Bird, Bath, and Beyond

Title: Bird, Bath, and Beyond

Author: E. J. Copperman aka Jeffrey Cohen

Publisher: Minotaur

Series: Agent to the Paws Mystery, Bk 2

ISBN: 9781250084293

Length: 304 pages

Obtained: Download from Edelweiss+

Comments:

This is the second whitelisted Macmillan review title that I've downloaded through Edelweiss+.  I had to read the first book in the series, Dog Dish of Doom before I could read this one (you can find my post for that here).  In general, there is something about E. J. Copperman's characters that really appeals to me.

In this story, Kay is representing a parrot for a popular zombie television series.  She encounters entirely different cops this time, which makes sense considering the murders in both books have taken place in New York.  Kay is again reluctant to be pulled into an investigation, but her client was the only witness.  While the cop this time certainly does NOT ask for her assistance, Kay feels she needs to help and poke around for other reasons.  I don't want to say too much and give anything away, so I'll leave it at that. 

This one's mystery is a bit more convoluted and maybe even a little ridiculous, but I still enjoyed it.  I enjoy the characters, I enjoy the humor, and I especially enjoy the combination that comes out in Kay's narration of the story.

I look forward to whatever the third book may be, and I hope to read some more of E. J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen's other work in the meantime.

Dog Dish of Doom

Title: Dog Dish of Doom

Author: E. J. Copperman aka Jeffrey Cohen

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Series: Agent to the Paws Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781250084279

Length: 293 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

This has been on my TBR list for awhile, but when I had the opportunity to get a review copy of book 2, I bumped this one up on my list.  Even then I have so many books right now, it was chance that I picked it up and started reading a few lines before I got out of my car after work.  But that first bit interested me enough that I kept going once I got inside (not easy with all the chaos of home these days).  I enjoyed the concept.  I enjoyed the dogs.  The title is just as theatrical as the characters - more so than the actual mystery.  But I still enjoyed sorting the mystery out. 

I found it interesting that the main character, Kay, isn't actually seeking to poke her head into this murder (mostly), but instead is prompted by her parents and the detective on the case.  That was a change of pace, although I don't know that I found the detective requesting her investigative assistance very believable. 

Anyway, I have the second book, Bird, Bath, and Beyond ready to go in my Kindle as soon as I finish some of the other books I have going.

It's Monday! What are you reading? 6/18/2018

Hosted by: Book Date

This week I finished:

 Night of the Living Deed (A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery, Bk 1) by E.J. Copperman and The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts (The Unbelievables, Bk 1) by K.C. Tansley, both in print.

I've been meaning to read Night of the Living Deed (personal copy) for quite some time.  I read an enjoyed the first in E.J. Copperman's Asperger's Mystery series, The Question of the Missing Head in 2015, and I read the first two Double Feature Mysteries published under his Jeffrey Cohen name several years ago.  In any case, I enjoyed Night of the Living Deed, but I did have to put it down frequently as life took over.

I must have met this K.C. Tansley at some point - I had a bookmark for The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts - but I don't remember when.  I finally followed up and requested the title through Interlibrary Loan.  Once I started it, I zipped through the story.  It does have a bit of a cliffhanger, though the immediate issue is resolved.  Now I am waiting to read the second book in the series, The Girl Who Saved Ghosts.

Yesterday, I read Wicked and the Wallflower (The Bareknuckle Bastards, Bk 1) by Sarah MacLean, also in print. I managed to purchase a copy a little early after hearing Sarah MacLean speak.  I haven't read much romance lately, so I was looking forward to this.  I enjoyed the story, I look forward to more of the series, and to more romance over all.  This is definitely a genre I need more when things go crazy IRL.

I'm currently reading:


In ebook format, I've been reading A is for Alibi (A Kinsey Millhone Novel, Bk 1) by Sue Grafton.  This is my first time reading these, and I figure it is about time to start since the series is as done as it will be.  So far I'm enjoying the book, both for the actual story, and while catching the tidbits that date this book (originally published in the early 80s).

I've been listening (on CD) to Master and Commander (Aubrey-Maturin, Bk 1) by Patrick O'Brian and narrated by Simon Vance.  I was listening to an interview with Simon Vance, and this series came up.  He mentioned that it is OOP, with the official estate version being narrated by someone else.  However, he added that the version he narrated is potentially available at libraries.  I immediately looked into this and found this first book at my local library.  So far I am enjoying it.  Though much of the nautical terminology and description goes way over my head, I'm particularly finding the characters and their interactions with each other enjoyable.

In print, I've been reading (off and on) Zero Waste: Simple Life Hacks to Drastically Reduce Your Trash by Shia Su.  I've rather gotten stuck in the recipes (for housecleaning and toiletry products), so I'm going to need to just push through.  Conservation/Environmentalism is a subject I'm generally interested in and would like to apply to my life, but perhaps I'm not quite on board enough to actually live the life demonstrated in this book.  We'll see how the second half goes.

Up next:

The Hills Have Spies (Family Spies, Bk 1) by Mercedes Lackey

The Question of the Missing Head

Title: The Question of the Missing Head [Goodreads]

Author: E.J. Copperman [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Jeff Cohen [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Jeffrey Cohen

Publisher: Midnight Ink

Series: Asperger's Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780738741512

Length: 324 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I enjoy cozy mysteries and this sounded especially interesting.

Comments:

I started reading this on January 1st, on a plane to the Dominican Republic.  I sometimes have trouble reading on planes because I can be distracted by motion sickness (nothing horrible, just a little uncomfortable).  So the choice of book was important.  It had to catch my attention and keep it.  I wasn't sure if any cozy was really going to do that for me, but to my pleasure, this one did.  So I read it on the plane, on the beach, and in my air conditioned and fan turned all the way up room (I'm not good with heat).

I found Samuel Hoenig to be a very interesting character.  I understand not everyone with Asperger's is the same. Not only is that addressed in the book, but I also "read" (spoke to) a "Human Book" about Asperger's at a "Human Library" booth at the past Printer's Row Lit Fest.  And I have a cousin with Asperger's (granted, one I don't know well because of an age difference), that is different than both the fellow I met at the Lit Fest and Samuel.  But that did not make Samuel any less interesting as a character.  He has a certain routine he expects to follow even as he runs his own business (of one).

His business is also interesting.  Questions Answered does exactly what it seems.  Questions varying from the answer to a crossword, to if a ball can be hit out of the park in a new stadium, to where a head may have disappeared to.  As a librarian, I'm in the business of answering questions myself (though I don't believe myself to be nearly as intelligent and/or observant as Samuel nor do I have the time for such extensive research).

Samuel has just met a lady, Ms. Washburn, and asked her to assist with his newest question.  Ms. Washburn is interesting in and of herself.  She was a substitute teacher, one with training in instructing children with autism spectrum disorders.  (Though who knew substitute teachers got any real training?  I certainly didn't.  In fact, I'm pretty sure they don't in my hometown.)  But she is able to work with Samuel in a way others do not.  I liked her.

The case itself is strange.  A head has gone missing from a Cryonics Institute.  Samuel plays detective of sorts (though he wouldn't look at it that way himself) in attempt to determine who might have stolen the head, where it might be, and who might have committed murder.

I look forward to reading more of this series, which is supposed to have at least two more.