcome. In every mystery, the killer must have a motive - why does he/she do what they do, and why did they choose their particular victim.. The author provides a motive, a decent one, but fails to elaborate on it. By the time I closed the book I was left with one nagging question that continued to chew away through the wee hours of the night - but why?

While I wasn’t completely convinced with the killer’s motive, there was enough in Arkansas Traveler for me to recommend it to some of my coworkers. Charming characters and a cozy, southern atmosphere with a dark edge made this one a quick read. Just the ticket for Fowler’s fans and curious newcomers.

--Wendy Crutcher