The Question of the Dead Mistress by E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen

First Line: I received an email message.

When a woman comes into Questions Answered, proprietor Samuel Hoenig wants nothing to do with finding the answer to her question. "Is my husband having an affair with a dead woman?" To the literal-minded Samuel, there's no question that the man isn't because ghosts do not exist. But his associate, Janet Washburn, feels differently about the situation, so Samuel decides to give her her first solo assignment: to answer this question.

However, as soon as Ms. Washburn begins to investigate, the husband turns up dead. Now she and Samuel have a lot of work to do because even Samuel can see that things just do not add up.

This fifth Asperger's mystery is another enjoyable read because not only are we served up a lovely plot with plenty of twists, fans of the series get to witness the further emotional growth of Samuel Hoenig, a man with Asperger's Syndrome. Samuel is logical, literal, and precise. Readers see the world through his eyes, and how he words things shows us how literal his vision is. For example, he never refers to Ms. Washburn's mode of transportation simply as a car or the Kia, it's always the Kia Spectra. He also works through conversational terms that are nonsensical to him. I really appreciate this chance to experience Samuel's world, all the while knowing that, from time to time, being with someone like him 24/7 could be exhausting to a person who's not used to it.

This is a series best read in order because, throughout it, Samuel's emotional relationships become deeper and more meaningful. The books aren't merely matters of answering the question du jour and solving the mystery, but also of Samuel becoming more sensitive to the emotions of the people he cares for. Jeff Cohen's Asperger's mysteries are something very special. Readers get to flex their deductive muscles in an attempt to solve some first-rate mysteries, and they are also treated to the gradual development of an extremely interesting character. The Question of the Dead Mistress is the best book in the series so far, and I'm looking forward to reading many more.

The Question of the Dead Mistress by E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen

eISBN: 9780738755267

Midnight Ink © 2018

eBook, 288 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #5 Asperger's mystery

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

The Question of the Absentee Father by E.J. Copperman & Jeff Cohen

First Line: A letter arrived in the daily mail.

When Samuel Hoenig's mother receives a letter, she asks her son a question that he really doesn't want to hear: "Where is your father living now?" Samuel's father left when he was quite small, so Samuel has no feelings for him one way or the other, but when the business you run is called Questions Answered, he's duty bound to find the information his mother needs. 

There's just one small problem. Samuel has Asperger's Syndrome, and the necessary flight to Los Angeles to find the answer to his mother's question takes him completely out of his comfort zone. Little does he and his associate Miss Washburn know, but the flight is the least of their worries. Once that plane lands, finding the answer to one simple question puts both of them in serious danger.

The Question of the Absentee Father continues one of my favorite mystery series. Not only is this book (and the series) a sensitive treatment of Asperger's, it actually allows me to see the world through Samuel's eyes and to have my brain become attuned to the way he thinks. Samuel is a nuanced character; readers learn his many abilities as well as his weaknesses, and in this latest book, we see how well he copes with being taken out of his comfort zone. His investigations also teach him things from book to book-- so he's doing better than many of the rest of us.

The cast of characters around Samuel is a wonderful support group for him. (We should all be so lucky.) His mother takes a backseat in this book, but her presence is still felt. Mike the taxi cab driver not only helps Samuel get from Point A to Point B, he can also be relied upon to help when needed. And what can I say about Miss Washburn? Two things, actually. One, it's a pleasure to watch the working and personal relationships between Samuel and his associate grow, and two, whatever you do--be careful with this woman's phone!  

This entire series delivers strong characters, humor, enlightenment, and a fine mystery, and I recommend it highly. If the series is new to you, you can basically jump in anywhere, but for the sake of character development, I suggest you begin at the beginning with The Question of the Missing Head. 

The Question of the Absentee Father by Jeff Cohen/E.J. Copperman

eISBN: 9780738753058

Midnight Ink © 2017

eBook, 288 pages

Cozy Mystery, #4 Asperger's mystery

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley


 

The Question of the Felonious Friend by E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen

First Line: I received a text message.

In the one year, two weeks, and three days that Samuel Hoenig has been the proprietor of Questions Answered, his objectivity-- a key component of his business's modest success-- has never been in doubt. But when Tyler Clayton, a young man who also has Asperger's Syndrome, comes in and asks if a convenience store clerk is really his friend, Samuel's objectivity seems to evaporate. 

At the urging of his assistant, Ms.Washburn, he reluctantly agrees to research the answer to Tyler's question. Things rapidly head south when one of the people Samuel must interview is murdered. Now Samuel's research into friendship must also lead him to a killer because he knows that, although Tyler may be in jail, he's an innocent man.

I have enjoyed every one of Jeff Cohen's series, but I have to admit that this is my favorite. Cohen has arrived at a perfect blend of knowledge, character, mystery, humor, and heart. What a combination!

As the story unfolds, the mystery deepens. These questions are never as simple as they first appear. As Samuel uncovers more facts, it's obvious that his first hunch (the clerk is not Tyler's friend) was the correct one, but we're all left to wonder what on earth is going on. The mystery alone is worth the price of admission.

But what adds depth and heart to The Question of the Felonious Friend is the interplay between the characters. While Samuel's mother has a very small role in this book, we see more of Ms. Washburn's personal life and how Samuel reacts to it. The police in Piscataway, New Jersey, are slowly learning how to work with this young man, too. But for the first time we see Samuel in contact with someone else who's also on the autism spectrum. Tyler has not had the advantages that Samuel has. He has almost no social skills, and quickly becomes mute when stressed. Through Samuel and his relationship with Tyler, we learn how people who are on the autism spectrum should be treated... and how insensitive "normal" people usually are.

