goldmoon's Full Review: Jeffrey Cohen - For Whom the Minivan Rolls
I finally lucked out and got in on the ground floor when it comes to serial mystery novels. I usually get wind of a good author after they already have at least five or six books out, then find I have to backtrack and read previous novels or take the chance of getting hopelessly lost. Such is not the case with Jeffrey Cohen, who has just written his first novel, For Whom the Minivan Rolls.
The Plot
Aaron Tucker is a freelance writer and stay-at-home dad to two children: Ethan, who has Asperger's Syndrome, and Leah. He's also married to Abigail, an attorney, whom he loves very much. Aaron's life is looking great until he is approached by Gary Beckwirth, whose wife has recently disappeared. Even though Aaron is not an investigator in any sense of the word (unless you count that time he tried to be an investigative reporter), Gary wants him and only him to find his wife. Although Aaron isn't too excited by the prospect, he finds he can't say no when the local paper offers him a bundle of dough to cover the story.
As Aaron begins looking into Mrs. Beckwirth's disappearance, he starts to realize that things aren't what they seem. Did Mrs. Beckwirth just leave? Or was she kidnapped, as Gary believes? And how is Aaron supposed to solve the mystery when he needs to be home at 3:00 every day to make the kids their after-school snack?
What I Liked
I liked almost everything about this book. The character of Aaron Tucker is one the best heroes I've encountered in modern fiction. He's funny, he's sarcastic and he's real. He reacts to life and to his family the way a normal man would (with exasperation, but always with affection) and reacts to his wife the way all women wish their man would. His responses to situations are genuine and it's easy to relate with what's going on in his head. I felt that Aaron, along with almost every other character in the book, was very well fleshed out and seemed to jump right off the page. I can't really explain how Mr. Cohen achieved this feat, but I applaud him nonetheless.
I also thought the mystery was handled very well. Suspenseful and with plenty of twists, the reader can easily follow along but never guesses the surprise of an ending. Clues are properly dropped and characters react appropriately for their roles in the disappearance. Very well done.
What I Would Have Liked to See
I have to admit that I really searched and searched to find one single flaw in this book and the one I came up with is pretty minor. Since this is the first book in a series featuring Aaron Tucker, I would have liked a bit more background on him and his family. How did he and his wife meet? How did he become a freelance writer? What were the kids like when they were younger? I think a bit more background would have made these characters even more accessible and entertaining. However, Mr. Cohen will have plenty of time to put these tidbits into future novels.
The End
I thought For Whom the Minivan Rolls was one of the best mystery novels I've read in a long time. I look forward to more Aaron Tucker novels and am really excited that I caught on to Mr. Cohen at the very beginning of his fiction career. Definitely recommended to anyone who loves a good mystery!
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