- Paperback: 296 pages
- Publisher: Berkley Trade Pub (1 July 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 042522256X
- ISBN-13: 978-0425222560
- Product Dimensions: 17 x 10.4 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,494,684 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
It Happened One Knife (A Double Feature Mystery)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
This is the second entry in Jeffrey Cohen's series about a man, Elliot Freed, engaged in the Don Quixote-like quest of operating a theater devoted (almost) exclusively to motion picture comedies. Plainly, Freed is either the maddest wise man or the wisest madman in New Jersey.
Author Cohen appears to be that rarity among mystery authors, one who actually knows what a joke is and has some notion of how to tell one. Here is an example from the very beginning of the book; Freed is talking to a film distributor about a student film--not a comedy, for once--which had just been given a private showing at his theater:
"Is he dead?" Vic Testalone asked me.
"They're all dead," I said. "He didn't leave any of them alive."
"How can that be?" he asked. "Does this kid know what he's done?"
.... I shook my head. "Anthony just thinks it's cool.... He's not considering the moral implications of his actions."
"I'm not concerned with moral implications," Vic answered, snarling. "He's killing the sequel possibilities."
.... "What the h--- do you mean be 'sequel possibilities'? .... You think someone would want to distribute that thing?"
"It's got blood." Vic held up a finger. "It's got cursing." Another finger. "Killing, sex, cruelty, characters nobody could possibly like." Finger, finger, finger, thumb on the other hand. "It can't miss." [Pages 3-4]
In this outing, Freed finds himself involved with two of his childhood heroes, the fabled comedy team of Harry Lillis and Les Townes, who had flourished on movie screens in the 1950s and 60s. They are about eighty now, but still hale and hearty enough for at least one of them to contemplate a George Burns-like revival of their careers. And, oh, yes, one of them may have murdered his wife, (whom both men had loved) fifty years ago.
As I said, Jeffrey Cohen knows what a gag is and how to tell it, but he also has an unfortunate taste for inside jokes. This can even be seen in the titles of his books: "Some Like it Hot-Buttered" and "It Happened One Knife." Deplorable, just deplorable. It gets worse. Elliot Freed's father bears the moniker of Alan, leading with painful inevitability to references to the head of MGM's musicals unit during the 1950s, the producer (and composer, too) of "Singin' in the Rain," among other hits. It hits rock-bottom with the names "Harry Lillis" and "Les Townes." Lillis and Townes are clearly intended to be a sort of alternate universe version of Martin and Lewis, but their names relate to quite another comedy team, that of Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby and Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope. That there are other such snickering references in the book that I have missed is hardly to be doubted.
All that aside, this is still a pretty good book, lightweight, breezy and ... yes, fun. I, for one, will certainly be on the lookout for Elliot Freed's third adventure.
Four lightweight, breezy stars.
Author Cohen appears to be that rarity among mystery authors, one who actually knows what a joke is and has some notion of how to tell one. Here is an example from the very beginning of the book; Freed is talking to a film distributor about a student film--not a comedy, for once--which had just been given a private showing at his theater:
"Is he dead?" Vic Testalone asked me.
"They're all dead," I said. "He didn't leave any of them alive."
"How can that be?" he asked. "Does this kid know what he's done?"
.... I shook my head. "Anthony just thinks it's cool.... He's not considering the moral implications of his actions."
"I'm not concerned with moral implications," Vic answered, snarling. "He's killing the sequel possibilities."
.... "What the h--- do you mean be 'sequel possibilities'? .... You think someone would want to distribute that thing?"
"It's got blood." Vic held up a finger. "It's got cursing." Another finger. "Killing, sex, cruelty, characters nobody could possibly like." Finger, finger, finger, thumb on the other hand. "It can't miss." [Pages 3-4]
In this outing, Freed finds himself involved with two of his childhood heroes, the fabled comedy team of Harry Lillis and Les Townes, who had flourished on movie screens in the 1950s and 60s. They are about eighty now, but still hale and hearty enough for at least one of them to contemplate a George Burns-like revival of their careers. And, oh, yes, one of them may have murdered his wife, (whom both men had loved) fifty years ago.
As I said, Jeffrey Cohen knows what a gag is and how to tell it, but he also has an unfortunate taste for inside jokes. This can even be seen in the titles of his books: "Some Like it Hot-Buttered" and "It Happened One Knife." Deplorable, just deplorable. It gets worse. Elliot Freed's father bears the moniker of Alan, leading with painful inevitability to references to the head of MGM's musicals unit during the 1950s, the producer (and composer, too) of "Singin' in the Rain," among other hits. It hits rock-bottom with the names "Harry Lillis" and "Les Townes." Lillis and Townes are clearly intended to be a sort of alternate universe version of Martin and Lewis, but their names relate to quite another comedy team, that of Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby and Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope. That there are other such snickering references in the book that I have missed is hardly to be doubted.
All that aside, this is still a pretty good book, lightweight, breezy and ... yes, fun. I, for one, will certainly be on the lookout for Elliot Freed's third adventure.
Four lightweight, breezy stars.
Format:Paperback
Elliot Freed has long been a fan of the comedy team Lillis & Townes. When he finds out that Harry Lillis lives in a retirement center near his New Jersey home, he can't resist going for a visit and asking the comic to appear at a special screening of his classic CRACKED ICE. Things get even better when Les Townes also shows up.
Elliot's soaring spirits are short lived, however, when Lillis mentions in passing that Townes killed his own wife in a fire 50 years before and got away with it. Despite the fact that all the evidence is long gone (not to mention on the other side of the country), Elliot begins poking around to see what he can find. And the response he gets makes him think that there is something to Lillis' claims.
