MYSTERY REVIEW - COLD MOURNING

There's always good reason to cheer when a new mystery series hits the scene. Those of us officially hooked on reading this genre are usually on the lookout for new settings, new characters, and new plots to keep us happy. Well, here's one to add to your reading list!

Kala Stonechild, an aboriginal female who is both running from and to her past, brings an unique voice to the Ottawa Police Service. On her first day on the job with the Ottawa Police, Stonechild, so new to the Ottawa area that she's staying at the Y, is made a part of a specialized police task force, a unit that feels unsupported and doomed from the start. Because it's Christmas, the detectives are handed a missing persons case that quickly morphs into a murder investigation. They're under the gun to solve it before the New Year, after which it gets passed on to Major Crimes. The future of this unit depends on the successful conclusion of this case. No pressure there.

Stonechild has been a police officer for a while but this is her first time in the big city. The missing person is Tom Underwood, a wealthy businessman. The suspect list is a long one including his business partner, his ex-wife, his current wife, his son, and possibly his daughter. Not a very happy family. The detectives are split on who is the guilty party -- the business partner or as Stonechild suspects, someone closer to home.

Stonechild is a complex person. She tries not to let feelings of loneliness and homesickness overcome her. She's left a lot behind but this is where she needs to be. She's juggling the case with her own search for her cousin, who's been moving around for several years and is now believed to be in Ottawa.

The New Year dawns and no one is in jail so Major Crimes steps in and Stonechild is sent on media relations training while the rest of the unit is solving more mundane cases. However, a chance remark sets her back on the trail of a surprising killer.

What's unusual about Cold Mourning is the multiple viewpoints which at times allow the reader to have more information than Stonechild. Chapman handles this style smoothly and it's very effective in moving the story along. She is a skilled writer with nine books already under her belt. This is her second adult novel.

If you live in Ottawa, Cold Mourning will be of particular interest because that's the setting and Chapman makes it come alive. However, you don't have to live here to enjoy the read. I hope that the Stonechild and Rouleau mysteries by Brenda Chapman have a long run. And I strongly advise readers to join in the trek, starting with Cold Mourning.

SCHMOOZING WITH BRENDA CHAPMAN

1. Who has influenced you the most in your writing career?

I’ve learned a lot about writing from reading authors such as Ernest Hemingway—the art of saying a lot with a little; Harper Lee—how to write compelling characters and weave subplots in with the main storyline; Michael Connelly—lead cop Harry Bosch (say no more); and just about every novel I’ve ever read, beginning with Enid Blyton and the Secret Seven/Famous Five novels. However, I’d have to say that the person who influenced me the most would be Professor Claude Lyman from Lakehead University, who taught me during a year of creative writing classes to avoid using melodrama in my stories wherever possible. His advice is based on that old chestnut ‘show don’t tell’ and keep the writing tight and lean. Skip the overwriting!

2. What are you working on now?

I am currently about half way through the first draft of the third Stonechild and Rouleau mystery for Dundurn. I have a June deadline and am trying to pick up my pace. My editor and I will be starting the first edit of Butterfly Kills, the second in the series, in April. I also have a contract to write a fourth adult literacy novel in the Anna Sweet mystery series for Grass Roots Press due this fall. The third in that series entitled To Keep a Secret will be released this September.

3. In what ways is your main protagonist like you? If at all?

Kala Stonechild is quite different from me. She’s in her late twenties, Aboriginal, tall, grew up in foster homes and is courageous as a lion. She also has a great sense of direction and doesn’t mind driving all over the country alone in her truck. We do both come from small northern communities and love the outdoors so there is that.


4. Are you character driven or plot driven?

I would have to say both. Plot and characters have a symbiotic relationship in all of my favourite books. The plot has to move along and grip me and I have to care about the characters and what happens to them.

5. Are you a pantser or a plotter?

I’m a pantser with plotter overtones. I outline in my head but do a lot of ‘flying by the seat of’ as I get into a manuscript.

6. What do you hope readers will most take away from your writing?

I hope that readers are entertained first and foremost. I am most gratified when someone says that they could not put the book down. I also am satisfied when readers speak about the characters as if they are real people because this means that readers connected with them.

