Mining for Justice by Kathleen Ernst

Mining for Justice (Chloe Ellefson Mystery, #8)

by Kathleen Ernst

Chloe Ellefson is excited to be learning about Wisconsin's Cornish immigrants and mining history while on temporary assignment at Pendarvis, a historic site in charming Mineral Point. But when her boyfriend, police officer Roelke McKenna, discovers long-buried human remains in the root cellar of an old Cornish cottage, Chloe reluctantly agrees to mine the historical record for answers. She soon finds herself in the center of a heated and deadly controversy that threatens to close Pendarvis. While struggling to help the historic site, Chloe must unearth dark secrets, past and present . . . before a killer comes to bury her. Praise: "Richly imagined and compelling, Mining for Justiceonce again highlights Kathleen Ernst's prowess as a storyteller, with its nuanced characters and intersecting mysteries . . . Ernst is a master of reconstructing the past, providing vivid and authentic details about the lives of early Cornish immigrants in Wisconsin, while showing how the secrets of those long-buried people still matter in the present day."--Susanna Calkins, author of the Macavity-winning Lucy Campion Mysteries

Reviewed by Mystereity Reviews on

5 of 5 stars

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This series blows me away with every book.  There are always 3 narratives: Chloe's, cop boyfriend Roelke's and a haunting historical story featuring a woman facing horrible hardships.  It's managed so well, too; it seamlessly switches in between the narratives  and brings a multi-dimensional facet to the story that's unmatched in any other series I've read.

There was a lot going on this one; Chloe is struggling to find out who was buried in the root cellar of her friend's stone cottage and also trying to help save the historical interpretation site Pendarvis from closing.  Roelke is working on a big drugs bust while trying to protect his cousin from her ex-husband. Meanwhile, centuries ago, a Cornish woman and her brothers immigrated to Wisconsin to mine lead and her struggles and triumphs. There's a lot packed into this book, but the story is woven so well that it's easy to switch between characters.  I loved the story of Mary Pascoe, from her time as a balmaiden in Cornwall to her immigration to the US and the struggles she faced throughout her life but also her triumphs. Meanwhile, with Chloe away, Roelke was forced to make a drastic decision that haunts him, one he can't share with anyone, even his beloved Chloe.

I heartily recommend this series, particularly for those who enjoy historical fiction.  

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