Edited Out

Mysterious Detective #2

by E.J. Copperman

Mystery author Rachel Goldman is getting used to the idea that her fictional creation Duffy Madison has somehow taken flesh-and-blood form and is investigating missing person cases not far from where Rachel lives. Wait. No. She's not getting used to it at all, and the presence of this real-life Duffy is making her current manuscript—what's the word?—lousy.

So she doesn't want to see Duffy—the living one—at all. To make matters worse, when he shows up at her door and insists on talking to her, it's about the one thing she doesn't want to Find a missing person. But the man Duffy seeks this time around might be able to solve Rachel's problem. He might just be the man Duffy was before he became Duffy five years ago. The only problem is she could be letting Duffy lead her into danger yet again...

Entertaining and witty, the second in E.J. Copperman's Mysterious Detective Mystery series Edited Out will delight his fans, both new and old.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy, Fiction, Detective, Crime

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 9, 2017

About the author

Librarian note: E.J. Copperman is the pen name for author Jeff Cohen

E.J. Copperman is a mysterious figure, or has a mysterious figure, or writes figuratively in mysteries. In any event, a New Jersey native, E.J. has written for such publications as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, American Baby and USA Weekend. Night of the Living Deed is the first E.J. Copperman novel. It will be followed in 2011 by An Uninvited Ghost, the second in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series.

E.J., having worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, magazine editor, and screenwriter, writes stories that combine humor and mystery with just the right amount of spooky supernatural happenings and a large doses of Jersey attitude.

Sound like we’re being evasive? Well, the fact is that E.J. Copperman is the pseudonym of a well-known mystery novelist, now embarking on a new type of story that includes some elements of the supernatural as well as a fair number of laughs. And the Copperman novels will have a different attitude, a different setting and completely different characters than anything that has come before, so E.J. really is a new author.

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 out of 5 stars to E.J. Copperman's novel Edited Out: A Mysterious Detective Mystery, the second in Jeff Cohen's (author's real name) "Mysterious Detective Mystery" series of books. It was really a 3.4999999 and I had to unfortunately round down. Now that I'm reviewing more ARCs, I find myself starting series in the middle, which is never a good idea... And though this was a good book, you should definitely read the first one before you take on book two. I'll explain why later on in this review. Onward we go...



Why This Book
I belong to an advanced reader group on Facebook for cozy mystery books, where I entered a contest to win a copy of this one. I won the book, and I'd like to thank E.J. Copperman, Crooked Lane Publishers and the ladies who run the Facebook group for the opportunity. And as expected, my review is an honest response to the book. It was the last open ARC I had before jumping on to some NetGalley awards, so it's good to feel caught up on at least one site.



Overview of Story
Rachel is a mystery writer living in NJ, and she has several books penned about a detective named Duffy Madison. She makes a decent living at writing, but her life is turned upside down when a man named Duffy Madison claims to be her character brought to real life. (Note, this all happened in the first book... we're now on the second book...) In this one, Duffy's research leads him to Damien Mosely who has been missing for 5 years. Despite her concerns, Rachel agrees to help Duffy investigate Damien who lived in Poughkeepsie, NY. During their investigation, they meet 4 or 5 people who are all telling some level of lies about who Damien was and what kind of relationship they previously had. No one believes he is dead, but then a body is discovered, and it matches Damien's and Duffy's description. After a few days of checking out all the leads, they are all starting to believe Duffy can't be Damien, as Damien is definitely the dead body; however, Damien's supposed wife turns up dead, throwing suspicion onto Duffy. Rachel and Ben, a friend who works in the DA's office, dig even further and learn a few secrets that bring the murderer to the forefront. In the end, the case is solved, with a few mishaps and a few near-death experiences.

Approach & Style
1. "Edited Out" is book 2 in the series. Book 1 was "Written Off." The entire premise in the series is that an author meets a man who claims he is the character in her books. Duffy has no memory before 5 years ago, when the first book was published, and he's determined to prove that he's not someone with memory loss. Meanwhile, the author, Rachel, is trying not to get close to him, as she thinks he might be a little crazy; however, she's drawn to helping him figure out his identity, as she is struggling to write the character now that she's seeing some of his characteristics come to life in front of her. What if she makes a mistake?



2. It's a first-person narrative, told from Rachel's perspective and point of view. It does not jump around, which is a good thing for some readers. It helps keep a little bit of suspense, especially given how important of a character Duffy Madison is to both the real book and the books Rachel writes within the book we are reading.

Strengths
1. This could have been tremendously confusing, but the writer does a good job at being very clear when we're talking about Duffy the character and Duffy the real-life person, and rarely without it feeling repetitive. It's a great concept - a character comes to life - if that's what it turns out to be. Reminds be a little of Jasper Fforde's series with Thursday Next.



2. The writing is relaxed and easy, makes you laugh and crosses that line a little between the writer and the reader, but in a good way. A few times, I'm like:



Open Questions & Concerns
Though the mystery was good, it wasn't superb. The book starts off in a place where it would have been really valuable to have read the first book previously. You're left guessing how did Duffy meet Rachel, what kind of intros did they have, what was going on just before this all happened. But that was book 1 and you don't know unless you read it. As a result, the mystery in this one isn't like normal mysteries... Step 1, you have a character you get to know, Step 2, the character dies, Step 3, you search for the killer. Here, it's... Step 1, let's figure out who I am, Step 2, oh, I'm this guy possibly, Step 3, oh wait, he might be dead, Step 4, let's figure out who killed him. So I'm left thinking...

"Yeah, I know if you investigate this murder, you might get some info on who you really are, but I don't care about that murder... I just want to know if you really came to life from the book."

BAM. And then the book ends with no further information on who the real life Duffy Madison is, other than he may have gone to school with the dead guy. Whaaaaat?



Final Thoughts
It's a great concept. I like the story. I may go back to read book 1. But I'm not sure where the series will go at this point... will it be 10 books trying to figure out who the real life Duffy is, or did he really spring out of the book and this becomes a fantasy series. I might be able to go with it...



As I really enjoyed the author's writing style, I'll likely give some of his other series a chance. He has "The Haunted Guesthouse Mystery" series with 8 books and "Asperger's Mystery" series with 4 books. I'd never heard of him or his books before, so I'm really glad I won this ARC.

About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.

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[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would actually give this a 3 1/2 star. Rachel who writes a Duffy Madison series has had the real thing walk into her life. In this book Rachel and Duffy travel to Poughkeepsie in search of Damien Mosley who disappeared the same time as Duffy appeared.
My problem in the beginning there was a lot of repetitive, I knew he would act this way, I wrote him this way, but denies that she believes that he is the Duffy of her books. This is a quirk of mine, repetitiveness and probably will not bother most, and probably is needed for people reading as a stand alone. Further in the book there was less of it. There was also a lot of Rachel thinking of comments, a lot of them were funny but sometimes there were so many it seemed to break the flow for me, but then again that was me.
I love the whole premise of Rachel writing a character that seems to have come to life and has no memory of a past, this leaves things open so you have no idea where this will take you. I like the characters, Rachel is strong and likeable, a lot of her comments had me laughing the same as the ones she didn't say out loud. Duffy had a little more personality in the book and makes you want to learn more about him. Ben also goes along for part of the investigation, and Paula Rachel's assistant is her usual efficient self and finder of answers. The mystery was excellent, you don't know who to trust or believe. There are plenty of twists that keep you guessing. A enjoyable read, I would suggest you start with the first but it isn't necessary, I think there wouldn't be much problem catching on.
*I was lucky enough to have received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

This series is good, but I don't find it as entertaining as the author's Haunted Guesthouse series. Perhaps it's because Duffy from this series reminds me of my son when he was much younger - genius-level smart, one-track mind that is logical to a fault... and awkward at some of the social aspects of life.

There were several puzzles to solve in this book, and it got complicated - lots of characters whose stories/alibis conflicted, past events affecting current events and our intrepid trio traveling to places where they don't know anyone and have no backup. I gave up trying to figure out who was responsible, when and why, and just followed along as they talked to people and gathered information and clues.

I wasn't expecting the identity of the culprit, but I wasn't surprised either, and given that 'clue,' the motive made sense.

This appears to be the last in the series, which is disappointing, but at least I have one more Haunted Guesthouse book to read :)

[Kimberlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Edited Out" by E.J. Copperman provides a unique twist on the cozy mystery genre. The protagonist, Rachel Goldman, is a mystery author. The over-arching premise of the series is that a man claiming to be Duffy Madison, her main character, appears in her life. In addition to solving the current mystery in which she finds herself involved, Rachel must try to figure out who the man claiming to be a fictional character actually is, all while trying to finish writing her current book.

What makes this book so enjoyable is first person narrator Rachel. She tells the story, but also speaks directly to the reader, and she is hilarious! For example: "Women were not put on this planet to be buffers between men. It's a side service we sometimes offer while we plot our takeover of the world. Go ahead. Assume I'm kidding."

In addition to Duffy and Rachel, the minor characters are also well-drawn and full of potential. I look forward to the next installment in this series; I'm eager to see what mystery our main characters are confronted with next, to gather more clues to Duffy's true identity, and to hopefully learn more about the backstories and personalities of Ben (police investigator) and Rachel's father.

The story itself is well-paced and cleverly plotted. It is a bit reminiscent of old-school detective stories, as Duffy and Rachel interview witnesses, gradually gathering more and more information (and misinformation) about the case. I enjoyed this aspect of the book; in many cozies, the heroine spends most of the book going about her life, occasionally coming across some clues. In "Edited Out", Rachel is actively (if reluctantly) trying to solve the mystery.

Another aspect of "Edited Out" that I found interesting was the information that Rachel shares about being a writer. During the course of the book, she talks about deadlines, editors, agents, writer's block, and her writing process. This is never overwhelming, and the reader doesn't feel like the book has suddenly transitioned from a mystery to "How To Be a Writer". However, what Rachel shares about her career comes across as insightful and relevant.

Side note: Other reviewers have said that this book can be read as a stand-alone. I can't honestly address this, as I had already read book 1, "Written Off". That being said, I think that a reader could pick up "Edited Out" and figure out what was going on fairly quickly. However, I'd recommend starting with the first book, both for continuity of storyline and for the more detailed character development provided.

I highly recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries. I also think that fans of traditional mysteries would enjoy this story, as it provides a significant amount of focus on trying to solve the crime. Anyone looking for something unique would also find "Edited Out" a worthwhile choice.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery writer, Rachel Goldman is hooked up with a man who claims to to be her fictional sleuth, having the same name and occupation as her character, Duffy Madison. He asks her to help him find a missing person (Damien Mosley) who just happened to disappear in the same time frame as Duffy took on the personae. Real “Duffy” has no memory before the segue, so it leans towards the probability the two are one. As they investigate Damien’s disappearance, those that knew him remark on the noticeable similarities. But then it comes to light that there really was a Duffy and he and Damien went to school together. And things get more intertwined in a contorted cast of characters that often have you rereading a sentence to be sure where it fits and how the person mentioned is currently involved.
It could be a fun read, but the annoying repetition of fake & real Duffy, how she wrote this characteristic or that whatever just gets in the way. Over and over and over.
But then it actually gets interesting, psychologically suspenseful even. Duffy gets pulled in for the murder of Damien’s wife when he tells the police where the gun that probably killed her is hidden. Then it twists more than Chubby Checker in his prime and gets downright juicy. Who’s zooming who?
More and more, I visualized Duffy as Ignatius J. Reilly. Characteristically most prominently. I wound up enjoying the read, (asides aside) and will probably read more. I like how Duffy’s mind works.

[Terri · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tries way to hard to be funny so ends up silly.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I didn't find the second book quite as enjoyable as the first, but now I'm curious how long the author can sustain this amusingly ridiculous premise.

[Caryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edited Out is the second in the Mysterious Detective Mystery series. Generally this is a bit of a problem for readers who have not read the first book in the series, but author Copperman spends the first few pages of Edited Out bringing readers up to speed on the basics from Written Off, the first book. So people should be fine starting with this book.
From that point on, the book moves quickly to an entirely new case (more like two or three) for mystery writer Rachel Goldman and Duffy Madison to solve. However, after their adventures in the first book, Rachel is not all that keen on having anything to do with the man calling himself Duffy Madison. But Rachel is an author who has a deadline coming. Duffy who is her protagonist that she made up has become all confused in Rachel's mind with Duffy the flesh and blood guy who claims Rachel invented him. Of course that can't be true, but as of yet, who Duffy the man really is or where he came from is up in the air. And Rachel isn't able to write her next novel because when she tries to write about Duffy the character, Duffy the man keeps popping into her thoughts. Confused yet?
In order to get her new book back on track, Rachel calls Duffy who not only shows up at her house but convinces Rachel they need to go to Poughkeepsie, New York and sort out the Duffy Madison/ Damien Mosley issue. Rachel is convinced the man calling himself Duffy is really Damien who seemingly dropped off the face of the earth five years earlier, just about the time Duffy the man appeared. While prying into people's private lives and snooping around complete strangers homes, not much evidence one way or the other if found. However, after Rachel returns home she is shocked to receive a call that Duffy has been arrested for murder-a murder that is tied to the Damien Mosely disappearance.
This is a fun book to read, but readers might need to jot down a few notes to keep straight who all of the characters are.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2 in the Mysterious Detective mystery series. Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. When I realized the book was the second in a series, I obtained and read the first, Written Off (2016). Although Edited Out (2017) may be read as a stand-alone, if both books are read they really need to be read in order or #2 will act as a huge spoiler when reading #1. The premise is that mystery writer Rachel Goldman created a character named Duffy Madison 5 years earlier and then met a Duffy Madison with essentially the same job and characteristics and no history before the book series in which he appears. The twists of plot and logic occurring while trying to find a history for Duffy (and getting involved in a real mystery he is investigating) are both ingenious and great fun. Rachel's assistant, Paula, and Duffy's boss, Ben, add to the stories interest and depth.

Duffy takes Rachel to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to investigate the cold case of the disappearance of Damien Mosley, whom Rachel suspects of having become Duffy, in order to help her get over the difficulties with writing that the arrival of Duffy in her life has caused. The plot keeps the oddball relationship between reluctant Rachel and driven Duffy centered, as the investigation jumps between bumbling and inspired. Rachel, in moments of self-reflection, expresses frustration with the character traits that she's given Duffy.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Edited Out by E.J. Copperman is the second book in A Mysterious Detective Mystery series. Rachel Goldman lives in Adamstown, New Jersey and writes the Duffy Madison mystery series. She is working on her latest book, but she is having difficulties. Ever since meeting a man named Duffy Madison she keeps confusing her make-believe character with the real man. It is affecting her writing in a very negative way. Rachel has been avoiding Duffy’s calls for the last few months. Rachel’s assistant, Paula points that avoiding him may not be the best tactic. Rachel believes Duffy is really Damien Mosley who disappeared five years prior. It just so happens that Duffy appeared five years ago. He has no memory of his life before that time. Rachel calls Duffy and he shows up ready to explore Damien’s life. Another investigation was not what Rachel had in mind, but maybe she can prove to Duffy that she did not create him. Is she letting Duffy lead her into another dangerous situation? Is there a chance that Duffy was created from Rachel’s imagination? You need to read Edited Out to find out the answers!

I had a difficult time reading Edited Out (I am surprised that I finished it). I thought the book to be slow paced and tedious. I had a hard time believing that a rational woman believes that a man sprang forth from her imagination. A Mysterious Detective Mystery series is not a paranormal series, so I did not understand this logic (am I overthinking it?). Edited Out is the second book in the series and, in this case, you really do need to read Written Off first. Otherwise, you will be utterly lost and confused. Edited Out is the written in the first person from Rachel’s point-of-view. Rachel’s character feels the need to explain Duffy’s thinking, lack of emotions, and actions as if the reader will not understand it from the reading the narrative (all throughout the book). Rachel seems to be surprised by Duffy’s actions, the way he talks, thinks, etc. Even though he is acting exactly how she wrote him (that would be a little freaky at first). I give Edited Out 2 out of 5 stars (I did not enjoy this one). I found many items to be repeated frequently throughout the book. I did not need to be told so many times that writer’s block was “not a thing”, that Rachel is not an investigator, why Duffy lacks emotion, and information about the Tappan Zee Bridge. At the end of the book, readers are still left wondering if Duffy is a real “human” or he sprang to life five years ago. Will this continue throughout the whole series? Will we get one new puzzle piece per book? I wish the author had made this a paranormal series. It would have been entertaining to read about a character that sprang to life based on an author’s books.

[Gaynor Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read, and enjoyed, books in EJ Copperman's Aspergers Mystery series so I was looking forward to reading this. Unfortunately I was disappointed. In the Aspergers Mystery books the main character has autistic traits which define the way he thinks and influence his investigations. The way the books are written somewhat reflects this, and it works. However, I found the style of writing in this book to be similar, which didn't work so well. I liked the premise of a character coming to life, but I thought it could have been handled better. I also found the actual murder investigation plot a little thin and the denouement scene on the bridge not very believable (in fact, I was going to give the book three stars until that point). It didn't help that the narrator is an author who keeps reiterating that she is having trouble with the novel she is currently writing - which only serves to highlight the inadequacies in the text you have before you!
Thank you to the publishers for letting me have a copy via Netgalley, in return for an honest review.

[Cassandra Healey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up this book thinking the premise might be interesting. The whole fictional character showing up was throughout the book, it was never quite developed well- it was just there. I really hated the writing style for the main character. I hated Rachel. I know the writing is supposed to be funny, but I found it irritating not funny. Rachel was whiny, complaining, and boring. Her character did not seem consistent throughout. I forced myself to finish. The "mystery" itself was weird and the "detective work" seemed hastily thrown together and just never really captured my attention. It seemed like this was written in the same manner as Rachel was writing- write 1000 words a day no matter if you had an idea or not or whether it meshed with what was written beforehand.

[Michael Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book two continues with the puzzle of who Madison is really and where are the people he might be. The plot is good but very complicated. The supporting cast and fringe players stand up well. But the main character is still not very likeable. She is ego centric and while trying to be sensitive and understanding to others ( from our perspective of dialog ) her asides and dialog comments prove otherwise. And the Madison character is just not at all appealing. He is presented with few real people skills yet is a consultant on missing persons and must interact with many people during an investigation. My rating is down from book one and if book three does show a lot of improvement, this series is a write -off. Copperman's other series is also flawed but a better read.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

An intriguing premise but not well executed, in my opinion. While the author did well with keeping the fictional Duffy and the "real-life" Duffy separate, the plotline meandered. Could have benefited from another edit, perhaps. Overall, meh from me.

[Linnea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I felt compelled to finish the book because I thought they would tie together some lose ends. The main characters wined too much. For me, the most interesting character was in the background.

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

so slow, couldn't get through it.

[Marie McNary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, friends. I know you read a lot of cozy mysteries. You also read a lot of book reviews. They usually tell you how awesome the book is and to go pick it up. And you’re left wondering how ALL the books reviewed can possibly be as awesome as the reviewers are telling you?

I just finished Edited Out by E.J. Copperman. Let me say. This one is really that awesome. It is a series to move to the top of your “To Be Read” pile. Here are my top five reasons why.

1. Unique series idea

The series focuses around the idea that mystery author, Rachel Goldman’s fictional protagonist, Duffy Madison seems to have come to life and is living life and solving crimes in the “real” world. This is such an interesting idea for a series and creates all sorts of entertaining situations as real and fictional worlds collide.

2. It is funny

E.J. Copperman entertains throughout the entire book. It is written in first person from the protagonist, Rachel Goldman’s point of view. Rachel is funny and always has a snarky one liner to reflect how she really feels about the given situation. Having your fictional creation seemingly come to life before your eyes is a bit of a shock and we are given a hilarious account of it through Rachel’s eyes.

3. It gives you a “behind the scenes” look into the mind of a mystery writer

Being one himself, Copperman knows a thing or two about how mystery writers think. I love the “behind the scenes” look into a mystery writer’s mind through Rachel. From her annoyance when she doesn’t hit her daily word count, to being excited to meet a real fan who has read her work, to agonizing over what kind of car Duffy should drive. It was fun to get a glimpse into her mind.

4. Depth of Characters

The characters were flushed out in this book more than in some traditional cozy mystery offerings. It has a unique mix of humor, complex characters and storylines. One minute you are laughing at how ridiculous the character of Duffy Maddison is and the next you are reflecting on what is really going on with this man who has no memories beyond five years ago and thinks he was created by a fiction writer.

Nuggets of Truth Beyond the Book

I love when fiction books have little bits of wisdom sprinkled in them that take you to a place that is far beyond the confines of the book. Copperman does this several times regarding the art of writing. This quote from the book, when Rachel is struggling to write the fictional Duffy in a world where she is interacting with the “real” Duffy, particularly resonated with me.

"I don’t want you to think I stopped writing. I don’t stop writing because I am not happy with what’s coming out. I don’t believe there’s such a thing as writer’s block. There is the fear of writing something lousy. Writing something lousy means you have something you can improve later. – E.J. Copperman"

E.J. Copperman has done a tremendous job in creating a world and a cast of characters that are interesting, complex, and downright entertaining.

I would recommend moving Edited Out, the newest installment in the Mysterious Detective Mystery Series to the top of your reading list. It was a lot of fun to read. I can’t wait for the next installment to see what kind of trouble Rachel and Duffy get into next!

Review first posted her:
https://cozyexperience.com/why-you-sh...

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this episode, Rachel is having trouble writing her newest Duffy Madison mystery. She is sure it is because she is confusing her characters with the real Duffy Madison who is quite a man of mystery. He had no recollection of his life before five years in the past when he became convinced that he was Duffy Madison.

He convinces Rachel that they need to investigate his past in Poughkeepsie which he hopes will answer his questions and she hopes with make it possible to write again. Only Poughkeepsie has many more questions than it has answers. Rachel is convinced that Duffy was once Damien Mosley who conveniently disappeared just when her Duffy claims to have begun his life. Duffy supposedly went to high school with Damien and other characters in this story but no one remembers him.

Duffy is determined to find Damien to prove to Rachel that they are not the same person. He succeeds, if finding that Damien died in what appeared to be an accident five years ago and was never identified, counts as success. Duffy, convinced that Damien was murdered, continues the investigation.

I enjoyed this mystery which was filled with entertaining characters who all seem to have something to hide. I like that the story is told by Rachel who keeps throwing in comments about writers. I like that one of the characters is a big fan of Rachel's work.

This was fun. The villain surprised me. The mystery of Duffy was left unresolved paving the way for more Duffy and Rachel adventures.

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edited Out by E. J. Copperman was an awesome book. I have never read anything by this author before, and I was delighted to find myself turning page after page in anticipation of what would come next. I was amused by the antics of the author in the book, as well as her “created” Duffy in real life. It was slightly reminiscent of the movie Stranger than Fiction, which is probably why I liked it. The book was an easy read and was goofy in some ways, but it kept the pages turning.
I was unsure where the book was going at first, and it took a little while to get into the good stuff. But once you got there, it was hard to turn away from it, even for just a little while. I finished this book in less than a day, which is not atypical of me, but I kept picking it up every chance I got. I can’t wait to read more by Copperman and am looking forward to going back and reading the first book in this series. I am thankful that I had a chance to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review….and again….I loved it!

