The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband

An Asperger’s Mystery #2

by E.J. Copperman

For Samuel Hoenig, Asperger's isn't so much a syndrome as it is a set of personality traits. And as the sole proprietor of a business called Questions Answered, Samuel's put his personality traits to good use, successfully answering every question he's ever been asked.

But when his newest client asks about the true identity of her so-called husband, Samuel recruits his former associate Janet Washburn for insight into a subject that's beyond his grasp--marriage. Working as a team seems to be the right approach . . . until the inscrutable spouse is found dead in Samuel's office. Feeling like he's been taken for a fool, Samuel is more than willing to answer a new question posed by an unexpected who killed the unfamiliar husband?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Humor, Cozy Mystery, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Contemporary

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samuel Hoenig, Asperger’s Syndome savant, would tell me it doesn’t make sense. And he’d be right. I had some qualms about author E.J. Copperman’s first novel in his new series, The Question of the Missing Head. I felt that the main character, the aforementioned Samuel Hoenig, was more of an autism cartoon than a real-life character. So I shouldn’t be so crazy about the sequel, The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband, right?

Well, as Samuel would be the first to note, neurotypical people just don’t act rationally.

I really enjoyed The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband and its incredibly intriguing premise: New client Sheila McInerney claims that she woke up next to a strange man in her bed with no memory of the previous three days, with the man — a shady character named Oliver Lewis — claiming they’d gotten married in Darien, Connecticut, in the interim. Lewis even produced photos and a wedding certificate. Sheila hires Samuel, owner of the business Questions Answered, to discover who Lewis really is and whether there even was a wedding. When Lewis turns up dead in the Questions Answered office and Sheila vanishes, Samuel and his reluctant associate Janet Washburn embark on an engrossing and perilous investigation.

How could you not love a novel like that?

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Midnight Ink in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband is the second book in the Asperger's Mystery series. I enjoyed the first book in the series so I wanted to continue with the series. I like Jeff Cohen/E.J. Copperman style of writing There is always humor and a creative plot.

Samuel Hoenig has opened a business where he answers questions. He is emphatic that he is not a detective but answers questions only. Those questions do get him drawn into crime solving while finding answers to questions. A woman walks into office and wants to know "Who is the person that she is married to and wakes up beside." That question starts the mystery in the book.

I have to mention three characters in the book. First there is Samuel who is very intelligent but has trouble understanding the real meaning behind some spoken expressions. He takes them literally and his mother and assistant Janet Washburn explain to him what they really mean. He really has a great mom who understands and supports him. Plus as a reader, I wished I could go home with Samuel and have home cooked meals with him that his mom has prepared. Samuel is always aware of the time he should get home for his meal.

His assistant Janet Washburn is the perfect sidekick to Samuel. First of all, she understands him and supports him. He had to convince her to come back and work with him on the new question. Samuel really respects Janet. Janet's husband does not want her to work at Questions Answered. She was in danger in the first book and Samuel concern in this book is keeping Mrs. Washburn safe. He worries more about it than she does as she is a strong woman. She also does the driving for the two of them. She is good at explaining people facial expressions to Samuel, what the clichés mean and letting Samuel know if how he talks to people could be taken as rude.

My favorite scene in the book was a meal at Applebee's and the ride home after the meal. It was funny. I am looking forward to continuing the series and reading the next book. It is not a cookie cutter series and the plots are unique. The characters and the humor make the series shine.

[Klaudia_p · Rating 2 out of 5]

Z każdą kolejną komedią kryminalną utwierdzam się w przekonaniu, że to po prostu nie dla mnie. Niemniej jednak bohaterowie zasługują na moją sympatię. Niestety, same postaci nie uniosą fabuły, jeżeli jest zbyt słaba. Ta jest. Trochę szkoda.

[Samantha Parker-Zillich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this 2nd book as much as the 1st. I got a little lost with all the wives, but I love Samuel and Janet! Can't wait to read book #3!

[Katzenkindliest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicht ganz so gut wie der erste Teil, aber für mich immer noch 3,5 Sterne. Schade, dass die weiteren Teile nicht auf deutsch erschienen sind...

