A Night at the Operation

by Jeffrey Cohen

Book Overview

It?s hard for Elliot Freed to focus on his Comedy Tonight theatre with his ex-wife missing and accused of murdering her patient. With plenty of wanted? and unwanted?help, he embarks on a frantic search. Because murder is no laughing matter.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425228150
• ISBN13: 9780425228159
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

The latest Double Feature amateur sleuth is an amusing homage to great comedic movies

New Jersey Comedy Tonight theatre owner Elliot Freed considers his former wife Dr. Sharon Simon, a friend though they are divorced and she is remarried to Dr. Gregory Sandoval; his dream rests on their annual celebration of their wedding anniversary together. With a week plus before this year's dinner and gift exchange, Gregory informs Elliot Sharon will probably not make their dinner as she has vanished without a trace; he further explains she has been irritable, nervous, and so anxious, he feared she was breaking down and her disappearance proves she finally did. Elliot cannot believe how calm his replacement is and hopes that Sharon will dump this idiot to come back to him. The police visit Elliot questioning him where Sharon is as they investigate the suicide of her wealthy patient Russell Chapman; whose daughter insists Sharon's misdiagnoses led to her father's depression and ultimately suicide when she claimed he had a fatal brain cancer that was proven false. Elliot's parents arrive to help him. Black belt mom joins him on his search for Sharon while passive dad takes over the theater operation vowing to fix the plumbing problem himself. However as Elliot digs deeper into Sharon's lifestyle, he begins to uncover clues that takes his ex-wife off the pedestal he mentally built. He assumes he is on track to find her when his home is broken into and the Russell's corpse is abducted. The latest Double Feature amateur sleuth is an amusing homage to great comedic movies such as the title nod to A Night at the era. The investigative story line is zany and often over the top of Giant Stadium; while the movie trivia is interwoven into the wild plot. Way out fun, fans who relish a New Jersey screwball romantic mystery will enjoy the Freed tales (see SOME LIKE IT HOT-BUTTERED and It Happened One Knife) Harriet Klausner

OMG!

Despite the title of this review, I am not a teenager. In fact, I'm a past middle aged mystery and old movie buff and, as such, a huge fan of this series. I also have to admit that, after reading the other two books, I marked my calendar for the release date of "A Night at the Operation" and was at the bookstore before noon to pick up a copy. I am so glad--even though the book went much too quickly (I just didn't have the patience to read it in small amounts and savor the wonderful writing and plotting). The plot is set out above and in other reviews so I'm not going into it. However, you need to know that the plot is fantastically woven--it is intricate, it is exciting, it is funny, and it is logical. In the interest of full disclosure--I did figure out the "whodunnit" early but that didn't distract one moment from my enjoyment. There are some definite WOW moments (hence the title of this review). The secondary characters (I sometimes think that they are more important to a continued success in a series) are perfectly suited for this venue--the ex-wife, the ex-wife's soon-to-be-ex-husband, the family, law enforcement, and assorted friends and employees keep this from being dull. Cohen also knows exactly when (and how much) movie information to throw into the mix. And the end pages of extra-movie-knowledge is an added bonus. Shortly after reading this, I had to watch (once again) "A Night at the Opera". Now, I'm waiting to hear when the newest installment of the double feature series comes out so that I can mark it on my calendar.

