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Chloe Ellefson Mystery #3
The Light Keeper's Legacy
An island's history holds clues to a modern murder
Solitude at last! Museum curator Chloe Ellefson jumps at the chance to spend time on Wisconsin's Rock Island, a state park with no electricity or roads. Hired as a consultant for a project to restore the island's historic 1857 lighthouse, her research turns up fascinating tough-as-nails women from the past.
Chloe's tranquility is spoiled when a dead woman washes ashore. Is it an accidental drowning? Or has tension over tighter fishing regulations reached a dangerous boiling point? When a second body is found, Chloe finds herself trapped on remote Rock Island with a killer.
This book contains a map of Rock Island, a cast of characters, and an author's note with links to additional resources.
Solitude at last! Museum curator Chloe Ellefson jumps at the chance to spend time on Wisconsin's Rock Island, a state park with no electricity or roads. Hired as a consultant for a project to restore the island's historic 1857 lighthouse, her research turns up fascinating tough-as-nails women from the past.
Chloe's tranquility is spoiled when a dead woman washes ashore. Is it an accidental drowning? Or has tension over tighter fishing regulations reached a dangerous boiling point? When a second body is found, Chloe finds herself trapped on remote Rock Island with a killer.
This book contains a map of Rock Island, a cast of characters, and an author's note with links to additional resources.
360 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Kathleen Ernst
57 books387 followersI grew up in Maryland, in a house full of books! Both of my parents were avid readers, thank goodness. Before we traveled to a new area, my librarian-mom used to bring home historical novels set in that place. It was a great way to get excited about history.
I began writing stories when I was maybe 10 or 11. At 15 I wrote my first novel; I sold my first novel to a publisher 20 years later! Writing was my hobby, so during those two decades I just kept practicing, reading, writing some more. What a thrill to finally hold my first book in my hand! Still, I write because I enjoy the process (at least most of the time).
For years I wrote while working at other day jobs. I spent 12 years working at a huge historic site, which was a perfect spot for someone interested in historical fiction. I also developed and scripted instructional videos for public television. Finally, though, it got to be too much to juggle. I now write full-time, and consider myself enormously fortunate to do something I love.
I began writing stories when I was maybe 10 or 11. At 15 I wrote my first novel; I sold my first novel to a publisher 20 years later! Writing was my hobby, so during those two decades I just kept practicing, reading, writing some more. What a thrill to finally hold my first book in my hand! Still, I write because I enjoy the process (at least most of the time).
For years I wrote while working at other day jobs. I spent 12 years working at a huge historic site, which was a perfect spot for someone interested in historical fiction. I also developed and scripted instructional videos for public television. Finally, though, it got to be too much to juggle. I now write full-time, and consider myself enormously fortunate to do something I love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
March 8, 2026
"This trip of yours is a very bad idea," Roelke said soberly.Chloe Ellefson, curator for Old World Wisconsin, accepted a contract to be a guest curator for the Pottawatomie Lighthouse on Rock Island.
And after the last few disastrous months at Old World, she's more than ready to accept the position. But, of course, on her very first day there, Chloe finds something wholly unexpected.
Chloe doesn't know what to think - a tragic accident? A murder? Good thing her lighthouse has no electricity, running water, and is located on an isolated island.
"No. It couldn't be.
Another wave shoved the bundle with more force. Chloe stared at the fingers poking through the netting."
At first Chloe is able to move along and help with her work...but then the second body drifts ashore and she's left reeling. Who could have done this? And why? And is she next?
I am really enjoying this series!!
Chloe is such a competent main character and tackles each problem with clinical precision. If I was stuck on a lighthouse island surrounded by bodies, then I would be honored to have her by my side.
I feel like the mystery element of this one worked really well. I like how we have Chloe's mystery in the present time but there's also the story of Ragna and Anders, two of the early settlers to the island in 1869.
I feel like the author does a great job of weaving the two timelines and explaining how the mysteries are intertwined.
Also, this romance has to be the absolute slowest of the slow burns that I've ever read - three books in and there's not even a smooch...and yet I'm there for it. I like the realism of this budding relationship between Roelke and Chloe - it feels right, if that makes sense.
All in all, I can't wait to continue this series! Kathleen Ernst is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!!
April 8, 2015
This is the third book in the Chloe Ellefson mystery series and so far, I liked this one the best.
I loved learning about Rock Island! It makes me want to visit there someday.
I also loved how just about every other chapter was the story of two women on the island during the 1870's-1910. Emily Betts and Ragna Anderson's stories are very important connections to the present stories.
Of course Chloe can't go anywhere without finding a dead body or two!
I liked Chloe's character best in this book. The reader really gets more of her thought and less of the way she speaks and reacts to things. I liked that.
Chloe is supposed to be spending the week evaluating the lighthouse on the island and making recommendations for the historical reproduction of the lighthouse. She gets to live in the lighthouse and her 6th sense opens up and the stories of the past begin to speak to her in various ways.
There was a lot of information on the fishing industry past and present and all the debates and controversies surrounding it. I found those parts tedious and rather boring but they were necessary to understand the story.
I loved learning about Rock Island! It makes me want to visit there someday.
I also loved how just about every other chapter was the story of two women on the island during the 1870's-1910. Emily Betts and Ragna Anderson's stories are very important connections to the present stories.
Of course Chloe can't go anywhere without finding a dead body or two!