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rarely do I read 2 books in a series back-to-back. This one was an exception because I wanted to stay in Samuel’s world just a bit longer.

While I still enjoyed it, I must say it felt somewhat repetitious… which is probably the reason why I don’t usually read series books one after the other! I’ll wait a while before reading book #3.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good continuation of the series - enough so that I'm on the wait list for books 3 and 4 at my library.

[Gloria Feit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samuel Hoenig, the protagonist and first-person narrator in the second book in the series (following the wonderful The Question of the Missing Head last year) by E.J. Copperman, is 30 years old and still living with his mother. His business, Questions Answered, was opened six months ago in Piscataway, New Jersey, and as the tale begins a woman about 27 years old who introduces herself as Mrs. Sheila McInerney hires him to answer a rather startling question: “Who is the man in my bed who calls himself my husband?” She relates a scenario wherein she met this man at a party, shared a few glasses of red wine with him, and has no memory of the next three days, at which point he told her that they were so taken with each other that they married on the 2nd of those days.

Samuel was diagnosed at the age of 16 with Asperger’s Syndrome, has an IQ that he describes as “barely in the genius range,” and depends to a large extent on his mother to interpret social cues for him. He self-deprecatingly says “I have a talent for observation and research. Most people have some talent. That happens to be mine.” To assist him in answering the question with regard to which he has been hired, he persuades a former client, Janet Washburn, to work for him. She proves herself an invaluable assistant as he works to untangle the question posed, not an easy job by any means. When first one, then another dead body is found, things get much more complex.

The author’s trademark humor is on display in nearly every sentence of this delightful book, with suspense ratcheting up till nearly its conclusion. I must admit to some moments of confusion with the large cast of characters, at times difficult to differentiate among. As I said about the first book in the series, perhaps one of the most intriguing things about this series has to do with the character of Samuel, whose Asperger’s he believes is not a disorder, but merely a “facet of his personality.” He tends to be obsessive about some things, e.g., the Beatles and the New York Yankees (which this Mets fan skimmed hurriedly). Although perhaps not suspenseful in the usual way one might expect, 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.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does not stand alone - read the books in order.

I liked the mystery itself in this one better than the first story, although that one didn't need as much "plot" being a series set up piece; this one was a tad convoluted, but funny. A bit more of Daniel's early life is revealed, along with a personal tension between him and Ms. Washburn; another recurring character is introduced as well, giving the reader more indirect insight into how Samuel appears to others. Samuel's date with a suspect was hilarious (without being over-done)!

[Jacqueline Vick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second Asperger's Mystery. I love the way the authors are able to get across Samuel Hoenig's Aspergers in a way that's both informative and humourous. The mystery got a little complicated, but that didn't keep me from moving forward because I was intrigued by the characters and situations. Though Samuel's quirks make it difficult for him to read people's facial expressions and emotions, he still moves boldly ahead with tricks he's learned and the help of his mother and assistant, Ms. Washburn. Great characters and a fun read.

[Eugene · Rating 2 out of 5]

A near miss, but fairly entertaining. Samuel Hoenig has Asperger's Syndrome, and operates Questions Answered, a business devoted to finding the answer to your question. But folks continually assume that if he can investigate a question, he can do so with a crime. Hoenig resists this idea, but if they put the proposition to him in the form of a question that sufficiently intrigues him, he sometimes takes such a commission.
The book seems hokey at first, but Hoenig grows on you, as do his mother and "Ms. Washburn," his able assistant. And the shell game of potentially murderous ex-wives to the titled Unfamiliar Husband and their constantly changing identities keeps the confusion moving along to a satisfactory end. First I've read in this series, I may assay another sometime.

[Tasula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the amusing series about an Asperger's affected man who opens an agency called Questions Answered. In this book, the question is posed by a woman who wants to know who the man claiming to be her husband really is. The main characters are a lot of fun, the mysteries are interesting.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this protagonist and his thought processes. Unfortunately, however, I realized the "plot twist" about halfway through. Other than that, it's a fun read.

*Book Riot Read Harder Challenge
*cozy mystery
*book about someone who identifies as neurodiverse

[Trudy Ackerblade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this (the 2nd in the series) better than the first.
These are witty, clever, and quirky mysteries that are fun mainly because of the wonderful main characters that the authors have developed: a young man with high functioning autism, his proud mother, and his unexpected associate. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Jennifer Zillich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first book a bit more than this one. But it was a fun read

[Mayar Mahdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I think I liked this one more than the first book. I like seeing characters getting familiar with one another. Plus the plot was hilarious. I might just binge the series.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun mystery. I haven’t read earlier books in the series and that was ok. Samuel has a perfect track record of answering questions that come to his storefront business called Questions Answered, because he’s got just the sort of different take on things that helps answer questions others would struggle with. In this case he needs to find out if the woman who hires him is actually married as the man living with her says she is. Piece by piece, he puts things together, with the assistance of a past colleague who MUST return to help from the perspective of someone who is married.

Samuel got a late diagnosis of Aspergers, at 16, and throughout the story he knows his own strengths and weaknesses, and you can see his thought processes as he works through the weaknesses as his therapist has helped him do. He won’t drive or carry a cell phone due to anxieties, and his recognizes his social faux pas as soon as they come out of his mouth. He also recognizes how much his mom has helped him and her support is never ending, even as he comes back from wild work-related capers.

[Iza Brekilien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for http://theereaderjunkie.wordpress.com

– This arc was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review –

This is a series I’d never heard about but I requested it since it could be read as a standalone.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable book, not much on account of the murder investigation (if you’ve read Agatha Christie, you might find out early, like I did, who was responsible of the murder). It was because the main character, Samuel, has Asperger’s syndrome. This syndrome has been made famous mainly after the TV show Monk and Stig Larsson’s trilogy with the stunning character of Lisbeth Salander.

This story tends more toward Monk, it’s a cozy mystery and Samuel’s quirk are delectable, especially since he’s the one telling us the story. He tries his best to adapt to society but clearly, as he tells another character who wonders if he finds her crazy : “I think everyone is crazy.”

He evaluates people’s personalities by asking them what their favorite Beatles song is. He’s been trained to show some social skills, but his inner dialogue tells us it’s not ingrained.
“You have a lot of nerve”, Simon Taylor said. “Do you know that ?”
Each human being has the same number of nerves, and the human brain has approximately one hundred billion neurons, so the number was indeed quite high.
“Every person does”, I said, although I did not see the relevance to the conversation we had been having. “You have just as many.”

He seems devoid of feelings, he’s simply not even aware that he has them, yet he genuinely cares about his mother and his assistant, and hurts when people call him “retard” or such names.
“Ms LeBlanc spoke to Amy as if to a child and she did not speak to others that way, in my experience. Amy did invite that sort of treatment. But others have sometimes spoken to me that way because of my Asperger’s syndrome and I know how it feels. It is not the way I would address another person, not even a child.”

As a conclusion, I would say this is a very enjoyable book, even if I knew who the murderer was early on. It’s part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I’ll be catching up on the previous book, however, and will be happy to see how the series evolve. What will happen with Mrs Washburn ? Definitely recommended !

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff Cohen ups the ante in his second Asperger's mystery featuring Samuel Hoenig. While enlightening for those readers unacquainted with people who have Asperger's, The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband is a truly enjoyable read with many laugh-out-loud moments and a devilishly clever mystery to solve.

In the first book, The Question of the Missing Head, Samuel was seemingly obsessed with his timetable for exercise, and I have to admit that I was a bit worried that his persistence would carry over to this second book. Too much of a good thing is... too much. But Cohen is too smart for that. Yes, Samuel gets some exercise in this book, but now his main concern is vehicular safety, and I spent my time either being amused at his behavior... or agreeing with him.

Once again, I am impressed with the parenting skills of Samuel's mother. The type of support "Aspies" get at home is crucial in how well they fit into society. Samuel's mother is a strong and very wise woman, and I admire her-- as I do the other woman in Samuel's life, Janet Washburn. Janet enjoys a good challenge, which is why she enjoys working with Samuel and his "questions" so much, and it's her calm demeanor and quick thinking that makes them such a good team. If you're going to be the sidekick, be the best, and Janet is. I like her so much that I hope she takes center stage in a future book.

