Fiddling with Fate is the story of curator Chloe who after her mother dies discovers hidden antiques that hint at family secrets.

The novel is a great story with well-crafted characters and a riveting mystery you won't want to miss. Follow Chloe as she heads to Norway to delve into her family's ancestors homeland.

A must-read.

Probably a good time for this series to conclude (at least from this publisher), as it's wandered away from what made the early books so appealing. This one, in particular, takes the two lead characters out of Wisconsin and out of the country to Norway, missing out on the Wisconsin historical locations. I'm also no longer interested in what happens to the cast. Very hard to get into the book, and I couldn't force myself to finish it.

This is a wonderful series that mixes history with mystery. This book takes Chloe to Norway and the description of the scenery is so beautiful and the mystery has great twists and turns. I recommend this book,, to anyone who loves history with their mystery

Fiddling with Fate is my favorite Chloe Ellefson Mystery yet! The story was super engaging, the mystery was extremely well written, and Chloe and Roelke's relationship grew in amazing ways.
The book starts on a sad note with Chloe and Roelke at Chloe's mom's funeral. At the funeral, Chloe was presented with an opportunity to go to Norway to complete work that her mother had earned a grant for. Through a bequest from her mom, both Chloe and Roelke are able to travel to Norway.
Their troubles begin as soon as they disembark in Norway with the attempted theft of Chloe's daypack. Chloe's dual purposes for the trip twine together in surprising and dangerous ways. Will she be able to uncover the truth about her mother's birth family? Will her search information kill her?
I was consistently surprised by the twists and turns Chloe was confronted with as she completed research into the dances and music of the Hardanger area and looked for information about her mother's birth family.

After reading this, the tenth of the series, I want to take a trip to Norway. Past and present come together when Chloe and her fiance, Roelke, travel to Norway after her mother dies. Her mother was going to go to Norway to study the history of the Hardanger fiddle and to find out about her own past. Chloe takes her place and things become dangerous as soon as they arrive - somebody tries to steal her backpack. What could possibly be that important? When there are secrets, both past and present to be kept, desperation makes people do dangerous things. Dangerous enough to include murder. Dangerous for Chloe when it appears that she is the intended target of the killer.
There are so many things I enjoy about this series, beyond the characters of Chloe and her family and friends. I learn so much interesting history in each book. In this one, more than the fiddles, the time periods are the 1920's and immigration and the 1980's. Plus the pace is refreshing as this is pre-cell phones, internet, etc. and Chloe uses her instincts to investigate.
My thanks to the publisher, Midnight Ink and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

After her mother's death, Chloe finds a box of antique needlework tucked in the back of a closet and begins to realize just how many unanswered questions she has. A last minute research trip to Norway gives her a chance to explore her mother's roots and the hope that she might find real details about who her ancestors were and explore the land where they once lived.



Once again, Kathleen Ernst had me holding my breath to see how events -- both in the 1980s and at the turn of the century -- would resolve themselves. She also had me hurrying off to her blog, along with Google and Youtube, to get more information about the historical objects she describes in the book.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Chloe was dealing with some information she found out about her mother when her mother unexpectedly passed away. While going through her mother’s belongings she finds some unique heirlooms hidden away. These objects raise more questions than providing answers. Her mother was getting ready to travel to Norway to study Hardanger fiddle and dance traditions. With her death, Chloe is given the opportunity to take her place and her fiancé Roelke McKenna agrees to go along.

Their trip gets off to a rocky start when someone tries to steal the backpack Chloe is carrying at the airport soon after they landed. Able to hang on to her belongs, they try to concentrate on Chloe’s research with the added opportunity to research her mother’s background. The fiddle has a rich heritage, both good and bad and Chloe is anxious to learn all she can. But when a young woman is murdered Chloe enlists Roelke police instincts to help her solve all the mysteries. When they realize Chloe is the killer’s target things get really intense.

___

What I have loved about every book in this series is the way Kathleen Ernst melds her character’s lives with an extraordinary mystery while tying in a historic story too. This time she takes us to Norway to learn about immigrants that had migrated to Wisconsin in the 1920s. She takes her readers along with lead character Chloe on an adventure to learn about Norwegian history and the many facets like music and fiddling played in that history. The author’s research shines but it is all fictionalized in a way that is a pure joy to read.

Her words also permit readers to visualize clearly every place her characters travel. The outside museum, the trails, the hotel, the waterfalls, and to a spectacular place where Chloe learns so much. All the people they meet too are richly described and developed.

