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Charley Scott Mystery #1
Cover Art
Charley Scott is thrilled to be running a summer pop-up gallery in cottage country. Returning to the lakeside village, not on vacation but as an artist, she’s determined to turn her hobby into a career. Joined by two other artists, including her childhood friend Kayla, the Cover Art Exhibit is a dream come true.
But, beneath the surface of this peaceful town, darkness lurks. There’s a history.
Local chocolatier, Matt Thorn, is struggling to come to terms with his father’s recent death and his legacy of deception. As Matt plans to expose his father’s secrets, Kayla’s husband is found dead, the result of eating Matt’s boutique chocolates.
The homicide investigation threatens to make Charley’s pop-up gallery a failure before it even begins. Luckily, art is all about perspective and she’s always had a keen eye. Can she see past the obvious and find the killer?
But, beneath the surface of this peaceful town, darkness lurks. There’s a history.
Local chocolatier, Matt Thorn, is struggling to come to terms with his father’s recent death and his legacy of deception. As Matt plans to expose his father’s secrets, Kayla’s husband is found dead, the result of eating Matt’s boutique chocolates.
The homicide investigation threatens to make Charley’s pop-up gallery a failure before it even begins. Luckily, art is all about perspective and she’s always had a keen eye. Can she see past the obvious and find the killer?
- GenresMysteryCozy MysteryCozy
440 pages, Paperback
Published May 14, 2022
6 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Westermann
7 books87 followersVanessa Westermann writes mysteries that combine the heartbreak of murder with the joy of feel-good romance. An avid reader and author of sleuth stories, she is known for Charley Scott Mysteries and Murder by the Book Mysteries. She has been a former Arthur Ellis Awards judge, holds an MA in English Literature and a Bachelor of Education, and has taught creative writing. At the heart of all of Westermann’s stories are strong female protagonists inspired by the heroines in her own life.
Visit Vanessa’s blog at www.vanessa-westermann.info. Follow her on Instagram @vanessawestermann_ or connect on Facebook!
Visit Vanessa’s blog at www.vanessa-westermann.info. Follow her on Instagram @vanessawestermann_ or connect on Facebook!
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 28, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Charley and Meghan have inherited their grandparent’s cottage by the lake. Meghan moved in with her cop boyfriend right away but Charley took some time. Now she has made the huge decision to quit her job and try to make a career out of what she loves, being an artist. That means she and her dog Cocoa coming to the cottage and Oakcrest where she and two other artists are setting up a pop-up gallery for the summer. Her life now hinges on the success of that gallery. Can she make a living selling her unique Cover Art?
Matt Thorne has returned to Oakcrest and moved into the house his father left him. His father is still intimidating Matt from the grave, he can feel his presence in the house surrounded by all his father’s things. His father had many secrets, secrets that Matt just has to delve into and reveal along with trying to make his new chocolate business a success.
Andrew Clarkston was a domineering man in business and at home. His wife Kayla is one of the artists working with Charley but she will not be participating in it at all if he has anything to say about it.
Thomas Kelley is the third artist participating in the pop-up gallery. Now retired there is something shady in his past. He definitely has a problem with Andrew.
So when Andrew Clarkson is found dead and some of Matt’s chocolates appear to be the murder weapon almost everyone connected to Charley becomes a suspect and Alex goes into full cop mode. Charley has some unique talents that can help him but some threats lead him to tell her to back off. But that is not happening!
Ms. Westermann has introduced a strong cast of characters in the first Charley Scott mystery. They already have some depth to draw readers in but there is plenty of room for growth as the series continues. I admire Charley for chasing her dreams and giving them a chance. She also has a great bond with her sister that can flourish now that are actually spending some real time together. I did enjoy the way Charley’s relationship with Matt is in constant flux. It keeps things interesting. Alex and Meghan’s relationship has a few growing pains but they know they are strong together.
The mystery that these characters are placed in is very complex with a lot of moving parts. There are many secrets that need to be revealed and some promises that may need to be broken to find the truth. I had a few suspects on my personal list that stayed there for quite a while but all at once the actual killer rose to the top of my list and stayed there. I can’t say one clue put everything into place for me, the author plotted out the story too well for that and there was still plenty of room for more twists. The character was well-liked but he gave me a little twitch that made me know it was them.
