Jeffrey Cohen, It Happened One Knife

It Happened One Knife

Jeffrey Cohen

Berkley, Jul 2008, $7.99

ISBN: 9780425222560

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