Those who have been lucky enough to have read Jeffrey Cohen’s first two mysteries, For Whom the Minivan Rolls and A Farewell to Legs, will be happy to know that Cohen’s third mystery featuring Aaron Tucker, As Dog is My Witness, is just as good.
Aaron Tucker, diminutive freelance writer and stay-at-home dad extraordinaire, has his work cut out for him this time. Not only is he having to deal with his wife, Abby’s, pain-in-the-butt brother and his family, but he has also agreed to assist his best friend Mahoney as he tries to discover who is sabotaging his mechanical skills - AND he’s investigating a murder that a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome has confessed to. Loyal readers of Cohen will already know that Tucker has a personal interest when it comes to Asperger’s, a mild form of autism. His own twelve-year-old son, Ethan, has the condition, and Aaron knows that someone with Asperger’s would not commit a murder unless he had a very good reason.
As Aaron tries to deal with his hostile in-laws (and his wife’s inability to see their true colors), he also gets deeper into a mystery that includes a Jewish mob figure, a grieving widow who isn’t acting quite right, and a Dalmatian who is the only witness to a murder. With his trademark self-deprecating humor, Aaron narrates a story that moves along at a fast clip, weaving in red herrings and plenty of twists and turns. As good as the mystery is, however, it pales in comparison to the characters and to the writing style.
When it comes to mystery novel heroes, Aaron Tucker is truly in a class of his own. His humor and intense love for his family shine through on every page. It’s impossible not to relate to his character or root him on as he fumbles through his cases, making fun of himself and others at every turn. The humor is always light-hearted and never cruel, making an already enjoyable novel even more fun to read. His supporting characters, including Aaron’s wonderful family and friends, are also well-written and their appearances enhance the storyline and the character of Aaron himself.
If you haven’t tried one of Cohen’s Aaron Tucker books, you’re truly missing out. Although I suggest you begin with the first book, For Whom the Minivan Rolls, to get the whole story on Aaron and his family, you can’t miss with any of his three books.