The author’s descriptive detailed writing style lends itself well to all the facets of the story. Whether it be the artwork the artists have created, the squirrel on the top floor of the gallery, Charley and Meghan’s cottage by the lake, the chocolate shop and all its wares, or the place where the exciting ending takes place, everything is easily captured and visualized. I was very entertained throughout the whole book by everything she presented.
I did enjoy the small-town setting of the story. Not far from Ontario Oakcrest is trying to find its place as the world changes. I think the residents are all on the right track. I loved the shop names and what they had to offer. I hope to return as soon as Ms. Westermann finishes the next book in this series for another great escape.
Charley and Meghan have inherited their grandparent’s cottage by the lake. Meghan moved in with her cop boyfriend right away but Charley took some time. Now she has made the huge decision to quit her job and try to make a career out of what she loves, being an artist. That means she and her dog Cocoa coming to the cottage and Oakcrest where she and two other artists are setting up a pop-up gallery for the summer. Her life now hinges on the success of that gallery. Can she make a living selling her unique Cover Art?
Matt Thorne has returned to Oakcrest and moved into the house his father left him. His father is still intimidating Matt from the grave, he can feel his presence in the house surrounded by all his father’s things. His father had many secrets, secrets that Matt just has to delve into and reveal along with trying to make his new chocolate business a success.
Andrew Clarkston was a domineering man in business and at home. His wife Kayla is one of the artists working with Charley but she will not be participating in it at all if he has anything to say about it.
Thomas Kelley is the third artist participating in the pop-up gallery. Now retired there is something shady in his past. He definitely has a problem with Andrew.
So when Andrew Clarkson is found dead and some of Matt’s chocolates appear to be the murder weapon almost everyone connected to Charley becomes a suspect and Alex goes into full cop mode. Charley has some unique talents that can help him but some threats lead him to tell her to back off. But that is not happening!
Ms. Westermann has introduced a strong cast of characters in the first Charley Scott mystery. They already have some depth to draw readers in but there is plenty of room for growth as the series continues. I admire Charley for chasing her dreams and giving them a chance. She also has a great bond with her sister that can flourish now that are actually spending some real time together. I did enjoy the way Charley’s relationship with Matt is in constant flux. It keeps things interesting. Alex and Meghan’s relationship has a few growing pains but they know they are strong together.
The mystery that these characters are placed in is very complex with a lot of moving parts. There are many secrets that need to be revealed and some promises that may need to be broken to find the truth. I had a few suspects on my personal list that stayed there for quite a while but all at once the actual killer rose to the top of my list and stayed there. I can’t say one clue put everything into place for me, the author plotted out the story too well for that and there was still plenty of room for more twists. The character was well-liked but he gave me a little twitch that made me know it was them.
The author’s descriptive detailed writing style lends itself well to all the facets of the story. Whether it be the artwork the artists have created, the squirrel on the top floor of the gallery, Charley and Meghan’s cottage by the lake, the chocolate shop and all its wares, or the place where the exciting ending takes place, everything is easily captured and visualized. I was very entertained throughout the whole book by everything she presented.
I did enjoy the small-town setting of the story. Not far from Ontario Oakcrest is trying to find its place as the world changes. I think the residents are all on the right track. I loved the shop names and what they had to offer. I hope to return as soon as Ms. Westermann finishes the next book in this series for another great escape.
Read
June 28, 2023This is a hard book to assign a star rating to. Maybe 3.5? The author has a beautiful, descriptive voice and I really felt like I was right there in cottage country. Love the Ontario, Canada setting and the small town is wonderfully portrayed. Full of an eclectic mix of characters that provided a number of likely suspects. The mystery is good -- a bit more 'serious' than I was expecting, since I thought this was a cozy mystery but I'd categorize it as a straight up mystery. And I didn't feel as connected to the main characters as I usually am, though the love interest is quite sigh-worthy. So, yes, there's a romance which made me happy. :-) What I really didn't like was the amount of hard core swearing throughout. Likely not excessive by today's standards, but I'm more conservative when it comes to foul language in my books and that's the reason I won't continue on with this series. Otherwise it's a solid start to a mystery series that'd I'd have likely continued with.
