Shudder Pulp - A Review

 Review

SHUDDER PULP by Vanessa Westermann
The Second Charley Scott Mystery 

As autumn turns ever closer to Halloween things are getting spooky in Oakcrest, Ontario. Inspired by the legend of the local lake monster Charley Scott is turning her art gallery into an immersive event; a terrifying one at that. When Laura bursts in drenched saying she's been attacked by the lake monster and that it's Charley's fault, Charley is stunned. But she's more stunned when Laura's body is found dead near her brother's marina a few hours later. In her short time in town Laura managed to anger a multitude of people, but who would want to kill her? With Charley's relationship with chocolatier Matt Thorn intensifying the two will begin to investigate. But secrets are even more dangerous than lake monsters and may just destroy them.

Tension continually ratchets up in the second Charley Scott mystery as events take on a macabre nightmarish quality, in artwork, in relationships, in the very atmosphere. Everything seems to have multiple meanings and everyone appears to have a sinister aspect that is slowly being revealed.

The mystery was as unique as the cause of death and I suspected everybody! Innocent people that were suspects in the first book were acting even more shifty and I thought they could be guilty this time around. I still don't trust Kayla. The drama is not just found in the mystery, rather there is an emotional maelstrom intensifying the action.

SHUDDER PULP will have you shivering with both fear and delight in this slow burning mystery. 

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Shudder Pulp by Vanessa Westermann. This book is the second in the Charley Scott Mystery series and was released earlier this month.

As autumn turns ever closer to Halloween things are getting spooky in Oakcrest. Inspired by the legend of the local lake monster Charley Scott is turning her art gallery into an immersive event; a terrifying one at that. When Laura bursts in drenched saying she's been attacked by the lake monster and that it's Charley's fault, Charley is stunned. But she's more stunned when Laura's body is found dead near her brother's marina a few hours later. In her short time in town Laura managed to anger a multitude of people, but who would want to kill her? With Charley's relationship with chocolatier Matt Thorn intensifying the two will begin to investigate. But secrets are even more dangerous than lake monsters and may just destroy them.

Cover Art - A Review

 Review

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.

Shudder Pulp - An Interview

I'm pleased to welcome Vanessa Westermann to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Vanessa writes the Charley Scott Mystery series. SHUDDER PULP is the second book in the series and will be released May 3, 2025.

Kathy: In SHUDDER PULP Charley Scott is creating an immersive pulp art installation based on the local lake monster legend. I love learning about local legends! We have several near me and not too terribly far from me is Champ-the lake monster who lives in Lake Champlain. Do you have any legends local to you?

VW: The local legends that inspired SHUDDER PULP are historical rather than recent. While researching the cottage country setting, I learned about Kingstie, the 175-foot serpent in the water near Kingston Harbour, and the monster that was seen in the Bay in Belleville, Ontario. Sightings of both lake monsters were reported in local newspapers in the 19th century.

It’s hard to entirely dismiss these legends as fiction and that’s wonderfully eerie. Marine biologists acknowledge that the Great Lakes do harbour mysteries: prehistoric fish and reptiles that have adapted to the waters and thrived for centuries. I couldn’t help but wonder what might lurk under the surface of Charley’s lake…


Kathy: Charley teams up again with chocolatier Matt Thorn to investigate the murder of the newcomer who previously she had been attacked by the monster. I wouldn't mind teaming up with a chocolatier for many reasons...including chocolate. I love handmade specialty chocolate. Sponge candy is a local treat here and a favorite chocolate shop made raspberry flavored sponge candy this year! Do you have any favorite types of chocolate?

VW: Dark chocolate is my weakness! The chocolates in the Charley Scott mysteries are inspired by Centre & Main Chocolate Co’s flavours. The Gin & Tonic chocolate bar from Cover Art can be purchased from them, and so can the chocolate-coated maple sponge toffee from SHUDDER PULP. Researching the chocolate flavours is, as you can probably imagine, a real hardship!


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

VW: The title and general plot were inspired by Shudder Pulp dime magazine stories. The ‘shudder pulp’ formula of horror stories had one rule: All supernatural events had to be explained away in the end as nothing more than tricks played by the villain to cover his or her tracks. Although these original pulp stories were gruesome and menacing, I thought the idea would work well for a cozy mystery. Why not have the killer try to cover their tracks with supernatural elements, and blame the murder on a legendary lake monster?


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Charley?

VW: I’m currently working on book three of the Charley Scott mysteries, which is set in winter. The murder is a death by polar plunge. Charley gets drawn into a series of cottage country winter adventures that become increasingly dangerous. She must brave the elements to figure out whodunnit.


Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between?

VW: I’m a plotter, but I like to leave myself some freedom to discover the story as a draft. I normally flesh out my characters and come up with key plot points before writing. The magic happens, however, when characters react to challenges. Their responses often surprise me and take the story in new directions that I couldn’t have planned in advance. One of my favourite writing quotes is from Ray Bradbury: “Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.”


Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing?

