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What people are saying about
Jeffrey Cohen's A FAREwell to legs
“I declare Jeffrey Cohen 'King of the Zingers.’
His Aaron Tucker character doesn't know when to stop . . .
and that's the good news. Legs definitely has legs.”
-- TIM COCKEY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SUCH MYSTERIES
AS MURDER IN THE HEARSE DEGREE
“Upbeat family misadventures, unrequited writing aspirations,
and unlimited suspects make this a treat to read. For fans
of humorous mysteries.
-- LIBRARY JOURNAL
“A warm welcome back to Aaron Tucker! With his second
novel, Jeffrey Cohen delivers another intriguing plot, more
laughs, and the characters readers of For Whom the Minivan
Rolls will happily recall. Like Spenser, Elvis Cole, and Stephanie
Plum, Aaron Tucker is evolving beyond being a character--he's
becoming a brand!”
--MICHAEL LEVINE, RENOWNED HOLLYWOOD PUBLICIST
AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR
"A delightful, breezy mystery, staking a claim just
as firmly in the world of realistic, human emotion as it does
in the grand tradition of the classic whodunit. A fun ride,
indeed."
-- DREW Z. GREENBERG, WRITER, "SMALLVILLE,"
"BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER"
“A follow-up novel to For Whom the Minivan Rolls, newcomer
Jeffrey Cohen’s A Farewell to Legs certainly doesn’t
come up short. Aaron Tucker, the novel’s main character,
returns for an encore performance as the freelance writer
who moonlights as a novice detective. This is one sharp-witted,
on-the-ball character whose pen and sword just might be equally
mighty. Tucker is busy investigating a political murder scandal
and hot on the trail of the culprit of a schoolyard stink
bomb incident, all the while trying to write an article, keep
his family out of harm’s way, and steer clear of a too-hot-to-handle
high school flame. Cohen’s writing style lends authenticity
to his true-to-life characters, and you’re sure to find
yourself perched on the edge of your seat cheering along the
befuddled yet somehow competent gumshoe.”
-- BUY.COM MAGAZINE (THE FIRST ALL-DIGITAL MAGAZINE)
“Aaron Tucker has Groucho's wit, Harpo's sweetness,
and Chico's talent for well-meaning screwups. A Farewell to
Legs is shot through with wit that snaps and sparkles (but
never wounds), not only in the dialogue where you expect it,
but in the narrative, keeping the pace crackling and lively.
I laughed aloud repeatedly. I mentally noted lines to steal
and drop into my conversation, hoping to pass them off as
my own (I should be so lucky). Read this book now while you
still can. It's so much fun, it will surely be illegal soon.”
-- P. CASEY MORGAN, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, KWSG,
NPR AFFILIATE, TULSA, OK
“A Farewell to Legs is a marvelous ride from a New
Jersey high school reunion to the solution of a politician's
demise in Washington DC. Cohen writes a funny and touching
novel that will keep you guessing to the end. His portrayal
of the ‘normal American family’ is one of the
best I've ever read in a mystery novel. Give yourself a double
treat ...read For Whom the Minivan Rolls (his
first book) and A Farewell to Legs!”
--BONNIE CLAESON, CO-OWNER, BLACK ORCHID BOOKSTORE,
NEW YORK, NY
"Jeffrey Cohen is a funny man, and behind the wisecracks
there's a clever and engaging mystery. The pun also rises."
-- DANIEL STASHOWER, AUTHOR, HARRY HOUDINI MYSTERY
SERIES
“When I reviewed For Whom the Minivan Rolls on DL, I
asked if there really are true-life dads like the fictional
Aaron Tucker. Now, can you believe a dad who lets his family
get a dog?! A Farewell to Legs is an excellent next book in
the Aaron Tucker series. The title pun was almost more than
I could handle without choking. The mysteries (there are several)
range from the outrageous to the more outrageous. I found
the solution to the stink bomb problem especially amusing.
And Aaron's declaration to Abby on the subject of Ms. Cleavage
should be included in the repertoire of all happily married
people, or those who desire to be happily married. Read this.
You'll like it.”
-- DOROTHYL MODERATOR DIANE K. KOVACS, AKA HARRIET
VANE
“Reluctant sleuth and writer Aaron Tucker is back and
still trying not to get involved in murder investigations.