I've come to care a great deal for Jeff Cohen's characters. Their personalities and relationships are evolving with each new book. I sincerely hope that Samuel will be around to answer many more questions in the future.
  

The Question of the Felonious Friend by E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen

eISBN: 9780738749051
Midnight Ink © 2016
eBook, 288 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #3 Asperger's mystery
Rating: A
Source: Net Galley 


 

The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband by Jeffrey Cohen

First Line: The front door opened and a woman walked in.

As the proprietor of a business called Questions Answered, Samuel Hoenig's Asperger's syndrome is more like a firm set of personality traits, and he uses those traits to successfully answer every question he's ever been asked.

But he's at a bit of a loss when his newest client asks him about the real identity of her husband. Having no insight whatsoever into marriage, Samuel enlists the aid of his former associate Janet Washburn. 

Working as a team is going well-- until the body of the husband in question is found in Samuel's place of business. He's been taken for a fool, and he doesn't like it; therefore, he's more than willing to answer a new question posed by an unexpected inquirer: who killed the unfamiliar husband?

Jeff Cohen ups the ante in his second Asperger's mystery featuring Samuel Hoenig. While enlightening for those readers unacquainted with people who have Asperger's, The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband is a truly enjoyable read with many laugh-out-loud moments and a devilishly clever mystery to solve.

In the first book, The Question of the Missing Head, Samuel was seemingly obsessed with his timetable for exercise, and I have to admit that I was a bit worried that his persistence would carry over to this second book. Too much of a good thing is... too much. But Cohen is too smart for that. Yes, Samuel gets some exercise in this book, but now his main concern is vehicular safety, and I spent my time either being amused at his behavior... or agreeing with him. 

Once again, I am impressed with the parenting skills of Samuel's mother. The type of support "Aspies" get at home is crucial in how well they fit into society. Samuel's mother is a strong and very wise woman, and I admire her-- as I do the other woman in Samuel's life, Janet Washburn. Janet enjoys a good challenge, which is why she enjoys working with Samuel and his "questions" so much, and it's her calm demeanor and quick thinking that makes them such a good team. If you're going to be the sidekick, be the best, and Janet is. I like her so much that I hope she takes center stage in a future book. 

The solution to this clever mystery depends on so many things. Planted clues. A knowledge of Christie. A coincidence. And not blindly following accepted beliefs about certain groups of people. The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband certainly kept me smiling and guessing.

One of Samuel's endearing traits is his insistence that he can tell a lot about a person by that person's favorite Beatles song. I wonder what he would tell me if I let him know that mine is "In My Life"?

Samuel, his mother, and Janet have certainly worked themselves into my heart, and I look forward to their next adventure with a great deal of anticipation.

The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband by Jeff Cohen/E.J. Copperman

ISBN: 9780738743509

Midnight Ink © 2015

Paperback, 312 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #2 Asperger's Mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley 

The Question of the Missing Head by E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen

First Line: The telephone rang.

When Janet Washburn picked up the phone to call Questions Answered, she had no idea that she was about to enter into a possibly life-changing event. What she thought would be a quick question about the New York Times crossword puzzle turned into a trip to the business to deal with its owner in person. Samuel Hoenig has Asperger's Syndrome, and although he can find the answer to just about anything you'd want to know, you have to be able to ask the right questions.

Once there, Janet forgets what she wanted to know and finds herself helping Samuel with a complex baseball question. In walks Marshall Ackerman with a question of his own: who stole a preserved head from the Garden State Cryonics Institute? It's a question that has Samuel's investigative juices flowing. When he and Janet go to the Institute, they find that the theft has escalated to murder. Can Samuel's powers of deduction uncover a killer?

The Question of the Missing Head is a story that I enjoyed from first page to last. Its convoluted (but not confusing) mystery was so much fun to follow, and it had a lot to do with the characters that Jeff Cohen has created. 

Samuel is marvelous-- at times exasperating, brilliant, startling, and downright funny. What I didn't find all that unusual is that I identified with him in a few things like ringing telephones and surprises. He owes a lot to the love and parenting of his mother, who has one of the best lines in the book. Cohen not only shows Samuel's strengths, he shows his weaknesses as well-- and I'm with Samuel on sudden, earsplitting noises that won't stop (although I don't react in quite the same way). 

Samuel is also very careful to clear up any confusion with television's Adrian Monk, which might help a few readers. His passions are baseball and the Beatles, and I love his theory that he can tell a lot about a person by discovering their favorite Beatles song. I even wonder what Samuel would tell me if I said "In My Life"?

Out-of-work photographer Janet Washburn is the perfect associate for Samuel. She doesn't overreact to any of Samuel's peculiarities, and the conversations she's able to have with him about subjects like his mother and the investigation into the death at the Institute are both illuminating and touching. These talks tell readers a lot about both characters.

I was momentarily alarmed when Detective Lapides arrived on the scene because I thought the book was going to be saddled with the resident too-stupid-to-live cop. I should have known better. In Lapides Cohen has created a police officer who might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he knows his limitations. Lapides wants to do a good job, and he's willing to follow Samuel's good advice which many other detectives wouldn't have the sense to do.

And because Samuel's priorities are different from most people's, he doesn't get upset at one point when the investigation starts to bog down. What's more important than the investigation? You're just going to have to read the book to find out.  This first Asperger's mystery got me hook, line, and sinker, and I look forward to Samuel's next investigation... err... question.

The Question of the Missing Head by E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen 

ISBN: 9780738741512

Midnight Ink © 2014

Paperback, 336 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #1 Asperger's mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen.