I anxiously await each book in this series.
I am thrilled to have Kathleen stop here as part of her Great Escapes Book Tour!
Keeping It Real
By Kathleen Ernst
I used to work as a curator at a large living history site called Old World Wisconsin. Over fifty historic structures from all over the state have been restored on a sprawling 576-acre site. Many are rare examples of ethnic architecture constructed by some of the early immigrants who settled the state.
After a twelve-year stint at Old World Wisconsin I moved on, but I soon discovered that I missed the site. To me, the obvious answer was to write a book set there. Better yet, why not write a series? I missed the whole historic sites world, actually, and a series would let me visit many special places. Thus the Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites Mysteries
Chloe is a curator at Old World Wisconsin. When I began writing the first book, Old World Murder
One of my goals for the series was to introduce readers to wonderful historic sites and museums. As the series has progressed, Chloe has traveled to an old lighthouse, all of the Laura Ingalls Wilder homesites, an abandoned flour mill (now the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis) and more—all real places, open to the public.
To my delight, many readers who live within traveling distance of the Upper Midwest have visited one or more of the sites featured in the Chloe mysteries. Some have visited all of them. Nothing makes me happier than hearing from readers who have read one of the books and then gone exploring. I’ve added maps, photos, and other resources to my website to enable armchair or actual travel to the locations featured in the books.
The 7th Chloe Ellefson Mystery, A Memory of Muskets
If you give the series a try, I hope you enjoy visiting the setting locations vicariously within the pages. Or maybe, if you’re ever in the area, you can explore them first-hand.
~Kathleen
A Memory of Muskets (A Chloe Ellefson Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – Wisconsin
Midnight Ink (October 8, 2016)
Paperback: 408 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738745152
E-Book ASIN: B01APSYQ1A
Synopsis
Curator Chloe Ellefson is happily planning to spotlight home-front challenges and German immigrants at Old World Wisconsin’s first Civil War reenactment―but her overbearing boss scorns her ideas and proposes staging a mock battle. And when a reenactor is found dead at one of the historic site’s German farms, Chloe’s boyfriend, cop Roelke McKenna, suspects murder.
The more Roelke learns about reenacting, the more he fears that a killer will join the ranks at Chloe’s special event. Then Chloe discovers a disturbing secret about Roelke’s Civil War-era ancestors. Together they struggle to solve crimes past and present . . . before Chloe loses her job and another reenactor loses his life.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
My first experience at Old World Wisconsin was back in 5th grade for a school field trip and have visited several times since but not lately, at least in person. Through this series I have been able to visit there and some other wonderful places in the Midwest.
Our protagonist, Chloe Ellefson together with Byron Cooke, curator of interpretation, are planning a Civil War program. Thanks to their boss it turns into a Civil War Reenactment. While doing research for the event she discovers some ties to Roelke’s ancestors and the family home she is planning to move into with him. It may explain the disturbing feelings she has about the place. They both get distracted away from their move when a man is found dead at Old World Wisconsin. Dressed as a reenactor, the man has no identification, and this leads the case in several different directions.
Kathleen Ernst always writes a great story with a captivating mystery and the perfect amount of history too. She gives us very detailed descriptions that make the story come alive and easy to visualize. I enjoyed the way she skips back to the past, the 1860’s, and back to present time in this case, is the early 1980’s. As always you can see she has deeply researched the subject matter and I like that I actually learn something while reading every story.
I found Rosina’s story to be very interesting. Her traveling to the New World and making her way to Wisconsin and her life there.
Chloe and Roelke have gotten even closer but they are still building trust as their lives together starts a new chapter.
All the characters are written so well. Chloe’s boss, Petty, not only pushed her buttons but mine. You know the type, my way or the highway, moving deadlines just because he can. and adding things to programs some times just to get her on the defensive. At times you could cut the tension with a knife.
The mystery itself tangled around itself at times and the clues did not always more the investigation forward but took us back to review things that were missed. I was again caught by surprise as we reached the end for that revealing moment when all the clues fell into place.
Ernst is a strong storyteller. At times I could picture all of us gathered around her listening to her tell us Rosina’s story and catching us up with Chloe and all the people in her life. Kind of like the interpreters at Old World Wisconsin. Something she actually used to do. Her love for the place and the history shines bright in every one of her stories.
About The Author –
Kathleen Ernst is a former museum curator who remains passionate about history! In addition to the Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites series, she has written many books for American Girl, including nine about the historical character she created, Caroline Abbott. Over 1.5 million copies of Kathleen’s 33 titles have been sold. The Chloe series has earned a LOVEY Award for Best Traditional Mystery, and several of her mysteries for young readers have been finalists for Edgar or Agatha awards.