This time, he goes to his high school reunion, only to find
the best looking woman from his class determined to get what
she wants from him. As Aaron is hopelessly in love with his
wife, he is not at all disappointed that Stephanie Jacobs
Gibson wants him to find out who murdered her husband. Stephanie
pulls some strings to get Aaron hired by Snapdragon magazine
to do some investigative reporting on the case… All
is told with a lot of humor, and … enough zingers and
funny lines for my taste. I'm looking forward to the next
in the series.”
-- DEADLY PLEASURES MAGAZINE (MAGGIE MASON)
“In A Farewell to Legs, Cohen hasn't lost his magic
touch for snappy, believable dialogue, and for perfectly capturing
all the nuances of family life in suburbia. Aaron Tucker and
his family could be your neighbors, if you're lucky enough
to have particularly delightful neighbors. Once again there
are laughs on almost every page, but the humor is never forced
and the characters are never over the top. (A certain best-selling
author of humorous mysteries could take lessons from Jeffrey
Cohen.) Best of all, the humor doesn't overshadow the mystery
-- Cohen doesn't sacrifice plot or suspense while making us
laugh. Those who read For Whom the Minivan Rolls won't need
any encouragement to pick up A Farewell to Legs. Those who
missed Cohen's inaugural effort are in for a real treat when
they meet Aaron Tucker, his friends, and his family in this
latest entry in the series. And after reading A Farewell to
Legs, everyone will be eager for Aaron's next adventure!”
-- REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE (SUSAN ANDERSON)
“The best thing about Cohen's books is Aaron Tucker
himself. A non-stop wisecracker who refuses to take anything
seriously, Aaron is the type of everyman whom readers can
relate to and commiserate with. He's our best friend, our
neighbor, or even our husband. Unlike many of the tough-talking,
hardheaded detectives that perpetuate fiction today, Aaron
is someone we could easily know or be. It's also refreshing
to have our hero be a stay-at- home dad whose wife makes more
money than he does and who doesn't seem to think that cleaning
up after dinner is beneath him. The lightheartedness of the
book is also a joy. While many mystery books often leave us
frightened of the way the world is today, Cohen's books leave
us with a smile and a feeling of gratefulness for what we
have. Not only is there a chuckle on every page, but there's
a smile or a tongue-in-cheek observation in every paragraph.
Cohen has definitely created a goldmine with his Aaron Tucker
mysteries. With each book, he'll gain more loyal readers like
this one. We can only hope that his hero stays around for
a long time and that his creator graces us with many more
books to come.”
-- BEST REVIEWS (ANGELA MCQUAY)
“I enjoyed A Farewell to Legs more than I expected
to … The best parts of this book, which was a very
pleasant surprise, and the best parts of its predecessor in
the series, are the pieces dealing with Aaron Tucker's home
life -- dealing with his kids on a daily basis, and what middle-class
life is really like these days. The shlub-married-to-a-goddess
wears thin after a while, but Abby calls him on it in this
book, and does a good job of it. There is less detail in Legs
about life with a child who has Asperger's Syndrome than there
was in Minivan, but still enough so that the reader knows
that Ethan is even more of a challenge than a ‘normal’
early adolescent male child might be. And, on his daughter,
who’s so close to a neighbor’s child, Cohen has
this kind of relationship down pat, and writes the hell out
of it. Minivan is good. Legs is better.”
-- REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE (P.J. COLDREN)
“Aaron Tucker is an immensely likable guy, loving husband,
devoted father, and not a super detective, but hey, he gets
the job done. Jeff Cohen's portrayal of Aaron's son, a pre-teen
with Asperger's Syndrome, is at times hilarious, at others
poignant, and in every case accurate. Having some experience
with this in my own family, I really appreciate the way Jeff
is able to enlighten the public about this subject by weaving
it into his story. He knows whereof he speaks. I hope Aaron
will have many more adventures. Keep it coming, Jeff. We need
the laughs.”
-- SHIRLEY WETZEL, MYSTERY MAGAZINE ONLINE, RICE
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN, AND AVID MYSTERY READER
”It's not often that I gloat, but I recently got an
ARC of A Farewell to Legs, and read it before most everyone.
