Book Launch: Cover Art by Vanessa Westermann

Author Vanessa Westermann will be discussing her charming, witty, and suspenseful mystery, Cover Art, in conversation with Marian Misters with Sleuth of Baker Street on June 4th at 1pm ET.

To purchase Cover Art, please visit Sleuth of Baker Street's website.

About the book

Death by chocolate may be a favourite fantasy, but death by poisoned chocolate is another matter entirely.

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?

About the author

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.

About the interviewer

Marian Misters, with her partner JD Singh, has owned the Sleuth of Baker Street Mystery Bookstore for almost 40 years. She has a Bachelor of Mathematics, a Master of Art and is also a Professional Chartered Accountant. She was the Jury Chair for the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Awards and has been awarded the Derrick Murdoch Award for her contributions to the crime genre.

Looking for a change from the life of auditors they bought the Sleuth in 1982 when it was three years old, and, as they say, the rest is history.

In her spare time she has coached Learn to Run classes, run marathons and taught cooking classes.