Murder on Location

Benny Cooperman #3

by Howard Engel

Hollywood’s elite has gathered on the shores of Niagara Falls for the making of the epic thriller Ice Bridge . But when Benny Cooperman wanders onto the set, he’s not looking for a bit part—he’s doggedly tracking down a woman who is missing from Grantham, Cooperman’s hometown and usual beat. Has she been hit with a lust for stardom? Or is her lust for something a little more conventional—but a lot more dangerous? Benny finds himself having to hobnob with movie celebrities—and with murder!

Book 3 in the Benny Cooperman Mystery series.

Genres: Mystery, Canada, Fiction

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Howard Engel was a pioneering, award-winning Canadian mystery and non-fiction author. He is famous for his Benny Cooperman private-eye series, set in the Niagara Region of Ontario.

He and Eric Wright are two of the authors responsible for founding Crime Writers Of Canada. He had twins Charlotte and William with authoress, Marian Engel. He has a son, Jacob, with his late wife, authoress Janet Hamilton: with whom he co-wrote "Murder In Space".

A stroke in 2001 famously caused "alexia sine agraphia". It was a disease that hampered Howard's ability to comprehend written words, even though he could continue to write! He retired in Toronto, where he continued to inspire and mentor future authors and writers of all kinds. Maureen Jennings, creator of the Murdoch novels and still-running television series, is among them.

Unfortunately, he died of pneumonia that arose after a stroke. True animal-lovers: Howard's beloved living cat, Kali, is included by their family in his obituary.

Reviews

[Jack Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars. I enjoy Engel's novels. They touch Canadian icons I know. In some instances he uses the correct name, such as the Queen Elizabeth Way, the QEW, but in others, he adopts fake ones! The Upper Canadian Bank for example, which surely is the Toronto-Dominion Bank, the TD. Why? Don't know. This entry is not at the same level as the first two in the series. Too many characters confuse a short plot. Cooperman is retained by a man whose lovely wife has skipped out of Grantham, Benny's home town (actually St. Catharines, Ontario). It's not long before he connects her to a Hollywood blockbuster being filmed in Niagara Falls, 15 kilometres down the QEW. Billy Mason has done some local acting and, with the big lights and stars beckoning, she couldn't resist. Or was she drawn to one of the people connected to the blockbuster? The movie Ice Bridge is being shot in winter and includes scenes which take place on an ice jam on the frozen river below the falls. With a big time director, James Sayre, two huge stars, Dawson Williams and Peggy O'Toole, and an important writer, Neil Furlong who once lived in Grantham, how could Billy stay away? (No2021/Oc2025)

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt to me like a longer book than it happens to be. One main client asks Benny to find his missing wife and he soon discovers she is all about getting a part in a movie being filmed at Niagara Falls. The author clearly knows film production talk and types, but it was far too elaborate in the telling. Of course Benny Cooperman gets to mix with attractive people old and young, along with competing crime bosses, risk his life on ice floe at Niagara Falls trying to stop a producer from shooting a writer, and some of the melodramatic action was engaging though over the top. This one is not a favorite for me, but it definitely would be to anyone who enjoys Hollywood and what may go on behind the scenes at production sites.

It takes Cooperman's dogged research to solve a couple murders, so he again outwits his police friends.

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 4 out of 5]

I regard Howard Engel highly and dipped to four stars, because interest rose slowly. I bonded with no one. As a detective, mysteries would seldom tie to Benny personally. However I was drawn in previously because I saw why he accepted those cases, how he felt about those clients. “Murder On Location” starts with bland reconnaissance at a hotel. We drift into acquaintance with actors and Howard’s humour was reserved for later. In place was awkwardness at being cornered by a chatty, veteran star. Benny was hired to locate an estranged wife, likely seeking a film role in Niagara Falls. I didn’t take to her, nor a scarcely-relevant mafia connection.

Curiosity ignited after a screenwriter was murdered, who was from Benny’s town, Grantham decades ago. A chief screenwriter knew the missing spouse and a stranger bore looking into, who assaulted the screenwriter publicly. His personal motive raised the bar, however this is another story that required scrutinizing thirty year-old history; not only that of the disreputable screenwriter but an actress too. A good mystery pursues numerous sources in identifying a guilty party. The problem was, the parties themselves and their plot threads were too numerous for a reader’s anticipation to grow. I especially found a zodiac angle erroneously stretched. My principal issue is that the woman and mafia were superfluous weight. The jumble of crimes would exist without them.

This time my enthrallment may have been muted but Howard weaved and plotted these multitudinous angels well. They do devolve into high stakes action that intensifies the atmosphere and my keenness to see what became of them. What I liked best was my ability to picture where Benny went because I know Niagara Falls well. His brainstorming of a second killing was ingenious. I appreciated this novel in bits and pieces.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benny Cooperman is a Private Investigator unlike any other PI. He seems mild mannered but he can jump in there when he needs to. Read carefully because the author gives you the clues you need. The humour is equally subtle. You might only laugh out loud 2 or 3 times in a Cooperman novel but you'll be chuckling all through.
Howard Engel crafts these novels very carefully. The story is engaging, tightly written, and moves along at a good pace.

[Kenneth McMahon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Far too many characters making it hard to keep track of who's who (and it turns out half of them are unnecessary to the plot anyway). On top of that, it all seemed fairly implausible with small town gumshoe Cooperman suddenly hanging out with famous movie stars and investigating a murder suicide he's not even being paid to look into. Disappointing read.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read it because I wanted to return it. Benny Cooperman is a private detective, but he’s just barely making it. This time out he’s at Niagara Falls with a movie unit looking for a missing wife. Yawn.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a struggle for me. There were so many characters introduced so quickly that I had trouble following the connections and the part they were playing in the story. I didn't like the introduction of the organized crime element - it was just one other thing to keep track of, and I was already pretty lost with the details.
One thing that I do enjoy in these books is the fast pace. I like Benny Cooperman's character and habits, they are amusing.

[Ronjoseph50 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Benny Cooperman #3

[Vickie Backus · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of the Benny Cooperman mysteries. I think I like the setting the best because I recognize the real places in The Falls from growing up in the area. Good story with interesting characters.

[Star Merrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have enjoyed it more if there weren't so many characters. I had to go back frequently to id the bunch.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, brought on a few chuckles, but too much going on long ago and coming together as a missing person search / murder / suicide, mob / syndicate issue, but I will read the next one.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery-Canada or Mystery-NY? Niagara Falls is the setting, spectacular and thundering. Not so the mystery, Benny Cooperman mysteries are retro and a bit 40s camp, a bit comical in the read. Old film stars come out of the woodwork, and Hollywood celebrities mix it up. I liked best the setting.