The Heirloom Murders
Chloe Ellefson Mystery #2
This book is set in July, 1982 at Old World Wisconsin (a large outdoor history museum), the nearby Village of Eagle, and the Village of New Glarus in Green County, Wisconsin—with an historical thread in 1876.
As collections curator for Old World Wisconsin, Chloe Ellefson delights in losing herself in antiques and folk traditions—and forgetting about her overbearing boss and messy love life.
Chloe's growing, but still fragile relationship with police officer Roelke McKenna becomes more complicated by the unexpected arrival of her Swiss ex-boyfriend Markus.
Then someone breaks into her friend Dellyn’s house, a treasure trove of priceless antiques. Was the intruder seeking clues about the missing 16 carat Eagle Diamond, the legendary gemstone unearthed nearby in 1876?
When a murder takes place on the museum grounds, Chloe, Markus, and Roelke are reluctantly drawn together into a deadly mystery involving the stolen diamond, Swiss green cheese, endangered heirloom seeds—and plain old-fashioned greed.
The Heirloom Murders can be ordered as a 360-page trade paperback, and in multiple ebook and 13-hour unabridged audiobook formats.
Places
Most of the scenes in this book are set at real places that still exist and can be visited (except for the private homes). Here are two resources that have been created to help you discover them.
The custom map below lets you virtually visit Old World Wisconsin and the Village of Eagle, Wisconsin area.
A Locations Guide has also been created to help you plan and get the most out of an in-person 'Chloe Tour' of these locations, plus some that are farther afield.
This four-page PDF guide includes photos and descriptions. Download and bring it along on paper or your mobile device. Enjoy your visit; tell'em Chloe sent you!
Related Blog Posts
Willkommen to Volksfest
Since Swiss heritage is a theme in my latest Chloe Ellefson/Historic Sites Mystery, The Heirloom Murders, my husband Scott and I have spent the past couple of years poking around the lovely communities in Green County, WI.
The Old Cheese Factory
I’ve had two wonderful opportunities this fall to see cheese being made as it was back in the day when little cheese huts could be found on many farms in Green County and surrounding areas. I’m doing research for The Heirloom Murders, Book 2 in the Chloe Ellefson/Historic Sites mystery series. (I know, tough gig.)
Vessels of Tradition
A reader recently asked if the elderly couple in The Heirloom Murders was based on real people. I was delighted with the question. She was speaking of Johann and Frieda Frietag, a Swiss-American couple. Many Swiss immigrants settled in Green County, WI.
Researching The Heirloom Murders
Mr. Ernst here. This month the focus is on things interesting and indicative that turned up while researching The Heirloom Murders, the second book...
Frieda’s Kitchen
If you’ve read the second Chloe Ellefson novel, The Heirloom Murders, you’ve met Frieda Frietag. Frieda is an elderly woman of Swiss descent, living in an old family farmhouse in Green County, WI. Based on reader response, Frieda and her husband have become favorite characters.
A Retrospective
Welcome back to the behind-the-scenes look at the Chloe Ellefson mysteries! Up today: The Heirloom Murders, second in the series. I knew where I wanted to go after wrapping up the first book, Old World Murder—Green County, Wisconsin, famous for its Swiss heritage. My father’s parents were born and raised in Switzerland, so that was a natural draw.
Where to buy the book
You can order The Heirloom Murders as a trade paperback from indie bookstores, large chains, and publisher HenschelHAUS.
It is also available as an unabridged audiobook from publisher Tantor Audio. Listen to a sample of the story below.
Author signed and personalized trade paperback copies can be also requested through our Contact Us Form.