7. Where do you see yourself as a writer in 10 years?

It would be great to have an international readership and to get invited to some overseas conferences! Other than that, I see myself fully engrossed in writing a new manuscript and carrying on as I am now, but perhaps with more Facebook likes and Twitter followers. You can never have too many.

8. What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to know about you?

Readers might be surprised to know that I skip a ladies’ curling team and that my daughter Lisa Weagle is on the national championship curling team skipped by Rachel Homan—they’ll be playing for Canada for the second year in a row at worlds in March. Readers might also be surprised to know that I dislike mashed potatoes and never touch brussel sprouts, parsnips or lima beans if I can help it.

9. What do you like to read for pleasure?

I read crime fiction for pleasure – Ottawa and Canadian mysteries top my list. I’m also a big fan of British mysteries.

10. Give us a summary of your latest book in a Tweet

A week before Christmas, a dysfunctional police team must find a missing Ottawa businessman with lots of people wanting him dead #lotsofsuspects

Brenda Chapman is an Ottawa mystery writer for both teens and adults. Her latest novel Cold Mourning was released by Dundurn in March 2014. A former teacher, she now works as a senior communications advisor for the federal government.

MYSTERY REVIEW

MY SISTER'S KEEPER
by Brenda Chapman
Grass Roots Press

THE HARD FALL
by Brenda Chapman
Grass Roots Press




Ottawa mystery writer Brenda Chapman has launched a new series, one of the first with Grass Roots Press, an Alberta publisher that is looking at the growing "reluctant reader" market. The first two in the Anna Sweet series, My Sister's Keep and The Hard Fall, were released earlier this month and the appeal of this series goes well beyond its intended market.

Anna Sweet is a former Ottawa police officer who returns to her hometown when her sister's life is threatened in My Sister's Keeper. She comes bearing baggage -- five years of moving around the US, working in bars and waitressing, outrunning her past which includes being jilted by her lover who turned to her sister, and killing a teen in the line of duty. She's at outs with her family but still, when family calls, Sweet answers. No one believes her sister is at risk. Until Sweet takes on a killer.

In The Hard Fall, Sweet has stayed in Ottawa to take care of her sick father, and joined a new PI firm. The case is a tough one -- a high profile married business tycoon, one of the movers and shakers in town, accused of murdering his mistress. Only his wife believes he's innocent until Sweet starts nosing around but even she is surprised by where her investigations lead. Her own life in danger, Sweet sets a trap that could be her last.

These novellas are the perfect length for that wait at the dentist's office, that short plane ride or just a time when you don't want to commit to an entire evening of reading. Fast paced and gripping, well-drawn characters, and dialogue that says volumes, the Anna Sweet series will also be a hit with those of us already committed to reading. Brenda Chapman has perfected the skill of saying a lot with a few words. Don't let the size of these books nor their designation stop you from reading them. You'll find a satisfying read awaiting.

MAYHEM ON MONDAYS

Savouring the Suspense

I had a grade school teacher once ask this question: What part of an activity or event provides the greatest enjoyment – before, during or after an experience? In other words, is anticipation, real time experience or memory of the experience the most pleasurable?

My brother-in-law told me a story from his childhood that I still find amusing. He’d found his wrapped presents in the closet of his parents’ bedroom closet a few weeks before Christmas. The impulse to find out what was in the packages won out over enjoying two more weeks of suspense and anticipation. Imagine his panic as he lay on his parents’ bed enjoying his new Walkman when he heard the back door open and his parents call upstairs that they were home. Somehow, he managed to avoid getting caught and even feigned surprise Christmas morning.

I, on the other hand, would never have opened my gifts early, even knowing I wouldn’t get caught. For me, the anticipation bit, the not knowing period is one of, if not the best part. I dislike book and movie reviews that tell too much about the plot. I switch TV channels rather than watch a trailer for an upcoming show that will show the highlights. I put off opening presents as long as possible.

I like the surprise.