The solution to this clever mystery depends on so many things. Planted clues. A knowledge of Christie. A coincidence. And not blindly following accepted beliefs about certain groups of people. The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband certainly kept me smiling and guessing.

One of Samuel's endearing traits is his insistence that he can tell a lot about a person by that person's favorite Beatles song. I wonder what he would tell me if I let him know that mine is "In My Life"?

Samuel, his mother, and Janet have certainly worked themselves into my heart, and I look forward to their next adventure with a great deal of anticipation.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters are still interesting, but this second book doesn't shine quite like the first. The protagonist's personality and unique narration are enough to make any question he tackles intriguing to readers, which makes it all the less necessary to have as convoluted and complex a plot as this. Some key points--false identities and fraud, for example-- were too similar to the previous book's plot points.

Note: I received a digital ARC through NetGalley.

[Wackymack · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was just bad. Seriously, a police officer walks in and says my solve rate is really low so please solve this murder for me? I did read the entire book. One-dimensional characters, boring plot.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 continues the fabulously of the Asperger's Mystery series. Samuel Hoenig and Ms. Washburn have become 2 of my favorite characters working as a duo! This book did an excellent job of keeping my brain busy and providing some humor! Book 3 is already pre-ordered!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is a unique series with very likable characters.

[Jasbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bei diesem Buch handelt es sich um den zweiten Fall bzw. die zweite Frage (denn er ermittelt ja nicht, sondern beantwortet nur Fragen) von Samuel Hoenig. Man muss den Vorgänger nicht kennen, um die Geschichte zu verstehen, jedoch empfehle ich es schon. Denn man kennt dann einfach die wichtigsten Personen, neben Samuel seine Mitarbeiterin Janet Washburn, bereits und so macht das Lesen einfach noch mehr Spaß.

Samuel Hoenig hat das Asperger-Syndrom und kann deswegen zwischenmenschliche Beziehungen nicht wirklich einordnen. Aus diesem Grund braucht er die Unterstützung von Janet, die eigentlich nicht mehr bei "Fragen beantworten", Samuels Geschäft, arbeiten möchte. Das hat sie am Ende des ersten Teils klar gemacht, deswegen war ich umso erfreuter, dass sie auch im zweiten Teil wieder auftaucht. Die Beiden sind einfach ein tolles Team, sie ergänzen sich super und einer wäre ohne den anderen nicht so erfolgreich. Es macht richtig Spaß zu verfolgen, wie sie sich immer besser kennenlernen und aufeinander eingehen. Für mich ist das das Highlight des Buches.

Der Fall bzw. die Frage an sich hat es aber auch wieder in sich: Ein Ehemann, der gar keiner ist? Und warum liegt er plötzlich tot in Samuels Büro? Ich will an dieser Stelle nichts vom Inhalt vorwegnehmen, doch wird es wieder sehr spannend und Samuel muss sehr viel kombinieren. Ich hatte Spaß daran, alles mitzuverfolgen, wurde aber gegen Ende etwas enttäuscht. Denn eine Sache ist sehr auffällig, sodass sie mir beim Lesen sofort aufgefallen ist. Samuel aber nicht. Deswegen hatte ich auch die Auflösung früher als sie im Buch auftauchte und das mag ich bei Krimis einfach nicht.

Gut gefallen hat mir wieder die Sprache: Die rationalen Dialoge zwischen Samuel und den anderen Personen sind einfach super. Aber auch die Missverständnisse, wenn er wieder etwas wörtlich nimmt, was aber übertragen gemeint ist. Da wird einem erstmal bewusst, wie kompliziert Sprache sein kann. Dabei schafft es der Autor, dass man seine Vorurteile gegen Menschen mit autistischen Zügen verliert, denn im Endeffekt zeigt er auf, dass man die Welt auf verschiedene Arten sehen kann. Letztendlich hat am Ende immer Samuel die Hosen an und lässt seine Gesprächspartner das ein oder andere Mal mit offenem Mund zurück.
Leider habe ich aber auch zwei Übersetzungsfehler gefunden, die mich schon etwas gestört haben.

Insgesamt hatte ich aber wieder viel Spaß beim Lesen. Ich hoffe, es wird noch einige weitere Teile geben: 4 Sterne!

[Agata Górska · Rating 5 out of 5]

To nie jest typowa komedia kryminalna, która opierałaby się na absurdalnych sytuacjach czy elementach czarnego humoru. Książkę czyta się z uśmiechem na twarzy z powodu jej głównego bohatera.

Fabuła opiera się na rozmowach, analizie istotnych szczegółów i docieraniu do nich. Samo rozwiązanie intrygi nie było dla mnie szczególnie zaskakujące, jednak wartość tej powieści nie opiera się na śledztwie.
Jej największą wartością jest postać Samuela Hoeninga.

Samuel ma zespół Aspergera. Nie jest to dla niego powód do wstydu, a część życia. Jego problemem jest odczytywanie emocji i dosłowne interpretowanie słów.

Czytając tę powieść nie trzeba się nad niczym zastanawiać, bowiem bohater wszystko podaje czytelnikowi na tacy – czas przejazdu, ile sekund trwało milczenie, detale rozmów telefonicznych (łącznie z tym, kto wybrał numer telefonu, a kto trzymał słuchawkę). Tak samo ważne jak jego praca jest przybycie na czas na kolację z mamą oraz potrzeby jego współpracowniczki.

Samuel często analizuje związki frazeologiczne. Dla niego ich znaczenie zazwyczaj nie ma większego sensu.
Język powieści znakomicie oddaje sposób myślenia Samuela. Warto przy tym podkreślić, że autor przedstawia tego bohatera bez drwiny, wyśmiewania czy jakiegokolwiek deprecjonowania.

Kiedy w Polsce był emitowany serial Detektyw Monk byłam jego wielką fanką. Samuel Hoening bardzo przypomina tego bohatera. Książkę Tajemnica rzekomego małżonka przeczytałam z ogromną przyjemnością. Z zainteresowaniem śledziłam intrygę oraz byłam pełna podziwu dla spostrzegawczości Samuela. Fabuła powieści była przemyślana, a największą jej wartością był fenomenalnie skonstruowany główny bohater. Autor z dużą delikatnością, szacunkiem i wiedzą podszedł do tego tematu.

"Tajemnicę rzekomego małżonka" polecam nie tylko fanom zagadek kryminalnych.

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I first came across this book, I was genuinely intrigued. A mystery novel with an autistic main character sounded inspired, unique, and potentially a refreshing take on the genre. The overwhelmingly positive reviews led me to believe I was in for a compelling and thoughtful read.

Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed.

Despite finishing the entire audiobook in hopes it would improve, the story remained unbelievable, uninteresting, and frankly, dull. Beyond the lackluster plot, my biggest concern lies in the portrayal of the main character, Samuel, and the way his autism is depicted.

Samuel frequently references his doctor “helping” him learn socially acceptable behavior—such as discouraging him from flapping his hands (a completely normal and healthy form of stimming for autistic individuals) and instead replacing it with actions like massaging his forehead. This emphasis on suppressing authentic autistic traits in favor of mimicking neurotypical behavior is harmful. It aligns closely with ABA therapy, a highly controversial practice often criticized within the autistic community for promoting masking at the expense of mental health. Comparing ABA to conversion therapy is not hyperbolic—it underscores the real psychological damage such approaches can cause.

The book is filled with red flags in its description of Samuel and his behavior. Rather than offering a nuanced or respectful representation, it leans into harmful stereotypes that perpetuate misunderstandings about autism.

In short, this novel does a disservice to autistic people by promoting outdated and damaging narratives under the guise of representation. It’s not only disappointing—it’s harmful.