I liked Chloe's character best in this book. The reader really gets more of her thought and less of the way she speaks and reacts to things. I liked that.
Chloe is supposed to be spending the week evaluating the lighthouse on the island and making recommendations for the historical reproduction of the lighthouse. She gets to live in the lighthouse and her 6th sense opens up and the stories of the past begin to speak to her in various ways.
There was a lot of information on the fishing industry past and present and all the debates and controversies surrounding it. I found those parts tedious and rather boring but they were necessary to understand the story.
June 16, 2023
It's been a while since I've read this series but I really enjoyed this book. I loved the change up in location and the island and lighthouse setting was a lot of fun. I also enjoyed the mixing of the "modern story" and what had happened in the past. Since this series takes place in 1982 my favorite scene is when Roelke gave Chloe a book for her trip - the first in a new series, A is for Alibi. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
October 1, 2023
This was the perfect vacation read! A bookstore owner on Washington Island recommended it to me and I’m so glad she did. It’s a great classic mystery with well written characters and the right amount of suspense. I will definitely read other books in this series, I didn’t realize I started with the third. I also loved reading the book while I was in the area it was set. The author used her unique perspective as a historian and the book almost felt like a historical fiction at times. I highly recommend, if you like mysteries or if you’ve spent time on Washington Island!
February 19, 2017
I have found another excellent mystery writer in Kathleen Ernst. It took me a few chapters to get hooked on this story but once I did, it was hard to put it down. Chloe is a museum curator with a knack for finding death bodies. My initial draw to this book was the Lighthouse theme. This one on Lake Michigan and is located in a park that is only accessible by boat. The story bounces from present day to the 1800's view point of people who lived on the island. This helped to understand what Chloe was finding in her research as well as sending her looking for more information. There are many characters who could all be the murderer and keep you wondering who did it. I highly recommend checking out this book. Since this is the third book in the series, I know I will be looking for more of Ms Ernst books.
February 26, 2013
I'd love to give this 6 stars! I loved this book and am enjoying the series. I could not put this book down. The plot was amazing. I loved flipping back and forth between what happened in the past vs what was going on in real time. The series is set in the 1980s and there are no cell phones or computers to help the sleuth and I find that so refreshing. For those who like historical fiction with their cozy - this series is highly recommended!
January 16, 2016
Museum curator Chloe Ellefson leaps at the opportunity to be a consultant for the historical lighthouse restoration project on Rock Island. She needs a little time to herself and the tranquility of the Door County state park seems perfect. She will be able to sort through her personal and professionals problems while she attacks the assignment given to her by RISC, the Rock Island Support Circle.
The idyllic place loses its luster though when a dead woman washes ashore below the lighthouse. Now in addition to researching the time periods and the caretakers of the lighthouse she will try to find the answers to the many questions about the dead woman as well. The women in history that lived on Rock Island were strong and resilient but all had their own set of problems and strife. Could the woman Chloe found have a link to the women of the past? Chloe has a feeling she does. She just needs to follow the clues and uncover the mystery.
Dollycas's Thoughts
I have quickly learned one thing about the mysteries written by Kathleen Ernst. Once you start reading them you just can't stop. So I have learned to plan accordingly. The afternoon spent reading this story was pure joy.
Kathleen has a way of mixing historic times and places with bold characters to create wonderful mysteries. They are smart, well crafted and captivating. The new characters we meet on Rock Island are full, rich and defined. Ernst takes us from 1982 back to the 1860s seamlessly. We get to know the history of the island and the lighthouse and the changes and effects of the fishing regulations. The people who were there on the island then and how they got there and why some left when others stayed. How the past effects the present and the future. I know these books are thoroughly researched and sometimes the best way to learn history is through fictional stories. That is how it has always been back through time. Storytellers are the historians that teach in ways easy to understand. Kathleen Ernst is a gifted storyteller and educator.
I have said before about Kathleen books and it holds true in The Light Keeper's Legacy, this is not your ordinary cozy, it is so much more. Everyone will enjoy this story. I recommend it highly. If you haven't read the first two installments you can start with this one but I guarantee you will want to read them all.
The idyllic place loses its luster though when a dead woman washes ashore below the lighthouse. Now in addition to researching the time periods and the caretakers of the lighthouse she will try to find the answers to the many questions about the dead woman as well. The women in history that lived on Rock Island were strong and resilient but all had their own set of problems and strife. Could the woman Chloe found have a link to the women of the past? Chloe has a feeling she does. She just needs to follow the clues and uncover the mystery.
Dollycas's Thoughts
I have quickly learned one thing about the mysteries written by Kathleen Ernst. Once you start reading them you just can't stop. So I have learned to plan accordingly. The afternoon spent reading this story was pure joy.
Kathleen has a way of mixing historic times and places with bold characters to create wonderful mysteries. They are smart, well crafted and captivating. The new characters we meet on Rock Island are full, rich and defined. Ernst takes us from 1982 back to the 1860s seamlessly. We get to know the history of the island and the lighthouse and the changes and effects of the fishing regulations. The people who were there on the island then and how they got there and why some left when others stayed. How the past effects the present and the future. I know these books are thoroughly researched and sometimes the best way to learn history is through fictional stories. That is how it has always been back through time. Storytellers are the historians that teach in ways easy to understand. Kathleen Ernst is a gifted storyteller and educator.
