Mining for Justice (A Chloe Ellefson Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Midnight Ink (October 8, 2017)
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738753348
E-Book ASIN: B01N7UGNZB
Chloe Ellefson is excited to be learning about Wisconsin’s Cornish immigrants and mining history while on temporary assignment at Pendarvis, a historic site in charming Mineral Point. But when her boyfriend, police officer Roelke McKenna, discovers long-buried human remains in the root cellar of an old Cornish cottage, Chloe reluctantly agrees to mine the historical record for answers.
She soon finds herself in the center of a heated and deadly controversy that threatens to close Pendarvis. While struggling to help the historic site, Chloe must unearth dark secrets, past and present . . . before a killer comes to bury her.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This time Chloe Ellefson takes us along on a trip to Mineral Point as she goes there to help out for a week. Roelke drives her there and plans to spend the weekend helping a friend update a family home. Chloe is hoping for a quiet week away from the drama brought on by her boss at Old World Wisconsin but when Roelke uncovers human bones in the root cellar Chloe knows her week in going to be far from quiet. She agrees to do some research to try to determine who the remains belong to and who buried them. This is all before she sets foot in Pendarvis, the historic location of her temporary assignment. A recent newspaper article has the employees there up in arms and Chloe finds herself the person to blame for a state funding problem. She also find another body.
I have lived in Wisconsin my whole life but I always learn something new when reading a Kathleen Ernst mystery. Pendarvis is one of 12 historic sites owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. “Tucked away in historic Mineral Point, Pendarvis celebrates the restoration and preservation efforts of Robert Neal and Edgar Hellum, who saved a significant part of Wisconsin’s past.”* Sadly, I have never visited there, but using the author’s descriptions I feel like I have. With all the main buildings, land and nearby cottages it makes a wonderful setting for a murder mystery or two. Roelke back in Eagle has a mystery to solve as well.
The brilliance of this book is the way the author blends history with life in Wisconsin in the 1980’s. We get the story of a Cornish family coming to America and then to Wisconsin in search of a life provided by the mines. Pendarvis recreates and celebrates this time in history but has problems of the current day which for this series is the 1980’s.
Both time periods have very strong females. The woman in the story that immigrated in the 19th century had to be strong to live among the men working the mines, she even worked at the mines herself before she came to America. She was a trailblazer is protecting children at a time when most were forced to work in the mines. Chloe is the strong woman of current time. She searches for the truth and doesn’t give up even when she is putting herself in danger. She has a resilience that I truly admire.
Many issues are faced within the story, an abusive husband, drug dealers, financial worries, and of course, murder. It is also a story with a nice romance. Chloe and Roelke relationship has grown at a very comfortable place over this series. Set before cell phones, I really enjoy their nightly calls to check-in with each other when they are apart. The way they work together is heartwarming.
Kathleen Ernst is a real treasure. She researches these stories intensely and creates fictional drama based on facts that keep the reader fascinated from the first page to the last. She is an excellent storyteller whose words come alive. Her love of Wisconsin history shines brightly in this and all of her books in this series. The characters are believable with great dialogues. The setting always plays a key part and she always leaves me wanting to visit the location as soon as possible.
Each of the books in this series can be read all on their own, but to enjoy the character development you really should read them all. Mining for Justice
*Quote from the Pendarvis website.
About The Author
Kathleen Ernst is a social historian, educator, and author. Her Chloe Ellefson mysteries reflect the decade she spent as a curator at a large outdoor museum, and feature historic sites in the Upper Midwest. Library Journal says, “Ernst keeps getting better with each entry in this fascinating series.” Kathleen has also written many mysteries for young readers. Honors for her work include a LOVEY Award and Agatha and Edgar nominations. Kathleen lives and writes in Wisconsin.
Praise For Mining for Justice (A Chloe Ellefson Mystery)
by Kathleen ErnstHave no fear as this author weaves a masterful tale. She never drops the ball. Being in Wisconsin I am naturally drawn to the series but anyone who appreciates history and a well written mystery will not want to miss Kathleen’s books.
~Laura’s InterestsThis is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I love that the author mixes history in her mysteries and that you can learn while reading a fun book.
~A. Holland ReadsWow, this book grabbed my historian heart and held my sleuthing mind to the last page.
~Bibliophile ReviewsMining for Justice is an outstanding story in an equally outstanding series, one that has quickly become a favorite of mine.
~The Power of Words
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October 5 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 5 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT
October 6 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW
October 6 – Girl with Book Lungs – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 7 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW
October 8 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
October 9 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
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October 11 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I missed this one somehow but it sounds like exactly the kind of mystery I’d enjoy. I love an old mystery – especially when there’s a little bit of history thrown in. Great review!
Wow — A Trip to Paradise! I definitely need to start reading this series ~
I love this author and her ability to write a modern mystery that solves an history related mystery from the past.
Sounds like a great book–I’d love to read it!
I really enjoy cozies with a history theme.. Thanks for the chance to win!
First if all, I love mysteries and historical fiction. I’m going to have to check out this series!
Second, I grew up obsessed with American Girls Felicity and Samantha! I had now idea the series had been continued nor that Kathleen wrote the follow ups! Those are going on my TBR list as well!
Thank you so much, first of all for doing the giveaway, but also for putting her other books on my radar!
I didn’t know Wisconsin was a hotbed of Cornish immigration!
This is a new author to me and series to me. I really like reading historical fiction and would enjoy reading the book.
The main character has a cool lob.