It's another very entertaining read from Jeff Cohen. This
man is definitely not suffering from a sophomore slump. Jeff
writes in one of my favorite sub-genres, the realistic suburban
mystery, with a stay-at-home dad and a family as well as a
mystery to solve. Legs deals with a sleazy right-wing politician
who is murdered in his mistress' bed. The wife went to HS
with Aaron Tucker and asks him to investigate as part of a
freelance magazine assignment that she arranges. Add to the
mix threatening notes, a stink bomb crisis at the school,
and a new dog in the house, and you have a great mystery and
a great time figuring out whodunit. A Farewell to Legs is
another witty winner from Jeff Cohen -- a wry, yet dead-on,
look at suburban life combined with a mystery full of unexpected
twists. Definitely pick up a copy of your own when it comes
out in November.”
-- JEFFREY MARKS, AUTHOR OF THE US GRANT MYSTERIES,
AND NON-FICTION BOOKS ABOUT MYSTERY WRITERS
“The use of a male hero in a cozy is unique, especially
when the male has no connection to a
police department or other law enforcement agency. The use
of a stay-at-home dad is also unique. Cohen has also managed
to capture the quaintness of the true cozy, which is not always
easy to do. .. Farewell to Legs is humorous and amusing…
Cohen has the ability to become a great cozy writer. “
-- REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE (SARAH DUDLEY)
“Cohen's wit sparkles from every page, some lines provoking
mere smiles while others are laughout- loud funny. Wonderful
humor, terrific writing, and an intriguing mystery--what more
can a discerning reader ask for? Highly recommended.”
-- GLORIA FEIT, 4MYSTERYADDICTS
“Where but in an Aaron Tucker mystery would you find
a dangerous pet lizard, several potent stink bombs, a guy
with a kitchen knife sticking out of his chest, and a primer
on how to register your screenplay with the Library of Congress?
Jeff Cohen's quirky voice happily returns for a second go-round
in A Farewell to Legs, with Aaron once again assuming the
role of free-lance writer/reluctant sleuth. (By the way, there's
no truth to the rumor that Abby, Aaron's beloved wife, is
really the murderer.)”
--KEN WALZ, TELEVISION PRODUCER
"Jeffrey Cohen is the Jerry Seinfeld of mystery writing.
Warm, witty and often wise, A Farewell
to Legs is great entertainment."
-- MARGARET “MEG” CHITTENDEN, AUTHOR,
DEAD MEN DON'T DANCE, DYING TO SEE YOU, HOW TO WRITE YOUR
NOVEL, AND A WHOLE SLEW OF OTHER BOOKS
“The last time I reviewed a book by Jeff Cohen, I got
carried away with hyperbole -- or so I’ve been told.
This time around, I’m going to be circumspect. I’m
simply going to say: A Farewell to Legs is a delightful mystery
romp set among the flora and fauna of suburban New Jersey.
My new motto is: calm, cool and collected. Even when I’m
crazy about a book! This second novel in
Cohen’s comically-inspired series expands on the zaniness
of the first (For Whom the Minivan Rolls) where Aaron Tucker,
stay-at-home dad and freelance writer extraordinaire, managed
to solve the Madlyn Beckwirth murder. In Legs, the oddities
of life among the not-so-rich and notso- famous are again
wittily exposed, and the lucky reader is led on another merry
chase. “Using humor as his weapon, Jeff Cohen slices
and dices through the pomposities of modern “burb”
life. He's quick to point out lunacy, often in laugh-out-loud
dialogue, where he finds it. And boy, does he find it! The
author is obviously having a great time guiding us through
the wacky world of suburbia. Jeff Cohen has done what more
seasoned writers have always attempted to do. He has created
not only a terrific set of characters, but a specific world
for them to live in; a world fully formed, fully fashioned
and very appealing. Here, the strength of Tucker’s enviable
home life, the hub of all his activities, shines brightly
through the murder and mayhem. (His continuing romance with
wife Abby is particularly delightful.)“Without preaching
or moralizing, Jeff Cohen draws an engaging picture of a centered
man, bemused by life. No sap. No clichés. No icky sentiment.
Even when he is sent unwillingly on an errand to pick up a
little dog from a shelter -- a situation where it is almost
impossible to avoid sentiment -- Tucker’s observations
never lose their saltiness. Certainly, he is no fool -- he
knows that real dangers exist -- yet his comfortably warped
view of the world always helps carry the day. Reading this
second book in what I hope will be a long-lived series was
like revisiting a good friend. There is strength, comfort
and hilarity (not a bad combination!) in Jeffrey Cohen’s
creation. And therein lies the main attraction of the series.
Do yourselves a huge favor and get your hands on the Aaron
Tucker books. And buy extras for your friends! Trust me, you
will endear yourselves to them. Not to mention, Jeffrey Cohen.”