March 30, 2022
A thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters do surprise and intrigue and are a brilliant mixed up bunch. The opening pulls you in, and as the action unfolds, it becomes very mysterious indeed.
Entertaining.
Entertaining.
August 25, 2023
Oakcrest is on the shores of Blue Heron Lake, a few hours from Toronto. Charley Scott wasn’t in town long when she met the local chocolatier at the local coffee bar. But although it’s hard to resist the smell of chocolate just from being near him and having a good conversation about books, that is not her purpose for coming to town. Charley is using this summer as a test. A test to determine if she is an artist or should concentrate on a job in the corporate world. Will her paintings provide income? A pop-up gallery with other artists will determine her future. Here’s to the Cover Art Exhibit! 🎨️🖌
It was easy to understand why Charley would become a sleuth as she had a connection to this town and some of the residents long before her latest arrival. Those relationships accelerate the intrigue in the well-written mystery. As the case began with death by chocolate, it’s another reason to give the nod not only to the handsome Matt Thorn, as the name of his shop alone gives pause for sensory images at Chocoholic’s. Then there is the man’s chocolate Labrador retriever, Cocoa.
One of the unique delights of this mystery was the descriptive writing in the behind-the-scenes preparation involved for a summer pop-up gallery and, within the gallery, the work of 3 contributing artists, each with a distinctive style. Although I enjoyed the gallery via my imagination, I wish visiting it outside the book covers was possible.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
Reviewer’s Note: The book should not be marketed as a clean, cozy mystery due to language.
It was easy to understand why Charley would become a sleuth as she had a connection to this town and some of the residents long before her latest arrival. Those relationships accelerate the intrigue in the well-written mystery. As the case began with death by chocolate, it’s another reason to give the nod not only to the handsome Matt Thorn, as the name of his shop alone gives pause for sensory images at Chocoholic’s. Then there is the man’s chocolate Labrador retriever, Cocoa.
One of the unique delights of this mystery was the descriptive writing in the behind-the-scenes preparation involved for a summer pop-up gallery and, within the gallery, the work of 3 contributing artists, each with a distinctive style. Although I enjoyed the gallery via my imagination, I wish visiting it outside the book covers was possible.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
Reviewer’s Note: The book should not be marketed as a clean, cozy mystery due to language.
June 6, 2022
Cover Art is a great start for canadian cozy mystery series, as well as an excellent debut.. The main character and sleuth is, of course, Charley Scott an artist and in a small lakeside village, Oakcrest, and participating in a gallery event over the summer. The other major character is the love interest, Matt Thorn. He has also moved back to Oakcrest, living in his father's old house, running the chocolate shop in town. Andrew, the husband of Charlie's friend Kayla, is killed. Both Charley and Matt find themselves involved in the investigation.
June 16, 2022
A brief look at the cover of this book immediately relays the fact that it’s written for me, at this exact point in the year. As my thoughts turn to summer vacation and reading on the dock (my favourite place to be), I can easily picture myself sitting in this red Muskoka chair, drinking a cup of tea and reading a new cozy mystery. Cover Art by Vanessa Westermann has all the hallmarks of a great summer read – a small town environment, the suspicious murder of a villain everyone hated, a few side stories with easily resolvable tension, and a little bit of humour. The best part is it takes place in cottage country in Ontario, so although its setting is fictional, in my mind’s eye it’s set in a little town we take jaunts to for ice cream and groceries when taking a break from the dock. Speaking of treats, the best part is that this novel features a character who owns a chocolate shop, and there are numerous references to chocolate throughout. Need I say more?
Plot Summary
Charley Scott is an independent woman on the cusp of her thirties, up at the cottage for the summer to open a pop-up gallery in hopes of deciding whether or not she can quit her desk job in the city and focus on her art full time. Her sister lives at the cottage with her boyfriend, a local cop, so Charley is the third wheel, but she’s happy to do it as it gives her more time to focus on her painting, and fixing the squirrel problem in the gallery space. As soon as she arrives in town she witnesses an argument between another artist showcasing their work in her space, and the local developer and builder, Andrew. After meeting a few of the other locals who also express disdain for Andrew, he dies by consuming poisoned chocolates. There are even more complications – the man who owns the chocolate shop is very handsome, and has immediately taken a liking to Charley, but he is now a suspect. And the murdered man was married to Charley’s best friend from childhood Kayla, who is also now a suspect. Also, the gallery space Charley is trying to revitalize is supposedly haunted by a woman who died building it, who also happened to be Matt’s mother. And Matt’s father turns out to be a famous author who hid his success from everyone under a pseudonym. Luckily all these threads are tied up reasonably well to ensure readers won’t get overwhelmed.
