"Aaron Tucker Rolls On"

The sequal to what is one of the best debut mysteries in years (FOR WHOM THE MINIVAN ROLLS), A FAIRWELL TO LEGS is a worthy follow-up that again pits bumbling would-be detective Aaron Tucker against evil forces while he tries to get home in time to greet his kids as they return from school. Doesn't sound like your ordinary mystery, does it? Well, Aaron Tucker isn't your ordinary detective. He's a stay-at-home dad to two children (one who has Asperger's Syndrome), a husband who still thinks his wife is the most desirable woman on the planet and a freelance writer who just happened to luck out and solve a mystery in the previous novel.

It seems that Aaron's reputation as a crime solver has preceded him as he's contacted by an old high school classmate who wants him to investigate and write about the murder of her husband, a prominent conservative who angered plenty of people during his career. Although Aaron initially refuses the assignment, he changes his mind when a popular magazine offers him $10,000 for the story. His plate gets even fuller when his children's principal asks him to investigate an unfortunate stink bomb incident at the school and his wife, an attorney, gets a threatening letter from one of her clients whom she failed to keep out of prison.

The best thing about Cohen's books is Aaron Tucker himself. A non-stop wisecracker who refuses to take anything seriously, Aaron is the type of everyman whom readers can relate to and commiserate with. He's our best friend, our neighbor or even our husband. Unlike many of the tough-talking, hardheaded detectives that perpetuate fiction today, Aaron is someone we could easily know or be. It's also refreshing to have our hero be a stay-at- home dad whose wife makes more money than he does and who doesn't seem to think that cleaning up after dinner is beneath him.

The lightheartedness of the book is also a joy. While many mystery books often leave us frightened of the way the world is today, Cohen's books leave us with a smile and a feeling gratefulness for what we have. Not only is there a chuckle on every page, but there's a smile or a tongue-in-cheek observation in every paragraph.

Cohen has definitely created a goldmine with his Aaron Tucker mysteries. With each book, he'll gain more loyal readers like this one. We can only hope that his hero stays around for a long time and that his creator graces us with many more books to come.

Reviewed by Angela McQuay
Posted October 15, 2003