A MEMORY OF MUSKETS

By Kathleen Ernst

Chloe Ellefson is the Curator of Collections at Old World Wisconsin, a historic site. Chloe’s significant other, Roelke McKenna, is a police officer working in the nearby village of Eagle. The couple has purchased Roelke’s old family farm with plans to fix up the original cabin for Chloe’s use. Yet when Chloe enters the cabin, she is shocked by the sudden feelings she gets from her surroundings. Looking into the past, Chloe uncovers a sad, but inspirational backstory regarding the place.

At present, Chloe is also helping Bryon Cook, Curator of Interpretations, with his plans for a special Civil War program. His plans will involve a group of Civil War Reenactment programmers; he believes they have the seriousness needed when it comes to putting on a “show” that takes into account all the facts of the Civil War period. The group will stage a big battle, but when a body dressed in period clothing, with no identification, is found on one of the farms, Roelke’s not too sure whether the reenactor’s death is an accident or outright murder.

Add in a parallel story that comes from another time period involving past residents of the town, and all tales come together perfectly as drama from the past ultimately sheds light on what’s happening in the present.

As this is the seventh book in the Chloe Ellefson Old World Mysteries series, and having read the previous stories, I must say this murder mystery is certainly believable and extremely well-written. Readers will be able to begin this series out of order, as the author explains just what you need to know about the characters to completely enjoy the tale.