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. ôArkansas Travelerö 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 ôSandyö 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 patternùone 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 ôcompellingö (Booklist), ôbrilliantly craftedö (The Mystery Zone) mysteries featuring folk-art expert Benni Harper. It seems that no matter where Benni goes, she finds a crime that needs solvingùand her trip to Arkansas is no exceptionà Welcome home, Benni Harperà BenniÆs heard those words so many times since she and her best friend Elvia Aragon arrived in Sugartree, sheÆs nearly lost count. SheÆs thrilled to be backùsheÆs finally got the chance to catch up with old friends and reminisce about the lazy, languid summers of her childhood. And she canÆt wait to spend time with ElviaùwhoÆs this close to getting engaged to BenniÆs cousin Emory. But sheÆs got a bad feeling she just canÆt shakeà BenniÆs used to family squabblesùAunt Garnet and Gramma Dove are at it againùbut thereÆs 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 BenniÆs downright worried about her friend Amenùas the first black woman to run for mayor, sheÆs taking a lot of heat from a gang of ruthless white supremacists. One of whom just happens to be her powerful opponentÆs seriously troubled son. Who just happens to get himself killed. Who had more enemies than Benni ever imaginedà