"Not much is known about the Arkansas Traveler quilt pattern. It is a fairly old pattern most likely dated by quilt historians through its name. “Arkansas Traveler” was a popular folk song and skit whose origin has been traced back to the middle of the nineteenth century. It is usually credited to Colonel Sanford “Sandy” Faulkner, a Little Rock plantation owner who claimed the tale was inspired by a real conversation with an Arkansas backwoodsman. The Arkansas Traveler quilt pattern is actually more than one pattern—one is a spool-like design, the other is a four-pointed star made of diamonds. The patterns have also been called Secret Drawer, Travel Star, Spools, and Cowboy Star. Agatha Award-winning author Earlene Fowler has earned unprecedented acclaim for her “compelling” (Booklist), “brilliantly crafted” (The Mystery Zone) mysteries featuring folk-art expert Benni Harper. It seems that no matter where Benni goes, she finds a crime that needs solving—and her trip to Arkansas is no exception… Welcome home, Benni Harper… Benni’s heard those words so many times since she and her best friend Elvia Aragon arrived in Sugartree, she’s nearly lost count. She’s thrilled to be back—she’s finally got the chance to catch up with old friends and reminisce about the lazy, languid summers of her childhood. And she can’t wait to spend time with Elvia—who’s this close to getting engaged to Benni’s cousin Emory. But she’s got a bad feeling she just can’t shake… Benni’s used to family squabbles—Aunt Garnet and Gramma Dove are at it again—but there’s something much more sinister brewing in Sugartree. Two churches are planning on merging, but the thought of a racially mixed congregation is just a little too much for some people to handle. And Benni’s downright worried about her friend Amen—as the first black woman to run for mayor, she’s taking a lot of heat from a gang of ruthless white supremacists. One of whom just happens to be her powerful opponent’s seriously troubled son. Who just happens to get himself killed. Who had more enemies than Benni ever imagined…"