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An Asperger’s Mystery #1
The Question of the Missing Head
Samuel Hoenig answers questions for a living. And as a man with Asperger's Syndrome, his unique personality helps him ferret out almost any answer there is. But his latest question is a rather odd one--who stole a preserved head from the Garden State Cryonics Institute?
Arriving at the scene of the crime accompanied by his new colleague, Ms. Washburn, Samuel finds that what started out as a theft has escalated to murder. With suspects and motives emerging at a rapid rate, one final question remains--can Samuel's powers of deduction uncover a killer in the face of overwhelming odds?
Praise:
A Mystery Scene Best Book of 2014
Arriving at the scene of the crime accompanied by his new colleague, Ms. Washburn, Samuel finds that what started out as a theft has escalated to murder. With suspects and motives emerging at a rapid rate, one final question remains--can Samuel's powers of deduction uncover a killer in the face of overwhelming odds?
Praise:
A Mystery Scene Best Book of 2014
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2014
22 people are currently reading
1,213 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Copperman
34Ìýbooks830ÌýfollowersLibrarian note: E.J. Copperman is the pen name for author
Jeff Cohen
E.J. Copperman is a mysterious figure, or has a mysterious figure, or writes figuratively in mysteries. In any event, a New Jersey native, E.J. has written for such publications as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, American Baby and USA Weekend. Night of the Living Deed is the first E.J. Copperman novel. It will be followed in 2011 by An Uninvited Ghost, the second in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series.
E.J., having worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, magazine editor, and screenwriter, writes stories that combine humor and mystery with just the right amount of spooky supernatural happenings and a large doses of Jersey attitude.
Sound like we’re being evasive? Well, the fact is that E.J. Copperman is the pseudonym of a well-known mystery novelist, now embarking on a new type of story that includes some elements of the supernatural as well as a fair number of laughs. And the Copperman novels will have a different attitude, a different setting and completely different characters than anything that has come before, so E.J. really is a new author.
E.J. Copperman is a mysterious figure, or has a mysterious figure, or writes figuratively in mysteries. In any event, a New Jersey native, E.J. has written for such publications as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, American Baby and USA Weekend. Night of the Living Deed is the first E.J. Copperman novel. It will be followed in 2011 by An Uninvited Ghost, the second in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series.
E.J., having worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, magazine editor, and screenwriter, writes stories that combine humor and mystery with just the right amount of spooky supernatural happenings and a large doses of Jersey attitude.
Sound like we’re being evasive? Well, the fact is that E.J. Copperman is the pseudonym of a well-known mystery novelist, now embarking on a new type of story that includes some elements of the supernatural as well as a fair number of laughs. And the Copperman novels will have a different attitude, a different setting and completely different characters than anything that has come before, so E.J. really is a new author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
August 19, 2023
Samuel Hoenig ist Ende 20, lebt zusammen mit seiner Mutter und ist selbständig. Sein Geschäft heißt schlicht „Fragen beantworten�. Er beantwortet Fragen aller Art. Eines Tages kommt Dr. Ackerman zu ihm. Aus seinem kryonischen Institut wurde der Kopf einer seiner „Gäste� gestohlen. Samuel soll herausfinden, wer den Kopf gestohlen hat und wo er abgeblieben ist. Hilfe bekommt Samuel dabei von Janet Washburn.
Samuel hat das Asperger Syndrom, was die Zusammenarbeit mit ihm manchmal etwas ungewöhnlich macht, wenn man nicht darauf vorbereitet ist.
***
Mein Leseeindruck:
Mir hat das Buch sehr viel Spaß bereitet! Gerade die doch eher außergewöhnlichen Charaktere machen die Geschichte so einzigartig. Samuel ist mir schnell ans Herz gewachsen, ebenso wie seine sympathische Assistentin Janet Washburn. Die beiden passen als Ermittlerteam sehr gut zusammen.
Der eigentliche Kriminalfall ist ebenfalls außergewöhnlich. Ich lese sehr viele Krimis und Thriller, und oft gibt es Parallelen, was die Handlungsweisen angeht. Das ist bei diesem Buch sicher nicht der Fall. Für mich war dieses Buch bzw. diese Geschichte etwas gänzlich Neues.
Der Schreibstil des Autors ist dabei sehr angenehm. Das Buch hat sich leicht und flüssig lesen lassen, dabei ist die Handlung aber sehr durchdacht und spannend. Ich habe hier gut miträtseln können, was ich immer sehr mag.
Mir hat dieses Buch viel Lesevergnügen geschenkt und ich hoffe sehr, dass noch weitere Fälle für Samuel und Janet Washburn folgen werden!
Samuel hat das Asperger Syndrom, was die Zusammenarbeit mit ihm manchmal etwas ungewöhnlich macht, wenn man nicht darauf vorbereitet ist.
***
Mein Leseeindruck:
Mir hat das Buch sehr viel Spaß bereitet! Gerade die doch eher außergewöhnlichen Charaktere machen die Geschichte so einzigartig. Samuel ist mir schnell ans Herz gewachsen, ebenso wie seine sympathische Assistentin Janet Washburn. Die beiden passen als Ermittlerteam sehr gut zusammen.
Der eigentliche Kriminalfall ist ebenfalls außergewöhnlich. Ich lese sehr viele Krimis und Thriller, und oft gibt es Parallelen, was die Handlungsweisen angeht. Das ist bei diesem Buch sicher nicht der Fall. Für mich war dieses Buch bzw. diese Geschichte etwas gänzlich Neues.
Der Schreibstil des Autors ist dabei sehr angenehm. Das Buch hat sich leicht und flüssig lesen lassen, dabei ist die Handlung aber sehr durchdacht und spannend. Ich habe hier gut miträtseln können, was ich immer sehr mag.
Mir hat dieses Buch viel Lesevergnügen geschenkt und ich hoffe sehr, dass noch weitere Fälle für Samuel und Janet Washburn folgen werden!
