Published: October 8, 2016
Number of pages: 408
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Chloe Ellefson Mystery #7
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.
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:
www.kathleenernst.comwww.sitesandstories.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/kathleenernst.author
Purchase Links:
Amazon – B&N –Indie Bound
Guest Post:
Family Stories
By Kathleen Ernst
Are you interested in genealogy? If so, you’re not alone. Experts list only gardening ahead of genealogy in terms of popular hobbies in the United States. It’s also the second busiest category of website. I developed a fascination with family history decades ago. I’m also interested in the broader study of immigrant history, particularly that of people who traveled to Wisconsin and the upper Midwest in the 19th century.That interest led me to create the Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites mysteries. Protagonist Chloe works at the same outdoor ethnic museum where I once worked, Old World Wisconsin. Many of the books feature historical plot strands, usually presenting immigrants from different European countries—Norwegian, Swiss, Danish, Polish.
The newest, A Memory of Muskets, is the most personal for Chloe yet. Her guy-friend, cop Roelke McKenna, has just purchased his old family farm. She’s agreed to move in. There’s just one problem: Chloe has the ability to perceive strong emotions that sometimes linger in old buildings, and there are disturbing vibes in what was once the cabin where Roelke’s German-American ancestors made their home.
She’s pretty busy at work, planning Old World Wisconsin’s first Civil War reenactment—and trying to help identify a reenactor found dead at a German-American farm restored to 1860. Nonetheless, she’s determined to discover what caused the distress for Klaus and Rosina, the first of Roelke’s ancestors to arrive in Wisconsin. Readers discover the challenges faced by all settlers who went through the enormous upheaval of immigrating to America, only to see their new homeland erupt in Civil War.
Working on family history has rewards and challenges. It’s exciting to find a new name to add to the tree. On the other hand, the farther back you go, the less likely it is that you’ll find any stories behind the name. And sooner or later, any branch on the tree will simply peter out.
I write fiction in part to satisfy the need to find the stories behind the names. I write mysteries because the quest to solve a murder mirrors perfectly the quest to solve an historical puzzle. The past often informs the present, and Chloe’s historical research skills are as important as Roelke’s investigative abilities.
Are you involved in family history? What discoveries have you made?
Giveaway:
This giveaway is for the US only. The winner will be drawn randomly via rafflecopter. Once the winner has been drawn they will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. If you do not respond a new winner will be chosen. It is mandatory that you leave a comment on this post. This will be verfied and if you do not leave a comment then your entry will be thrown out. Thank you and 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
My ancestors come from Tennessee.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful state!
DeleteMy family comes from all over, including Germany and Prussia and native American
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have an interesting family tree.
DeleteMy ancestors came from Germany, Poland and the Netherlands.
ReplyDeleteMy first ancestors in North American came from the Netherlands. I've always wanted to go. Maybe someday!
DeleteMy ancestors come from Eastern Europe.
ReplyDeleteHave you had a chance to visit?
DeleteMy ancestors come from England and Norway. I have enjoyed finding out more about them as the years go on. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! I've had fun learning more about Norwegian heritage as I write the Chloe Ellefson mysteries.
DeleteThanks for the chance for this great giveaway! My mother recently received a packet of information about our ancestors from her brother. He even sent off his DNA. I can't wait to go through it. It goes back to the 1600's.
ReplyDeleteI imagine you'll find all kinds of interesting things from the DNA test. I'd love to do that some day.
DeleteMy ancestors came to America on one line from England in 1640 to Massachusetts my with my line being born at Boston in 1643.
ReplyDeleteAwesome. I have one line that came from the Netherlands in the 1600s. Don't you wish you could go back in time and watch them arrive?
DeleteMy ancestors came to America on one line from England in 1640 to Massachusetts my with my line being born at Boston in 1643.
ReplyDeleteJust recently found out that my family came from Russia. Had no idea!
ReplyDeleteHi Roxy - very cool!
DeleteGraduate of Watertown high school..too much family mystery to know origins.
ReplyDeleteKristin - in my new book, a couple of scenes are set in Watertown! One of the themes is how little we can truly know about our ancestors' lives.
DeleteGraduate of Watertown high school..too much family mystery to know origins.
ReplyDeleteI'm from Beaver Dam Wisconsin- and I love old world Wisconsin! I live in Iowa now- and this summer by 3 little boys had their first visit to Living History Farms. I'm looking forward to taking them back next summer- the perils of having a history-teacher mother!
ReplyDeleteI love these kinds of stories.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete