Guest Post & #Giveaway – Death on the Prairie by Kathleen Ernst #cozy #mystery #littlehouseontheprairie
Death on the Prairie (A Chloe Ellefson Mystery)
6th in Series
Cozy Mystery
Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: Midnight Ink (October 8, 2015)
Synopsis
Chloe Ellefson and her sister, Kari, have long dreamed of visiting each historic site dedicated to Laura Ingalls Wilder. When Chloe takes custody of a quilt once owned by the beloved author, the sisters set out on the trip of a lifetime, hoping to prove that Wilder stitched it herself.
But death strikes as the journey begins, and trouble stalks their fellow travelers. Among the “Little House” devotees are academic critics, greedy collectors, and obsessive fans. Kari is distracted by family problems, and unexpected news from Chloe’s boyfriend jeopardizes her own future. As the sisters travel deeper into Wilder territory, Chloe races to discover the truth about a precious artifact—and her own heart—before a killer can strike again.
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Guest Post
How appropriate that Kathleen write about Laura Ingalls Wilder as her guest post for me?! I LOVED LIW growing up and still have the set of her books on my bookshelf.
Laura Ingalls Wilder For Grownups
It’s always a gamble to return to beloved books from my childhood. More than once I’ve come across a favorite, and settled down to relive the fun…only to discover one-dimensional characters, ponderous prose, or a plot so unlikely that I can no longer enjoy the read.
Happily, when I decided to set one of my Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites mysteries in “Laura Land,” it was a delight to revisit Wilder’s tales. My protagonist is a curator and, like me, was greatly influenced as a child by the Little House books.
In Death on the Prairie Chloe is charged with documenting a quilt believed to have been made by Laura. Chloe decides to visit each of Laura’s homesites, and to rediscover each book along the way.
If you’re familiar with the series, you know that the books are a fictionalized recounting of Laura’s childhood and adolescence on the frontier of Euro/Yankee settlement. In the first, Little House in the Big Woods, Laura is five. The books mature in tone and theme as Laura grows to be a young bride in the sixth and final volume, These Happy Golden Years. (A seventh, The First Four Years, was published posthumously.)
There are, I think, several reasons why the books appeal to adults. First and foremost, Laura’s parents, Caroline and Charles, are strong supporting characters. Each is presented as a complex individual, and I understand better now the challenges each faced.
As a child I focused my attention on young Laura. Now, I find nuanced layers within the prose that reveal much about the adults. Scenes that I originally read as exciting adventures make me ache with sympathy for the fear Caroline and Charles must have endured.
Remember when the Ingalls family crossed frozen Lake Pepin in their covered wagon, only to hear that the ice broke up the next day? A passage in Little House on the Prairie describes the long moments out on the ice: “All around the wagon there was nothing but empty and silent space. Laura didn’t like it. But Pa was on the wagon seat and Jack was under the wagon; she knew that nothing could hurt her while Pa and Jack were there.” Laura—and young readers—aren’t confronted with the horrific possibility of the wagon plunging through until the family was safe on the far shore. Only then does Ma acknowledge that she thought about that possibility as they crossed.
There are many such moments within the series. Can you imagine how they felt when, as recounted in On the Banks of Plum Creek, plagues of grasshoppers devoured all of their crops, and left the Ingalls family deep in debt? Or the terror stalking them during the Long Winter, when the specter of watching their children starve or freeze to death was very real for Ma and Pa?
I also pause now to savor the lovely language. I write for children and adults myself, and I marvel at Laura’s ability to craft sentences that describe scenes and activities in language that is accessible and clear. In the early books, she perfectly captures the perspective of a small child. Consider this passage: “Mary could dress herself, all but the middle button. Laura buttoned that one for her, then Mary buttoned Laura all the way up the back.” (Little House On The Prairie)
Laura’s language is often poetic. After Mary went blind, Laura served as her sister’s eyes, constantly describing the landscape and activities. That descriptive practice served her well as an author.
Here’s just one example: “The wind, which all day long had blown strongly, dropped low with the sun and went whispering among the tall grasses. The earth seemed to lie breathing softly under the summer night.” (By The Shores Of Silver Lake)
As I re-read Wilder’s series, I was reminded that one of the reasons the books have endured is that they are as delightful and insightful for adult readers as they are for children.
Did you enjoy Wilder’s books as a young reader? Have you discovered (or rediscovered) them as an adult? What was your experience?
About the Author
Kathleen Ernst is a former museum curator who remains passionate about history! In addition to the Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites series, she has written many books for American Girl, including nine about the historical character she created, Caroline Abbott. Over 1.5 million copies of Kathleen’s 33 titles have been sold. The Chloe series has earned a LOVEY Award for Best Traditional Mystery, and several of her mysteries for young readers have been finalists for Edgar or Agatha awards.
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Giveaway
Print copy of Death on the Prairie, US residents only please.
Cindy Jameson
I have not visited the prairie since I read Little House on the Prairie and watched it on TV as a child. This sounds like so much fun to read. I loved the Ingalls so much that I purchased the entire book set for my daughter as soon as she was able to read it.
Kari Gordon
I, like so many, adored the Little House books. Reread them as an adult, and just last spring, bought Pioneer Girl. I love your books just as much….you have such an amazing sense of place in your books, and the characters are so well drawn that it is easy to imagine them as friends. Thanks for the chance to win, and for bringing to life again these beautiful communities from our past.
Tracy H
LIW was one of my favorite stories to read as a child! Can’t wait for the latest Chole book! Chole is becoming a favorite series as an adult.
MaryAnn Forbes
Love this giveaway opportunity, thank you. I love the Little House series, the books and the TV show.
Elaine McPherson
I am retired now, but as Children’s Librarian would often get questions about the Little House Books. It was good to see there was continuing growth of new fans every year. Great Series for all ages !!!!
Donamae Kutska
I read the little house on the prairie books and watched the shows. I would be be excited to read your books. Thanks for the chance to read one. I’ll want to read all of hem!
Connie Saunders
Yes, I read her books, my daughter read them and I was always happy to recommend them to young readers when I worked in our public library. Hopefully, my granddaughter will also fall in love with them.
Thanks for this giveaway!
barb briggs
I read all of the little house books growing up & they remain some of my favorites. have read 3 Chloe Ellefson books in the series & plan on reading them all.
Robin L. Coxon
I love reading Little House on the Prairie when I was a child. Thanks for the memories by writing your books. robeader53@yahoo.com
Cheryl Corbitt
i recall my 4th grade teacher reading the Little House books following our lunch/recess MANY years ago. I’m excited to explore these books once again and to read about Chloe’s latest adventure!
Faye Gates
I loved The Little House books and the TV show. Loved it!
Dianne Bahn
I’ve read all the Little House books and would love to read this book involving the Little House characters.
Dee Grimsrud
I don’t think I knew about the Little House series when I was a kid. Probably too busy reading Nancy Drews! 😉 But I sure read them to my daughters, and we always watched the TV show…still do (on DVD)!!
Teresa Lynn
I read the Little House books as a child, and still read them every couple years. I’m struck with something new every time.
Really looking forward to reading Death on the Prairie!
Sue Farrell
I loved reading those books. I think I read the entire series of Little House in Third Grade.
Sue Farrell
I loved Little House on the Prairie when I was a youngster. I think I read all of the books when I was in third grade.
Sandra Halgerson
I read them and I loved them.
holdenj
Hi Kathleen! I read those Little House books over and over as a kid! I would love to do a similar
‘tour’ of sites, especially since I already live in MN, they can’t be far away!
Kate
I loved reading the LIW books as a child. Have reread most of them to my eight year old daughter. This summer we took a road trip to South Dakota stopping at all the museums along the LIW Memorial Highway. Can’t wait to read this newChloe Ellefson novel!
Kathleen Ernst
Thanks for hosting me today! It’s always fun to connect with other LIW fans, whether book, TV, or both. I have my childhood set too, still on the shelf.
Karen B
I did not read any of her books but LOVED the TV series!
Lisa Brown
I did not read the little house on the prairie; the book looks great, and thanks for the chance to win it 🙂