November 22, 2015
I should have adored The Question of the Missing Head, the first in a funny cozy series that features not-quite-detective Samuel Hoenig and his sidekick, Janet Washburn. First of all, I adore ’s other mystery series, which features a wisecracking single mom who runs a Jersey Shore guesthouse with two resident phantoms. Secondly, as a onetime Jersey girl, I appreciate that The Question of the Missing Head is likewise set in New Jersey, albeit in Piscataway and North Brunswick amongst the Garden State’s wealthy northern suburbs. Lastly, as the mother of two daughters with autism, I should have been able to appreciate the cluelessness and literalness of the Asperger’s Syndrome-beset Samuel, right?
But I didn’t.
Maybe I know too much about individuals on the autism spectrum. Samuel Hoenig just didn’t strike me as true to life. It’s as if Copperman conducted his research by watching Rainman and The Big Bang Theory instead of actually interacting with real-life people with Asperger’s Syndrome or high-functioning autism (the two disorders are virtually indistinguishable in adults). Don’t get me wrong: Those with autism, even high-functioning adults, can have trouble navigating social situations and can perseverate on certain topics; however, by adulthood, most can handle the incidents that throw Samuel completely for a loop, such as idioms and sarcasm. (Samuel’s obsession with the Beatles and the Yankees, however, does ring true. And my eldest daughter paces when worried or excited.) While Copperman got some attributes spot-on � having to remind himself to make eye contact, making little “rules� for one’s self, a tendency to literalness, relying on parents for social cues � Samuel Hoenig comes off as more of a caricature than a well-rounded character.
That said, Copperman always knows how to weave an intriguing plot, and he does so here. A head is stolen from a cryonics lab, and Samuel and Janet investigate the question of how it was done and by whom. (Samuel does not investigate “cases,� as he doesn’t consider himself a detective � amateur or otherwise; he answers questions brought to him by clients, some as silly as the answers to bets.) Copperman lards The Question of the Missing Head with plenty of shifty characters: the head of Garden State Cryonics Institute, Dr. Marshall Ackerman; his blustery chief of security, Commander Alvin Johnson; a ditzy blogger named Charlotte Selby, several disgruntled employees, and the family members of the titular missing head. The mystery was engrossing enough � and a denouement so suspenseful � that I was able to forgive Copperman his blunders when it comes to adults with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome and also forgive him for my being able to determine the malefactors about halfway through (although I didn’t grasp all of the clever particulars). This novel was a solid three-and-a-half stars, rounded up to four, and I’ve already gotten the sequel, .
But I didn’t.
Maybe I know too much about individuals on the autism spectrum. Samuel Hoenig just didn’t strike me as true to life. It’s as if Copperman conducted his research by watching Rainman and The Big Bang Theory instead of actually interacting with real-life people with Asperger’s Syndrome or high-functioning autism (the two disorders are virtually indistinguishable in adults). Don’t get me wrong: Those with autism, even high-functioning adults, can have trouble navigating social situations and can perseverate on certain topics; however, by adulthood, most can handle the incidents that throw Samuel completely for a loop, such as idioms and sarcasm. (Samuel’s obsession with the Beatles and the Yankees, however, does ring true. And my eldest daughter paces when worried or excited.) While Copperman got some attributes spot-on � having to remind himself to make eye contact, making little “rules� for one’s self, a tendency to literalness, relying on parents for social cues � Samuel Hoenig comes off as more of a caricature than a well-rounded character.
That said, Copperman always knows how to weave an intriguing plot, and he does so here. A head is stolen from a cryonics lab, and Samuel and Janet investigate the question of how it was done and by whom. (Samuel does not investigate “cases,� as he doesn’t consider himself a detective � amateur or otherwise; he answers questions brought to him by clients, some as silly as the answers to bets.) Copperman lards The Question of the Missing Head with plenty of shifty characters: the head of Garden State Cryonics Institute, Dr. Marshall Ackerman; his blustery chief of security, Commander Alvin Johnson; a ditzy blogger named Charlotte Selby, several disgruntled employees, and the family members of the titular missing head. The mystery was engrossing enough � and a denouement so suspenseful � that I was able to forgive Copperman his blunders when it comes to adults with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome and also forgive him for my being able to determine the malefactors about halfway through (although I didn’t grasp all of the clever particulars). This novel was a solid three-and-a-half stars, rounded up to four, and I’ve already gotten the sequel, .
November 1, 2014
It's okay if you like cozy mysteries. I breezed right through it. I just wasn't thrilled with the Aspergers angle. I have Aspergers. I get tired of seeing everyone depicted as eccentric savants. I wish we were, but the vast majority of folks aren't.
July 12, 2018
Three out of three.
So far, I've enjoyed each book/series I've read in which the protagonist happens to be on the autism spectrum.
600 Hours of Edward, The Rosie Project, and now The Question of the Missing Head.
Samuel Hoenig's agency does not take on cases, but instead handles the much more precise objective of answering questions.
The question of the missing head is a lighthearted mystery involving cryonics, a missing frozen head, murder, and lots more mayhem. Samuel, his new associate, and his mother are a great team, and I see plenty of room for personal growth for all of them as the series continues. I will move on to the next sometime soon.
4.2 stars
So far, I've enjoyed each book/series I've read in which the protagonist happens to be on the autism spectrum.
600 Hours of Edward, The Rosie Project, and now The Question of the Missing Head.
Samuel Hoenig's agency does not take on cases, but instead handles the much more precise objective of answering questions.
The question of the missing head is a lighthearted mystery involving cryonics, a missing frozen head, murder, and lots more mayhem. Samuel, his new associate, and his mother are a great team, and I see plenty of room for personal growth for all of them as the series continues. I will move on to the next sometime soon.
4.2 stars
December 21, 2022
Mich hat das gut unterhalten. 3,5 Sterne aufgerundet.
January 9, 2021
Die Ausgangslage war recht vielversprechend: junger Mann mit Asperger-Syndrom, der als selbstständiger Fragenbeantworter arbeitet. Ich fand es spannend, mehr über das Innenleben von Personen mit Asperger zu lesen, aber auf Dauer hat es das Buch nicht über die 380 Seiten tragen können. Der Fall mit dem verschwundenen Kopf und die Ermittlungen im kryptonischen Institut waren auf Dauer doch etwas langweilig und die Auflösung wenig überraschend. Emotional angesprochen hat mich natürlich überhaupt nichts, denn der Protagonist ist so nüchtern wie ein Schluck Leitungswasser.
September 22, 2015
I disliked , so was a bit hesitant about this one; that didn't last long as I got into the book right away! I think this one personalizes Aspies so that Samuel is a character I can easily root for. I don't usually rehash plots, but as this one's a series first, and it might help overall, here goes ...
Samuel has recently started his own business called Questions Answered, a sort of super-Wiki center in a strip mall, where he's the sole employee. Janet Washburn calls him with a question, he asks that she come in person, questioning her why it took a few minutes longer than his "logical" assessment of the route. Before she can ask her question, he gets a call from a cryogenics company, doesn't have his own car, so Ms. Washburn becomes his new associate on the way there. The middle part dragged a bit regarding the crime itself of a murder, along with disappearing of a frozen head. The company is desperate, so they retain Samuel (who wants to solve both crimes), fire him, and re-hire him. The local homicide detective admits he's in over his head, which seems to appeal to Samuel's sense of pity; they make a good team as he has authority and resources that Samuel does not. The showdown brings in Samuel's mother, who had seemed like a "sweet old lady" but readers should think of Mrs. Pollifax instead.
I read the ebook, but would try the audio edition of the upcoming sequel.
Definitely recommended.
Samuel has recently started his own business called Questions Answered, a sort of super-Wiki center in a strip mall, where he's the sole employee. Janet Washburn calls him with a question, he asks that she come in person, questioning her why it took a few minutes longer than his "logical" assessment of the route. Before she can ask her question, he gets a call from a cryogenics company, doesn't have his own car, so Ms. Washburn becomes his new associate on the way there. The middle part dragged a bit regarding the crime itself of a murder, along with disappearing of a frozen head. The company is desperate, so they retain Samuel (who wants to solve both crimes), fire him, and re-hire him. The local homicide detective admits he's in over his head, which seems to appeal to Samuel's sense of pity; they make a good team as he has authority and resources that Samuel does not. The showdown brings in Samuel's mother, who had seemed like a "sweet old lady" but readers should think of Mrs. Pollifax instead.
I read the ebook, but would try the audio edition of the upcoming sequel.
Definitely recommended.
November 23, 2014
I realize that the author wishes to educate the public about Asperger's but his effort falls flat in the attempt at putting the Asperger persona in the form of a detective that shares every aspect of his personality and every thought that he has with the reader. Why not peak the reader's curiosity and give us the profile of Samuel Hoenig and have fun thinking about how Samuel will approach the problem? Samuel is an over drawn character who could better be defined by his actions rather than lecturing the reader on his personality issues. This is not a hard to read book but it lacks the kind of page turning appeal of a good mystery and does not get interesting until page 260. Even though this mystery had a good plot twist, I was so uninvested in the mystery that I did not even consider who might have done it which is the intellect fun of a mystery.
November 29, 2017
I thought this was an original plotline and that it was very suspenseful. I also loved the protagonist and his relationship with the woman who becomes his Watson. Her practicality and empathy are valuable to him.
December 4, 2017
Samuel is an Aspie (of the very male type, familiar to many) who has recently started a business answering questions. He is not a private investigator, which he has to explain to people quite frequently.
October 13, 2024
The Question of the Missing Head by E.J. Copperman is the first book in An Asperger's Mystery series. Samuel Hoenig, a man with Asperger's syndrome, runs Questions Answered and is hired to answer who stole a frozen head from the Garden State Cryonics Institute, but arrives to find the dead body of one of the scientists. An unusaul and interesting mystery. I liked meeting the characters and especially learning more about Samuel and the way he solves this strange and twisty case. Plenty of humour and intrigue and very entertaining.
January 4, 2017
Ich liebe außergewöhnliche Ermittler - dabei ist Samuel Hoenig, der Protagonist des Buches, eigentlich gar keiner. Er hat einfach nur ein Büro und beantwortet allerlei Fragen, zum Beispiel, ob es möglich ist, einen Ball aus dem Baseball-Station zu schmettern oder ähnliches. Er ist Asperger-Autist und sieht die Welt deswegen in manchen Dingen etwas anders - ganz rational eben.
Erzählt wird das Buch aus Samuels Sicht in der Ich-Perspektive. Das ist absolut passend - denn so werden all seine Gedankengänge für den Leser nachvollziehbar. Manchmal führt es natürlich auch zu der ein oder anderen komisches Situation - zum Beispiel wenn er nicht versteht, was "Was zur Hölle..." eigentlich bedeuten soll - aber gerade das macht dieses Buch aus. Es macht sich keinesfalls über Autisten lustig, auch wenn man das ein oder andere Mal wirklich schmunzeln muss. Für mich zeigt das Buch viel mehr die Stärken dieser Personen auf und baut Vorurteile ab. Denn anders zu sein bedeutet ja nicht gleich, dass das schlecht ist.
Zum Glück bekommt Samuel bei der Beantwortung der hier im Mittelpunkt stehenden Frage "Wo ist der Kopf von Mrs. Masters-Powell?" Hilfe von der sehr sympathischen Ms. Washburn. Sie unterstützt ihn im Lesen von Gesichtsausdrücken und ist so eine perfekte Ergänzung. Der besagte Kopf ist in einem Institut verschwunden, in dem man sich - oder eben nur seinen Kopf - nach dem eigenen Tod einfrieren lassen kann, um dann später wieder aufgetaut zu werden.Und als ob das nicht ausreicht, passiert auch noch ein Mord. Es stehen also mehrere Fragen im Raum, die beantwortet werden müssen.
Das Buch ist herrlich geschrieben... Es ist witzig, dennoch spannend und man mag die Figuren einfach so sehr, dass man einfach mitfiebert. Allerdings gibt es auch einige Längen, in denen es nicht wirklich voran geht bzw. man als Leser durch viele Fakten und unterschiedliche Begebenheiten gar nicht so wirklich durchblickt.
Letztendlich klärt sich aber alles logisch auf und es bleiben keine Fragen offen. Das Ende schreit gerade zu nach einer Fortsetzung bzw. weiteren kniffligen Fragen für Samuel Hoenig. Zwar habe ich noch keine Ankündigung entdeckt, aber ich hoffe sehr, dass da noch was kommt.
Ich wurde gut unterhalten, das Buch ist wirklich mal etwas anderes! Von mir gibt es 4 Sterne!
Erzählt wird das Buch aus Samuels Sicht in der Ich-Perspektive. Das ist absolut passend - denn so werden all seine Gedankengänge für den Leser nachvollziehbar. Manchmal führt es natürlich auch zu der ein oder anderen komisches Situation - zum Beispiel wenn er nicht versteht, was "Was zur Hölle..." eigentlich bedeuten soll - aber gerade das macht dieses Buch aus. Es macht sich keinesfalls über Autisten lustig, auch wenn man das ein oder andere Mal wirklich schmunzeln muss. Für mich zeigt das Buch viel mehr die Stärken dieser Personen auf und baut Vorurteile ab. Denn anders zu sein bedeutet ja nicht gleich, dass das schlecht ist.
Zum Glück bekommt Samuel bei der Beantwortung der hier im Mittelpunkt stehenden Frage "Wo ist der Kopf von Mrs. Masters-Powell?" Hilfe von der sehr sympathischen Ms. Washburn. Sie unterstützt ihn im Lesen von Gesichtsausdrücken und ist so eine perfekte Ergänzung. Der besagte Kopf ist in einem Institut verschwunden, in dem man sich - oder eben nur seinen Kopf - nach dem eigenen Tod einfrieren lassen kann, um dann später wieder aufgetaut zu werden.Und als ob das nicht ausreicht, passiert auch noch ein Mord. Es stehen also mehrere Fragen im Raum, die beantwortet werden müssen.
Das Buch ist herrlich geschrieben... Es ist witzig, dennoch spannend und man mag die Figuren einfach so sehr, dass man einfach mitfiebert. Allerdings gibt es auch einige Längen, in denen es nicht wirklich voran geht bzw. man als Leser durch viele Fakten und unterschiedliche Begebenheiten gar nicht so wirklich durchblickt.
Letztendlich klärt sich aber alles logisch auf und es bleiben keine Fragen offen. Das Ende schreit gerade zu nach einer Fortsetzung bzw. weiteren kniffligen Fragen für Samuel Hoenig. Zwar habe ich noch keine Ankündigung entdeckt, aber ich hoffe sehr, dass da noch was kommt.
Ich wurde gut unterhalten, das Buch ist wirklich mal etwas anderes! Von mir gibt es 4 Sterne!
August 21, 2017
I thought this was going to be a five star read when I started it; fresh characters and a truly weird, interesting mystery. I still really liked Samuel and Ms. Washburn by the end (and I could totally see Mr. Epstein joining their team; he seemed to fit in well), but the plot just became so bogged down and convoluted (which is really saying something when it starts with trying to find a missing cryogenitically frozen head!) that I lost interest in the story like three-quarters of the way through. If I hadn't been reading this for a bookclub discussion, I probably would have returned it to the library unfinished.
February 19, 2018
Ich weiß jetzt zwar auch nicht genau warum, aber anscheinend wird hier bei Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ nicht immer bei jedem Buch der Klappentext ausgewiesen, sodass man im Notfall nachlesen könnte, worum es eigentlich geht, deswegen werde ich mir wohl auch mal angewöhnen, den ab jetzt immer in meine Rezi mit reinzuschreiben. Also:
Samuel Hoenig ist ein ungewöhnlicher Mann, und er hat einen ungewöhnlichen Job: Er beantwortet Fragen jeglicher Art. Seine spezielle Persönlichkeit hilft ihm dabei, nahezu jede Antwort zu finden. Doch die Frage eines neuen Kunden entpuppt sich als besonders knifflig: »Wo ist der Kopf von Mrs. Masters-Powell?« Samuels Ehrgeiz ist geweckt. Gemeinsam mit seiner neuen Assistentin Ms. Washburn macht er sich auf die Suche. Als dann auch noch ein Mord geschieht, befindet sich Samuel plötzlich inmitten einer verzwickten Verschwörung �
Das war also der Klappentext. Nun zu meiner Meinung:
Samuel Hoenig versteht nicht jede einzelne soziale Interaktion (verbal nicht und nonverbal erst recht nicht), kategorisiert die Menschen um sich herum nach ihren Beatles-Lieblingssongs (was ihn mir sofort sympathisch gemacht hat, auch wenn ich nicht weiß, wie das Ganze funktioniert) und findet, dass sein Asperger-Syndrom keine psychische Störung ist, sondern vielmehr eine Charaktereigenschaft.
Wer jetzt annimmt, dass dieses Buch so ähnlich ist wie Mark Haddon’s „Supergute Tage oder die sonderbare Welt des Christopher Boone (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time)�, in dem der Protagonist autistisch ist, den kann ich entweder beruhigen oder von diesem Buch abraten. Das eine hat mit dem anderen nichts zu tun. Ja, es geht um eine Hauptfigur, die das Asperger-Syndrom hat, aber daran hängt sich das Buch nicht auf.
Während ich mit „Supergute Tage� nicht einmal ansatzweise zurecht gekommen bin, war dieses Buch ein echter Spaziergang.
Samuel ist absolut fähig in der „normalen� (was auch immer „normal� zur Zeit bedeuten mag) Gesellschaft zu funktionieren. Und das auch ohne großartige Auffälligkeiten. Was vor allem seiner Mutter zu verdanken ist, die ihm Zeit seines Lebens viel von dem, was er nicht versteht, erklärt hat. Verstärkung bekommt Mama Hoenig in diesem Buch von Miss Washburn, die zwar eigentlich eher unabsichtlich in die Geschehnisse stolpert, aber spontan ihr Bestes tut, um bei der Aufklärung zu helfen.
Die Hauptcharaktere sind durch die Bank weg sehr sympathisch und verhalten sich vernünftig oder zumindest doch absolut nachvollziehbar. Der Fall ist interessant und wird noch interessanter durch Samuels Interaktionen mit seinen Mitmenschen, bei denen man anfangs nie wirklich weiß, ob alles bis zum Ende des Gesprächs „gut geht�, da sich Samuel zwar inzwischen schon viel gemerkt hat, was den Umgang mit Menschen angeht, aber manchmal ist er mit manchen Situationen eben doch noch ein bisschen überfordert, vor allem, wenn irgendwas spontan geschieht. Und Gespräche SIND nunmal relativ spontan. Wir reden ja nicht nach auswendig gelernten Manuskripten. (Also, hoffe ich mal. Ähm� Matrix war nur ein Film, richtig?)
KEINE LOVESTORY!!! Ich wiederhole nochmal: KEINE LOVESTORY!!! Auch keine Sex-Szenen, übrigens. Noch ein unglaublicher Vorteil dieses Buches. Miss Washburn ist zwar verheiratet (zumindest noch; am Ende des Buches bin ich mir nicht sicher, ob sie das noch lange sein wird), aber ihr Mann taucht nie auf (außer ein, zwei Mal am Handy) und auch sonst ist das Buch mehr oder weniger ein reiner Krimi.
Da alles aus der Ich-Erzähler-Perspektive geschrieben ist und Samuel nunmal Asperger HAT, sind seine Gedanken manchmal etwas weitschweifig bzw. abgelenkt, was den Lesefluss eventuell ein bisschen aufhält. Mich hat das nicht gestört, aber wer nicht auf lange Erklärungen oder ab und an recht detaillierte Herleitungen steht, sollte das Buch mit etwas Vorsicht genießen. (Vielleicht erstmal Probelesen, oder so.)
Ich fand das Buch sehr gut (das zweite liegt auch schon auf meinem „Möglichst-sofort-lesen� Stapel) und hoffe, dass wir nicht nur von Samuel, seiner Mutter und Miss Washburn mehr zu hören kriegen, sondern vielleicht auch von Mr. Epstein, dem netten Sicherheitsexperten.
Samuel Hoenig ist ein ungewöhnlicher Mann, und er hat einen ungewöhnlichen Job: Er beantwortet Fragen jeglicher Art. Seine spezielle Persönlichkeit hilft ihm dabei, nahezu jede Antwort zu finden. Doch die Frage eines neuen Kunden entpuppt sich als besonders knifflig: »Wo ist der Kopf von Mrs. Masters-Powell?« Samuels Ehrgeiz ist geweckt. Gemeinsam mit seiner neuen Assistentin Ms. Washburn macht er sich auf die Suche. Als dann auch noch ein Mord geschieht, befindet sich Samuel plötzlich inmitten einer verzwickten Verschwörung �
Das war also der Klappentext. Nun zu meiner Meinung:
Samuel Hoenig versteht nicht jede einzelne soziale Interaktion (verbal nicht und nonverbal erst recht nicht), kategorisiert die Menschen um sich herum nach ihren Beatles-Lieblingssongs (was ihn mir sofort sympathisch gemacht hat, auch wenn ich nicht weiß, wie das Ganze funktioniert) und findet, dass sein Asperger-Syndrom keine psychische Störung ist, sondern vielmehr eine Charaktereigenschaft.
Wer jetzt annimmt, dass dieses Buch so ähnlich ist wie Mark Haddon’s „Supergute Tage oder die sonderbare Welt des Christopher Boone (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time)�, in dem der Protagonist autistisch ist, den kann ich entweder beruhigen oder von diesem Buch abraten. Das eine hat mit dem anderen nichts zu tun. Ja, es geht um eine Hauptfigur, die das Asperger-Syndrom hat, aber daran hängt sich das Buch nicht auf.
Während ich mit „Supergute Tage� nicht einmal ansatzweise zurecht gekommen bin, war dieses Buch ein echter Spaziergang.
Samuel ist absolut fähig in der „normalen� (was auch immer „normal� zur Zeit bedeuten mag) Gesellschaft zu funktionieren. Und das auch ohne großartige Auffälligkeiten. Was vor allem seiner Mutter zu verdanken ist, die ihm Zeit seines Lebens viel von dem, was er nicht versteht, erklärt hat. Verstärkung bekommt Mama Hoenig in diesem Buch von Miss Washburn, die zwar eigentlich eher unabsichtlich in die Geschehnisse stolpert, aber spontan ihr Bestes tut, um bei der Aufklärung zu helfen.
Die Hauptcharaktere sind durch die Bank weg sehr sympathisch und verhalten sich vernünftig oder zumindest doch absolut nachvollziehbar. Der Fall ist interessant und wird noch interessanter durch Samuels Interaktionen mit seinen Mitmenschen, bei denen man anfangs nie wirklich weiß, ob alles bis zum Ende des Gesprächs „gut geht�, da sich Samuel zwar inzwischen schon viel gemerkt hat, was den Umgang mit Menschen angeht, aber manchmal ist er mit manchen Situationen eben doch noch ein bisschen überfordert, vor allem, wenn irgendwas spontan geschieht. Und Gespräche SIND nunmal relativ spontan. Wir reden ja nicht nach auswendig gelernten Manuskripten. (Also, hoffe ich mal. Ähm� Matrix war nur ein Film, richtig?)
KEINE LOVESTORY!!! Ich wiederhole nochmal: KEINE LOVESTORY!!! Auch keine Sex-Szenen, übrigens. Noch ein unglaublicher Vorteil dieses Buches. Miss Washburn ist zwar verheiratet (zumindest noch; am Ende des Buches bin ich mir nicht sicher, ob sie das noch lange sein wird), aber ihr Mann taucht nie auf (außer ein, zwei Mal am Handy) und auch sonst ist das Buch mehr oder weniger ein reiner Krimi.
Da alles aus der Ich-Erzähler-Perspektive geschrieben ist und Samuel nunmal Asperger HAT, sind seine Gedanken manchmal etwas weitschweifig bzw. abgelenkt, was den Lesefluss eventuell ein bisschen aufhält. Mich hat das nicht gestört, aber wer nicht auf lange Erklärungen oder ab und an recht detaillierte Herleitungen steht, sollte das Buch mit etwas Vorsicht genießen. (Vielleicht erstmal Probelesen, oder so.)
Ich fand das Buch sehr gut (das zweite liegt auch schon auf meinem „Möglichst-sofort-lesen� Stapel) und hoffe, dass wir nicht nur von Samuel, seiner Mutter und Miss Washburn mehr zu hören kriegen, sondern vielleicht auch von Mr. Epstein, dem netten Sicherheitsexperten.
July 23, 2020
Another book that has been on my TBR list for several years, but I never got around to it. I've been missing out. A favorite author of mine, I knew the writing would be great, and I was right. One of my favorite things about Copperman's books is the relationships between the characters, also a selling point in this book. Having an Aspie protagonist, written so that the reader could easily understand the intricacies of living with the disorder, made the MC so much more human and less "odd". The mystery itself was gripping, and kept my interest until the climax. Looking forward to more time with Samuel.
November 22, 2024
4.5 â�
Hilarious murder mystery that I didn't want to put down! The ending was one of the funniest book endings I've ever read. 😂 Obviously the information about autism is outdated, but it was written in 2014 so that tracks. Can't wait to read the next book in this series!
Hilarious murder mystery that I didn't want to put down! The ending was one of the funniest book endings I've ever read. 😂 Obviously the information about autism is outdated, but it was written in 2014 so that tracks. Can't wait to read the next book in this series!
October 14, 2014
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jerjen
The Question Of The Missing Head by E. J. Copperman and Jeff Cohen is an incredible book. I have read E. J. Copperman’s Haunted Guesthouse series and I really love that series. So when I saw this book by the same author, I knew I had to try it. I’m very glad I did because I totally enjoyed it.
Samuel Hoenig, who runs Questions Answered, answers questions for a living. He doesn’t have very many clients but he works hard at finding answers for the ones he does have. On the same day, he gets an assistant, Ms. Washburn, and the question, who stole a frozen head from the Garden State Cryonics Institute. While initially investigating the missing head, he finds a dead body at the institute and his mother pays him to answer the question of who the killer is.
Ms Washburn becomes Samuel’s assistant and Samuel is very surprised about how quickly he begins to trust and like her. For Samuel, meeting new people and making friends are just about impossible tasks. She realizes that Samuel has Aspergers Syndrome and is very helpful in helping Samuel deal with some of his difficulties connected with the syndrome. The bond that is formed between the two was refreshing and welcomed. Until he meets Ms Washburn his mother is the one that helps Samuel and teaches him things he needs to know about emotions and social correctness. But now he has someone else to help him.
The two mysteries to be solved are carried throughout the entire book and made for great reading. There are some twists and turns along the way and, to me, it was impossible to figure out the who-dunnit and why until it was revealed at the end. I really like the way the mysteries were handled and I love the way they were solved. I never saw the solutions coming. The answers to the questions were surprising but definitely plausible and I really enjoyed that. After knowing who the thief and murderer are I could think back and pick up clues that I missed along the way.
But in my opinion, what made this book stand out from others, was the fact that Samuel has Asperger’s Syndrome. I had never heard of this syndrome until it was introduced on the television show Parenthood. One of the children on the show, Max, has Asperger’s and that’s where I learned about it. On the show you can see the actions caused by Asperger’s but not the thought process. In this book, you get to witness both the actions and the thought process for someone with Asperger’s. I thought this was fascinating and I feel like I learned a lot more about it. After researching the author, Jeff Cohen, I see that he has written two nonfiction books on Asperger’s, and while reading the book I knew this author had to have a lot of knowledge about the syndrome. It is so realistic and well written and gives the reader an insight into the syndrome. Samuel has a very difficult time when his daily routine is disturbed, even in the smallest way. He can not tolerate loud noises or being touched. He takes everything he hears literally and has no understanding of idioms. I believe all of these character traits can be found in a person with Aspergers and they were descriptively realistically displayed in Samuel.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery that will not be easily solved. I would also recommend this book to anyone who has any desire to know more about Aspergers Syndrome. I was so happy to find a book that allowed me to learn about something that interested me in a work of fiction. I cannot recommend this book enough. I sure hope this book is the first in a long series of Aspergers Mysteries.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
January 16, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is an absolutely wonderful story that features a great whodunit too!
Samuel Hoenig has Asperger’s Syndrome and in fact is quite a genius. When you first start reading you may think he is like Adrian Monk of television fame and the books by Hy Conrad and Lee Goldberg, but Mr. Monk has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is very different from Asperger’s.
Samuel has opened up a business, Questions Answered, and his new client has a doozy of question � Who took the head of a woman from my cryogenics lab? Another woman, Mrs. Washburn, had come in to ask Samuel a question herself but this newcomer’s question definitely takes precedence. In fact she tags also as Samuel’s assistant in his endeavor to find this “missing head�.
I love Samuel. I love the way he takes care of his mom and she takes care of him. I love how quickly he gets close to Mrs. Washburn and they way she understands his unique personality. These characters a flashed out and real and they jump off the pages.
Then we have the characters at Garden State Cryonics Institute. They are a very interesting group from the CEO that asked the “question� to the Security Commander who thinks everyone is pointing figures his way for the missing cranium.
We also meet Detective Lapides who is really in uncharted waters with a case of this magnitude. Nothing like this have ever taken place for him to investigate. Plus he needs to deal with Laverne and Arthur Masters, the mother and brother of the woman whose head was being preserved at the institute and is now missing.
Most of the story takes place at the cryogenics lab and it is quite a place. It seems to give Samuel more questions than answers at first. The reader gets to follow him through his process of interviewing suspects, identifying clues and following where they lead and basically getting to understand the way Samuel evaluates things to answer the question.
The authors have also shown us a bit of the funny side to Samuel’s life, things that those around him have grown to love about him. So truthful as those who have loved ones with this disorder will recognize. It affects people differently and at different levels but I feel the authors are created a wonderful protagonist and written a great mystery around him while at the same time creating awareness about Asperger’s.
I truly can not wait to read the next story in this series. These authors have hit it out of the park on this one! and I think Samuel has answered his baseball question as well!!
November 20, 2015
I received this book in a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway. Many thanx to author & publisher for which I will give an honest review
I LOVED this mystery!! Refreshing & unique are just 2 words that instantly come to mind. The topic is actually believable, the mystery itself was very innovative and the solution was remarkably different yet quite logical, although not right away and esp not to a "normal" person
This is a story/mystery that begins with Samuel Hoenig who works for himself at his office called "questions answered" We first meet him & a client, Ms Washburn, when she comes in to ask a question. Samuel has Asperger's syndrome which makes him think a bit differently than other people. It explains Asperger's in the beginning of the story but by end of book you learn much more on how a person with that acts & thinks. We don't get to hear what Ms. Washburn's question is yet since he asks her to help him with another clients question about hitting a baseball out of the new field that was just renovated. Next walks in Mr Ackerman who's question is "I need help finding a missing head" sounds strange & it is strange but as you continue to read, it all seems quite normal
The bulk of the book then takes us on this case of the missing head. We meet more characters, the GSCI lab employees & the police involved to all help answer this question.
Samuel never intended nor thought he'd be involved in such a serious crime & along for the ride was Ms Washburn who tremendously helped Samuel with different situations for which he was uncomfortable in or lacked social skills in & he made her his associate.
It was such a new & different type of mystery & yet it was all quite believable & no stupid ending to make me wonder why I kept reading the story?
I hope this will start a series of mysteries in the Asperger's mystery line with Samuel helping to figure out the cases :)
I LOVED this mystery!! Refreshing & unique are just 2 words that instantly come to mind. The topic is actually believable, the mystery itself was very innovative and the solution was remarkably different yet quite logical, although not right away and esp not to a "normal" person
This is a story/mystery that begins with Samuel Hoenig who works for himself at his office called "questions answered" We first meet him & a client, Ms Washburn, when she comes in to ask a question. Samuel has Asperger's syndrome which makes him think a bit differently than other people. It explains Asperger's in the beginning of the story but by end of book you learn much more on how a person with that acts & thinks. We don't get to hear what Ms. Washburn's question is yet since he asks her to help him with another clients question about hitting a baseball out of the new field that was just renovated. Next walks in Mr Ackerman who's question is "I need help finding a missing head" sounds strange & it is strange but as you continue to read, it all seems quite normal
The bulk of the book then takes us on this case of the missing head. We meet more characters, the GSCI lab employees & the police involved to all help answer this question.
Samuel never intended nor thought he'd be involved in such a serious crime & along for the ride was Ms Washburn who tremendously helped Samuel with different situations for which he was uncomfortable in or lacked social skills in & he made her his associate.
It was such a new & different type of mystery & yet it was all quite believable & no stupid ending to make me wonder why I kept reading the story?
I hope this will start a series of mysteries in the Asperger's mystery line with Samuel helping to figure out the cases :)
October 15, 2014
Samuel Hoenig, the protagonist and first-person narrator in this newest book by E.J. Copperman, 29 years old and still living with his mother, opened Questions Answered, in Piscataway, New Jersey, three months ago as our story opens. His first client of the day is one Janet Washburn, who quickly becomes his invaluable colleague, assisting him in handling his second client of the day, one Dr. Marshall Ackerman, proprietor of Garden State Cryonics Institute, in North Brunswick, where they freeze the body, or just the cranium, “of people who have just died in the hope that someday there will be a means to reanimate them and cure their disease.� Dr. Ackerman’s problem is quite unique: One of the facility’s heads is missing. Since any job requires that a specific query must be posed, Dr. Ackerman asks “Who stole one of our heads?� Daunting as this is from the outset, it becomes only more so when the three go to the facility in question, and a dead body is found in the room in which the head was stored.
The novel displays equal amounts of the usual components of this author’s writing: suspense and humor. But perhaps one of the most intriguing things about this particular book has to do with the character of Samuel, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, which Samuel believes is not a disorder, but merely a “facet of his personality.� No one questions his intellect, which borders on brilliance. He tends to be obsessive about some things, e.g., the Beatles and the New York Yankees (there is a priceless paragraph about baseball as a sport). The plotting is ingenious, and I devoured this book in little more than twenty-four hours. I probably don’t have to add that I loved it, and it is highly recommended.
The novel displays equal amounts of the usual components of this author’s writing: suspense and humor. But perhaps one of the most intriguing things about this particular book has to do with the character of Samuel, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, which Samuel believes is not a disorder, but merely a “facet of his personality.� No one questions his intellect, which borders on brilliance. He tends to be obsessive about some things, e.g., the Beatles and the New York Yankees (there is a priceless paragraph about baseball as a sport). The plotting is ingenious, and I devoured this book in little more than twenty-four hours. I probably don’t have to add that I loved it, and it is highly recommended.
March 7, 2016
Samuel Hoenig is an unusual mystery protagonist. Not only does he have Asperger’s Syndrome, which gives him a unique perspective on people’s attitudes and mannerisms, but he’s neither a professional detective nor amateur sleuth. As the owner and operator of Questions Answered, it’s his job to do just that � answer questions, that is.
In the story, Sam is assisted by a certain Ms. Washburn, who had a question of her own, but got enlisted to help Sam with another question dealing with baseball and Yankee Stadium. But that’s not what the story’s about. It’s about how Sam and Ms. Washburn team up to answer 1) where the head of a dead woman (preserved by cryonics) has disappeared and 2) who killed one of the scientists at the cryonics lab.
Sam is a most likeable and funny character, as is his Mother � a formidable, but kind person. Sam’s observations bring to mind the kind of perceptions and deductions Sherlock Holmes would make � only funnier.
Maybe what I loved most about Sam was that he thought it important to know what someone’s favorite Beatles song was. Should I be worried that we both love “Strawberry Fields Forever�?
Copperman and Cohen build the suspense deftly with each chapter. And I laughed � always a plus. Further, the book ends with a twist I never saw coming. In retrospect, it seems like I should have, which is a testament to the writers� ability to hide the ball in plain sight.
I highly recommend this novel, if you enjoy funny mysteries.
In the story, Sam is assisted by a certain Ms. Washburn, who had a question of her own, but got enlisted to help Sam with another question dealing with baseball and Yankee Stadium. But that’s not what the story’s about. It’s about how Sam and Ms. Washburn team up to answer 1) where the head of a dead woman (preserved by cryonics) has disappeared and 2) who killed one of the scientists at the cryonics lab.
Sam is a most likeable and funny character, as is his Mother � a formidable, but kind person. Sam’s observations bring to mind the kind of perceptions and deductions Sherlock Holmes would make � only funnier.