Perhaps, this is why I write mysteries. Each manuscript comes loaded with surprises, whether they be characters who suddenly appear, events that unfold completely unplanned or crimes that I didn’t see coming. This isn’t to say that I don’t have any idea where a story is going once I get started, but in the writing of each one, unexpected plot twists occur, and I find that contemplating the next step is exciting. Suspense builds in unexpected ways and I enjoy being along for the ride.

For instance, in my latest novel Second Chances, my main character Darlene Findley’s older rebellious and promiscuous cousin Elizabeth come to stay for the summer. I wasn’t completely certain how the two would interact or what the upshot of their entanglement would be, but I knew their enforced closeness would create some good conflict that would be great fun to write. I was not disappointed.

I feel the same sense of anticipation when I purchase a new mystery or thriller. Who doesn’t enjoy holding a new book by a loved author in their hands before reading the first word? Taking time to savour the slow unfolding of a story, the language chosen, the characters revealed – the build up of suspense can be more satisfying than reaching the conclusion.

Perhaps, you would say that the actual act of delving into the book or the memory of the completed story are just as enjoyable as the anticipation of reading it, and I would have a hard time arguing with you. The act of reading and becoming immersed in another world are certainly pleasurable pastimes. Yet, recalling the book years later might give someone more pleasure than the actual time spent reading it. In all cases, however, I’d say that the anticipation and build up of suspense are imperative for later enjoyment of the resolution.

So, are you the type of person who wants to open your gifts early or do you prefer to wait and imagine what is inside the wrapping? Would you rather linger over the suspense in a mystery book or read the ending first?

Take your time answering – I don’t mind being kept in suspense.

Brenda Chapman is the Ottawa author of several mysteries for young adults and adults. Cold Mourning, the first in an adult mystery series will be released by Dundurn fall 2013. Second Chances is her latest release for older teens.

MYSTERY REVIEW

SECOND CHANCES
by Brenda Chapman
Dundurn Press

I don't often read young adult novels. But I'm so glad I read this one. I was willing to take a chance on Second Chances, no pun intended, because I so enjoyed Brenda Chapman's adult mystery, In Winter's Grip. It turns out, I was right. She knows how to write a novel that keeps you reading right to the end regardless of age.

The setting in geographical terms is cottage country, Cedar Lake in the Northumberland Hills, between Toronto and Ottawa. In time, it's 1971, and those of us who were anywhere from our early to late teens, even beyond, are pulled right back to those days. Remember? The flower power children had morphed into older shapes, still searching for peace and forgetfulness. The names in the music world we thrived on were Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Led Zeppelin. Cut-off shorts and peasant blouses were the norm. And Seventeen magazine still dictated to the young girls of the day. It was also the time of the Vietnam War.

This is the world of fifteen-year-old Darlene Findley, spending the summer, away from Ottawa, at the cottage and the convenience store owned by her mom. It's a turbulent world of a grief-stricken father whose short-temper hides the pain, a mother who Darlene fears may be searching for something new, and a rich cousin from Toronto, sent to the lake in hopes it will do her some good. What it does it add more torment to Darlene's life.

As the summer drags on and strangers move into a nearby cottage, Darlene gets pulled into secrets that could lead to someone's imprisonment at best, death at worst. Always filled with the need to know, a trait that works well with her writing talent, Darlene must come to grips with past and present relationships, the hidden lives within her house, and what she truly believes in.

A true coming of age story, Second Chances is infused with the textures of those days. Chapman's smooth writing keeps the story moving, even when nothing much seems to be happening. We feel Darlene's changing emotions, we see the beauty of the lake country, we can smell the pork roast in the Findley oven. That takes skill.

And it's not surprising, coming from the desk of Brenda Chapman.

MAYHEM ON MONDAYS

Ponderings....

Yet another mystery conference is just around the corner -- on Thanksgiving weekend to be exact. It's in the US, of course, so doesn't fall on their holiday weekend. Bouchercon is the name of this one and it's one of the biggest, attracting a lot of international authors who rarely make it across the ocean. Also, it's heavily into the heavy weights as in big names and dark crimes. Every writer should attend at least one Bouchercon in their career.