VW: I actually enjoy all aspects of marketing because I get to finally share the story I’ve been working on for so long. I have the most fun creating Instagram posts that invite readers into the characters’ world. For example, I recently posted a glimpse into Charley’s sketchbook, sharing two pages she might have created to plan her Shudder Pulp art exhibit.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

VW: Cormorant Books is republishing my first mystery, titled AN EXCUSE FOR MURDER, along with the sequel, TURNING THE PAGE ON MURDER, in 2026. The series is set in England and features amateur sleuth and bookstore owner, Kate Rowan. This series combines elements of the cozy mystery genre with romantic suspense. In TURNING THE PAGE ON MURDER, Kate has given up on crime fiction after falling for a killer when she finds her great-aunt holding a bloody knife at a murder scene. Kate reluctantly teams up with Gary, the man who broke her heart, to find out whodunnit. Their search for the truth sends them on a high stakes treasure hunt through downtown London, from the safe deposit boxes in Selfridges department store to the Reading Rooms of the British Library.

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Author Links:

Website: www.vanessa-westermann.info

Instagram: @vanessawestermann_

Cover Art - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Vanessa Westermann to Cozy With Kathy today. Vanessa writes the Charley Scott Mystery series. Cover Art is the first book in the series and will be released this week.

Kathy: In Cover Art we meet Charley Scott an artist determined to turn her hobby into a career. Have you done the same?

VW: I think anyone who is passionate about a creative pursuit, whether writing or painting, hopes to one day turn their hobby into a career. I felt very much like Charley, while submitting my first manuscript to agents and publishers. It was a dream come true, when I received a publishing contract!


Kathy: Charley is running a summer pop-up gallery in a lakeside village in Ontario. Do you enjoy artistic pursuits of your own?

VW: I’m much better at painting a picture with words than watercolors, but I love visiting art galleries, like Port Hope’s Inuit Fine Art gallery (https://inuitfineart.com/), The Art Gallery of Ontario and the Vincent Van Gogh immersive exhibit. Pre-pandemic, the Northumberland Hills studio tours, showcasing local artists, were wonderful as well.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

VW: A cozy mystery is a whodunit featuring an amateur sleuth, a distinctive setting and a limited number of suspects. There’s normally a healthy dose of humour and the sleuthing focuses more on interpersonal relationships than crime scene analysis or lab results. In fact, the focus is as much on the sleuth’s world, as on the murder. I wrote Cover Art during lockdown and it was so lovely to write a mystery that has emotional resonance but also features interesting characters, some lighthearted moments and a challenging puzzle.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

VW: At the moment, I’m focusing on writing mysteries with a hint of romance.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

VW: In the Charley Scott Mystery series, artist Charley Scott solves murders in Canada’s cottage country with the help of chocolatier, Matt Thorn, and her dog, Cocoa.


Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

VW: One of my favourite characters in Cover Art is Cocoa, Charley’s chocolate Labrador retriever. She loves eating human food, getting into trouble and opening doors, which is a dangerous but adorable combination.


Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

VW: The idea of writing a mystery involving death by chocolate was actually sparked years ago. My mom took part in a workshop run by a local chocolatier about how to make truffles and Belgian pralines. She came home with recipes covered in hand-written notes, samples, a chocolate-stained apron and a ‘behind the scenes’ glimpse into a chocolatier’s workshop. We tried out the recipes in our own kitchen, chopping blocks of chocolate and tempering it to a glossy sheen. Then, later on, I thought about setting that mystery in cottage country, and the series evolved from there.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

VW: I love telling stories and write to entertain others. I can’t wait to get Cover Art into readers’ hands!


Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

VW: I would invite Agatha Christie (and hope she brought one of her notebooks with, to share her plotting secrets!), Georgette Heyer, Dilys Winn, and Dorothy B. Hughes.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

VW: I’m currently reading Find You First by Linwood Barclay.


Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

VW: One of the best activities to do at the cottage is go canoeing on a quiet lake. The sound of the paddle gliding through the water is the most wonderful thing. I’m still learning how to steer though!


Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

VW: Dark chocolate, Red Rose tea, maple syrup, and cinnamon-raisin sourdough bread from my local bakery.


Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

VW: I do have plans for future books in the Charley Scott Mystery series! I’m grateful to have received an Ontario Arts Council writing grant, to support the completion of the second Charley Scott Mystery, which I’m working on now.


Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

VW: My favourite thing about being an author is creating fictional worlds and getting to spend time with my imaginary friends. 

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 Cover Art (A Charley Scott Mystery) by Vanessa Westermann

About Cover Art

Cover Art (A Charley Scott Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada
Cormorant Books (May 17, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 440 pages

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.

But, beneath the surface of this peaceful town, darkness lurks. There’s a history.

Local chocolatier, Matt Thorn, is struggling with his father’s death and his legacy of deception. As Matt plans to expose his father’s secrets, a local is found dead, the result of eating Matt’s chocolates.

Luckily, art is all about perspective and Charley’s always had a keen eye. Can she see past the obvious and find the killer?

About Vanessa Westermann

An avid reader of mysteries, Vanessa Westermann is a former Arthur Ellis Awards judge, holds an M.A. in English Literature, as well as a Bachelor of Education, and has taught creative writing. Her debut mystery, An Excuse for Murder, was published in 2019. At the heart of all of Westermann’s stories are strong female protagonists inspired by the heroines in her own life. She currently lives in Ontario.

Social media links:  

Blog: https://www.vanessa-westermann.info/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanessasPicks 

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VanessaWestermannAuthor  

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18861715.Vanessa_Westermann  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/vanessa-westermann  

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