I have said before about Kathleen books and it holds true in The Light Keeper's Legacy, this is not your ordinary cozy, it is so much more. Everyone will enjoy this story. I recommend it highly. If you haven't read the first two installments you can start with this one but I guarantee you will want to read them all.
January 16, 2018
A fascinating read that will keep you turning the pages while trying to figure out an old and a new murder! The year is 1982 and Chloe Ellefson is a collections curator at Old World Wisconsin. She is currently on loan to another state agency filling in as a guest curator at the lighthouse on Rock Island State Park in Door County, Wisconsin. She will be camping in the lighthouse with no electricity, running water or any other modern facilities.
Now we jump back in time to 1869 and meet Ragna Anderson and her husband, Anders. They are Danish immigrants on making a new home and life on Rock Island. He and Ragna's two brothers are fisherman and she is a fishing net maker. Trouble arises with another immigrant, this one Irish. When Ragna stops Dugan from hitting a child and accidentally pushes him into the lake water, he becomes her sworn enemy.
Settled in her temporary quarters, Chloe starts to study the history of the lighthouse. But as the days progress she realizes that someone is watching her every move. Then she stumbles across a dead body. Is this murder and the disappearance of Dugan in the 1800's tied together?
I really enjoyed reading this third book in a series of eight. I am going back to read the first two and the rest of the series. I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys cozies that blend past timelines together. The writing flows smoothly, the characters are very unique and believable and the historical background adds even more to the twisted murder plots.
Now we jump back in time to 1869 and meet Ragna Anderson and her husband, Anders. They are Danish immigrants on making a new home and life on Rock Island. He and Ragna's two brothers are fisherman and she is a fishing net maker. Trouble arises with another immigrant, this one Irish. When Ragna stops Dugan from hitting a child and accidentally pushes him into the lake water, he becomes her sworn enemy.
Settled in her temporary quarters, Chloe starts to study the history of the lighthouse. But as the days progress she realizes that someone is watching her every move. Then she stumbles across a dead body. Is this murder and the disappearance of Dugan in the 1800's tied together?
I really enjoyed reading this third book in a series of eight. I am going back to read the first two and the rest of the series. I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys cozies that blend past timelines together. The writing flows smoothly, the characters are very unique and believable and the historical background adds even more to the twisted murder plots.
February 8, 2021
Author researched historical aspects well. Learned much about the geographical area and importance of preserving diaries and personal letters from the past. This was third in a series and it wasn’t too difficult to follow without having read the first two. The main character was inconsistent at times. (She wanted to talk to the police about the murder but then when someone asked her about the murder she acted annoyed and didn’t want to talk about it. ??). I did not feel any bond with the main character at all. Hence the three stars.
July 18, 2020
Chloe Ellefson is a museum curator that travels to Rock Island State Park to consult on a lighthouse restoration project. This story takes us through both the present and the past. What a great cozy mystery! I did not realize that this book was part of series! This is the third book in the Chloe Ellefson Mystery series. Can definitely be read as a stand alone though. I look forward to reading more by this author!
February 17, 2025
I DNF’ed this book about 1/2 way through because it wasn’t for me personally, it may have picked up after that point though.
I picked this up because I thought it was a murder mystery novel, and it is but the murder is secondary to the historical facts. It is a historical fiction about 1800s settler life in Wisconsin and commercial fishing practices in both the 1800s and the 1980s. What is interesting about this book and the authors other books is that you get to learn about history as you read it, and it is very niche history that you wouldn’t have learned about otherwise. I just prefer gripping mystery novels with a lot of twists and turns, and at least until the point I read this book I didn’t get any of that from it.
I would probably pick this book up again if I ever visit door county or rock island state park, it is written about the real lighthouse there. I think it would be a good read if you are currently in that area to learn more about the local history.
I picked this up because I thought it was a murder mystery novel, and it is but the murder is secondary to the historical facts. It is a historical fiction about 1800s settler life in Wisconsin and commercial fishing practices in both the 1800s and the 1980s. What is interesting about this book and the authors other books is that you get to learn about history as you read it, and it is very niche history that you wouldn’t have learned about otherwise. I just prefer gripping mystery novels with a lot of twists and turns, and at least until the point I read this book I didn’t get any of that from it.
I would probably pick this book up again if I ever visit door county or rock island state park, it is written about the real lighthouse there. I think it would be a good read if you are currently in that area to learn more about the local history.
August 7, 2018
4 stelle e mezza
Questa serie si conferma vincente. Mi piace perché è doppiamente "storica": è ambientata nel 1982 e mi meraviglio ogni volta di quanto sia cambiata la nostra vita in pochissimo tempo; inoltre, ogni volta ci sono dei "flashback" che ci mostrano la vita com'era almeno un secolo prima.
Per quanto riguarda la storia gialla, avevo risolto solo in parte l'enigma: un bonus in più per l'autrice.
Questa serie si conferma vincente. Mi piace perché è doppiamente "storica": è ambientata nel 1982 e mi meraviglio ogni volta di quanto sia cambiata la nostra vita in pochissimo tempo; inoltre, ogni volta ci sono dei "flashback" che ci mostrano la vita com'era almeno un secolo prima.
Per quanto riguarda la storia gialla, avevo risolto solo in parte l'enigma: un bonus in più per l'autrice.
June 11, 2022
I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed it as much had I not just camped on rock island, but the attention to detail and history of the islands was impeccable. I liked the story telling too and found Chloe to be quite charming.
August 23, 2018
I selected this book while touring a lighthouse in Door County. While the background presented in the book is interesting, the storyline is complicated. Not the easiest read to follow.
February 13, 2019
This is the third book in the series. I enjoyed this installment a lot more than the last one. Found both the modern and the historic mystery really good.
July 26, 2023
deeply deeply meh
January 28, 2024
I liked this book more than book 1. Mainly because Chloe wasn’t such a wreck, but also because the storyline was better and I loved the setting.
July 20, 2014
Chloe Ellefson is a special collections professional who is spending a week at the historic Pottawatomie lighthouse on Rock Island to research furnishings for the RISC (Rock Island Support Circle). This group of dedicated volunteers is in the process of restoring the lighthouse with the hope that it will soon be open for visitors. Chloe looks forward to leaving behind some drama at the place where she works, Old World Wisconsin and drama in her private life, with an undefined romantic relationship with Roelke McKenna, a hometown cop. Her hope of spending a pleasant and productive week in peaceful natural surroundings is crushed when she finds a dead body wrapped in a fishing gillnet on her very first day there.
In this cozy mystery, there are lots of nature scenes on Rock Island and lots of details about camping. Chloe does not have running water at the lighthouse, electricity, or an indoor privy. She eats simple meals, munches berries, drinks instant coffee and sleeps in a sleeping bag. She goes on hikes and takes the Karfi back and forth to Washington Island where there are more resources for her research. It’s the 1980s so there are no cell phones, and no pay phones at all on Rock Island, a remote state park that also does not permit motor vehicles. There’s another researcher there, Brenda Noakes, an archaeologist who teaches in Escanaba Michigan. She is researching the small fishing village that was a part of Rock Island, the last resident left sometime in the 1890s.
The author relays an historic story about the fishing village which she tells in alternating chapters with the 1980s story. It too has a murder mystery. These parts of the novel are more enjoyable and seem better written, the characters are more natural and their reactions less awkwardly described. Chloe’s character has to grow on you. She seems abrupt, commenting to herself that people are, “enchantment busters” that intrude on her romantic musings about Rock Island. Chloe will exclaim, “yahoo!” a few times during the novel, which just doesn’t feel natural. There are awkward phrasings in the contemporary story that don’t appear in the historic 1800s story such as, Chloe thinking that she can, “wiggle the second murder into the conversation,” or when a thought “wiggled into Chloe’s beleaguered brain.” Sometimes the phrasing isn’t even understandable such as when Chloe refers to some “urban boo-hoos.” Transitions between chapters can also be quite awkward. An example is when one chapter ends with, “…once she got all revved up about something, she sometimes did stupid things,” and the beginning line of the very next chapter is: “Chloe tried to convince herself that she wasn’t doing something stupid.” Chloe finds out early on that the locals refer to Washington Island and Rock Island simply as, “Washington” or “Rock” in conversation, so she adopts this phrasing too. It may be an authentic fact, but I found it strange in reading dialogue and interior monologues that use this; e.g., “on Rock.” Another concept that seems a bit too forced is that Chloe has a developing sixth sense about the past which makes her hear things or feel evil from time to time.
Still, the mystery had an intriguing resolution and the well-written historic tale really added a rich dimension to the story line. I almost wished that the historic tale was developed as its own novel. I'd recommend this book to those that enjoy descriptions of nature, camping and reading books with characters in the research biz. Also, if you have visited Rock Island, you will enjoy the natural setting and many authentic details about "Rock."
In this cozy mystery, there are lots of nature scenes on Rock Island and lots of details about camping. Chloe does not have running water at the lighthouse, electricity, or an indoor privy. She eats simple meals, munches berries, drinks instant coffee and sleeps in a sleeping bag. She goes on hikes and takes the Karfi back and forth to Washington Island where there are more resources for her research. It’s the 1980s so there are no cell phones, and no pay phones at all on Rock Island, a remote state park that also does not permit motor vehicles. There’s another researcher there, Brenda Noakes, an archaeologist who teaches in Escanaba Michigan. She is researching the small fishing village that was a part of Rock Island, the last resident left sometime in the 1890s.
The author relays an historic story about the fishing village which she tells in alternating chapters with the 1980s story. It too has a murder mystery. These parts of the novel are more enjoyable and seem better written, the characters are more natural and their reactions less awkwardly described. Chloe’s character has to grow on you. She seems abrupt, commenting to herself that people are, “enchantment busters” that intrude on her romantic musings about Rock Island. Chloe will exclaim, “yahoo!” a few times during the novel, which just doesn’t feel natural. There are awkward phrasings in the contemporary story that don’t appear in the historic 1800s story such as, Chloe thinking that she can, “wiggle the second murder into the conversation,” or when a thought “wiggled into Chloe’s beleaguered brain.” Sometimes the phrasing isn’t even understandable such as when Chloe refers to some “urban boo-hoos.” Transitions between chapters can also be quite awkward. An example is when one chapter ends with, “…once she got all revved up about something, she sometimes did stupid things,” and the beginning line of the very next chapter is: “Chloe tried to convince herself that she wasn’t doing something stupid.” Chloe finds out early on that the locals refer to Washington Island and Rock Island simply as, “Washington” or “Rock” in conversation, so she adopts this phrasing too. It may be an authentic fact, but I found it strange in reading dialogue and interior monologues that use this; e.g., “on Rock.” Another concept that seems a bit too forced is that Chloe has a developing sixth sense about the past which makes her hear things or feel evil from time to time.