[JayEmm]

I have just finished reading "The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband" by E.J. Copperman, the second installment in the Asperger Mystery series. While I enjoyed the first volume in this series "The Question of the Missing Head" enough that I wanted to read the next installment, I was disappointed in vol. 2 "Unfamiliar Husband." My problem with the story line is that I had difficulty in following the action with the number of characters involved in the plot. Not enough character development was done on the many people involved with Samuel's quest to answer his client's question. I was a little chagrined because all of the names of all of the characters were just names to me. I do not feel there was enough characterization to make these names into realistic characters with whom I could relate, in some way. I was reading an e-book, and perhaps the challenge in turning back to previous pages and chapters, added to my lack of understanding. I liked the overall premise of the plot, a lady asks Samuel to answer a question about her unfamiliar husband, and the plot complicates and thickens from there. I still compliment Ms. Copperman for her ability to create a believable main character diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and some of the dialog and inner conversation by Samuel is chuckle-worthy because Samuel is so believable in his portrayal of his life with an Asperger diagnosis. I will probably check out the next installment of the series to see if Ms. Copperman recovers from this disappointing second attempt.

[Cheryl Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samuel Hoenig is once again posed an intriguing question at his place of business, Questions Answered. A woman named Sheila McInery isn't sure just who her husband is or if she married him under suspicious circumstances. The question intrigues Samuel, but he knows that as an individual with the autism spectrum diagnosis, Asperger's Syndrome, relationships with people are what he does worst. After much persuading, he is able to entice his past associate Janet Washburn to investigate with him. Before Samuel can do much investigating, the husband in question turns up dead in Samuel's place of business, and his employer promptly vanishes

Samuel discovers a long string of ex-wives with grievances against the husband, a slippery lawyer, a shadow figure who never turns up, and a scheme to bilk senior citizens out of their life savings. Can Samuel and Janet untangle the truth behind the slew of ex-wives and unmask a murderer before it is too late?

[Tracy St Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second book in this author's cozy mystery series about a detective who has Asperger's Syndrome.

The first book was much better than this one. This book has some has some strange devices -- a person looks "around thirty-two" (years old), which is nuts, you can't approximate someone's age down to the year. Or you know the year, and you don't have to guess. When I read that phrase, I thought, maybe it is supposed to be an aspie thing. But no, a couple pages later, we have someone in their mid-fifties. This just kind of bugged me.

The other issue is the male author problem. I previously thought this writer was female, until this book, where we encounter a group of divorced women of the same guy who call themselves the "WOOL club." Wives of Oliver Lewis. They get together....

Nope. I knew it was a male author then.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Samuel Hoenig, a man with Asperger's, runs "Questions Answered" a detective agency of sorts. He makes it clear that he is not a detective but an investigator and all he does is answers questions.


A woman comes in and tells Samuel that she has woken up to find an "unfamiliar" man in her bed, who claims to be her husband.... Her husband shows their a marriage certificate as proof, but she is unable to remember anything that happened between her arriving at a party and waking up and finding him in bed with her three days later.

Her questions are: "Who is the man/Is she really married?"

Later that day, the husband comes in and threatens Samuel, telling him to call off his investigation.

A few days later, the same woman calls Samuel frantic, saying that her husband has turned violent and she has locked herself in her bathroom and needs his help. Samuel and his associate Mrs. Washburn go to the apartment only to find no sign of the husband, odd traces of blood. When he questions the woman she flees, calling the police setting both Samuel & Mrs. Washburn up for attempted burglary.

After Samuel & Mrs. Washburn are released they go back to Samuel's office "Questions Answered" and find the husband sprawled out, dead on the floor with his throat slit.

As Samuel & Mrs. Washburn continue their investigation they find that the man was a serial monogamist (one who continually falls in love & marries; falls in love with another, divorces, marries; falls in love with still another, divorces...) and has had no less than 5 wives who have formed a sort of support group and all have reasons for wanting him dead....

As the investigation continues, Samuel & Mrs. Washburn come across the body of the woman who originally hired them, and the questions arise: "How is she different from the other wives?" "Why was she murdered?"

The only thing I do not understand and I find "off" is that there is usually one detective that admits to his inability to solve the case and will ask Samuel for help.

I liked the premise of the story, I like Samuel & Mrs. Washburn, but at times Samuel's idiosyncratic narration got to be a bit much for me, so I tended to skip over it. Still his thought process & power of logical deduction is quite interesting.