From Publishers Weekly
When "vision of loveliness" Stella Seco, now known as Vanessa Moss, appears in charming Jewish gumshoe Benny Cooperman's Ontario office, it's not, unfortunately, a social call, even though they went to school together. Because a friend wearing Vanessa's clothing was murdered in Vanessa's house, the gorgeous head of entertainment at the National Television Corporation believes that someone's out to kill her and wants Benny to protect her, and that she's one of the prime suspects in the murder is the least of Bennys problems in Howard Engel's hard-to-resist The Cooperman Variations: A Benny Cooperman Mystery. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Canadian-Jewish P.I. Benny Cooperman (There Was an Old Woman) goes to work for Vanessa Moss, a former acquaintance who now heads the entertainment division of a television network. After a friend is murdered in her house, Vanessa fears for her own life. Recommended. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
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
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Julian Symons
Engel can turn a phrase as neatly as Chandler.

Booklist Magazine
Heavy on full-bodied characters, sharp dialogue, and rich humor. Benny just plain charms the socks off anyone he meets.

Ruth Rendell
A born writer, a natural stylist....who can bring a character to life in a few lines.

Book Description
Benny Cooperman is a detective with flair, known and loved the world over as a witty, egg salad-loving, Jewish gentleman sleuth. This kinder, gentler detective-funny, smart, and squeamish about violence-is the creation of master of the genre Howard Engel, and readers stretch now to thirteen countries, from his native Canada to Japan, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and the US.

About the Author
Howard Engel is the winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for crime fiction. He is a founding member of the Crime Writer's Association of Canada, where his private eye has been described as a cherished national institution.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Benny Cooperman is a detective with flair, known and loved as the witty, egg salad-loving, Jewish gentleman sleuth he is the world over. This kinder, gentler detective - funny, smart and squeamish about violence - is the creation of master of the genre Howard Engel, and readers stretch now to thirteen countries, from Canada to Japan, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and the U.S." "A murder and a beautiful woman are the key elements that get Benny embroiled in the scandalous world of television broadcasting this time around." It all starts when Benny, mulling over the lack of stimulating work and the absence of his girlfriend, is visited by a woman from his past. She is Vanessa Moss, a former high school beauty who has grown up to become Head of Entertainment at a television network, and she asks Benny to protect her. A friend was murdered while at her house and Vanessa fear she was the target. So, Benny poses as Vanessa's executive assistant amidst a tangle of competing executives, back-biting lawyers, arrogant producers, and hopeful hangers-on, trying to protect his client, give the local cops a helping hand, and avoid making enemies of his colleaques. He quickly discovers that taking care of Vanessa is a seductive but risky business.

FROM THE CRITICS

Ruth Rendell

Mr. Engel is a born writer,a natural stylist...This is a writer who can bring a character to life in a few lines.

Julian Symons

Engel can turn a phrase as neatly as Chandler.

Publishers Weekly

When vision of loveliness Stella Seco"now known as Vanessa Moss"appears in charming Jewish gumshoe Benny Coopermans Ontario office, its not, unfortunately, a social call, even though they went to school together. Because a friend wearing Vanessas clothing was murdered in Vanessas house, the gorgeous head of entertainment at the National Television Corporation believes that someones out to kill her and wants Benny to protect her"and that shes one of the prime suspects in the murder is the least of Bennys problems in Howard Engels hard-to-resist The Cooperman Variations: A Benny Cooperman Mystery. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Canadian-Jewish P.I. Benny Cooperman (There Was an Old Woman) goes to work for Vanessa Moss, a former acquaintance who now heads the entertainment division of a television network. After a friend is murdered in her house, Vanessa fears for her own life. Recommended. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews