E.J. Copperman is the pen name of American author Jeffrey Cohen, who is known for his cozy mystery novels. Born and raised in New Jersey, Copperman continues to reside in the same locale. He has been a writer and freelance reporter since 1985, contributing to various publications such as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, American Baby, and USA Weekend. Copperman's writing style is characterized by his preference for writing from the head, rather than relying on notes and outlines, which he finds limiting. This approach allows him greater freedom to explore the realms of humor and mystery in his work.
Copperman's novels often contain humorous elements, and he believes that writing humor requires the author to be funny in the first place. He cautions against trying to act funny when it does not come naturally, as it may result in an unpleasant experience. Night of the Living Deed is the first novel in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series, followed by An Uninvited Ghost in 2011. Copperman's writing combines humor and mystery with a touch of supernatural happenings and a healthy dose of Jersey attitude.
Under the pseudonym E.J. Copperman, Cohen has written four series, each featuring distinct characters, settings, and storylines. The Haunted Guesthouse mysteries follow a single mom who buys a Jersey Shore house to convert into an inn, unaware that it is inhabited by two deceased individuals. The Mysterious Detective mysteries feature a midlist mystery author who encounters a physical embodiment of her fictional sleuth, who seeks her assistance in solving cases. The Asperger's mysteries follow a man with an autism-spectrum disorder who starts a business to answer customers' questions and often finds himself solving murders. Lastly, the Agent to the Paws mysteries feature a theatrical agent whose clients are all furry animals, and she must defend them while humans are being murdered in their vicinity.