My Thoughts
It wasn’t until I started writing the summary of this book that I realized how many plot points were jam packed into this one 300-page novel, which is a testament to how well it was written because I never once felt confused by all the details. There aren’t too many characters, and many of them are either long dead or recently dead, which simplified things. It’s also important to note that this is the first in a mystery series, so as many authors do in this position, Westermann is clearly setting up problems to be resolved in future installments (and I’ve got my fingers crossed that this setting remains the same throughout, because I love a good cottage book). From what I can tell this is only her second published mystery, but she did a fantastic job of keeping me guessing until almost the very end as to who the culprit was. I found myself going back and forth between possible suspects along with Charley, who couldn’t help but involve herself in solving the mystery, if only to absolve her friends of the suspicion hanging over their heads. There are most definitely some coincidences that seemed a little too convenient, but considering the limited cast of characters in the small town, it didn’t take too much convincing either.
After a few days of processing this book, I noticed a few other things that I wasn’t actively thinking about while reading it. It’s interesting to note that there are no children in this book at all. None. No one has kids, no one is thinking of having kids, and even though Charley is about to turn 30, there are none of those pesky ‘biological clock’ anxieties that seem so common for other female characters her age. What a breath of fresh air! I love my children, but this book offered a special form of escapism for me (and no doubt lots of other women) just by omitting this societal expectation of virtually all females ever. Something else I really enjoyed about this novel was the fact that everyone pursued their passions – Charley painted, Kaley drew, Matt made chocolates, his father wrote books…it was all so refreshingly simple. This fictional town of Oakcrest may have had a murderer on the loose, but aside from that it seems like the place dreams are made of for this particular reader. I’m excited to see what comes next in the Charley Scott mystery series, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that chocolate takes another starring role.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
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Plot Summary
Charley Scott is an independent woman on the cusp of her thirties, up at the cottage for the summer to open a pop-up gallery in hopes of deciding whether or not she can quit her desk job in the city and focus on her art full time. Her sister lives at the cottage with her boyfriend, a local cop, so Charley is the third wheel, but she’s happy to do it as it gives her more time to focus on her painting, and fixing the squirrel problem in the gallery space. As soon as she arrives in town she witnesses an argument between another artist showcasing their work in her space, and the local developer and builder, Andrew. After meeting a few of the other locals who also express disdain for Andrew, he dies by consuming poisoned chocolates. There are even more complications – the man who owns the chocolate shop is very handsome, and has immediately taken a liking to Charley, but he is now a suspect. And the murdered man was married to Charley’s best friend from childhood Kayla, who is also now a suspect. Also, the gallery space Charley is trying to revitalize is supposedly haunted by a woman who died building it, who also happened to be Matt’s mother. And Matt’s father turns out to be a famous author who hid his success from everyone under a pseudonym. Luckily all these threads are tied up reasonably well to ensure readers won’t get overwhelmed.
My Thoughts
It wasn’t until I started writing the summary of this book that I realized how many plot points were jam packed into this one 300-page novel, which is a testament to how well it was written because I never once felt confused by all the details. There aren’t too many characters, and many of them are either long dead or recently dead, which simplified things. It’s also important to note that this is the first in a mystery series, so as many authors do in this position, Westermann is clearly setting up problems to be resolved in future installments (and I’ve got my fingers crossed that this setting remains the same throughout, because I love a good cottage book). From what I can tell this is only her second published mystery, but she did a fantastic job of keeping me guessing until almost the very end as to who the culprit was. I found myself going back and forth between possible suspects along with Charley, who couldn’t help but involve herself in solving the mystery, if only to absolve her friends of the suspicion hanging over their heads. There are most definitely some coincidences that seemed a little too convenient, but considering the limited cast of characters in the small town, it didn’t take too much convincing either.