I'll be in the midst of a lot of Canucks, in fact, we're hosting a social on Friday night just to wave the flag and let the attendees meet some Canadian authors. It should be a lot of fun and we'll be spreading the word about some cool Canadian crime.

My panel at this conference is about murder in a US smalltown and local Ottawan, Brenda Chapman, author of In Winter's Grip, will also be on it. I like this topic as it gives authors an opportunity to debunk the "Jessica Fletcher" syndrome. Also, the choices of victims and suspects is pretty much the same in any smalltown, either side of the border.

What I also like about being on panels, this one in particular, is that it offers an opportunity to step back from the writing and view it from another angle. I don't stop and think about the derth of either victims or suspects when planning a book. Maybe I should. I do try to make the choices believable, so on some level must be addressing this problem. But that's where visitors come in handy. Someone in town on business, visiting relatives, or just touring the region. There's also the new person in town, surely with a backstory to be uncovered. Or the sleuth could be on vacation, giving her hometown a break for at last one book.

The possibilities are endless to the writer who likes a challenge. And one of the challenges is taking the time to re-assess where the series is going. How the characters are developing over a number of books. What's happening to relationships. And, oh yes, who's the next victim to be? How many times can I make the sleuth a suspect?

What fun! And, yes, the conference will be fun, too. I always come away from these with a slightly different way of looking at writing. And that's got to be good for everyone.

Linda Wiken/Erika Chase

A KILLER READ
Berkley Prime Crime, now available
READ & BURIED, coming Dec., 2012;
available now for pre-order
www.erikachase.com

TUESDAY BRINGS TROUBLE

A Writing Jezebel

Like a girl playing the field, I’ve flirted with various writing genres, target age groups and formats. I’ve so far dodged the decision to marry one project to the exclusion of all others. It’s been a quest to discover if I’m the settling down kind or a gal who has to keep her options open.

The first book I wrote was a picture book about a flying rabbit. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but sadly, it never found a publisher. I went from there to writing four young adult mysteries – the Jennifer Bannon series – but I have to admit that I was never faithful. Between manuscripts, I wrote short stories for the adult audience and began dabbling in adult mystery novels.

Last fall, my first full-length adult murder mystery In Winter’s Grip hit the shelves. Even with this satisfying success, I turned back to the young adult genre, penning a story about a fifteen-year-old girl and her summer during the Vietnam era. Entitled Second Chances, this novel is due out from Dundurn next spring. This year, I also turned to Orca and wrote The Second Wife for their Rapid Reads series of high comprehension/low vocabulary books for adults with literacy problems or adults who would like a quick read.

The Second Wife is being released this month. It is the story of forty-five year old Gwen Lake, a divorced desk cop with a boring job and an unfulfilling life. She sacrificed her own intelligence for nine-to-five security, believing her marriage to be enough – that is until her husband left her for another woman. When a murder hits close to home, it is the impetus that she needs to rise out of her lethargy. Gwen Lake as a character is someone I would like as a friend; she’s funny, loyal and creative. She’s proof that a middle-aged woman can find new challenges and find fulfillment even when the future looks bleak.

Currently, I am working on a full length adult mystery that I hope will become a series. Once again, I’ve fallen for my main characters and would like to spend some time with them, hopefully for a few years to come. I might even decide to settle down for a while. Perhaps it is time.

Seriously though, I believe each of these disparate projects have been part of my apprenticeship to becoming a better writer. I’ve learned from each manuscript and have been captivated by every story. Perhaps I’m a bit like Gwen Lake in this; when the chance to stretch my horizons arrives, I can’t resist the challenge.

Brenda Chapman is the Ottawa author of the Jennifer Bannon mystery series for young adults. Hiding in Hawk’s Creek, the second novel in the series, was shortlisted by the Canadian Association of Children’s Librarians for the 2006 Book of the Year for Children Award.

Brenda has also written several short stories that were published in an anthology (When Boomers Go Bad, RendezVous Crime 2004) and various magazines. In Winter’s Grip is Brenda’s first adult murder mystery. When not writing, Brenda works as a senior communications advisor in the federal government.