I knew we were in trouble as soon as the plane landed in Norway.

At best, this was destined to be an emotionally challenging trip. When my mother died suddenly a few weeks ago, I discovered some antiques hidden in her closet: a doll wearing Norwegian bridal attire, a doily embellished with gorgeous Hardanger cutwork embroidery, and a very old cloth stitched with mysterious symbols.

I’d recently learned that my mom was adopted, and I just knew that these items were clues to her birth family. I brought those treasures to Norway so I could confer with local experts.

Since I’m a curator at a large historic site, I’m experienced at digging out clues to past events. On this trip, however, the hunt is personal. I’m looking for my own ancestors. I’m trying to figure out how I fit into a chain of strong women, stretching back in time.

Unfortunately, it’s starting to look like someone in this gorgeous country doesn’t want me to succeed.

I’m traveling with my fiancé, Roelke McKenna, and before we even left the airport, someone tried to snatch my bag. If the thief had succeeded, I would have lost my precious heirlooms.

When I stumbled over a dead body a few days later, I tried to tell myself that the murder couldn’t possibly have anything to do with me. Now I’m not so sure.

I funded this trip by accepting a grant that set me up to study fiddle and dance traditions in Norway’s Hardanger region. The Hardanger fiddle was once branded “the devil’s instrument” by some strict souls who wanted to discourage people from dancing, music, and strong drink.

I used to think the stories were quaint, but I’m starting to wonder if there’s something to the old legends. Roelke and I are in a desperate race to find my ancestral family. . .before some devil catches up with us.

You can read more about Chloe in Fiddling with Fate, the tenth book in the “Chloe Ellefson” traditional mystery series, released September 8, 2019.

Chloe has a devil of a time unraveling the mysteries of Norway’s fiddle and dance traditions

After her mother’s unexpected death, curator Chloe Ellefson discovers hidden antiques that hint at family secrets. Determined to find answers, Chloe accepts a consultant job in Norway, her ancestors’ homeland. She’s thrilled with the opportunity to explore Hardanger fiddle and dance traditions . . . and her own heritage.

Once their plane lands, however, Chloe and her fiancé, cop Roelke McKenna, encounter only disharmony. Chloe’s research reveals strong women and the importance of fiddle music in their lives. But folklore warns against “the devil’s instrument” and old evils may yet linger among the fjords and mountains. As Chloe fine-tunes her search for the truth, a killer’s desire to stop her builds to a deadly crescendo.

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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. 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.

Connect with Kathleen at kathleenernst.com, on her blog at SitesAndStories, and on her Facebook Author page.

All comments are welcomed.