After a few days of processing this book, I noticed a few other things that I wasn’t actively thinking about while reading it. It’s interesting to note that there are no children in this book at all. None. No one has kids, no one is thinking of having kids, and even though Charley is about to turn 30, there are none of those pesky ‘biological clock’ anxieties that seem so common for other female characters her age. What a breath of fresh air! I love my children, but this book offered a special form of escapism for me (and no doubt lots of other women) just by omitting this societal expectation of virtually all females ever. Something else I really enjoyed about this novel was the fact that everyone pursued their passions – Charley painted, Kaley drew, Matt made chocolates, his father wrote books…it was all so refreshingly simple. This fictional town of Oakcrest may have had a murderer on the loose, but aside from that it seems like the place dreams are made of for this particular reader. I’m excited to see what comes next in the Charley Scott mystery series, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that chocolate takes another starring role.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
Sign up for my newsletter here: https://ivereadthis.com/subscribe/
Or follow me on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ivereadthis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivereadthisblog
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD6E...
May 26, 2022
Read my review on NovelsAlive.com by clicking the link below. It is also posted in full.
https://novelsalive.com/2022/05/26/4-...
Cover Art is the first book in the Charley Scott Mystery series by Vanessa Westermann, and I was happy to see this is part of a series since I hadn’t realized that going in.
Charley is an artist but doesn’t know whether she should make it her career or go back to a corporate job and stick with art as a hobby. She’s given herself this summer to live with her sister in the lakeside cottage they inherited to see if she can make it as an artist. Charley rented space to set up a pop-up gallery in one of the stores on Main Street, and that’s the setting for much of the story.
Charley’s sister, Meghan, is dating and living with a cop, Alex, in the cottage, but he’s not sure how much he likes doing so, especially since Charley brings along her dog, Cocoa. While, for the most part, Cocoa’s good-natured and behaves, at other times, she acts like a dog and gets into trouble.
Charley and Matt, the owner of Chocoholic’s, have an immediate attraction when they meet at the coffee shop on her first day at the lake. I loved watching their friendship grow and how they were there for each other. I enjoyed meeting all the characters in the small Canadian lake town and felt like I was there. The descriptions of the small shops, the cottage life, the scenic depictions of the town, and the lake were detailed and vivid—especially all the chocolate making that Matt does. The characters have a depth to them, especially since there’s a murder to solve, and many could be considered suspects.
While amateur sleuth Charley keeps gathering clues and talking to suspects, much to Alex’s chagrin, it doesn’t seem to stop her. Meghan is a reporter and tries to stay on top of the case, too. There are twists and turns to the story, especially with the mystery to solve, but there are also reminisces, family and friends, lots of chocolate, secrets, doubts, and uncertainties. Matt’s deceased parents are also mentioned prominently throughout.
There is closure, especially with solving the murder, but there were still some loose ends that I hope will be resolved in the next book in the series. I look forward to reading more about Charley and Matt and the others and what they are up to next.
Cover Art is a fantastic start to the Charley Scott Mystery series, so if you like mysteries set in small towns with some romance sprinkled in for fun, this book might be just the read for you.
https://novelsalive.com/2022/05/26/4-...
Cover Art is the first book in the Charley Scott Mystery series by Vanessa Westermann, and I was happy to see this is part of a series since I hadn’t realized that going in.
Charley is an artist but doesn’t know whether she should make it her career or go back to a corporate job and stick with art as a hobby. She’s given herself this summer to live with her sister in the lakeside cottage they inherited to see if she can make it as an artist. Charley rented space to set up a pop-up gallery in one of the stores on Main Street, and that’s the setting for much of the story.
Charley’s sister, Meghan, is dating and living with a cop, Alex, in the cottage, but he’s not sure how much he likes doing so, especially since Charley brings along her dog, Cocoa. While, for the most part, Cocoa’s good-natured and behaves, at other times, she acts like a dog and gets into trouble.