-- MYSTERY INK, YVETTE BANEK
“I just finished Jeffrey Cohen's delightful A Farewell
to Legs and I still have a big grin on my face. What a super
book! Once again, Cohen's wit, pacing, and engaging style
have combined to create a winning mystery. Truly, this was
the funniest--and most fun--book I've read since, well, since
his last one! As in his previous book, For Whom the Minivan
Rolls, Cohen takes the reader along with the witty and humble
freelancer/at-home dad/sleuth Aaron Tucker, as Aaron dons
his journalist hat and solves yet another ‘unsolvable’
mystery. The plot has just enough twists and turns to keep
the reader guessing, with a surprising and satisfying conclusion.
Of course, there are plenty of smiles, chuckles, and guffaws
along the way. At the heart of the book is the relationship
between Aaron and his wife Abby, a realistic and all-too-rare
portrayal of a happy marriage. Throw in two interesting kids
and an accident-prone dog, and what comes out is a family
that the reader wants to spend time with and get to know even
better. If I could buy stock in a person, I'd pick up a few
hundred shares of Jeffrey Cohen. I predict nothing but great
things for this series and for this author!”
-- MINDY STARNS CLARK, AUTHOR OF THE MILLION DOLLAR
MYSTERIES SERIES, INCLUDING A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, DON'T
TAKE ANY WOODEN NICKELS, AND A DIME A DOZEN
“A very enjoyable. fast-paced romp, with mystery and
humor in equal measure, A Farewell to Legs is up to the high
standard set by Minivan.”
--THEODORE FEIT, AUTHOR AND EDITOR
“A very enjoyable, interesting, and entertaining mystery.
The plot is complex enough to keep you guessing. The family
situations presented in Aaron’s day-to-day life are
so identifiable. The humor injected by the author makes this
book different from a lot of mysteries. Most folks will love
it.”
-- BARBARA WRIGHT, MURDER AND MAYHEM BOOKCLUB
"If you're wondering what sort of protagonist Aaron
Tucker is, think William Powell in The Thin Man, but with
a modern-day twist: soccer dad, married to a career woman,
with children. Aaron Tucker is not your ordinary soccer dad.
He's out there solving murders while juggling kids in school,
marriage, and job. This book was filled with plenty of humor.
I'm definitely looking forward to his next outing."
-- ROBIN BURCELL, AUTHOR, DEADLY LEGACY
“Prepare to chuckle! Jeffrey Cohen’s second Aaron
Tucker mystery is packed with humor, realism, and exciting
twists. A FAREWELL TO LEGS, a riotously funny cozy, may be
my introduction to Aaron Tucker, but I feel as if I have known
him for half of my life. I’d never heard of Jeffrey
Cohen before, but I felt right at home with this book and
now I am anxious to catch up with his adventures in FOR WHOM
THE MINIVAN ROLLS. Using wit, Jeffrey manages to portray Aaron
and his wife, Abby, as any couple should be. Sarcasm may fill
their dialogue at times, but their love for one another is
undeniable. I only wish Jeffrey Cohen could write faster,
as I don’t think I could ever tire of his characters.”
-- ROUNDTABLE REVIEWS (TRACY FARNSWORTH)
“A Farewell to Legs is total entertainment –
a fast-paced and forward-moving story with witty dialogue
and three-dimensional characters. Jeffrey Cohen’s Aaron
Tucker is a happily married, lovable, family man and concerned
citizen trying to deal with the issues that face all parents
and wage earners while trying to beat a deadline and face
their mid-life crisis head on. Cohen’s characters and
dialogue are so real, you’ll feel like you’re
spending the day with old friends. The ending wraps up nice
and neat with a twist you won’t see coming. I was still
laughing long after Tucker solved the crime.”
-- SMALL PRESS REVIEW, SHOWCASING LITERARY EXCELLENCE (INGRID
TAYLOR)
“Take equal parts Mel Brooks, Groucho Marx, and Woody
Allen. Sweeten with enlightened sexual politics. Mix well
with the completely original mind of Jeffrey Cohen. And laugh
yourself silly over A Farewell to Legs. Aaron Tucker is a
delightful, twenty-first century twist on the usual amateur
gumshoe, and the lunatic doings of his friends and foes make
for sheer reading pleasure.”
-- ELLEN PALL, AUTHOR, CORPSE DE BALLET AND SLIGHTLY ABRIDGED
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