Still, the mystery had an intriguing resolution and the well-written historic tale really added a rich dimension to the story line. I almost wished that the historic tale was developed as its own novel. I'd recommend this book to those that enjoy descriptions of nature, camping and reading books with characters in the research biz. Also, if you have visited Rock Island, you will enjoy the natural setting and many authentic details about "Rock."
October 4, 2012
First Line: "This trip of yours is a very bad idea," Roelke said soberly.
It's 1982, and against her boyfriend Roelke McKenna's better judgment, Chloe Ellefson loads her Pinto (including the copy of A Is for Alibi that Roelke gave her) and heads for Rock Island State Park off the coast of Wisconsin in Lake Michigan. Her expertise as a collections curator is needed by the folks who want to bring Pottawatomie Lighthouse back to life for all its visitors.
It's good that she's needed elsewhere because Chloe is stressed out, both at work with a boss who drives her crazy, and at home with a boyfriend who wants a commitment that she's not sure she's ready to give.
When the ferry lands at Rock Island and Chloe makes the trek to the lighthouse, she finds it in the midst of being restored-- ladders and paint buckets lying around, no water, and no electricity. She doesn't mind at all, and dives into the history of the place. But when she finds a young woman's body washed up on the beach, everything starts to change. At first thinking that the girl's death is an accidental drowning, Chloe keeps digging into the lighthouse's history, finding two tough, independent women that fire her imagination. Then another body is found. Has local tension over tighter fishing regulations reached flash point? If Chloe's not careful, she could find herself trapped on the island with a killer.
I've been interested in the history of the Great Lakes ever since I heard Gordon Lightfoot sing "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" back in 1976. I've loved lighthouses even longer than that, so when I learned that the action of this book would take place at a Great Lakes lighthouse, I knew I had to read it. I'm glad I did.
Kathleen Ernst does an excellent job of blending the history of the area, of the lighthouse and its keepers, and of ever-changing fishing regluations that have fueled controversy for well over a century. Her setting of a lighthouse on a small remote island adds just the right touch of atmosphere.
She alternates the story of Chloe in 1982 with the stories of a female assistant light keeper and a Scandinavian woman who first came to Rock Island in the 1860s-- and each story, each time frame, is equally intriguing. In fact, I was so interested in the lives of the two earlier women that--even though I enjoyed seeing a collections curator at work and I wanted to figure out who was committing the murders-- I forgot to pay close enough attention to the modern storyline and missed several important clues.
If you're in the mood for atmosphere, history, remote islands, lighthouses and a strong, independent woman experiencing it all, get a copy of The Light Keeper's Legacy. Yes, it's the third book in the series, but you won't be confused, and you may even do what I did: start looking for the other books in the series.
It's 1982, and against her boyfriend Roelke McKenna's better judgment, Chloe Ellefson loads her Pinto (including the copy of A Is for Alibi that Roelke gave her) and heads for Rock Island State Park off the coast of Wisconsin in Lake Michigan. Her expertise as a collections curator is needed by the folks who want to bring Pottawatomie Lighthouse back to life for all its visitors.
It's good that she's needed elsewhere because Chloe is stressed out, both at work with a boss who drives her crazy, and at home with a boyfriend who wants a commitment that she's not sure she's ready to give.
When the ferry lands at Rock Island and Chloe makes the trek to the lighthouse, she finds it in the midst of being restored-- ladders and paint buckets lying around, no water, and no electricity. She doesn't mind at all, and dives into the history of the place. But when she finds a young woman's body washed up on the beach, everything starts to change. At first thinking that the girl's death is an accidental drowning, Chloe keeps digging into the lighthouse's history, finding two tough, independent women that fire her imagination. Then another body is found. Has local tension over tighter fishing regulations reached flash point? If Chloe's not careful, she could find herself trapped on the island with a killer.
I've been interested in the history of the Great Lakes ever since I heard Gordon Lightfoot sing "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" back in 1976. I've loved lighthouses even longer than that, so when I learned that the action of this book would take place at a Great Lakes lighthouse, I knew I had to read it. I'm glad I did.
Kathleen Ernst does an excellent job of blending the history of the area, of the lighthouse and its keepers, and of ever-changing fishing regluations that have fueled controversy for well over a century. Her setting of a lighthouse on a small remote island adds just the right touch of atmosphere.
She alternates the story of Chloe in 1982 with the stories of a female assistant light keeper and a Scandinavian woman who first came to Rock Island in the 1860s-- and each story, each time frame, is equally intriguing. In fact, I was so interested in the lives of the two earlier women that--even though I enjoyed seeing a collections curator at work and I wanted to figure out who was committing the murders-- I forgot to pay close enough attention to the modern storyline and missed several important clues.
If you're in the mood for atmosphere, history, remote islands, lighthouses and a strong, independent woman experiencing it all, get a copy of The Light Keeper's Legacy. Yes, it's the third book in the series, but you won't be confused, and you may even do what I did: start looking for the other books in the series.