Charley and Matt, the owner of Chocoholic’s, have an immediate attraction when they meet at the coffee shop on her first day at the lake. I loved watching their friendship grow and how they were there for each other. I enjoyed meeting all the characters in the small Canadian lake town and felt like I was there. The descriptions of the small shops, the cottage life, the scenic depictions of the town, and the lake were detailed and vivid—especially all the chocolate making that Matt does. The characters have a depth to them, especially since there’s a murder to solve, and many could be considered suspects.
While amateur sleuth Charley keeps gathering clues and talking to suspects, much to Alex’s chagrin, it doesn’t seem to stop her. Meghan is a reporter and tries to stay on top of the case, too. There are twists and turns to the story, especially with the mystery to solve, but there are also reminisces, family and friends, lots of chocolate, secrets, doubts, and uncertainties. Matt’s deceased parents are also mentioned prominently throughout.
There is closure, especially with solving the murder, but there were still some loose ends that I hope will be resolved in the next book in the series. I look forward to reading more about Charley and Matt and the others and what they are up to next.
Cover Art is a fantastic start to the Charley Scott Mystery series, so if you like mysteries set in small towns with some romance sprinkled in for fun, this book might be just the read for you.
May 2, 2025
COVER ART by Vanessa Westermann
The First Charley Scott Mystery
Quaint shops and peaceful lakeside living make Oakcrest the perfect place for Charley Scott's pop up art gallery. Charley is also happy to be spending time with her sister, sharing the cottage they inherited from their grandparents for the summer. But her stay is troubled by the arrogant Andrew Clarkston who threatens to squash her gallery. Sure enough Kayla, her childhood friend and wife of Andrew, pulls out of the show. On a positive note there is a shop offering amazing chocolates and an intriguing chocolatier. Matt Thorn, the chocolatier, is equally beguiled by Charley even as he deals with the recent death of his father and the secrets he held. But when Andrew is found dead, tampered chocolates by his side, Charley and Matt are drawn in to investigate the murder, even as someone continues to warn Charley off. Will they uncover Oakcrest's secrets or will someone stop them...permanently?
Long held secrets and flaring tempers collide in the first Charley Scott mystery. While a number of characters make for interesting suspects the primary characters are fun. I enjoyed the banter and flirtation between Charley and Matt and the realistic relationship between Meghan and Alex, showing the good and not so good aspects of cohabitation. I also enjoyed Charley and Meghan's relationship, though I'd be tempted to smack Meghan on more than one occasion. But Meghan's behavior is part of her charm, I suppose, and that sisterly bond is a special mix of love, loyalty, and annoyance. I can't forget to mention Cocoa, the sweet dog who can get into trouble. I appreciated how the story progressed and while I generally don't care for multiple points of view, the way in which Charley and Matt shared perspectives was effective and didn't take me out of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the slow revelations, secrets from the past coming into the open to the detriment of some and the healing of others.
A compelling mystery fraught with tension as well as a distinct sense of place make COVER ART is an engrossing read and a fantastic start to a new series.
The First Charley Scott Mystery
Quaint shops and peaceful lakeside living make Oakcrest the perfect place for Charley Scott's pop up art gallery. Charley is also happy to be spending time with her sister, sharing the cottage they inherited from their grandparents for the summer. But her stay is troubled by the arrogant Andrew Clarkston who threatens to squash her gallery. Sure enough Kayla, her childhood friend and wife of Andrew, pulls out of the show. On a positive note there is a shop offering amazing chocolates and an intriguing chocolatier. Matt Thorn, the chocolatier, is equally beguiled by Charley even as he deals with the recent death of his father and the secrets he held. But when Andrew is found dead, tampered chocolates by his side, Charley and Matt are drawn in to investigate the murder, even as someone continues to warn Charley off. Will they uncover Oakcrest's secrets or will someone stop them...permanently?
Long held secrets and flaring tempers collide in the first Charley Scott mystery. While a number of characters make for interesting suspects the primary characters are fun. I enjoyed the banter and flirtation between Charley and Matt and the realistic relationship between Meghan and Alex, showing the good and not so good aspects of cohabitation. I also enjoyed Charley and Meghan's relationship, though I'd be tempted to smack Meghan on more than one occasion. But Meghan's behavior is part of her charm, I suppose, and that sisterly bond is a special mix of love, loyalty, and annoyance. I can't forget to mention Cocoa, the sweet dog who can get into trouble. I appreciated how the story progressed and while I generally don't care for multiple points of view, the way in which Charley and Matt shared perspectives was effective and didn't take me out of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the slow revelations, secrets from the past coming into the open to the detriment of some and the healing of others.
