For Whom The Minivan Rolls by Jeffrey Cohen
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Product Details
- Pub. Date: September 2002
- Publisher: Bancroft Press
- Format: Hardcover, 261pp
- ISBN-13: 9781890862183
- ISBN: 1890862185
Publishers Weekly
Meet one of the most unlikely new detectives in crime fiction, wise-cracking former investigative reporter and aspiring screenwriter Aaron Tucker, who agrees to help wealthy New Jersey businessman Gary Beckwirth find his missing wife, Madlyn, in screenwriter Jeffrey Cohen's antic first novel, For Whom the Minivan Rolls: An Aaron Tucker Mystery. A mysterious minivan, a mayoral election and murder keep our hero hopping when he'd prefer to be stay-at-home dad. Given the author's Hollywood connections-prominent among the book's many blurbs is one from Larry Gelbart-the chances for a film option appear excellent.
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Fabulous and Entertainingby Anonymous
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October 31, 2002: Nothing is more tedious than a mystery novel that takes itself too seriously. Fortunately, Jeff Cohen's debut novel manages to avoid this pitfall. "For Whom the Minivan Rolls" is charming and humorous, with a cast of characters that are relatable and likeable. Hopefully, this book marks the beginning of a long and successful series.
...MiniVan is Rollicking Good Ride!by Anonymous
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October 27, 2002: FOR WHOM THE MINIVAN ROLLS, by Jeffrey Cohen. I admit I figured it would be funny because of the title. I was not prepared for just how funny this book truly is. I was won over right away by Aaron Tucker, a stay-at-home dad of two, who is a freelance writer drafted to look into the disappearance of a prominent woman in town. Taking place in a small community shortly before a mayoral election, we meet a host of local characters, and the plot surely does thicken. A short stint as an investigative reporter is all that qualifies Tucker for the task, and he is pretty open about his lack of expertise. In fact, he is pretty open about just about everything. He is a very likeable guy, and I found myself rooting for him in his endeavors, and identifying with his foibles as a parent, too. There is an endearing subplot about his child with Asperger's Syndrome, and dealing with an epithet about him written outside their home-- in barbecue sauce-- and he educates us in the process. The characters are all three-dimensional and very human, like folks I feel I now know as real people. If I ever need a criminal lawyer, I'd want one as smart and resourceful as his wife, Abigail Stein. The dialogue is believable, and right-on, too. Aaron Tucker's methods are somewhat unique--I don't recall any other investigator bringing his wife and children along on a witness interview--but they all jive with his character, and it works for him. Cohen has spun a nifty yarn with original twists, in addition to keeping me amused and compelled to read *just a little more* than I had intended to every night. The pace rolls right along not unlike a MiniVan traversing hilly countryside--the story lays a little foundation and sometimes climbs a hill for a moment, but then speeds on down the other side. Even the climbs were a hoot. It kept me entertained as I "minivanned" my way through the story. Never a dull moment. The conclusion of the story was also tight, and clever, and satisfying. Ends were tied up neatly, and the plot wasn't convoluted to bring it to a close. It left me with the impression that this author did some serious planning before putting pen to paper, or finger to keyboard. However, it just may be the only "serious" thing Jeffrey Cohen has ever done. Truly a well-written, amusing mystery. Five Stars!
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