As Dog Is My Witness: Another Aaron Tucker Mystery (Aaron Tucker Mysteries) [Paperback]

Jeffrey Cohen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Aaron Tucker Mysteries | Publication Date: November 1, 2005

Aaron Tucker, aspiring New Jersey screenwriter and occasional freelance journalist, puts on his sleuthing hat after a young man with Asperger's syndrome is arrested for a senseless murder. Despite damning evidence, including the accused's confession and possession of the murder weapon, Tucker, who has an autistic son, finds the nature of the crime incompatible with his understanding of the suspect's symptoms. Persisting even after a local mobster warns him off, the amateur detective uses his son to pursue the truth.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Cohen's third Aaron Tucker whodunit (after 2003's A Farewell to Legs), the aspiring New Jersey screenwriter and occasional freelance journalist again puts on his sleuthing hat after a young man with Asperger's syndrome is arrested for a senseless murder. Despite damning evidence, including the accused's confession and possession of the murder weapon, Tucker, who has an autistic son, finds the nature of the crime incompatible with his understanding of the suspect's symptoms. Persisting even after a local mobster warns him off, the amateur detective uses his son to pursue the truth. While the plot may have too many coincidences for some tastes, Cohen succeeds in injecting humor and humanity into this clever puzzler. Parents of Asperger's children are a natural audience, but this work should appeal to a broad cross-section of the mystery market. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Aaron Tucker may not be the best provider in the world--few freelance writers are--but he does have plenty of time to play detective (A Farewell to Legs, 2003) and, more importantly, to be there for his son, Ethan, who suffers from Asperger syndrome (AS). This time Aaron is asked by a trusted friend, Lori, founder of an AS support group, to determine whether a kid named Justin Fowler really killed a man in cold blood, as he had confessed. Why not believe him? Turns out Justin also suffers from AS, and unprovoked violence is not one of the disease's symptoms. Aaron finds an unlikely Watson in Ethan, who builds a rapport with the accused teenager and uncovers the path to the truth. Cohen throws all sorts of red herrings into this quirky story, but at its heart, the novel is about the father-son relationship, about how Ethan's instincts and intelligence delight Aaron as his son begins to become a man right before his eyes. Expect a growing audience for this clever and endearing series. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Bancroft Press (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890862436
• ISBN-13: 978-1890862435
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,429,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jeffrey Cohen started life as poor street urchin, orphaned and taken in by a gang of pickpockets led by an older man named Fagin. No, wait. That's someone else, entirely.

In reality, Cohen was born in Newark, NJ during a certain year, and grew (more or less) up in Irvington, NJ, otherwise known as the Garden Spot of the Western Hemisphere.

After a childhood of normal duration, Cohen attended Rutgers College in New Brunswick, New Jersey, so as to maintain a record of never having left the Garden State for more than two weeks at a time, something which has never been equaled (or attempted, by anyone else). He studied English (when actually attending classes and not lounging at the student newspaper office), but decided to work as a journalist anyway.

Finding work (after a fashion) at the Passaic Herald-News, he served as a municipal reporter for well over six months, establishing new lows in news gathering, but managing, in his final work for the newspaper, to quote Chico Marx.

Following a hideous foray into public relations, Cohen eventually became a trade journalist, covering the consumer electronics business until someone told him to stop.

Since 1985, he has been a freelance reporter and writer, writing for such publications as The New York Times, TV Guide, USA Weekend, Premiere, American Baby and The Newark Star-Ledger, among many others.

He is also the author of more than 20 feature-length screenplays, some of which are actually good. His work has been developed by Jim Henson Productions, CBS, Gross-Weston Productions, Ken Walz Productions and others.

Cohen lives in New Jersey (big surprise!) with his wife and two children, who have been sworn to secrecy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Series has NOT Gone to the Dogs, December 20, 2005

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: As Dog Is My Witness: Another Aaron Tucker Mystery (Aaron Tucker Mysteries) (Paperback)

Natural curiosity is not one of freelance writer Aaron Tucker's traits. So, even having solved two previous murders, it would take a lot to get him involved in a third. In this case, it takes a call from his friend Lori Shery, leader of the Asperger Syndrome (AS) support group he's part of. He owes Lori so many favors that he doesn't hesitate to look into a murder for her.

Michael Huston was shot one night while out walking his dog. The police already have a suspect in custody, Justin Fowler, a young adult with AS. And they have a good case against him, too. Justin has a fascination with guns bordering on the obsessive. The antique pistol used in the murder was found in his room. And he's confessed to the crime.

While Aaron agrees that the evidence is pretty bad, he also understands AS since his son Ethan has it. One thing he knows is that someone with the disorder would not shot a person without a very good reason. And since Justin never met Michael, there's no way he would have shot him on a whim.

Aaron starts investigating in the usual places. Michael's marriage was the model of perfection. He was well liked and had no enemies. So, who would want the man dead? Aaron's just started poking around when three goons from a legendary mobster tell him to stop. Is there a mob connection?

Meanwhile, Aaron's friend Mahoney needs Aaron's help tracking down the saboteur who is undermining him at work. The cars Mahoney has just repaired are broken again just a few minutes later. Plus, Aaron's brother-in-law and his family are coming to stay for a week. To say that Aaron doesn't get along with Howard is an understatement, and Aaron's wife Abby tries desperately to get along with Howard, sometimes turning her back on her own family in the process. Looks like it's going to be an interesting and busy week.

This is another great entry in the comedic mystery series. Once again, the first person narration is full of wry observations on the proceedings, usually filled with lots of sarcasm and one-liners. I was grinning and chuckling the entire way through.

The book tries to juggle three storylines. While it does a good job of entertaining with all of them, the story line with the visiting relatives seems to take over at times, slowing down the murder investigation. That's not to say the pace ever lagged. No matter how late I was reading, I had a hard time putting this book down. The murder case does have a couple of nice twists as well, and I never saw the ending coming.

Aaron's family has always been a draw in this series. Because of Howard's visit, they get more page time then in past books. Aaron's relationship with Abby has always been wonderful. Even with the problems they go through here, I still love this portrait of a happy marriage. Ethan's AS has always been present, but it is really developed in this book, and I finally began to understand the disorder.

This series is another winner for those who like their mysteries with a liberal dose of humor. Here's hoping the wait isn't too long before the next installment.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this Dog rates Best in Show, November 2, 2005

By 

Ross A. Hugovidal (Portland, ME USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: As Dog Is My Witness: Another Aaron Tucker Mystery (Aaron Tucker Mysteries) (Paperback)

Jeff Cohen's style reminds me of Harlan Coben's underrated jewels, the Myron Bolitar books, with the humor amped up and a bit more of a family slant. The Aaron Tucker books, and As Dog is my Witness makes it unanimous, are expertly written, smoothly plotted gems. And Cohen's books should be read by every parent of a teenager ready to pull out their hair! Which would be every parent of a teenager.

My very favorite mystery author, Julia Spencer-Fleming, says "I started laughing out loud on page 5!" Well, clearly Ms. Spencer-Fleming overlooked page 4. This series deserves a national readership, and Dog may be Aaron Tucker's Greyhound ticket out of New Jersey.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, Entertaining and a Great Read, April 9, 2006

By 

Alan Peterman "guru" (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: As Dog Is My Witness: Another Aaron Tucker Mystery (Aaron Tucker Mysteries) (Paperback)

Really well done comic mystery with great gobs of Jewish humor. You'll especially like the take on the holiday season from the Jewish point of view - and it's all too true. In addition we have a good mystery, some fun locals, some real characters and a lot of caring. Jeffrey Cohen has it all in this book, and he deserves to be recognized.