Monday, October 10, 2011

Book Review: The Heirloom Murders


Kathleen Ernst’s The Heirloom Murders (Midnight Ink) is a cozy mystery written with flair.

A woman apparently commits suicide and Chloe befriends the deceased’s sister, Dellyn. Not only shaken by her sister’s violent death, Dellyn is still grieving over the recent death of their parents.

Both young women work at Old World Wisconsin, an outdoor history museum, Chloe as a curator and Dellyn as an agriculture specialist. Chloe is helping Dellyn sort through her parents’ household effects, many of which are antique treasurers. Among the numerous files, they find references to the missing Eagle Diamond, a legendary gemstone unearthed in 1876.

Sparks are reignited between Chloe and cop Roelke McKenna when he investigates the alleged suicide. When an ex-boyfriend appears on the scene, Chloe is reminded of a messy and sad previous life she’d hoped to leave behind. The old boyfriend’s presence leaves Roelke unsure of how to proceed with his hoped for relationship with Chloe.

A murder takes place on the museum grounds, someone breaks into Dellyn’s historic house, and Chloe is attacked when she discovers someone lurking in Dellyn’s barn. It becomes clear that murderous greed is behind these evil acts.

The book toggles from the present day to 1876 on Charles and Clarissa Wood’s farm. Hired hand Albrecht Bachmeier is helping Charles dig a well, when Charles finds an unusual gem. Once it’s washed, the pretty gem is placed on Clarissa’s kitchen windowsill.

Kathleen Ernst’s The Heirloom Murders is a great sequel to the first of the Chloe Eliffson Mystery series, Old World Murder. The author presents a captivating story with humor and more than enough mystery to entice readers to keep turning the pages.

5 comments:

Irene Bennett Brown said...

I'm thoroughly enjoying The Heirloom Murders on my Nook as we speak. Kathleen does a fantastic job with her characters -- I know them well from the first book, Old World Murders. It's a pleasure, stepping into their world again.
Thanks, Mary and Kathleen.

Irene Bennett Brown said...

I'm thoroughly enjoying The Heirloom Murders on my Nook as we speak. Kathleen does a fantastic job with her characters -- I know them well from the first book, Old World Murders. It's a pleasure, stepping into their world again.
Thanks, Mary and Kathleen.

Lotti said...

Sounds like a good story .....

Anonymous said...

Mary, sounds like a book to read! I think I'll read Old World Murder first. Maybe they'll both be available at the WWW conference? I hope so!

Julie

Heidiwriter said...

I really want to read your books, Kathleen. Wish you were going to be at the WWW conference so I could get them there!