As if that weren't enough, a student film also has disappeared from his theater. Can Elliot figure out either crime?
I was disappointed with the first book in the series, mainly because I knew the author could do better. I'm happy to report that this book is a return to form. The two plots move forward at consistent paces. The characters are highly entertaining, endearing, and real. I especially like Elliot's relationship with police chief Dutton. Their dueling wit is great. Which brings me to the humor. I didn't feel like it was forced here like in the first book. I found myself laughing quite a bit, in fact. My only complaint would be a climax that is a bit too theatrical, but it fits Elliot's character. And it sure did surprise me.
I'm glad to be able to recommend this book. It's got a great plot, great characters, and lots of laughs.
Elliot's soaring spirits are short lived, however, when Lillis mentions in passing that Townes killed his own wife in a fire 50 years before and got away with it. Despite the fact that all the evidence is long gone (not to mention on the other side of the country), Elliot begins poking around to see what he can find. And the response he gets makes him think that there is something to Lillis' claims.
As if that weren't enough, a student film also has disappeared from his theater. Can Elliot figure out either crime?
I was disappointed with the first book in the series, mainly because I knew the author could do better. I'm happy to report that this book is a return to form. The two plots move forward at consistent paces. The characters are highly entertaining, endearing, and real. I especially like Elliot's relationship with police chief Dutton. Their dueling wit is great. Which brings me to the humor. I didn't feel like it was forced here like in the first book. I found myself laughing quite a bit, in fact. My only complaint would be a climax that is a bit too theatrical, but it fits Elliot's character. And it sure did surprise me.
I'm glad to be able to recommend this book. It's got a great plot, great characters, and lots of laughs.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
14 reviews
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Latest Double Feature mystery merits Oscar
1 July 2008
Format:Paperback
Hooray! IT HAPPENED ONE KNIFE has opened at a bookstore near you! Cohen's effortless, breezy and relentlessly upbeat style keeps you laughing. Nonstop. Uproariously. Slapstick, witty repartee, dry sarcasm, one-liners; Cohen has mastered them all. The mystery and the humor go hand-in-hand, seamlessly. Readers of all ages will love this book. After consuming KNIFE in one sitting, our teenage daughter actually emerged from her room demanding, and I do mean demanding, "who is this Jeffrey Cohen and why is he so funny?!". Is there any greater testimony to a tremendous talent?
Buy this book and laugh; a lot.
Buy this book and laugh; a lot.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
humorous yet action-packed investigative amateur sleuth
10 July 2008
Format:Paperback
Life is looking up for Elliot Freed, the owner of the movie theater Comedy Tonight, which shows one classic comedy and one contemporary comedy each week. Due to circumstances beyond his control the theatre required renovation, which took four months to complete and when finished saved Elliot's nerves from a meltdown. Now it is ready to reopen, but he learns his ex-wife Sharon is leaving her current husband, which makes Elliot even more euphoric as he still loves her. The evening before the official opening, Elliot opens late to a select audience who she shows a slasher flick that Anathony his projectionist made...
When it opens, the sales rep for Klassic Comedy Distributions Vic wants to connect Anthony with a movie distributor because he believes the audience will pay to see it. He also tells Elliot that he saw his favorite comic Harry Lillis ay an assisted care living center in Englewood, N. J. Elliot writes him about his classic show Cracked Ice opening in his theatre and Harry shows for the premier. Before he leaves he tells Eliot that Townes killed his wife Vivien and burned down the evidence to hide his crime. Lillis demands justice and their efforts to obtain proof backfires at the same time Anthony cannot find the only copy of his film; he believes Elliot took it.
Jeffrey Cohen shows why he is a wonderful mystery author with his humorous yet action-packed investigative tale. IT HAPPENED ONE KNIFE is fast-paced but contains a quirky cast who insures the audience will believe they are at a comedy show instead of in an amateur sleuth novel. Elliot is the terrific star in this comedic cozy.
Harriet Klausner
When it opens, the sales rep for Klassic Comedy Distributions Vic wants to connect Anthony with a movie distributor because he believes the audience will pay to see it. He also tells Elliot that he saw his favorite comic Harry Lillis ay an assisted care living center in Englewood, N. J. Elliot writes him about his classic show Cracked Ice opening in his theatre and Harry shows for the premier. Before he leaves he tells Eliot that Townes killed his wife Vivien and burned down the evidence to hide his crime. Lillis demands justice and their efforts to obtain proof backfires at the same time Anthony cannot find the only copy of his film; he believes Elliot took it.
Jeffrey Cohen shows why he is a wonderful mystery author with his humorous yet action-packed investigative tale. IT HAPPENED ONE KNIFE is fast-paced but contains a quirky cast who insures the audience will believe they are at a comedy show instead of in an amateur sleuth novel. Elliot is the terrific star in this comedic cozy.
Harriet Klausner
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Cohen's comedy/mysteries keep on entertaining
11 July 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Jeffrey Cohen has done it again, made me laugh out loud while puzzling my way through his newest Elliot Freed mystery. This time Elliot gets a chance to meet one of his all-time comedy hero's, one half- of the comedy team of Lillis and Townes. The meeting happens when he get a chance to show one of their best movies, Cracked Ice, at his comedy theatre. Lillis arranges to do an appearance before the showing and from there the tale is off and running. Mix in Elliot's complicated relationship with ex-wife Sharon and his motley crew of young employees and you have a wonderful read.
I love Jeff's writing style, his sense of humor and his ability to deftly mix his love of the puzzle with the outright funny. Congratulations Jeff, you did it again!
I love Jeff's writing style, his sense of humor and his ability to deftly mix his love of the puzzle with the outright funny. Congratulations Jeff, you did it again!
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