This book may well be a good read but unfortunately not for me. I could not get into the characters and found it hard to figure out the plot.

I have been following Chloe since the first book in this series,, Old World Murder, was published back in 2010. Chloe is an historical interpreter who works on various museum sites such as Old World Wisconsin. In each book, in addition to a good mystery, the reader learns about Wisconsin's settlers and immigrants. Often the history has to do with Norway, as is the case in Fiddling with Fate.

In this entry in the excellent series, the history is personal. No spoilers from early books so I will just say that Chloe learns more about her own family in this one. Long time readers undoubtedly will enjoy this aspect of the book. Of course, there is also murder.

Chloe and her fiancee, Roelke, leave Wisconsin for Norway where Chloe will travel on a trip that her mother had hoped to take. While in Norway, Chloe and the reader will learn a great deal about the role of music and fiddling. Music and dancing (in the novel's historical sections) were viewed by some as an essential aspect of life, while for others the Hardanger's fiddle was the devil's instrument. These attitudes very much relate to the fate of the book's central characters in both the present and the past.

Readers will spend time in the fjords, climbing paths, museums and charming hotel where Chloe and Roelke stay. Readers will also meet the many characters from museum employees, to fiddlers, to dancers.

There are links and suggestions provided for those who want to see and learn more about the places and things that are central to the story. I always find that these suggestions have helped me to enjoy the novels even more.

I think that this book will be enjoyed most by long time readers of this series. New readers might want to start right from the beginning and move through each of the ten books. Two of my favorites are The Lace Maker's Secret and Mining for Justice.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for this e galley in exchange for my honest review.

The latest addition in the series. As always, a fun mystery with cool historical details. I enjoy the series and split between past and present.

A very entertaining old school type mystery tale that also imparts a lot of information, touched of traditions and history of not just Norway but the Norwegians that immigrated to Wisconsin and other areas of America. Main character Chloe's mother passes away and shes find her mother had been adopted. She also is given money by her father her mother had set aside for her to go back to Norway for a vacation while her mothers friends persuade her to take up some historical traditional music and dance research her mother was suppose to go over there to do herself. Strange things start immediately happening on top of her own budding psychic feelings that started getting more and dangerous as soon as she steps foot Nordic soil with her fiance. Really well put together.

This is one of the best books in the Chloe Ellefson series. I was going to read one chapter before bed and I ended up "one more chapter-ing " until 4 am when I finished the bool.
Chloe and Roelke travel to Norway for a working vacation while Chloe does some research on traditional fiddle music. Chloe also hopes to trace her mother's family while they are there. As soon as they land in Norway things begin to go wrong and a young girl is found murdered.
The book moves between Chloe and Roelke's story line (set in the 1980s) and the women in Chloe's family weaving in the stories of several generations. At times, heart wrenching, hopeful, and romantic.

I have long been a fan of Ms Ernst since I first found her books at our local historical society. Needless to say when I found out a local author writes about the amazing historical sites we have in our state and she writes them in a mystery series I was hooked. This latest installment is a fantastic addition to the lineup. The main character Chloe Ellefson travels to Norway home of her ancestors along with her fiancee in tow. Together they uncover an evil mystery that surrounds a fiddle. Although this is a part of a series you can enjoy and read this book as a standalone.

Fiddling with Fate
A Chloe Ellefson Mystery #10
by Kathleen Ernst
Mystery

This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own

Tragedy hits the Curator, Chloe Ellefson Family. Upon finding some interesting clues about her family. Chloe takes a consultant job in her ancestral Norway.
Along with her fiancé,Chloe sets about doing a little research work work. Chloe learns how close nit the community is and how they depend on each other. She also comes to realize what kind of hold their Folklore has on them.

Once again Ms Ernst creative blend of historical fiction with modern day 80’s timeframe is captivating. A little romance and a death, and a killer on the lose.
I really enjoyed this next installment in series. I would recommend this enjoyable read

During religious revivals in the 1800s many fiddles (regular and Hardanger) were destroyed or hidden both by fiddlers and laypeople who thought "that it would be best for the soul that the fiddles be burned", as it was viewed as a "sinful instrument that encouraged wild dances, drinking and fights.This happened in Norway, as well as other parts of Europe,