Book Review and Giveaway - Death on the Prairie by Kathleen Ernst

Death on the Prairie
(A Chloe Ellefson Mystery)
6th in Series
Cozy Mystery
Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: Midnight Ink (October 8, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0738744704

Synopsis:
Chloe Ellefson and her sister, Kari, have long dreamed of visiting each historic site dedicated to Laura Ingalls Wilder. When Chloe takes custody of a quilt once owned by the beloved author, the sisters set out on the trip of a lifetime, hoping to prove that Wilder stitched it herself.

But death strikes as the journey begins, and trouble stalks their fellow travelers. Among the “Little House” devotees are academic critics, greedy collectors, and obsessive fans. Kari is distracted by family problems, and unexpected news from Chloe’s boyfriend jeopardizes her own future. As the sisters travel deeper into Wilder territory, Chloe races to discover the truth about a precious artifact—and her own heart—before a killer can strike again.

My Review
From the moment I first heard about Death on the Prairie, I was eager to read this book.  I am a lifelong Laura Ingalls Wilder fan - primarily the books, although I did enjoy the tv series as well.  (I know the tv series took liberties, but I still enjoyed it, primarily because of the warm characterization of the Ingalls family.)  I have to admit that I chuckled at the conversation in a book that included the line "Are you a book person, a TV person, or a truther?"  One of my dreams is to visit all the Laura sites, so it was a joy to read a cozy mystery that involved  Laura Ingalls Wilder history and the sites associated with her life. 

I really liked the character of Chloe, with her kind nature and fascination with Laura history.  I also enjoyed her relationship with her sister and  her boyfriend.

The mystery started with a death early in the book and it deepened as the book continued, with mysterious happenings at the various Laura sites.  It was very well written, and moved at a pace that seemed perfect for a cozy with rich historical details.

Of course, all the Laura lore was fascinating!  I loved the details about the historical sites, the quilt, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder quotes that started each chapter.  

I loved the conversation in the book about "WWLD?" ("What would Laura do?")   That has always been something I've thought about in times like ice storms, power outages, etc.   I was tickled to see a reference to others thinking the same way.

This is my first book in the Chloe Ellefson series.  I enjoyed it and picked up with the characters easily.  I did have some confusion about the time setting.  There were a lot of references to pay phones  (and no cell phones in emergencies), so I am assuming the books must be set in an earlier time. 

I have already enthusiastically recommended this book to friends who are interested in Laura Ingalls Wilder, children's literature, and history.  I am personally looking forward to reading the rest of the series as well. 
 

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, including nine about the historical character she created, Caroline Abbott. Over 1.5 million copies of Kathleen’s 33 titles have been sold. 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. 

Author Links:

www.kathleenernst.com
www.sitesandstories.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/kathleenernst.author

Giveaway
Win a print edition of this book.  U.S. only.  Ends 10/23 at midnight.
a Rafflecopter giveaway 

I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.