As Dog Is My Witness

September 12, 2005
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.

October 1, 2005
Freelance screenwriter and investigative reporter Aaron Tucker ("A Farewell to Legs") investigates a shooting murder case in which an Asperger's syndrome sufferer (and gun expert) has been charged. Because his own 12-year-old son has the disease, Tucker feels he has an ideal viewpoint for writing an article. His research confirms his own belief in the innocence of the suspect, upsets the victim's widow, antagonizes the so-called New Jersey Mafia, and otherwise interferes with his own life as a stay-at-home dad. Humorous asides arise from screenwriting deadlines, cockeyed in-laws, and self-castigating remarks. Highly recommended. Cohen ("The Asperger Parent") lives in New Jersey.

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2005
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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)