📖 Overview
Reed Farrel Coleman is an American crime fiction author and poet best known for creating the Moe Prager detective series. His work has earned multiple prestigious awards including the Anthony, Barry, Macavity, and Shamus Awards.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Coleman developed his understanding of crime's impact on communities after witnessing violent incidents in his youth. He worked various jobs including cab driver, air freight handler, and restaurant cook before pursuing writing professionally following a detective fiction class at Brooklyn College.
The Moe Prager series established Coleman's reputation in crime fiction, featuring a Jewish ex-NYPD cop turned private investigator and wine merchant. He has also authored other notable detective series centered on characters Gulliver Dowd, Dylan Klein, and Joe Serpe, drawing from his experiences and connections with law enforcement professionals.
His contributions to crime fiction span from 1991 to the present, demonstrating sustained influence in the genre. Coleman has also maintained a parallel career as a poet while continuing to expand his crime fiction bibliography.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently praise Coleman's complex characters and authentic portrayal of New York City settings. The Moe Prager series receives particular recognition for its emotional depth and realistic depiction of Jewish-American life and culture.
What readers liked:
- Detailed character development that avoids detective novel stereotypes
- Accurate representation of police procedures and investigations
- Raw, honest writing style
- Integration of historical events into narratives
What readers disliked:
- Slower pacing compared to typical crime fiction
- Multiple timeline shifts that some found confusing
- Dark, brooding tone throughout series
- Some felt later books in series declined in quality
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: Moe Prager series averages 3.9/5 stars
Amazon: Walking the Perfect Square - 4.2/5 stars
Amazon: Gun Church - 4.1/5 stars
Reader quote: "Coleman writes with the authenticity of someone who knows Brooklyn's streets and the complexity of human nature." - Amazon reviewer
Specific criticism: "The plot meanders too much. Could have been tighter with 50 fewer pages." - Goodreads review
📚 Books by Reed Farrel Coleman
The James Deans (2005)
Former NYPD cop Moe Prager investigates the cold case disappearance of rising journalist Moira Heaton while confronting personal and professional demons in mid-1980s Brooklyn.
Walking the Perfect Square (2002) Moe Prager's first case involves searching for a missing college student in 1970s New York, setting him on the path that will define his investigative career.
Redemption Street (2004) Prager delves into a decades-old arson case at a Catskills hotel that killed multiple people, uncovering dark secrets about his own Jewish community.
Soul Patch (2007) The death of an old friend forces Moe Prager to revisit a case from his NYPD days involving corruption and betrayal within the department.
Empty Ever After (2008) Moe Prager must confront his past when his ex-wife's remains are discovered years after her disappearance, leading him through a maze of old wounds and fresh deceptions.
Innocent Monster (2010) While battling cancer, Prager takes on a case involving his estranged daughter's missing friend, an eleven-year-old art prodigy.
Hurt Machine (2011) Days before his daughter's wedding, Prager investigates the murder of his ex-wife's sister while dealing with his own terminal cancer diagnosis.
Onion Street (2013) A prequel showing young Moe Prager's first case as a college student in 1967, when a violent incident pulls him into Brooklyn's criminal underworld.
Walking the Perfect Square (2002) Moe Prager's first case involves searching for a missing college student in 1970s New York, setting him on the path that will define his investigative career.
Redemption Street (2004) Prager delves into a decades-old arson case at a Catskills hotel that killed multiple people, uncovering dark secrets about his own Jewish community.
Soul Patch (2007) The death of an old friend forces Moe Prager to revisit a case from his NYPD days involving corruption and betrayal within the department.
Empty Ever After (2008) Moe Prager must confront his past when his ex-wife's remains are discovered years after her disappearance, leading him through a maze of old wounds and fresh deceptions.
Innocent Monster (2010) While battling cancer, Prager takes on a case involving his estranged daughter's missing friend, an eleven-year-old art prodigy.
Hurt Machine (2011) Days before his daughter's wedding, Prager investigates the murder of his ex-wife's sister while dealing with his own terminal cancer diagnosis.
Onion Street (2013) A prequel showing young Moe Prager's first case as a college student in 1967, when a violent incident pulls him into Brooklyn's criminal underworld.
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Laura Lippman creates crime fiction set in Baltimore, drawing from her experience as a journalist to craft stories about complex investigations and community dynamics. Her Tess Monaghan series features a former reporter turned private investigator who navigates cases tied to local politics and social issues.
George Pelecanos writes crime fiction set in Washington D.C., incorporating themes of urban life, social justice, and the impact of crime on communities. His work as a television writer for "The Wire" demonstrates his understanding of law enforcement and criminal enterprises.
Dennis Lehane sets his crime novels in working-class Boston neighborhoods, exploring themes of justice, morality, and community bonds. His work features investigators who confront both criminal cases and personal demons while navigating complex social landscapes.
S.J. Rozan creates mysteries featuring private investigators Lydia Chin and Bill Smith in New York City, incorporating cultural elements and detailed urban settings. Her work examines the intersection of different communities and social classes within the context of criminal investigations.