It Happened One Knife
Jeffrey Cohen
Reviewed by Barb Radmore
Elliot Freed is back as the star in the second reel of the Double
Feature Mystery series. He is the owner of the movie theater that runs
only comedies, albeit a wide variety to meet the taste of any
aficionado of the field. This venue allows Cohen to display his
prodigious knowledge of comedy movie trivia. It seems Cohen is
blending a hobby into his professional writing life- a potentially
powerful combination.
In It Happened One Knife
Cohen has created two plot lines. In the one his assistant has produced
a violent, blood filled movie that Elliot has agreed to show in his
theater. Who is at fault when it disappears soon after? Anthony
thinks it may be Elliot which puts the two of them at odds. This
becomes only a small problem compared to the main storyline. Elliot is
thrilled to have Harry Lillis agree to attend one of his movie
showings. Harry and his partner were comedy legends, together starring
in comedic classic movies such as the one Elliot is showing, Cracked
Ice.. When Harry's partner, Wilson Townes, also shows up Elliot
thinks things can not get better. But when some information about the
duos past comes to Elliot's attention he decided he needs to know the
truth about their past. The road to the past is paved with danger,
death and disappointment. Elliot's heroes may not be the men he thought
they would be, a high pedestal off which to fall. The crash could have
tragic consequences for Elliot, his business and his friends.
The foundation of the mystery is shaky for me but I have never been a
huge fan of any public or famous person. Maybe true fans would get
instantly drawn into the mystery of an idol like Elliot did with Lillis
and Townes. Fans seem to go to absurd lengths at times. He delved into
their past based on a sentence thrown at him by the old man as if it
was a very normal thing to do. Maybe googling information makes sense
but not the rest of the story. Oh well, it makes for a fun read. The
crooked plot line that leads to the conclusion is nicely full of bumps,
twists and detours. It will lead the reader on to the next one to see
what Elliot will get himself into in the future. Seems like a sure bet
that Elliot will find trouble again in the future. If it does not come
to him he goes looking for it.