Jeff Cohen (6)

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 show more 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. show less

I should have adored The Question of the Missing Head, the first in a funny cozy series that features not-quite-detective Samuel Hoenig and his sidekick, Janet Washburn. First of all, I adore E.J. Copperman’s other mystery series, which features a wisecracking single mom who runs a Jersey Shore guesthouse with two resident phantoms. Secondly, as a onetime Jersey girl, I appreciate that The Question of the Missing Head is likewise set in New Jersey, albeit in Piscataway and North Brunswick show more amongst the Garden State’s wealthy northern suburbs. Lastly, as the mother of two daughters with autism, I should have been able to appreciate the cluelessness and literalness of the Asperger’s Syndrome-beset Samuel, right?

But I didn’t.

Maybe I know too much about individuals on the autism spectrum. Samuel Hoenig just didn’t strike me as true to life. It’s as if Copperman conducted his research by watching Rainman and The Big Bang Theory instead of actually interacting with real-life people with Asperger’s Syndrome or high-functioning autism (the two disorders are virtually indistinguishable in adults). Don’t get me wrong: Those with autism, even high-functioning adults, can have trouble navigating social situations and can perseverate on certain topics; however, by adulthood, most can handle the incidents that throw Samuel completely for a loop, such as idioms and sarcasm. (Samuel’s obsession with the Beatles and the Yankees, however, does ring true. And my eldest daughter paces when worried or excited.) While Copperman got some attributes spot-on — having to remind himself to make eye contact, making little “rules” for one’s self, a tendency to literalness, relying on parents for social cues — Samuel Hoenig comes off as more of a caricature than a well-rounded character.

That said, Copperman always knows how to weave an intriguing plot, and he does so here. A head is stolen from a cryonics lab, and Samuel and Janet investigate the question of how it was done and by whom. (Samuel does not investigate “cases,” as he doesn’t consider himself a detective — amateur or otherwise; he answers questions brought to him by clients, some as silly as the answers to bets.) Copperman lards The Question of the Missing Head with plenty of shifty characters: the head of Garden State Cryonics Institute, Dr. Marshall Ackerman; his blustery chief of security, Commander Alvin Johnson; a ditzy blogger named Charlotte Selby, several disgruntled employees, and the family members of the titular missing head. The mystery was engrossing enough — and a denouement so suspenseful — that I was able to forgive Copperman his blunders when it comes to adults with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome and also forgive him for my being able to determine the malefactors about halfway through (although I didn’t grasp all of the clever particulars). This novel was a solid three-and-a-half stars, rounded up to four, and I’ve already gotten the sequel, The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband. show less

Samuel Hoenig, Asperger’s Syndome savant, would tell me it doesn’t make sense. And he’d be right. I had some qualms about author E.J. Copperman’s first novel in his new series, The Question of the Missing Head. I felt that the main character, the aforementioned Samuel Hoenig, was more of an autism cartoon than a real-life character. So I shouldn’t be so crazy about the sequel, The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband, right?

Well, as Samuel would be the first to note, neurotypical show more people just don’t act rationally.

I really enjoyed The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband and its incredibly intriguing premise: New client Sheila McInerney claims that she woke up next to a strange man in her bed with no memory of the previous three days, with the man — a shady character named Oliver Lewis — claiming they’d gotten married in Darien, Connecticut, in the interim. Lewis even produced photos and a wedding certificate. Sheila hires Samuel, owner of the business Questions Answered, to discover who Lewis really is and whether there even was a wedding. When Lewis turns up dead in the Questions Answered office and Sheila vanishes, Samuel and his reluctant associate Janet Washburn embark on an engrossing and perilous investigation.

How could you not love a novel like that?

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Midnight Ink in exchange for an honest review. show less

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 show more 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. show less