I admit it: my decision to accept this consulting gig in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was impulsive. Perhaps I shouldn’t have agreed to spend a week at a remote abandoned farm without learning a little bit more about the job.

But how could I resist the chance to help develop that particular abandoned farm into a museum? I’m a curator, after all–passionate about historic sites and the stories they can tell. A family of Finnish immigrants carved this homestead from the stump land left by lumberjacks. It’s a story that needs to be told.

Besides, being here will let me pursue my private goal of learning more about the enduring Finnish American tradition of weaving rag rugs. My boss told me to “pursue something decorative,” but he’s a misogynistic jerk so I shall ignore him. I suspect the art and craft of creating rugs helped immigrant weavers survive some brutally harsh times. That’s a story that needs to be told as well.

Unfortunately, however, I’ve had some disturbing surprises. As soon as I arrived in the Northwoods, I found an elderly weaver’s dead body. My new colleagues are keeping secrets. Some locals are unhappy about the homestead project, and see me as an interloper.

And, I’m struggling to explain to my new husband why, despite all those things, I’m not willing to come home. Honestly, I’m still trying to figure that out myself.

I remain determined to honor the legacy of the Finnish Americans who made this rugged landscape home, but I’m bracing myself for a long and unsettling week.

The Weaver’s Revenge, A Chloe Ellefson Mystery #11
Genre: Historical
Release: May 2021
Purchase Link

A Killer Weaves a Deadly Blend of Betrayal and Revenge that Threatens Chloe’s Work . . . and Her Life

When offered a rare opportunity to help develop a fledgling historic site dedicated to Finnish American history and heritage, curator Chloe Ellefson journeys to the remote Northwoods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

In addition to the consultant job, she’s on a personal quest to learn about the enduring tradition of rag rug weaving. Encountering a dead body upon arrival, however, immediately puts that goal in jeopardy. Although suspicion soon falls on her new colleagues, Chloe is determined to persevere . . . even if it means ignoring the advice of her new husband, police officer Roelke McKenna. Can she identify the killer and complete her mission, or will all her dreams unravel?

About the author
Former museum curator Kathleen Ernst is the author of The Chloe Ellefson mysteries, the forthcoming Hanneke Bauer mysteries, and many children’s mysteries. Honors for her work include Agatha and Edgar Award nominations. Visit kathleenernst.com to learn more.

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