For Whom the Minivan Rolls: An Aaron Tucker Mystery - By Jeffrey Cohen Page 0,96

door, then closed it and started the dishwasher. “I specifically told that kid not to mention it to you,” I said.

“This is Ethan we’re talking about. You know Ethan,” said Abby as I put the dishwasher liquid away and moved the dirty dishes from the countertop to the sink.

“Yeah, I know Ethan.”

She turned from the table, which she had just wiped down with a sponge. “I still think that showed some investigative skill,” Abby said.

I put my hand on my hip and looked at her. “What are you trying to tell me?” I asked. “That you think this is a promising career opportunity for me?”

“Not if people with guns are going to keep coming after you,” she said. “The next time, you might not think to keep Jeff Mahoney in the closet.”

My lips pursed involuntarily, and I let some air out through them. “Very nice,” I said.

Abby came over and put her arms around me, throwing the sponge into the sink behind my back. “It was just a thought,” she said.

“A thought,” I said. “You really want to be married to a private dick?”

She gave me a tight hug, and looked into my eyes. “Better than a public one,” she said.

Praise for Minivan

“Jeff Cohen’s Minivan rolls merrily along—accent on the merrily. Mr. Cohen’s ideas on marriage and murder (often cut from two ends of the same bolt) are wise, wicked, and witty. Surprisingly tender, too, regarding the responsibilities and trials of being a parent—fathering a delightful book in the process.”

—Larry Gelbart, Writer (M*A*S*H, Tootsie, Oh, God!, Bedazzled, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Barbarians at the Gate, etc.)

“Jeffrey Cohen’s For Whom The Minivan Rolls is hot. An authentically fun switch on the oft-used amateur sleuth theme, it debuts Aaron Tucker, a suburban stay-at-home dad who never asked to become a detective. Witty, with great characters and nifty twists, it should delight mystery fans, and, above all, anyone who enjoys a good puzzle and big laughs. His wife and kids may not realize it, but Aaron Tucker (and his creator) have glistening new careers ahead of them.”

—Tom Sawyer, Novelist & Former Head Writer, “Murder, She Wrote”

“In my long and semi-illustrious career, I have been beaten to various literary punches by lots of dead white guys and by lots of others who, pending test results, are still alive. Among them is Jeffrey Cohen, who has written a comic mystery novel that is (a) comic, (b) mysterious, and (c) a novel. For Whom the Minivan Rolls had me rolling, which is no mean feat considering I don’t drive a minivan. At least now I won’t have to bother writing a comic mystery novel because I couldn’t do it nearly as well as Mr. Cohen. His book is great. I could put it down, and sometimes did, but I didn’t want to.”

— Jerry Zezima, Humorist, Journalist, & Public Nuisance

“Author Jeffrey Cohen has written a sly, entertaining mystery whose twist-laden plot will truly puzzle and entertain. The voice of his protagonist, Aaron Tucker, is unique and delightful. And above all, his Minivan is immensely funny.”

—Michael Levine, Hollywood Publicist and best-selling author of 12 books.

“For Whom the Minivan Rolls is not just a humorous look into American suburbia and what happens when a freelance reporter is asked to solve a local murder. It is a fresh, modern-day murder mystery with real-life, quirky characters that range from eccentric, obscure, and spirited to witty, guilty, and just plain nosy. Liberally infused with humor, it all beautifully blends together into great entertainment. You’ll enjoy it so much you may even want to try visiting the story’s fictional setting—Midland Heights, New Jersey.”

—Chrissy Blumenthal, Vice President of Production, Escape Artists (Sony Pictures)

“How rare! Minivan was as enjoyable as they said it would be, and then some: good, tight story, humorously told by a fictional character I actually cared about. If author Jeffrey Cohen isn’t soon spinning a published Aaron Tucker tale once a year for the next bunch of years, I’ve been wasting my time reading five mysteries a week for the past two decades.”

—Rita Bortz, Hollywood, FL

“Aaron Tucker—aspiring screenwriter, loving house-hubby, and doting father— protests that he could never become a detective. Yet, he’s wrong. He’s nothing less than the consummate snoop, and makes up for his lack of investigative experience with canine-like persistence and a bloodhound’s instinct for following a crime trail. Jeffrey Cohen has managed to write a mystery that is not only full of engaging characters, but features the likeable and witty voice