May 27, 2013
I can't remember why I read the first book in this mystery series about a curator at an open air history museum in Wisconsin. It takes place in 1982, the main character is a tightly wound 32 year old woman just off a bad relationship, and she's taken a job in a new town to make a fresh start. The romantic interest is a tightly wound cop on the local small town police force. That book was Old World Murder. I have no particular interest in Wisconsin or its history, and I've been to one open air museum and thought it was a snooze. The 1982 gimmick has been done with mixed success by Sue Grafton. And I wasn't warming to the characters. Or so I thought.
I did get caught up in the mystery, and a few months later I hunted down the second in the series, The Heirloom Murders. I was getting interested in the historical subplot and in the descriptions of the curator's work. And I started rooting for the curator and the cop to get together.
This, the third in the series, is the best yet. The more elaborate historical subplot was as compelling as the current day (1982) mystery. There's a bit of an A Jury of Her Peers element to it, with the women taking the strong roles, past and present.
I'm wondering if part of the appeal of the story is that author Kathleen Ernst has written most of her books for a young adult audience, although this series is ostensibly aimed at adults. As Dan Brown has shown, you can be very successful by gearing your books to a smart twelve year old audience. It works for this reader (and it's been, ahem, several decades since I was twelve years old.)
I did get caught up in the mystery, and a few months later I hunted down the second in the series, The Heirloom Murders. I was getting interested in the historical subplot and in the descriptions of the curator's work. And I started rooting for the curator and the cop to get together.
This, the third in the series, is the best yet. The more elaborate historical subplot was as compelling as the current day (1982) mystery. There's a bit of an A Jury of Her Peers element to it, with the women taking the strong roles, past and present.
I'm wondering if part of the appeal of the story is that author Kathleen Ernst has written most of her books for a young adult audience, although this series is ostensibly aimed at adults. As Dan Brown has shown, you can be very successful by gearing your books to a smart twelve year old audience. It works for this reader (and it's been, ahem, several decades since I was twelve years old.)
December 19, 2014
It isn't often that I write a review without having finished the book, but I found this book tedious, and having stopped reading it over the summer I have decided not to bother going back to it.
It is a mystery book with two parallel sections - one in the 1980s and one in the 19th century. The main character in the 1980s is a curator, hired to put together a display in a lighthouse in North America. She is quite annoying and her methodology is questionable (I say this as someone with a background in archaeology and museums). The focus on her imagining the people of the past and indulging in her apparent psychic sensibilities to do her job was a real turn off and made me want to put the book down instantly. Having had a look at the author and her background I see she is an historical interpreter rather than a historian or an archaeologist which probably explains her focus on narrative over facts. I feel that all the touchy-feely imagination stuff was something that a visitor to a historical site should do, and not the professional - the professional has to focus on accurate information to enable the visitor to imagine. I realise this sounds quite sniffy, but this book did not feel right to me at all.
The other story thread was a Scandinavian family who lived on the same island as the lighthouse. This was a bit more interesting, but not enough to keep me reading.
Overall, I found the plot average at best, the characters irritating and the fact that I didn't even want to finish it says everything.
It is a mystery book with two parallel sections - one in the 1980s and one in the 19th century. The main character in the 1980s is a curator, hired to put together a display in a lighthouse in North America. She is quite annoying and her methodology is questionable (I say this as someone with a background in archaeology and museums). The focus on her imagining the people of the past and indulging in her apparent psychic sensibilities to do her job was a real turn off and made me want to put the book down instantly. Having had a look at the author and her background I see she is an historical interpreter rather than a historian or an archaeologist which probably explains her focus on narrative over facts. I feel that all the touchy-feely imagination stuff was something that a visitor to a historical site should do, and not the professional - the professional has to focus on accurate information to enable the visitor to imagine. I realise this sounds quite sniffy, but this book did not feel right to me at all.
The other story thread was a Scandinavian family who lived on the same island as the lighthouse. This was a bit more interesting, but not enough to keep me reading.
Overall, I found the plot average at best, the characters irritating and the fact that I didn't even want to finish it says everything.
August 26, 2013
I picked this up at a tiny bookstore on Washington Island because I love getting books on vacation by local authors. Turns out, the author lives in Middleton so she's more local in regards to my apartment than Door County. No matter, the mystery takes place on Rock Island which is a mile off the tip of Washington Island and the main character is a curator so I was still well satisfied as far as learning some history of the place I'd just been.
The writing and story were surprisingly good! Now that I've looked at the author's profile and see that she's written numerous American Girl books, I suppose this shouldn't be so surprising. I didn't figure out the mystery and everything wove together nicely. The history of fishing in the Great Lakes turned out to play a major part but the author did an excellent job of skipping unnecessary or boring historical details. On the other hand, I was far more interested in Rock Island and its lighthouse and loved the mix of modern day (well, 1982) and late 1880s chapters about residents of the fishing village and lighthouse keepers on the island. I liked this enough that I want to go back and read the previous two Chloe Ellefson books now.
The writing and story were surprisingly good! Now that I've looked at the author's profile and see that she's written numerous American Girl books, I suppose this shouldn't be so surprising. I didn't figure out the mystery and everything wove together nicely. The history of fishing in the Great Lakes turned out to play a major part but the author did an excellent job of skipping unnecessary or boring historical details. On the other hand, I was far more interested in Rock Island and its lighthouse and loved the mix of modern day (well, 1982) and late 1880s chapters about residents of the fishing village and lighthouse keepers on the island. I liked this enough that I want to go back and read the previous two Chloe Ellefson books now.