A compelling mystery fraught with tension as well as a distinct sense of place make COVER ART is an engrossing read and a fantastic start to a new series.
July 14, 2022
The specifics of this novel were tantalizing: a boutique chocolate shop with custom-made chocolates, a pop-up art gallery featuring book cover art, collectable books and especially pulp fiction mystery novels, plus small town secrets including a long ago death – accident or murder?
Charley and her sister Meagan own their grandmother’s lakeside cottage in the small Canadian town of Oakcrest. Meagan, a newspaper editor, and her policeman boyfriend are already living there when Charley and her chocolate lab Cocoa come for the summer. But this isn’t a vacation, as 29-year-old Charley has quit her job to follow her dream. She is determined to turn her hobby into a career by opening a summer pop-up art gallery.
Author Vanessa Westermann explains Charley’s passion for art: “For so long, art had been a way to look, to see, and remember. A way to process her feelings and experiences in paint. But art was also a form of communication. Hopefully her paintings would whisper, compel, and seduce.”
She rents gallery space in town that has a reputation for being haunted by the ghost of a woman named Lizzie. She meets the charming (and single) owner of Chocoholic, the town’s boutique chocolate shop. Her old high school friend Kayla, one of the other artists exhibiting, suddenly backs out a couple of days before the gallery opens. And then Kayla’s husband dies mysteriously after eating some custom-made chocolate.
This is a well-written suspense-filled mystery, with plenty of possible suspects. The novel often refers to books and authors, and the observations of the land, water, sky and weather are rendered artistically, as if describing a painting. I appreciated that the theme of art continued to be prominent throughout the novel, instead of petering out as so often happens in cozies. In fact, this is less of a cozy and more of a thriller with an exciting climax.
Charley and her sister Meagan own their grandmother’s lakeside cottage in the small Canadian town of Oakcrest. Meagan, a newspaper editor, and her policeman boyfriend are already living there when Charley and her chocolate lab Cocoa come for the summer. But this isn’t a vacation, as 29-year-old Charley has quit her job to follow her dream. She is determined to turn her hobby into a career by opening a summer pop-up art gallery.
Author Vanessa Westermann explains Charley’s passion for art: “For so long, art had been a way to look, to see, and remember. A way to process her feelings and experiences in paint. But art was also a form of communication. Hopefully her paintings would whisper, compel, and seduce.”
She rents gallery space in town that has a reputation for being haunted by the ghost of a woman named Lizzie. She meets the charming (and single) owner of Chocoholic, the town’s boutique chocolate shop. Her old high school friend Kayla, one of the other artists exhibiting, suddenly backs out a couple of days before the gallery opens. And then Kayla’s husband dies mysteriously after eating some custom-made chocolate.
This is a well-written suspense-filled mystery, with plenty of possible suspects. The novel often refers to books and authors, and the observations of the land, water, sky and weather are rendered artistically, as if describing a painting. I appreciated that the theme of art continued to be prominent throughout the novel, instead of petering out as so often happens in cozies. In fact, this is less of a cozy and more of a thriller with an exciting climax.
May 5, 2022
Cover Art by Vanessa Westermann is a breathtaking murder mystery in which wonderful characters bring small town secrets to light. While mostly cozy, this story doesn’t shy away from the darkness that is always present in small towns as well.
I had an absolute blast reading this! Everything is just perfect, from the description of the town and the character development, to the pacing and the plotting of the story overall.
Fans of cozy murder mysteries, you need to snag this one!
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author per request of an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
I had an absolute blast reading this! Everything is just perfect, from the description of the town and the character development, to the pacing and the plotting of the story overall.
Fans of cozy murder mysteries, you need to snag this one!
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author per request of an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
June 22, 2025
There is a recent trend in mystery novels in which the protagonist is a feisty single woman rebuilding her life, who then encounters and solves a murder, and finds romance by the ending of the book. This is one of those. However, this novel did it fairly well. The characters and the mystery were sufficiently interesting, the climax was adequately suspenseful and the romance was not too egregiously erotic. It rates three stars, but I will not be following this author further.