Chloe’s life takes place in the 1980s, no cell phones, no GPS, no Wikipedia, no internet, but she does have what I call “spidey sense”, certain places and things affect her physically. She learns much through her travels and experiences. I found myself fully immersed in this story wanting the learn right along with her. Both the present time and historic period had its own suspenseful mystery and some terrifying moments building to an unexpected ending.

Ms. Ernst is an amazing storyteller. Her imagination weaves a story filled with real history to take her readers on a delightful literary trip. The main characters are genuine, real and very engaging. It seems each book in this series becomes my new favorite because the author continues to top herself.

Fiddling with Fate takes two characters I care about on quite a journey. I loved every minute of it! Look for this book on my Best Reads List of 2019.

Each story is written to stand on its own but for maximum enjoyment, you should read them all.

This series improves with each instalment and this one was no exception.
I appreciated the descriptions of the setting, the cast of characters and the plot which is engrossing and entertaining.
The mystery was good and it kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I confess up front that I'm a fan of this series which features Chloe, a curator and her law enforcement love interest Roelke, because I always learn something. If you haven't read it, don't worry- you'll be fine and rewarded with a new author to look for. This time out Chloe is mourning the death of her mother and decides to take a quick job in Norway. Told in sort of dual time line, this is as much about the Hardanger region, its history and traditions, as it is about Chloe and Roelke. In looking into her family's history, Chloe learns about the women in her family, music, musical instruments, and the art and culture of Norway. The mystery itself- who is after Chloe and Roelke- was less interesting than the rest but that's ok with me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of informative as well as entertaining cozies.

When Chloe is asked to take her mother's place on a consulting job in Norway, she and Roelke make the trip, hoping to combine the consulting job with more research into Chloe's family history. She finds a family tree full of strong women, traditional dances – and fiddles, which many Norwegians considered "the devil's instrument." There are a lot of family secrets to uncover, but it seems that someone in the present day doesn't want those secrets to come to light.

This is book #10 of this series, and I have come to enjoy the series more with each book. I love learning about different aspects of the Norwegian heritage, possibly because some of my family is from Sweden, and I'm guessing that, while there are differences, there are a lot of similarities between the two. This book is different from the others in the series because Chloe and Roelke traveled to Norway, so we don't have the established setting and characters that have been part of the earlier books. I liked the characters we met in this book, though, and discovering Norway through Chloe's eyes made up for missing the folks in Wisconsin. As the story progressed, I kept changing my mind about who was likely to be the villain, but I was pretty sure I had it figured out just before the reveal in the story. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

What do you get when you create a medley of history, culture, and murder? You get the musical mystery novel Fiddling with Fate - a charming cozy set in a small Norwegian village. It will warm your heart, appease your puzzle-solving brain, and make you want to dance a Halling.
 
 
What I liked
 
The exquisite detail used when discussing Norwegian cultural items. The fiddles, embroidery, and doilies are described to the smallest detail. You can see the object in your mind as clearly as if there had been a photograph.
 
The historical interludes that complimented the current day story. Even though I don’t review any historical fiction, it is a genre that I enjoy. So, those parts of this novel stood out to me, giving me the chance to enjoy a little historical fiction within the mystery.
 
The nod to genealogy fit so perfectly in this story. Anyone who has worked on their own family tree, taken an Ancestry.com or similar DNA test, or just listened to old family stories understands what it means to learn about the history of your family. Chloe learning about her family history is heartwarming and fits so perfectly with the mystery in the novel.
 
What I Wish:
 
The motive for murder had been stronger. The character who did it is definitely believable, but the reason is a bit of a head-scratcher. It did not take away from the reading experience, but the plot is strong and on-point, so the fact that the character’s motive is weak really stood out. Why were the family heirlooms so vital to him or her, important enough to murder or at the very least, injure?
 
I wish Amalie’s letter and what happened to her had been part of the novel. The reader learns so much about the family history, I really wanted that last piece of the puzzle to be revealed. Perhaps it will in the next book in the series?
 
To Read or Not to Read
 
Fans of mystery and historical fiction will love, love, love this novel. It brings many elements together to appeal to a broad audience, so it should not be overlooked.

It can be difficult to read the latest book in a series when you have not read any of the others. Not so with Fiddling with Fate. Ernst grounds the reader in Stoughton, Wisconsin, where Chloe Ellefson works at a museum dedicated to the Norwegian arts, crafts, music, and heritage that link many of the townspeople. Ernst introduces us to Chloe, her fiance Roelke McKenna, her mother's friend Hilda, and others who will play a role in the story to come.