[Kasey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Edited Out by E.J. Copperman

I received an ARC for and honest review. The mystery is about Rachel Goldman, a crime fiction writer. She is having writers block. It is mainly due to the fact her fictional character, Duffy Madison, has sprung to life. Or has he? The book follows Duffy and Rachel teaming together to find a missing man that Rachel believes could be who Duffy really is.

The book had me so confused at first because this is the second book in a series. The first book is Written Off and if you are going to read Edited Out, start with the first book so that you are up to speed. I felt it jumped from one thing to the next. I kept going back and re reading to remember who everyone was and what was said.

I loved the humor in this book. Duffy Madison is a mix between Monk and Columbo. He even baffles Rachel, who created him. Once you figure out what is going on, it is a fun, fast read.

I was disappointed that you never figure out who Duffy really is. Is he just a made up character sprung to life or a man who has forgotten his identity? Hopefully, more books are written soon that will give that information.

I will recommend to my mystery reader friends and will buy it if I see another book written in this series so I can find out what happens more with these characters.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found things went on a bit too long but is has been an interesting concept of a writer and her character in this 2 book series.

Author Rachel Goldman's creation, Duffy Madison, appears in real life as a real person who insists his existence began 5 yrs ago when she wrote her first (of five) Duffy Madison novels.

Investigating Duffy Madison leads to Damien Mosley, and tracing everyone in their high school year book provides all the plot twists to keep the story interesting.

There is a potential for another book in this series but it doesn't seem to have been written.

[Carmen Slaughter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I had not read book one of the series and that put me at a disadvantage. The mystery within a mystery angle is intriguing but I wasn't fully invested in the characters and their dysfunctional relationship is the key to this series. The author added enough twists to keep me engaged while the reluctant partners worked to solve the mystery but I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending. I plan to read Written Off before book three is published with the hope that I will care enough to continue the series.

[Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edited Out is the second installment in the “Mysteries Detective” series. The second is actually even better than the first book. Plenty of dry humor, clever and witty writing makes this series so fun to read!

Rachel Goodman is a mystery writer who meets the protagonist of her books, Duffy Madison, only this character is fictional. Now that Rachel is in a writing slump, Duffy Madison brings her a real mystery to solve. Lots of twists and turns!

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another totally delightful cozy mystery in this series! Lots of laughs too. I wish there were more of these books.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun mystery about an author and her... character come to life?? We still don't know where Duffy came from. Is he real or a former fictional character?

[Elena Granger · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book was better. The mystery case here is even more boring and I didn’t enjoy it much. Though some parts were pretty funny.
Humour here is a bit silly and single-dimensional, I expected something more complex and extraordinary from this author as I liked his another series very much.
The story features writing struggles, which I couldn’t feel, it was artificial to some extent. The boring part is the actual mystery case, nothing really interesting happens, no unexpected turns, also there are some parts that don’t even make sense.
The characters… well, could have been better, but at least they are likeable and not annoying.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to be sent an ARC of E.J. Copperman's Edited Out. This is book 2 in the Mysterious Detective Mystery series and the first in the series I have read. It was captivating from the first page and a mystery I very much enjoyed. I love the idea of this series, the writer who creates a character, and a person who shows up with no memories prior to the creation of that character who claims to have the same name and occupation of the character. This mystery man may not be who he seems to be but it lends its self to a great mystery with in a mystery and I loved it. The way the story intertwines and twists is perfect. This is a very well written cozy and one that I very much enjoyed. This is a May release and one to put on your list!

