June E. (junie) -
This book has a certain charm and it is a very popular series. My grandson has Asperger's and that is the reason I'm reading it.
Yes, social skills and being quirky, not always being able to empathize and lots of other issues beset "Aspies", and it takes years of therapy and training to help them deal.
The book is interesting, but the writing seems immature and childish at times, and if l continue the series, I'll just skim so I can continue to watch Samuel as he tries to run his own business.
Yes, social skills and being quirky, not always being able to empathize and lots of other issues beset "Aspies", and it takes years of therapy and training to help them deal.
The book is interesting, but the writing seems immature and childish at times, and if l continue the series, I'll just skim so I can continue to watch Samuel as he tries to run his own business.
Amanda (RockStarGirl) reviewed The Question of the Felonious Friend (Asperger's, Bk 3) on + 329 more book reviews
This is the 3rd book in the Asperger's series by Copperman/Cohen and it was just as good as the first two. I do recommend reading this in order if you can because character development is a big part of this series. So in this one, Samuel is faced with another unique question, but this one is particularly tricky for him: A young man who also is on the autism spectrum comes to Samuel and wants to know if the man he calls his friend is actually his friend or not. This is not something Samuel can quantify with facts or data, and picking up on mannerisms, sarcasm, and emotion can be quite difficult. Ms. Washington will be needed more than ever to help Samuel with this request, but it turns out that there is more to the question than meets the eye, especially when the man who may or may not be his new client's friend ends up dead with Samuel's client left holding the gun. Samuel's client's autism makes it difficult to suss out what really happened, but Samuel and Ms. Washington are determined to find out the truth. It's nice to see Samuel interpret and analyze someone else on the spectrum aside from himself and work against the biases that some have towards people with autism. His relationship with Ms. Washington becomes a bit complicated as she navigates some personal issues in her life and he struggles not to cross professional boundaries. The mystery is interesting and I didn't quite see the angle that it was leading towards until right there at the end. Satisfying read and I hope the series is able to continue for a long time.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
I have enjoyed every one of Jeff Cohen's series, but I have to admit that this is my favorite. Cohen has arrived at a perfect blend of knowledge, character, mystery, humor, and heart. What a combination!
As the story unfolds, the mystery deepens. These questions are never as simple as they first appear. As Samuel uncovers more facts, it's obvious that his first hunch (the clerk is not Tyler's friend) was the correct one, but we're all left to wonder what on earth is going on. The mystery alone is worth the price of admission.
But what adds depth and heart to The Question of the Felonious Friend is the interplay between the characters. While Samuel's mother has a very small role in this book, we see more of Ms. Washburn's personal life and how Samuel reacts to it. The police in Piscataway, New Jersey, are slowly learning how to work with this young man, too. But for the first time we see Samuel in contact with someone else who's also on the autism spectrum. Tyler has not had the advantages that Samuel has. He has almost no social skills, and quickly becomes mute when stressed. Through Samuel and his relationship with Tyler, we learn how people who are on the autism spectrum should be treated... and how insensitive "normal" people usually are.
I've come to care a great deal for Jeff Cohen's characters. Their personalities and relationships are evolving with each new book. I sincerely hope that Samuel will be around to answer many more questions in the future.
As the story unfolds, the mystery deepens. These questions are never as simple as they first appear. As Samuel uncovers more facts, it's obvious that his first hunch (the clerk is not Tyler's friend) was the correct one, but we're all left to wonder what on earth is going on. The mystery alone is worth the price of admission.
But what adds depth and heart to The Question of the Felonious Friend is the interplay between the characters. While Samuel's mother has a very small role in this book, we see more of Ms. Washburn's personal life and how Samuel reacts to it. The police in Piscataway, New Jersey, are slowly learning how to work with this young man, too. But for the first time we see Samuel in contact with someone else who's also on the autism spectrum. Tyler has not had the advantages that Samuel has. He has almost no social skills, and quickly becomes mute when stressed. Through Samuel and his relationship with Tyler, we learn how people who are on the autism spectrum should be treated... and how insensitive "normal" people usually are.
I've come to care a great deal for Jeff Cohen's characters. Their personalities and relationships are evolving with each new book. I sincerely hope that Samuel will be around to answer many more questions in the future.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
I really like the characters in this series but I didn't feel this book was quite as good as the first two. I'll see what the next book does for the continuation of the series, though.
