Cooperman Variations: A Benny Cooperman Mystery - Softcover

HOWARD ENGEL is the creator of the enduring and beloved detective Benny Cooperman, who, through his appearance in 12 bestselling novels, has become an internationally recognized fictional sleuth. Two of Engel s novels have been adapted for TV movies, and his books have been translated into several languages. He is the winner of numerous awards, including the 2005 Writers Trust of Canada Matt Cohen Award, the 1990 Harbourfront Festival Prize for Canadian Literature and an Arthur Ellis Award for crime fiction. Howard Engel lives in Toronto.

The new installment of the Canadian novelist's popular private-eye series finds perpetually struggling investigator Benny Cooperman leaving his usual setting--the fictional Ontario city of Grantham--and taking up temporary residence in the bustling metropolis of Toronto, where he's signed on as bodyguard to an old high-school acquaintance. Television exec Vanessa Moss was the object of Benny's adolescent affections, although she never knew it. Now he must protect her from some unnamed killers, despite her insistence on putting herself at risk at every possible opportunity. As usual, Benny fumbles his way through the case but eventually sorts out lies from truth and bad guys from good guys. This is a charming series (imagine Sam Spade as played by Woody Allen, or perhaps Jon Lovitz); readers new to Benny's world may find themselves a little confused from time to time, but this is only a minor inconvenience. Benny is a wonderful narrator, and once readers have spent a few minutes with him, they will feel like they've known him all their lives. Great fun. David Pitt
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