Maybe what I loved most about Sam was that he thought it important to know what someone’s favorite Beatles song was. Should I be worried that we both love “Strawberry Fields Forever�?
Copperman and Cohen build the suspense deftly with each chapter. And I laughed � always a plus. Further, the book ends with a twist I never saw coming. In retrospect, it seems like I should have, which is a testament to the writers� ability to hide the ball in plain sight.
I highly recommend this novel, if you enjoy funny mysteries.
October 15, 2014
One of the most important elements to me when it comes to enjoying a book is voice, and EJ Copperman has totally got that covered here. Samuel's voice is engaging, smart, self-aware and quirky, and a joy to follow. He's also a very curious character, a guy with Asperger's who has set himself up in business to answer questions from people.
Not really a private eye, he gets called in to answer a simple question: who stole a woman's cryogenically frozen head from the facility where it was stored? What follows is a twisty plot which plays to Samuel's strengths (intellect) and challenges his weaknesses (emotions). I love the interplay between him and his new assistant, Ms. Washburn, and I hope that the book will turn into a series so I can continue seeing it evolve.
Samuel's relationship with his mother is equally intriguing; she doesn't have much of a role to play in the book until the surprising (but very satisfying) conclusion, and yet it's clear she must have been a terrific parent to enable Samuel to develop as he has.
This is a terrific book which I greatly enjoyed!
Not really a private eye, he gets called in to answer a simple question: who stole a woman's cryogenically frozen head from the facility where it was stored? What follows is a twisty plot which plays to Samuel's strengths (intellect) and challenges his weaknesses (emotions). I love the interplay between him and his new assistant, Ms. Washburn, and I hope that the book will turn into a series so I can continue seeing it evolve.
Samuel's relationship with his mother is equally intriguing; she doesn't have much of a role to play in the book until the surprising (but very satisfying) conclusion, and yet it's clear she must have been a terrific parent to enable Samuel to develop as he has.
This is a terrific book which I greatly enjoyed!
June 2, 2018
There is a saying, “If you’ve met one person with autism (or Asperger’s), you’ve met one person with autism (or Asperger’s). Being an adult with Asperger’s syndrome (diagnosed as an adult) I found the main character, Samuel Hoenig, to be very relatable and believable.
Referring to the review left by the mother of two daughters on the autism spectrum - I, also, have to remind myself to look people in the eyes, I still have problems with sarcasm, facial expressions, and social situations in general. Every person on the spectrum is different, that’s why it’s a spectrum.
If this brings more awareness to the fact that there are very intelligent adults who experience the meltdowns, stimming behaviors, social blunders, etc. while entertaining the reader in a somewhat humorous and slightly exaggerated way, I say it’s long overdue. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. It’s been along time since I enjoyed and related to a book this much.
Kudos.
Referring to the review left by the mother of two daughters on the autism spectrum - I, also, have to remind myself to look people in the eyes, I still have problems with sarcasm, facial expressions, and social situations in general. Every person on the spectrum is different, that’s why it’s a spectrum.
If this brings more awareness to the fact that there are very intelligent adults who experience the meltdowns, stimming behaviors, social blunders, etc. while entertaining the reader in a somewhat humorous and slightly exaggerated way, I say it’s long overdue. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. It’s been along time since I enjoyed and related to a book this much.
Kudos.
October 22, 2014
"The Question of the Missing Head" was everything I expected as a long time fan of E.J. Copperman: A tightly plotted, clever, and fun mystery. But it is also unique with it's main character, Samuel Hoenig, a young man with Asperger's. I loved that Sam is a fully functioning adult with his own successful business, and that he allows his personality traits to come through without apology. Rather than a detective business where he solves crimes, he has Questions Answered, where he can solve a crime only if it is phrased properly (a.k.a. as a question). I learned a lot and laughed a lot with this book...and I was constantly surprised by its unusual perspective.
October 24, 2014
Rarely have a meet such a charming man as Samuel Hoenig. He is a man with Asperger's Syndrome and he will just win your heart. His job is finding answers to questions and his latest question comes from the administrator of a Cryonics Institute. It seems there is a stolen head and Samuel is ask to find who stole it. And there comes the plot of a wonderful new book- which I hope will be the first in a series. Samuel hires a charming and helpful woman to assist him. Lots of laughs and action. I can not say enough about how great this book is.
November 20, 2014
This was an enjoyable, unique mystery told from the point of view of someone with Asperger's Syndrome. This was a lot of fun, and I hope this is the start of a regular series!
February 18, 2025
I was only going to give this 3 stars because it wasn’t great and felt too close to the TV show Monk. But then I read a review on the back of the book that mentioned the book providing “a sensitive look at a too-often-misunderstood condition.� That made me rethink things and bump it up to 4 stars.
The narrator is an example of a brilliant man hindered a bit by some autism characteristics - communication misunderstandings, sensory issues, and a need for routine. He is portrayed in a positive and sympathetic light. Some characters recognized and accepted his unique needs; many struggled with him and we can understand their frustration, but also empathize with Samuel since we’re viewing everything with his commentary.
Is it a great mystery novel? No. Is it an easy, clean read? Yes. Does it have moral value? Yes.
The narrator is an example of a brilliant man hindered a bit by some autism characteristics - communication misunderstandings, sensory issues, and a need for routine. He is portrayed in a positive and sympathetic light. Some characters recognized and accepted his unique needs; many struggled with him and we can understand their frustration, but also empathize with Samuel since we’re viewing everything with his commentary.
Is it a great mystery novel? No. Is it an easy, clean read? Yes. Does it have moral value? Yes.
December 30, 2017
A new to me series, I look forward to more and adding to my understanding of autism. While I may have mostly figured out “who done it� it was quite interesting to watch Samuel work it out and in the process save more than I expected.
January 9, 2019
Very amusing mystery starring a young man with Asperger's. While he winds up investigating the disappearance of a frozen head (cryonics), he keeps up a commentary on his coping mechanisms and limitations (which sounds like it might be tedious, but is actually fun). Samuel Hoenig is his name, and I want to read more of him.
April 19, 2019
Fun, easy read
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