As Dog Is My Witness: Another Aaron Tucker Mystery

by Jeffrey Cohen

Book Overview

"In this, the third Aaron Tucker mystery, Aaron, fresh from a trip to Hollywood to ""take meetings"" on his screenplay, finds himself dragged kicking and screaming once again into investigating a murder, this time of a man in a nearby town shot while walking his dog at night. The young man accused of the crime has Asperger's Syndrome, the same autism-related disorder that Aaron's son Ethan has had since birth.Aaron is hip-deep in the investigation...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1890862436
• ISBN13: 9781890862435
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Bancroft Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

My favorite Aaron Tucker novel yet

In this book, the plot sings, the characterization is outstanding, and of course the humor is top notch. This book takes all of the entertainment value of the first two Aaron Tucker novels and adds even more suspense and excitement. Involving Aaron's son in the mystery-solving was a stroke of genious. The author at the top of his game with this one. Simply excellent! Note: You don't have to read this series in order, so jump in here if you can. Once you read it, you'll be sure to go back and get the other two.

The best yet!

This series just gets better. I stumbled upon the first of the series by accident, not knowing about the Asperger's slant and was quite startled to find what appeared to be my own son fictionalized in those pages. Since then, Cohen's writing has become more refined and the family Tucker even more fun to visit. I enjoyed the extended family angle, waiting breathlessly for Aaron to vent his spleen on the intruding (and insensitive) in-laws. Very entertaining. The dialog is mercifully never stilted - a peeve of mine. The addition of more in-depth insight into AS was very welcome; maybe little by little we'll educate the masses concerning "our kids"! The story line has plenty of twists to keep you in the dark and the book is difficult to put down. On the down side, that makes them a very quick read! Keep them coming, Jeff.

This Series has NOT Gone to the Dogs

Natural curiosity is not one of freelance writer Aaron Tucker's traits. So, even having solved two previous murders, it would take a lot to get him involved in a third. In this case, it takes a call from his friend Lori Shery, leader of the Asperger Syndrome (AS) support group he's part of. He owes Lori so many favors that he doesn't hesitate to look into a murder for her. Michael Huston was shot one night while out walking his dog. The police already have a suspect in custody, Justin Fowler, a young adult with AS. And they have a good case against him, too. Justin has a fascination with guns bordering on the obsessive. The antique pistol used in the murder was found in his room. And he's confessed to the crime. While Aaron agrees that the evidence is pretty bad, he also understands AS since his son Ethan has it. One thing he knows is that someone with the disorder would not shot a person without a very good reason. And since Justin never met Michael, there's no way he would have shot him on a whim. Aaron starts investigating in the usual places. Michael's marriage was the model of perfection. He was well liked and had no enemies. So, who would want the man dead? Aaron's just started poking around when three goons from a legendary mobster tell him to stop. Is there a mob connection? Meanwhile, Aaron's friend Mahoney needs Aaron's help tracking down the saboteur who is undermining him at work. The cars Mahoney has just repaired are broken again just a few minutes later. Plus, Aaron's brother-in-law and his family are coming to stay for a week. To say that Aaron doesn't get along with Howard is an understatement, and Aaron's wife Abby tries desperately to get along with Howard, sometimes turning her back on her own family in the process. Looks like it's going to be an interesting and busy week. This is another great entry in the comedic mystery series. Once again, the first person narration is full of wry observations on the proceedings, usually filled with lots of sarcasm and one-liners. I was grinning and chuckling the entire way through. The book tries to juggle three storylines. While it does a good job of entertaining with all of them, the story line with the visiting relatives seems to take over at times, slowing down the murder investigation. That's not to say the pace ever lagged. No matter how late I was reading, I had a hard time putting this book down. The murder case does have a couple of nice twists as well, and I never saw the ending coming. Aaron's family has always been a draw in this series. Because of Howard's visit, they get more page time then in past books. Aaron's relationship with Abby has always been wonderful. Even with the problems they go through here, I still love this portrait of a happy marriage. Ethan's AS has always been present, but it is really developed in this book, and I finally began to understand the disorder. This series is another winner for those who like their mysteries

Aaron Tucker is back-yay!

This newest book in the Aaron Tucker series is an absolute delight. The author manages to paint a portrait of a loving and very human family with some additional challenges than those most of us face, along with a very satisfying mystery containing some unexpected twists and turns, and his usual wonderful albeit somewhat quirky sense of humor. This book had me smiling throughout, with at least every couple of pages giving rise to laugh-out-loud moments and an occasional guffaw. And once again we are given some insight into the world of people with Asperger's Syndrome and those who love them. Highly recommended.

this Dog rates Best in Show

Jeff Cohen's style reminds me of Harlan Coben's underrated jewels, the Myron Bolitar books, with the humor amped up and a bit more of a family slant. The Aaron Tucker books, and As Dog is my Witness makes it unanimous, are expertly written, smoothly plotted gems. And Cohen's books should be read by every parent of a teenager ready to pull out their hair! Which would be every parent of a teenager. My very favorite mystery author, Julia Spencer-Fleming, says "I started laughing out loud on page 5!" Well, clearly Ms. Spencer-Fleming overlooked page 4. This series deserves a national readership, and Dog may be Aaron Tucker's Greyhound ticket out of New Jersey.