Jeffrey Cohen, author of the hilarious Aaron Tucker mysteries (For Whom the Minivan Rolls, A Farewell to Legs) is back with a new series. Some Like It Hot-Buttered, the first in the Double Feature mystery series, stars Elliott Freed as the new owner of an antique theatre that he has turned into Comedy Tonight, which shows only comedy movies on a nightly basis. Elliot has plenty to deal with, considering he is still in love with his ex-wife (a doctor who is now remarried to another doctor), his theatre is far from a money-maker, and he’s still bitter about the one novel he published, which was turned into a terrible movie. So the last thing he needs is to find a patron dead in his movie theatre after a showing of Young Frankenstein. Matters get worse when investigating police discover a stash of pirated movies in the basement of Elliot’s theatre, and one of his young employees disappears before police can question him.

Elliot can’t help but investigate the murder on his own, not only because he’s very offended that anyone would murder a person enjoying such a fine comedy in his theatre, but also because he is attracted to Detective Leslie Levant, a stunning blonde who is on the case. As Elliot delves deeper into the murdered man’s life, he discovers that Vince Ansella, the deceased, is a man after his own heart. A lover of classic comedy, Vince was a man with a wonderful sense of humor, a beautiful wife and no reason for anyone to want him dead. So why did someone find it necessary to sprinkle poison on his popcorn? And is his murder connected to the pirated movies in the basement?

The best part of Cohen’s books has never been the plots (though each is a more than adequate mystery that keeps the reader guessing). The reason his readers keep coming back for more is Cohen’s delightful sense of humor and ability to create main characters who shine with sly mirth, bubble with self-deprecating humor and zing one-liners nearly every time they open their mouth or even have internal dialogue with themselves. It’s difficult to get through even a page of one of Cohen’s books without having a chuckle, and Some Like It Hot-Buttered is no different. Elliot Freed is the classic underachieving nice guy, but with an edge of dark humor that is impossible to resist. Even though he may not be the most successful or interesting character you’ve ever read about, he’s surely one of the funniest, and following him on his bumbling adventure is a joy.

If you enjoy humor in any form, you’ll get a kick out of Some Like It Hot-Buttered. If you like comedic mysteries, you’re in for a real treat. And, if you happen to like comedic mysteries and are a fan of classic comedy movies, you’ve hit the jackpot. Pick up Some Like It Hot-Buttered, then go back and find his Aaron Tucker mysteries. You won’t be disappointed.