One Door Closes.....

Kevin’s Corner


Well, it has been an interesting couple of weeks to say the least. They say that when one door closes another opens. That idea, along with a maintenance free air conditioner, a lifetime warranty, compassionate conservatism, and a few other things was something I never really believed in.

But, I could be wrong.

I truly hope I am. I’m not quite ready to make any announcement yet, but hopefully, what has been discussed by e-mail will actually happen. When I am surer of things, hopefully by the end of the month if not sooner, I will announce the details.

In the meantime and probably for now on, I intend to post a review here from time to time. No, this blog is not going to be exclusively reviews. I still intend to ramble on as I have been and comment about other things in the world today. But, reviews will appear here occasionally and I think that works along with everything else.

First up is Jeffrey Cohen’s book “A Farewell To Legs.” You may have heard about Jeff, as he is heavily involved in the Mystery Morgue review site as well as a few other things. Jeff may be half a country away from me but we share a major thing in common. No, it isn’t the fact we are both over forty and worry about premature balding or the fact that our wives get annoyed at times with our sense of humor. We are both stay at home Dads.

Contrary to what you would see on daytime talk shows we are two guys that not only are fully involved with our kids, but know how to use major household appliances. That’s right, we know how to cook and clean and do it very well. Something that comes through in his fiction writing and something that I really appreciate. Jeff writes with the voice of experience and his writing brings back fond, and not so very fond at all, memories of my own experiences. If you haven’t read any of his stuff, you really need to take a look.


A Farewell To Legs: An Aaron Tucker Mystery
By Jeffrey Cohen
Bancroft Press
2003
ISBN # 1-890862-29-0
Hardback


In this sequel to “For Whom The Minivan Rolls,” Aaron Tucker is once again called on to investigate a death. Louis Gibson, head of a right wing conservative group that stridently preached family values has been found dead in the bed of his mistress, Cheri Bratton. His wife, who was the dream of every guy she knew in high school when she was known as Stephanie Jacobs is still an attractive knockout twenty-five years later. Now known as Stephanie Jacobs Gibson, the new widow gets the news of her husband’s death at the twenty-five year High School Reunion. What better setting for an alibi is there than being in front of your old classmates when you find out?

Because of his previous history covered in the first book, Stephanie gets it in her head just hours after the murder to have Aaron investigate the crime and write about it for the editor she knows of a large and prestigious publication. After confirming with the editor how much the publication will pay, freelance writer Aaron Tucker reluctantly aggress and begins digging into the case.

At the same time, he deals with other storylines involving his activities as a stay at home Dad, the joys and perils of pet ownership when kids are involved, stink bombs at school, embezzlement and politics. Some of it is a very nasty business indeed and combined with the murder case, makes him a target. Before long, Aaron begins to wonder which party is just furious with him and which wants him removed permanently.

Everyone that was in the first book makes a repeat appearance here and very little new ground is covered in terms of character development. What also isn’t covered is a detailed description of the first book. Unlike many sequels, this sequel can be safely read and enjoyed out of order with the first book. In short, one can safely read this book and go back later and hunt down the first book.

While not nearly as funny as the first book, this novel provides another very enjoyable read. For fellow stay at home Dads, Jeffrey Cohen writes with the clear authority of someone who has lived in the trenches. His characters, regardless of occupation are real people and come alive for the reader in every sense of the word. That fact, coupled with his creation of another mystery within a mystery that features a few sudden twists at the end, make this novel another very worthwhile read from him.


So, there you have it. Another author to consider and one that I think you will enjoy. More next time and as always feel free to drop me a note at Kevin_tipple@att.net with your comments, observations, and suggestions.


Thanks for reading!


Kevin R. Tipple © 2005