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edited Out is the second installment in E.J. Copperman's Mysterious Detective Series and deals with the intriguing premise of the main character of a fictional novel seemingly coming to life and showing up at the author's doorstep. Rachel Goodman is a mystery writer who one day meets a man claiming to be the fictional protagonist of all of her books, Duffy Madison. (Because the meeting occurred in the first book of the series, Written Off, I would recommend reading it before starting Edited Out, because this book may be a bit confusing otherwise). In Edited Out, Rachel finds herself in a bit of a writing slump, and decides to humor Duffy when he comes to her with a mystery. There are lots of twists and turns and red herrings that had me guessing until the end of the book. Rachel is a funny and sarcastic character who goes well with the earnest Duffy Madison, and many humorous situations arise from their interactions. I also really enjoyed the interactions with Paula, Rachel's assistant. The book has a great ending that I think will please every reader.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book, and all comments and opinions are entirely my own.

[Linda Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edited Out continues the clever premise begun in the Mysterious Detective series with the first book, Written Off. Rachel Goldman is a middling successful writer of mysteries who lives and works in New Jersey. Her mystery series features a Sherlock-like protagonist named Duffy Madison. Imagine her surprise when a man who looks like her fictional detective shows up at her door claiming to be the living embodiment of Duffy Madison. He calls himself Duffy Madison and has no memory of a life prior to five years before when her first book was published. He even works as a consultant for the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. Rachel justifiably thinks that he is nuts but neither she, her terrifyingly efficient assistant Paula, or her friend Ben in the prosecutor's office can prove that he isn't Duffy Madison. But since he saved her life in the first book she is willing to roll with it, up to a point.

Rachel is working on her next book and having problems. Inspiration seems to have dried up and she is avoiding Duffy. That avoidance ends when Duffy contacts her about a man named Damien Mosley who went missing in Poughkeepsie, NY five years ago. Duffy thinks that Mosley might be the answer to his real identity. She, Duffy and Ben head off to Poughkeepsie to find out about the missing man. Their questions lead the local police to think that the missing Damien was actually murdered and Duffy is the most likely suspect. Or is someone setting him up for it?

E.J. Copperman has an easy and humorous writing style. I particularly like Rachel's "Jersey Girl" vibe and her absolute insistence on writing at least 1000 words a day, even if she thinks they are garbage. I can't predict where the series is going but it is an entertaining, quick read.

Thanks to Crooked Lane and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

RATING- 3 Stars

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edited Out by E J Copperman is a unique, wacky and different take on a mystery.

Rachel Goldman is a mystery writer whose main character seems to have come to life or at least he thinks he is her Duffy Madison from her books. Duffy is trying to convince Rachel that he is her character and not a missing person Damien Mosley. Funny thing is while they are hunting for Damien, Duffy gets picked up for questioning in the murder of Damien's wife who was killed 5 years ago the same time Damien went missing and Duffy appeared. Confused? So is Rachel .

This is so different that it works. The characters are unique enough to make them interesting. I love the sarcastic things Rachel comes up with in dealing with Duffy. Duffy is matter of fact, no nonsense smart and mysterious while Rachel is smart, creative and sarcastic. The interaction between them is what makes this unusual take on this mystery work.

The idea that Duffy is somehow "the" Duffy from Rachel's imagination who meticulously investigates and hunts for missing persons is a puzzle. Then there is the problem of the body of an unknown man who died 5 years ago, the same time Damien went missing, and Damien's wife who has been murdered 5 years ago for another piece of the puzzle. Add the fact that Rachel thinks this Damien who went missing 5 years ago just when Duffy showed up is probably one and the same person and it all adds up to a multi-faceted, sometimes confusing, fun and uniquely quirky cozy mystery.

The only down side to this is that sometimes there is too much explaining going on that can be a bit boring. It moves slow at times but with so much going on there is no way around all the back story. It is a fun read and really a different fresh take on a cozy mystery.

This is the second book in this series but it can be read as a stand alone. I wish now I had read the first book before this one but it isn't a necessity.

I received this book for my honest opinion and review