The Page 69 Test: "Where There’s Smoke…"

Friday, August 7, 2026

"Where There’s Smoke…"

E.J. Copperman is the nom de plume for Jeff Cohen, writer of intentionally funny murder mysteries. As E.J., he is the author of the Haunted Guest house series, the

Agent to the Paws series and the Jersey Girl Legal mysteries, as well as the Fran and Ken Stein mysteries. As Jeff, he is the author of the Double Feature and Aaron Tucker series; and he collaborates with himself on the Samuel Hoenig Asperger's mysteries.

Copperman applied the Page 69 Test to his new novel, Where There’s Smoke…, with the following results:

I’ve done this test a few times now, and I’m struck by the realization that page 69 in my books tends to be the dullest, most plot-driven page in the whole enterprise. I should have picked another page.

In this case, the book in question is Where There’s Smoke…, the second book in the Haunted Paint Store mystery series. By this point in the story, Laura Meehan, who owns the paint (and wallpaper) store in question, is dealing with a situation that doesn’t involve choosing just the right color. The local library, a place that Laura considers her personal sanctuary from the days when she was growing up in town, has suffered some damage in a fire that is, at least, suspicious. She feels personally insulted.

So Laura, whose deceased father is currently occupying the office in her store (she inherited it from him and he doesn’t let go easily), goes to a meeting of the library board at which it is promised news about the library’s restoration and a possible target date for its reopening will be discussed.

Now, just because I said it might be the dullest page in the book, I do not encourage you to skip page 69. For one thing, I try to make every page entertaining, so even the dullest one should have something to recommend it. But also, there is story information being given here that you’ll need for page 70 and the rest.