August 8, 2017
So glad that I went to that book chat a month ago and discovered this author. I enjoy these books and am beginning to really like the characters and their chemistry.
As I've stated before, I think the deepest reason I like the books is due to the fact that Wisconsin is the setting of them and I find it intriguing. I don't like history much, but I don't mind a little Wisconsin based history apparently.
The main annoying thing is that Chloe is a bit of a feminist, which is all fine and dandy for her. I, however, an not. If someone wants to help me with something, I am all about accepting help, whether it comes from a woman, a man, a child, a gorilla. It doesn't matter to me at all - sometimes in the stories though, it reads like "why does he insist on helping me up when I fall down" "why does he get worried about me out here on my own so far away from civilization" In my eyes, it does not particularly mean that he thinks you are weak because you are a woman - it means he cares. Get over it. I try to ignore these parts, but like I said: not much of a feminist here.
Off to reserve the next in the series!
As I've stated before, I think the deepest reason I like the books is due to the fact that Wisconsin is the setting of them and I find it intriguing. I don't like history much, but I don't mind a little Wisconsin based history apparently.
The main annoying thing is that Chloe is a bit of a feminist, which is all fine and dandy for her. I, however, an not. If someone wants to help me with something, I am all about accepting help, whether it comes from a woman, a man, a child, a gorilla. It doesn't matter to me at all - sometimes in the stories though, it reads like "why does he insist on helping me up when I fall down" "why does he get worried about me out here on my own so far away from civilization" In my eyes, it does not particularly mean that he thinks you are weak because you are a woman - it means he cares. Get over it. I try to ignore these parts, but like I said: not much of a feminist here.
Off to reserve the next in the series!
February 3, 2013
I've read the first two books in this series and this third book did not disappoint.
I was pulled into the story right away and read it in less than a week. I probably would have finished it sooner, but most of my spare time right now is going toward a different project.
The author has a wonderful way of weaving two stories into one book and when you are done reading the book you see how they tie together. It's an interesting way to learn a piece of history of Wisconsin as well.
The main character of the story isn't perfect, which I love. Chloe could be anyone. She recognizes that she's got issues and she's doing what she can to work with and through them. She's a feminist without being a ballbuster.
For me, these books have felt authentic and I appreciate an author who takes the time to write a book that makes you feel like the people are real instead of characters.
I was pulled into the story right away and read it in less than a week. I probably would have finished it sooner, but most of my spare time right now is going toward a different project.
The author has a wonderful way of weaving two stories into one book and when you are done reading the book you see how they tie together. It's an interesting way to learn a piece of history of Wisconsin as well.
The main character of the story isn't perfect, which I love. Chloe could be anyone. She recognizes that she's got issues and she's doing what she can to work with and through them. She's a feminist without being a ballbuster.
For me, these books have felt authentic and I appreciate an author who takes the time to write a book that makes you feel like the people are real instead of characters.
May 9, 2014
History and mystery is a good combination that Kathleen Ernst does a nice job of in “The Light Keeper's Legacy”, and her message of preserving all aspects of history, from all viewpoints is important.
Alternate chapters go back in time to the 1800s, telling the stories of the inhabitants of Rock Island; tidbits of the the keepers lives of Pottawatomie Lighthouse and the surrounding fishing village. Curator Chloe Ellefson is happy to be loaned out to investigate an old lighthouse, until her trip turns from a treat into the mystery of a body on the beach.
Of course what really drew me to this book, aside from the historical fiction label is the Wisconsin tie and its history. It's the first I've read of Ernst's Chloe series... most definitely not the last. An enjoyable read, from start to finish.
Alternate chapters go back in time to the 1800s, telling the stories of the inhabitants of Rock Island; tidbits of the the keepers lives of Pottawatomie Lighthouse and the surrounding fishing village. Curator Chloe Ellefson is happy to be loaned out to investigate an old lighthouse, until her trip turns from a treat into the mystery of a body on the beach.
Of course what really drew me to this book, aside from the historical fiction label is the Wisconsin tie and its history. It's the first I've read of Ernst's Chloe series... most definitely not the last. An enjoyable read, from start to finish.
July 2, 2013
Interesting because it took place in Door County, Eagle and Waukesha, but the story was a little thin.
March 9, 2020
These books are amazing!
Read
April 1, 2021Being a historian, or a museum curator sounds like one of the driest of professions. Imagine a person poring over old documents or fragile artifacts in a quiet study. And yes, Chloe Ellefson does those things. But in addition, her psychic sense gives her a visceral connection to the emotions of long-dead people. And her forays into the field plunge her into the messy conflicts of rivalries and resentments. And someone is always going to turn up dead. A Chloe Ellefson mystery mixes a glimpse into the past with excitement and danger.
In this book Chloe visits Rock Island State Park in Wisconsin, where she is to spend a week in the Pottawatomi Lighthouse. Ostensibly this is so she can plan appropriate period furnishings for it, but just as importantly, Chloe wants some alone time. And what can be more alone than an island that can only be reached by boat, and has no permanent residents, and (since this novel takes place in the 1980s) no cell phone service?
We meet the people of today: campers, kayakers, hikers, photographers, and the people who do the work of keeping a park going, and fishermen, proud of their traditional way of life, but all at war, it seems, over the regulations intended to protect fish stocks. What kind of net can be used? What size mesh? What kinds of fish can be taken? What size of fish? And what can be done with them? Should fishing be allowed at all? And should this beautiful island have been opened to development?