A Night at the Operation

Elliot Freed returns in the third book in the Double Feature series. The protagonist [as, I suspect, is his creator] is an aficionado of comedy classics, and the owner of Comedy Tonight, New Jersey's only all-comedy movie theater, which exclusively shows the older films, alongside newly-released films. The theater is showing its age, however, and while Elliot still has his devoted, albeit small-ish, audiences and staff of three, the latter number is currently problematical, as is the condition of the theater itself. As the book opens, Elliot's ability to keep the theater open is threatened by plumbing problems, and his equanimity is threatened by the disappearance of his ex-wife who, unusually, he still loves, the fact that she left him for another man notwithstanding, especially since she is now divorcing the latter. [The divorce was cordial, as has been their post-divorce relationship.] Dr. Sharon Simon-Freed is missing. Moreover, she appears to be a suspect in the murder of a patient. Elliot goes into a frenzy to find Sharon, and to prove that she had nothing to do with the murdered man's death. Elliot Freed's [and the author's] love of and knowledge about classic comedy lore is generously sprinkled through the book, and some specific notes about three gems in particular are included at the end. As much as one may think one knows about such things, it's not as much as Elliot [and Mr. Cohen] know, and it is all delightful. For that matter, that would describe the entire book. There is mystery and suspense in full measure, the author's wonderful humor as well, with nary a page going by that doesn't elicit a smile, grin, or hearty laugh [sometimes embarrassing when reading in public]. Thoroughly enjoyable, and highly recommended.

A Night of Entertainment

Despite being divorced, Elliot Freed and his ex-wife Sharon continue to celebrate their wedding anniversary together with dinner and gifts. Just over a week before this year's anniversary, though, Sharon's current - but estranged - husband drops an annoying bomb on Elliot with the news that she's disappeared. Despite knowing that Sharon's been worried and on edge lately, Elliot hopes that Sharon has only finally left Gregory for good until a visit from the police chief shatters that illusion by also wanting to know Sharon's whereabouts. However, he's not so much concerned about her safety as he is over her involvement in the suicide of her wealthy patient Russell Chapman, whose daughter claims that Sharon misdiagnosed her father with fatal brain cancer. To add to Elliot's stress level is the arrival of his parents who come to "support" him, especially considering his mother's black belt - level skills in passive-aggressive behavior. The hunt for Sharon has Elliot sidelining his concern over his all comedy theatre Comedy Tonight, leaving a plumbing disaster in the hands of his father while one of his star employee's high SAT scores have her parents threatening to whisk her away from what they consider to be an unworthy job at the snack bar. As evidence of shady deals and infidelity to both her husband and ex mount up, his home is broken into, and Chapman's body disappears, Elliot must wade through the lies to uncover both Sharon's and Russell Chapman's secrets. The previous entry in this series, It Happened One Knife, was a nominee for the Lefty (Best Humorous Mystery) Award, and Cohen follows his success by adding complications that reveal Elliot's very loyal, likable, and relatable character. With his dry wit and unending knowledge of classical comedy movies, Cohen assures that he will keep up the high standard of mysteries that began with his Aaron Tucker mysteries and continues with the Double Feature Mysteries. Cohen avoids the pitfall of making Elliot's mother a two-dimensional stereotype of a manipulative mother, the relationship between Elliot and his young employees is realistic and hilarious, and the love between Sharon and Elliot is touching, at times frustrating, and yet always respectful. Cohen provides readers with a twisty plot that completely surprises even the most jaded mystery fan and the ending is satisfying to both Elliot and the reader. Here's to hoping that the series continues to entertain readers with humor, movie lore, and just plain good writing.

A must-read for mystery & movie buffs

Are you the type of person who will immediately recognize that a character named "Allen Konigsberg" is a tribute to Woody Allen (that's the director's birth name)? Or who notes that a scene in which a bunch of people are crammed into a tiny room is a homage to the Stateroom Scene in the Marx Brothers' "A Night at the Opera"? If so, then "A Night at the Operation" is for you; if not, well, read it anyway, because you'll pick up some great tips for your Netflix queue, and enjoy a great mystery to boot. As the third book in the Double Feature Mystery series, "A Night at the Operation" will have more resonance if you've read the first two. Fans of the series know that Elliot Freed is divorced, but still has a close relationship with his ex-wife Sharon, who left him for a fellow physician. Most men in that situation would probably be fairly indifferent if their ex went missing, but not Elliot -- when Sharon disappears, and it seems to be related to the death of one of her patients, he knows he must try and find her. That's the beginning of this tangled tale of murder, secrets, college applications and overflowing bathrooms (the movie theater Elliot owns has really old plumbing). This is a fast-paced, funny mystery with a very satisfying resolution.