Walking the Perfect Square

Walking the Perfect Square follows Moe Prager, a former NYPD cop forced into early retirement by a knee injury, as he investigates a cold case from 1977. The missing person case involves Patrick Maloney, a college student who vanished without explanation from a Manhattan bar. Twenty years after Maloney's disappearance, his family asks Prager to reopen the investigation. As Prager pursues leads between two time periods - 1977 and 1998 - he uncovers connections between the case and New York City's punk rock scene, academic politics, and his own past as a police officer. The investigation takes Prager through the changing landscape of New York City while forcing him to confront hard truths about power, corruption, and justice. The case becomes personal as he discovers how his choices as a young cop connect to Maloney's fate. This noir mystery uses its dual timeline structure to explore themes of memory, regret, and the cost of seeking truth. The novel examines how the past shapes the present and questions whether some mysteries are better left unsolved.

Readers note the complex character development of ex-cop turned PI Moe Prager and the authentic portrayal of 1970s Brooklyn. Many appreciate Coleman's noir style while maintaining accessibility for readers new to the genre. Likes: - Strong sense of time and place in NYC setting - Natural dialogue and character relationships - Multiple timeline structure that builds tension - Jewish cultural elements adding depth Dislikes: - Slow pacing in first third of book - Some find the resolution unsatisfying - Secondary characters could use more development Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (150+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "The NYC atmosphere feels lived-in rather than researched" - Goodreads reviewer "Takes too long to get moving but pays off in the end" - Amazon reviewer "Prager's voice carries the story even when the plot meanders" - LibraryThing review

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🔍 "Walking the Perfect Square" was Reed Farrel Coleman's debut novel featuring Moe Prager, an ex-NYPD cop turned private investigator and wine merchant. 🏆 Coleman has won multiple prestigious awards including the Shamus, Barry, and Anthony Awards, and has been called the "noir poet laureate" by NPR's Maureen Corrigan. 📚 The novel spans two time periods - 1978 and 1998 - exploring how a single case involving a missing college student haunts the protagonist for decades. 🗽 The book provides an authentic portrayal of Brooklyn in the late 1970s, drawing from Coleman's own experiences growing up in the borough during that era. 🔄 The title refers to both a physical action in the book and serves as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of the investigation, where the protagonist ultimately returns to where he started but with a completely different perspective.