In the case of Hilda, not only does she play a role, but also plays traditional Norwegian folk and dance music on a Hardanger fiddle that hearkens back to Norway. This music, the traditional dances, Chloe's mother's genealogy, and the possible provenance of two textiles (including an embroidered handaplagg, traditional bride's hand covering) inspire Chloe and Roelke to travel to Norway.

Ernst divides the narrative into past and present in the Hardanger region, giving the reader glimpses of the struggles that 19th century farmers encountered, and the lack of options for women. Despite obstacles in both present and past, and despite a murder that seems to be linked to their quest, Chloe and Roelle find their way, helped by Chloe's extraordinary gift for sensing things beyond what can be touched and seen.

Four stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to read and review.

Norway, historical-research, suspense

Disclaimer: we geek history, live in Wisconsin, still have family in Norway, have some pieces of Hardanger and Rosemaling, and love fiddle music (think Greig).
At her mother's funeral Chloe is given some information and resources to go back to Norway to fulfill a directive from her mother. Once in Norway Chloe and her beloved become involved in episodes of murder, attempted murder, theft, and some rather frightening psychic episodes in addition to enjoying the beautiful land of the Norse. Of course I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Midnight Ink via NetGalley. Thank you!

Fiddling with Fate is a rather melancholy. It opens with Chloe's mother's death. She and Roelke travel to Norway to study the culture, but Chloe is determined to investigate her mother's adoption. The story shares the history of the matrilineal line of Chloe's ancestry, which is well written. Chloe and Roelke find plenty of trouble with a murder, two trips to the hospital, and stolen heirlooms. Ultimately, they decide to take their relationship to the next level. This is a comfortable series to read. Some of the subject matter was depressing, but overall, readers delve even more into Chloe's history.

A mystery series needs a good hook. Kathleen Ernst found one when she created the Chloe Ellefson Mysteries. Ernst combines her knowledge as an educator, social activist, and historian to create a series character who is thoroughly grounded in the life of a collections curator living in the Midwest in the 1980's.

The book opens with the memorial service for her mother, a staunch lover of all thing Norwegian. The tribute includes a haunting melody played on a Hardanger fiddle. This instrument, once owned by Chloe's mother, will will entice Chloe to further delve into her heritage. She and her fiance, Roelke McKenna, will travel to Norway, specifically to research a folk art museum in the Hardanger region of Norway.

Authentic, self aware, and a bit of a mystic, Chloe is drawn not only to the fiddle, but to some Hardanger embroidery found after her mother's death. Perhaps the embroidery will help unravel the mystery of her mother's early life. Was her mother really adopted? Was she abandoned? Why was Aunt Hilda attacked, and what secret is she keeping?

In Norway the plot shifts seamlessly between two eras, Norway of the 1920's when emigration offered a chance for better living conditions. The economy was stalled by the post WWI recession. Jobs were scarce and many industries were in transition. Ernst tells of the struggles of a rural family weaving the story of a possible 'devil inspired' fiddle into their lives. In 1984 Chloe and Roelke become involved with the death of Klara, one of the servers at the Utne Hotel, and also a worker at the fold museum. What part does the Hardanger fiddle play in both eras?

Ernst's fine research skills allow the reader to feel a complete immersion into both eras. Each era carries its own tale of suspense, making for an engaging read.

Recommended for history lovers and as well as mystery fans.

The tenth entry in a mystery series but the first i have read and I can't wait to read the first nine now.I recommend to any mystery series lover

This was a fun book but I found myself a little lost at time. I think I need to read the rest of the author's books to try to get on board. I will read more of the author for sure.

The book begins with Chloe attending her mother;s funeral. Afterward, she finds some interesting articles in her mother's things. When she is providently given the opportunity to go to Norway for work, she decides to do some research about those articles of embroidery that she found. They lead to some secrets about her mother's origin that was unknown. Along the way, someone tries to interfere with what Chloe is doing. I found it a vivid story, with interesting facts thrown in about Norway and immigrants to the US. And of course Chloe chasing down her mother's true background, gives her information about herself. It was entertaining and drew you in.

A good addition to the series. I loved the traveling to Norway and the family aspect! 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

After her mother dies, Chloe and her fiance travel to Norway to try and unearth some mysteries about her family history. There's a lot of interesting information about folk traditions in Norway, but I thought the plot seemed kind of contrived. I had difficulty accepting the idea that someone was harassing and trying (multiple times) to kill a nice young American couple, ending in what ultimately seemed kind of an unbelievable scenario. I did enjoy learning about Norway's Hardanger region and its unique music traditions.