There was an Old Woman: A Benny Cooperman Mystery (Benny Cooperman Mysteries) [Paperback]

Howard Engel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 13, 2002 | Series: Benny Cooperman Mysteries

It all starts with a noisy toilet. Benny's janitor, Kogan, is preoccupied with the death of his elderly girlfriend, Lizzy Oldridge, who appears to have starved to death. Benny agrees to attend the inquest if Kogan will look into the plumbing.

Lizzy may have died hungry, but she had plenty of money, and somehow former alderman and mayoralty candidate Thurleigh Ramsden, an unsavory character if there ever was one, has gained control of it. Ramsden escapes the inquest with his reputation untarnished, but Benny finds himself hopelessly enmeshed in the posthumous troubles of Kogan's late love. By the end of this twisting, turning tale, the body count has increased alarmingly-but what's happened with the plumbing?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Canadian PI Benny Cooperman returns in this agreeable if not top-notch offering from Arthur Ellis Award-winner Engel (Getting Away with Murder; Murder on Location; etc.), set in the town of Grantham, Ontario. Kogan, the caretaker of Cooperman's office building, asks the detective to look into the apparent starvation death of his elderly girlfriend, Lizzy Oldridge. Cooperman agrees, asking only that Kogan fix his leaky toilet in payment. The inquest reveals that Lizzy had plenty of money, but that she couldn't touch it because of a trust set up by failed politician Thurleigh Ramsden. Ramsden also happens to be the executor of Lizzy's will and the head of the Guild of the Venerable Bede, the charitable organization to which Lizzy left her money. While Cooperman probes this disturbing case, attorney Julian Newby hires him to collect information on attractive local TV anchor Catherine Bracken. When two murders follow, Cooperman discovers that the town of Grantham has lots of dirty laundry to be aired. Though the story starts out crisply, it falters about midway and drags to a muddled conclusion featuring barely mentioned characters and an unlikely surprise for Kogan. Cooperman fans, however, should enjoy seeing their hero once again, even in these reduced circumstances. Agent, Beverly Sloan Literary Agency. (Aug.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Small-town Canadian Jewish private detective Benny Cooperman (Getting Away with Murder) investigates the untoward demise of the ne!er-do-well janitor!s girlfriend, who starved to death despite having plenty of money. He starts with the woman!s oily lawyer, who had access to her safety deposit box. An entertaining read.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: Overlook TP (March 13, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585672556
• ISBN-13: 978-1585672554
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,623,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.