June 27, 2022
I found this author in a group I am in. I really liked learning about her and decided I need to read this book. This is the first book in the series. I love this book! It was very entertaining with just a little bit of romance and great characters! I can not wait for the next book in the series!!! Pick this up today! You will not be disappointed!!
May 17, 2022
This the first in a new cozy series and I liked the original setting and the fleshed out characters.
It's compelling, engrossing, and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read the next.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's compelling, engrossing, and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read the next.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
August 25, 2022
This book had “ME” all over it. Canadian, Lake Cottage, Art, Chocolate, small town, dog…. Somehow it just didn’t fit me right now. I got hung up on so many names, I think. So many names, all at once, and jobs and hobbies and histories. I think the second in the series will be good.
September 2, 2022
A perfectly serviceable slice of Can Lit mashed-up with Hallmark movie-of-the-week romantic sensibilities. It's not exactly rocking my universe, but it's a pleasant cottage version of "Murder She Wrote" that pleasantly passed the time.
September 30, 2022
A cozy mystery set close to home with a bit of supernatural flair. Great characters and delicious descriptions. This was the perfect book to punctuate my summer reading.
October 27, 2022
Came recommended. Not at all of interest...finally gave up.
October 23, 2023
3.5
Fun!
Fun!
July 17, 2024
I'm putting this author on my watch list! Great job.
October 30, 2024
October book club 2024 - easy mystery read - enjoyable
June 29, 2022
just found out i won this book 5 28 2022
i got it in time for my birthday
it was so nice of her to send me a personalized post card and special bar of chocolate. it was wrapped in such cute book shelf paper
cant wait to start reading it as soon as im done with the library book im reading now
she went to stay at the cabin she and her sister own after their grandpa died. she is putting on a art studio showing to sell her art along with 2 other people. one pulled out as her husband didnt want her to
she met a man in town who sells chocolates that are really good. the lady whos husband didnt want her to show her art had a peanut allergy. he used his epi pens that day after eating fries cooked in peanut oil. but that night he died after eating chocolate with pb in it. but the man with the choc shop had done a class and taught 7 people how to make them, including the wife
the man from the choc shop mom died in the store where they are having the art show. his dad died and he is going thru his stuff and found photos of where his mom died and its suspicious . he asked the only man who could know, his friend who is also a good cook doing woodwork, but he wont tell
the friend stole his dads first edition book, he wanted to sell it and buy it later to give back. but she found it and returned it, but got caught doing it and didnt tell him who stole it
turned out his friend is the one that killed the man. he was cutting corners and buildings were in danger. and he lost jobs due to him not keeping his word. he wasnt a nice man
he tried to kill her and the wife of the dead man, but the dog came and saved them.
the choc man and the art girl decided to stay in town after the man was arrested. she didnt tell him she thought he was the mans dad
i got it in time for my birthday
it was so nice of her to send me a personalized post card and special bar of chocolate. it was wrapped in such cute book shelf paper
cant wait to start reading it as soon as im done with the library book im reading now
she went to stay at the cabin she and her sister own after their grandpa died. she is putting on a art studio showing to sell her art along with 2 other people. one pulled out as her husband didnt want her to
she met a man in town who sells chocolates that are really good. the lady whos husband didnt want her to show her art had a peanut allergy. he used his epi pens that day after eating fries cooked in peanut oil. but that night he died after eating chocolate with pb in it. but the man with the choc shop had done a class and taught 7 people how to make them, including the wife
the man from the choc shop mom died in the store where they are having the art show. his dad died and he is going thru his stuff and found photos of where his mom died and its suspicious . he asked the only man who could know, his friend who is also a good cook doing woodwork, but he wont tell
the friend stole his dads first edition book, he wanted to sell it and buy it later to give back. but she found it and returned it, but got caught doing it and didnt tell him who stole it
turned out his friend is the one that killed the man. he was cutting corners and buildings were in danger. and he lost jobs due to him not keeping his word. he wasnt a nice man
he tried to kill her and the wife of the dead man, but the dog came and saved them.
the choc man and the art girl decided to stay in town after the man was arrested. she didnt tell him she thought he was the mans dad
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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