These conflicts go back into the 19th century. We meet Emily Betts, real-life lighthouse keeper, who raised nine children on the Rock, and was schoolteacher and nurse to the people of the then-thriving fishing village. We meet Ragna, a Danish immigrant, who struggled with the fear that the sea would take her men, and with a cruel and potentially violent neighbor.
I love the stories of the past, in this case how the women, each in their way, try to wrest happiness from a hard environment, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. And I love the way Chloe also loves the stories of the past, and tries to save them from oblivion, reaching back to grab whatever bits remain that will help the people of the past to speak. As Chloe says to her kinda sorta boyfriend Roelke, “Working as a curator, trying to dig out stories and protect the places and artifacts left behind… I guess I feel as if I’m doing something important.” And by writing a book about it, Kathleen Ernst gets to share that endeavor with us, so we can also feel that the work of capturing history is important.
In this book Chloe visits Rock Island State Park in Wisconsin, where she is to spend a week in the Pottawatomi Lighthouse. Ostensibly this is so she can plan appropriate period furnishings for it, but just as importantly, Chloe wants some alone time. And what can be more alone than an island that can only be reached by boat, and has no permanent residents, and (since this novel takes place in the 1980s) no cell phone service?
We meet the people of today: campers, kayakers, hikers, photographers, and the people who do the work of keeping a park going, and fishermen, proud of their traditional way of life, but all at war, it seems, over the regulations intended to protect fish stocks. What kind of net can be used? What size mesh? What kinds of fish can be taken? What size of fish? And what can be done with them? Should fishing be allowed at all? And should this beautiful island have been opened to development?
These conflicts go back into the 19th century. We meet Emily Betts, real-life lighthouse keeper, who raised nine children on the Rock, and was schoolteacher and nurse to the people of the then-thriving fishing village. We meet Ragna, a Danish immigrant, who struggled with the fear that the sea would take her men, and with a cruel and potentially violent neighbor.
I love the stories of the past, in this case how the women, each in their way, try to wrest happiness from a hard environment, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. And I love the way Chloe also loves the stories of the past, and tries to save them from oblivion, reaching back to grab whatever bits remain that will help the people of the past to speak. As Chloe says to her kinda sorta boyfriend Roelke, “Working as a curator, trying to dig out stories and protect the places and artifacts left behind… I guess I feel as if I’m doing something important.” And by writing a book about it, Kathleen Ernst gets to share that endeavor with us, so we can also feel that the work of capturing history is important.
September 26, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kathleen Ernst’s writing style.
Chloe, history curator, was invited to Rock Island as a guest curator for the old lighthouse to bring her own expertise in furnishing and preserving its history. She has only a week to take in everything there is about the lighthouse and its previous keepers. Not even half way through her week visit, she finds two women dead on the island. Meanwhile trying desperately to piece together the mysteries of the lighthouse in previous decades. This story has layers of mystery spanning the different years (the present with Chloe and the late-1800s timeline), but most interestingly is how the periods intertwine.
Ernst seamlessly connects each chapter as they bounce back and forth past to present, some scenes taking place in the same described area, or sharing a same sentence of dialogue (example Chloe is looking out at the lake sitting on a specific rock that in the next chapter opens with the 1800’s character in the same position). This makes the back and forth from characters and dates easier to navigate.
However, Chloe isn’t just uncovering past mystery and current murder, but her own fate as she finds herself being targeted. This book had me gripped to the very end!
Chloe, history curator, was invited to Rock Island as a guest curator for the old lighthouse to bring her own expertise in furnishing and preserving its history. She has only a week to take in everything there is about the lighthouse and its previous keepers. Not even half way through her week visit, she finds two women dead on the island. Meanwhile trying desperately to piece together the mysteries of the lighthouse in previous decades. This story has layers of mystery spanning the different years (the present with Chloe and the late-1800s timeline), but most interestingly is how the periods intertwine.
Ernst seamlessly connects each chapter as they bounce back and forth past to present, some scenes taking place in the same described area, or sharing a same sentence of dialogue (example Chloe is looking out at the lake sitting on a specific rock that in the next chapter opens with the 1800’s character in the same position). This makes the back and forth from characters and dates easier to navigate.
However, Chloe isn’t just uncovering past mystery and current murder, but her own fate as she finds herself being targeted. This book had me gripped to the very end!
August 22, 2022
I've long been a fan of historical fiction but my entry into the world of mystery has been more recent. The Light Keeper's Legacy is a fun blend of these two genres: in alternating chapters, the reader is transported to Rock Island, Wisconsin (near Door County) in the late 19th century and again in the late 20th century. I'm a frequent visitor to Door County, Washington Island, and have been to Rock Island, as well. The author, Kathleen Ernst, wonderfully incorporates the details of these picturesque places. She creates strong female characters: in the 19th century, the light keeper and a Danish woman married to a fisherman on the island; in the 20th century, a museum curator spending a week on an assignment to research how to outfit the old lighthouse. And then, there are the murders in both centuries with various and sundry suspects, twists and turns, villains and heroes/heroines. There is also an interesting environmental issue about fishing in Lake Michigan, an issue that has been debated since at least the late 19th century. All in all, I really liked the book and look forward to reading another Chloe Ellefson Mystery!
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