Samuel Hoenig, has Asperger's Syndrome; he runs a detective agency that answers questions.

He employs Mrs. Janet Washburn as his assistant, who helps him work within the framework of "normal" society, by giving him non-verbal clues on how to deal with his clients, by helping him research, and interview prospective/current clients.

A woman comes in and wants the question: "Is my husband cheating on me w/ his dead ex-girlfriend?" Which leads to her husband's murder, the investigation into the death of the former girlfriend, and the death of the woman's first husband.

The side story is about how Samuel comes to accept a relationship which his now present father who had abandoned him & his mother when Samuel was 4 years old, as well as dealing w/ Samuel's emotional make-up or lack thereof.

I liked this book better than the previous one in the series, as it wasn't as far-fetched and convoluted. It was better written and the story was easier to follow. ( )

This fifth Asperger's mystery is another enjoyable read because not only are we served up a lovely plot with plenty of twists, fans of the series get to witness the further emotional growth of Samuel Hoenig, a man with Asperger's Syndrome. Samuel is logical, literal, and precise. Readers see the world through his eyes, and how he words things shows us how literal his vision is. For example, he never refers to Ms. Washburn's mode of transportation simply as a car or the Kia, it's always the Kia Spectra. He also works through conversational terms that are nonsensical to him. I really appreciate this chance to experience Samuel's world, all the while knowing that, from time to time, being with someone like him 24/7 could be exhausting to a person who's not used to it.

This is a series best read in order because, throughout it, Samuel's emotional relationships become deeper and more meaningful. The books aren't merely matters of answering the question du jour and solving the mystery, but also of Samuel becoming more sensitive to the emotions of the people he cares for. Jeff Cohen's Asperger's mysteries are something very special. Readers get to flex their deductive muscles in an attempt to solve some first-rate mysteries, and they are also treated to the gradual development of an extremely interesting character. The Question of the Dead Mistress is the best book in the series so far, and I'm looking forward to reading many more. ( )