Since I’m officially on vacation, my days should be pretty darn good. Unfortunately, things aren’t quite proceeding as planned.
Everything started because I truly want to improve my relationship with my mother. Mom’s great passion is rosemaling, also called rose painting. It’s a traditional Norwegian folk art. When I saw that Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa, was offering Beginning and Advanced week-long workshops in early December, I suggested that we both sign up. A little mother-daughter bonding would be good for us, right?
Roelke McKenna, whom I have been dating, looked at the course catalog and decided to take the woodcarving class being offered the same week. I was pleased by that…until the three of us got in the car for the drive from Wisconsin to Decorah. Mom regaled Roelke with tales of traditional courtship and marriage customs. Hint, hint. I was ready to jump out the window.
Then, when we arrived at the reception being held for instructors and students, Mom’s instructor was a no-show. We all learned why when I discovered her in an antique immigrant trunk. Someone had attacked her, right there in the museum, and left her there to die.
The next morning, I found out that my instructor was moving up to teach the advanced class, and Mom has been assigned to teach mine. I knew that arrangement would never work; that my perfectionist mother would be all over my case.
I also found out that I’d been “volunteered” to help with a folklore project by interviewing local resident about Norwegian-American Christmas traditions. Don’t get me wrong, I love talking to senior citizens. And I am a museum curator, so folklore is right up my alley. But some of the cozy holiday traditions we all enjoy have some pretty dark origins. Not the most pleasant topics to discuss on a cold, dark night…with a murderer still on the loose in Decorah.
So a typical day for me this week? Let’s see…fall farther behind in my rosemaling class, feel the tension grow between me and Mom, delve into what the old-timers refer to as “the power of darkness,” try to squeeze in a few minutes here and there with Roelke, dig into troubling family secrets, and—oh yes, help catch a killer.
A killer who might just be coming for Mom and me.
You can read more about Chloe Ellefson in Old World Murder, The Heirloom Murders, The Light Keeper’s Legacy, or Heritage of Darkness, published by Midnight Ink.
Leave a comment for a chance to win any one of Kathleen’s Chloe Ellefson mysteries—winner’s choice! Contest ends October 20, 2013.
Meet the Author
Heritage of Darkness is Kathleen Ernst’s twenty-seventh published book, and over a million copies of her titles have been sold. In addition to the Chloe Ellefson series, she has written many books for American Girl, including seven books about the newest historical character, Caroline Abbott. Several of her mysteries for young readers have been finalists for Edgar or Agatha awards. The Heirloom Murders won the Ann Powers Fiction Book Award by the Council For Wisconsin Writers, and The Light Keeper’s Legacy won the Lovey Award for Best Traditional Mystery at Love Is Murder. For more information, visit Kathleen at her website, her blog, or on Facebook.
This sounds like a great series. I would love to start it with the first book! Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve been planning to read this series. I have “Old World Murder” so if I’m the lucky winner, I’d like “The Heirloom Murders”. Thanks for the non-geographically limited giveaway!
this series has been on my WishList forever!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
I Have read the first book in this series and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading more.
I love these books, I only got read one. I’m from Norwegian heritage so really love these, its like a visit to grandma but with some murder lol
I’d LOVE to win this
hhmmmm a new author to me. I will have to check this series out
I have book 1 i think… would love to start in on this series.
I have been wanting to start reading books in this series, just always to many books on my tbr pile ! Thanks for the giveaway !
Good morning everyone! Thanks for your comments. (I love the “It’s like a visit to grandma but with some murder” observation.) And thanks to Dru for her hospitality today.
I have loved the first three Chloe mysteries and can’t wait to read this one. After reading Kathleen’s books I feel as if I had actually visited the locations, so I can’t wait for my trip to Decorah.
I have the first three on my Kindle, because that’s how I learned of this author. I got the first free and liked it so much I hunted down 2 and 3 and paid serious $ for them. Well, serious for an e-book. Likeable characters, great plots, nice touch of romance … can’t go wrong with this series.
Sounds like a fun book.
I love going to museums. We took our 10 year old granddaughter to the Brooklyn Museum of Art a month or so back (she also saw the Botanical Gardens across the parking lot) she was so entranced by the experience that she is begging us for another trip.
I own and have read The Heirloom Murders and enjoyed it very much. I’d love to add another book from that series to my collection. Pretty please Dru, put my name in the magical hat.
This is a wonderful series. I started volunteering at historical sites while I was still in high school (living history is my favorite) and ended up majoring in history in college. I never had to deal with a mystery while on the job, altho there was that darn snake that kept disappearing before we could catch it…. Thanks for the up-date on the latest Chloe Ellefson book!
It would be fun for my granddaughter, Chloe to read about your Chloe!
I really like this series and how Kathleen adds in so many great details. Like Rosemaling!! Can’t wait to read the new Chloe book, thanks for the chance to win!
I have read all of your books except Heritage of Darkness. They were all very captivating and awesome, couldn’t put them down! I so much wanted to be at your book signing on Washington but unfortunately my husband won with a Packer Party at our trailer in Rawley’s Bay. i will watch for more book signings! Hope to see many more in the series!!!
On a driving trip a couple of weeks ago, I stopped in Decorah and visited Vesterheim for the first time. I bought “Heritage of Darkness” as a souvenir of my visit, and then stayed up all night in the campground reading it!
Wow, I had no idea that Kathleen had published 27 books. That’s a lot! I think we’d both enjoy reading at least one, thanks for the chance to win.
I can’t wait to read Heritage of Darkness. Thanks to Kathleen for introducing us to another blog!
Thanks for the comments, everyone! For those who have already read one or more of the Chloe books, I’m glad you’re enjoying the series. I loved the comment that after reading a Chloe book, the reader felt that she’d visited the site. I love finding a strong sense of place in books, and try to instill that in my own. And the Chloe books let me share wonderful places with readers.
This sounds fabulous–I think I’d want to start out with this one just from the description.
I look forward to reading the new Chloe book. I loved the others!
This series sounds great to me. Kathleen is a fairly new author to me and I don’t know why as I have been a mystery and cozy mystery reader for many years now. So I am thrilled to have another author to follow and read. Would love to win one of your books, Kathleen. Thank you for the giveaway and getting some new followers in the process.
Sincerely,
Cynthia
Another series I’ve missed, it sounds fascinating.
Never heard of rosemaling and I have a Norwegian ancestor! Will definitely check that out. And I would love to read any of the author’s books. Thank you for this giveaway. Thank you for introdduing this series!!!!
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like a fun book! I just moved back in my mother’s basement. We will be doing a bit of bonding and I think it will be good. I hope she can handle it! I love my mother!
ElaineE246(at)msn(dot)com
Sounds like a good series. I’d love to read it.
That sounds like a disaster that could happen to me and my mother—minus the murder, of course. I’d love to read the book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I was busy with school visits today and so couldn’t respond to everyone personally, but it’s been so much fun to check in and read your comments! I’m one of the those lucky people who gets to do what they truly love. The Chloe Ellefson series is pure fun to write because I get to explore places I love and themes and ideas and topics I feel passionate about. Thanks for sharing the adventures.
This series sounds as if it will make me recall my Norwegian mother .
This series sounds fantastic. I really hope to get started on it one day soon.
I haven’t read any of this series, I think I’d like to. It sounds really interesting.
I would like to read a new series as well, I would love a copy of the first book!
Wow, 26 to search for and hopefully the 27th of win. The series sounds like it’s right up my alley. I’m always trying to piece together my heritage. Thanks. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
I have never heard of rose maling. How interesting.
Thanks Kathleen for giving us a glimpse into Chloe’s day.
contest is closed.