Author Links:
Webpage Blog Facebook
Purchase Links:
Amazon – B&N –Indie Bound
Leave a comment below and you’ll be entered to win a signed and personalized print copy of
A Memory of Muskets: A Chloe Ellefson Mystery
The giveaway ends at midnight October 14, 2016.
Please include your email (ex., janedoe –at – janedoe.com) to facilitate winner notification.
Good luck!
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 6 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST
October 7 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT
October 8 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
October 8 – Books, Dreams, Life – SPOTLIGHT
October 9 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW
October 10 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
October 11 – View from the Birdhouse – INTERVIEW
October 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – COZY WEDNESDAY
October 13 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
October 14 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
October 15 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
October 16 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
October 17 – Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT
October 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
October 19 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
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What a fascinating milieu for a mystery series! Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure! And good luck.
I’d love to be the winner of this giveaway! Thanks so much for the chance!
You’re entered!
Sounds interesting. I like that the author writes about what she knows. Reminds me of L.M. Montgomery quote along those lines.
Thank you for the opportunity to win.
My pleasure.
I look forward to reading this book and the previous ones in the series. What a great way to learn more history!
I came to love history by reading historical fiction. Now I hope to pass on a bit of that pleasure in my own books.
I love historical mysteries and would be happy if I won a copy of this to add to my collection. Thank you for the chance.
Good luck!
I love this series and can’t wait to read this one! Dolly-do you live close enough to attend any of her launch parties? My son actually picked up last year’s title for me for Christmas last year, they still had autographed stock at the mystery bookstore in Madison! Thanks for the chance to win!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks again!
So glad you’re enjoying the series–and that your son made it to the party!
My husband is an avid reader and this book would suit him to a T. Of course he will let me read it first. Thank you for this opportunity.
A new-to-me series to try. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
You’re entered!
I really enjoy reading books with a historical flavor in them. This book sounds right up my alley. It has been added to my need to read list. robeader53@yahoo.com
Glad you were intrigued!
I have read all of Kathleen’s novels, and look forward to , not only ”Memory of Muskets”, but also #7 coming next year.
You’re so sweet! I’m well along with the next one.
I’ve never read any of this series but it looks like a series that I would enjoy. I like history. pgenest57 at aol dot com
Good luck!
A fascinating feature and giveaway which I would enjoy.
Thanks, Sharon. You’re entered!
This is a different concept and won I would love to read. Thanks for the chance to win.
bobntoni@aol.com
Glad it sounded appealing. Good luck!
Sounds like a good read.
Good luck!
I always think of Civil War reenactments as battle reenactments, but really like Chloe’s idea of just having one of what life was like during the Civil War — I guess her boss would not like me either (and vice-versa!). I really want to know what gives Chloe such bad vibes about Roelke’s house… bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net
Celia, I once worked (for real) where Chloe works, and we had great Civil War events that focused on the homefront–recruitment, the draft, how different ethnic groups reacted, etc. Lots of great stories that are often overlooked.
I have a few of the other books from this series, so this would definitely be a treat!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the series, Lizz.
Another book to add to must read list.
I’m delighted to hear that! Good luck.
Good for you for sticking to what you thought made sense–using the actual place, not a fictionalized stand-in.
Thanks, Elizabeth. I tried to imagine a place, but my head was too crowded with real images!
This book would be a great choice for me, I’m a bit of a museum junkie already. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Oops, forgot to leave my email: crs(at)codedivasites(dot)com
Good luck, from a fellow museum junkie.
I am just getting started with this series & can’t wait to get to this one. Thanks for the giveaway.
My pleasure, Doward.
I love this series and can’t wait to read A Memory of Muskets! I hope you’ll write many more books featuring Chloe.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoying the series! There are so many more wonderful historic places and museums that I hope to keep Chloe busy for a long time.
I haven’t tried your books yet.
Perhaps this will be your opportunity. Good luck!
“A Memory of Muskets” sounds like a fantastic historical mystery. I’ve been to a few Civil War reenactments and it was interesting to see how the Civil War battles were fought. Definitely adding this series to my TBR list..
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks! I’ve been both a participant reenactor and a site host, so I’ve seen reenactments from both sides. Lots of material for a mystery writer to work with!
I love this series and can not wait to read this one. I really enjoy them. Thanks for the chance.l
Deb, you brought a big smile to my face. Good luck!
Interesting way to get murder and mayhem in the here and now. Thanks for this opportunity.
This is a sounds like a fun read. I love the setting!
A new to me author and series. I like the sound of this one!
Old World Wisconsin sounds like an interesting place to visit-I love historical sites and enjoy taking the grandkids. thanks for your giveaway
As a volunteer at Old World, I learned of this book series and love it. Keep them coming.
I like the sound of the solving mysteries from the Civil War in the present.
caitlinmmccutcheon(at)gmail(dot)com