I read this book based on a recommendation from a bookstore employee who knows I like George Pelecanos' work. And, I guess Coleman's work shares the feature of using a regular physical location - Brooklyn in his books, Washington, D.C. for Pelecanos, and they both write crime novels. But, that's about as close as they get, in my opinion and based on this book. Pelecanos' work is major league level and this is maybe AA level minor leagues. Not bad, but also not really worth the reading time.

I think it's an average book. If you have a hard time finding enough good quality material, you might consider this book. Otherwise, I'd recommend sticking with the stronger writers - Pelecanos, Turow, Lehane, Connelly, etc.

The original, i.e., first, Moe Prager mystery, which has been out of print, now appears in this reissue by Busted Flush Press. Since his initial appearance, Moe has appeared in four subsequent novels, and welcome have all of them been for this charming, plain yet complicated man. In "Square," we find Moe recuperating from a knee injury which caused him to retire him from the NYPD after 10 years on the Job.

At loose ends, Moe is enticed to take on an investigation of a missing college student. His efforts bring him into contact with all kinds of savory and unsavory characters--but more importantly, his deepening understanding of personal relationships and family. Moe is a very different kind of "shamus." To begin with, he is Jewish, a Brooklynite and native New Yorker, full of self-doubts and inquisitive. And, yes, smart-alecky.

Moe, as a protagonist, much less a person, develops more fully as the series moves on, but the seeds of the fundamental characteristics of the novels are sown in this debut: The graphic descriptions of New York City in the 1970's, the caring and thoughtful Moe, the basic human attributes of the characters, the sharp writing and plotting, as well as the agony and tragedies people endure. Recommended.

The prior reviewers have done a good job. I will just add a very enthusiastic additional vote for buying this book as soon as you can. It is so well constructed compared to most of its competitors.

I was left with a feeling of 'When can I get me hands on the next one?' when I finished this book. I would have read both back to back if I had the second one today.

I read the most recent Moe Prager novel first, and went back to this one with eagerness but also some trepidation in case it wasn't as good. But it completely lived up to my expectations. Reed Farrel Coleman is an excellent writer and this series is a must-read for any noir fan.

On December 8, 1977 Patrick Maloney, Jr., college student, walked out of a local bar and vanished. As 19977 became 1978 other things in New York City like the arrest of the Son of Sam killer garner media attention. For recently retired Police Officer Moe Prager, the disappearance of Patrick Maloney, Jr. is insignificant and no different than many of the ills that befall the city's population. Not that Patrick isn't important in his own right, but Moe has more on his mind thanks to a ruined knee and is facing limited prospects and a lonely life.

At relative loose ends when his friend and still a cop Rico Tripoli calls, he agrees to meet him for lunch at a local restaurant. Rico wants to talk to him about looking for Patrick. Once there, despite the obvious racism of the missing man's powerful father, Patrick Maloney, he agrees to start working the case in exchange for a favor regarding a much needed liquor license. Moe's brother wants him to go in with him on a wine shop and without any other options Moe has sort of agreed to do so. As he begins working the case, he realizes that he has missed the streets and soon discovers that everyone involved is lying to him. Nothing is the way he thought it was with his enemies or his friends.

Twenty years later the case still haunts him and a call from a Nun in a local hospice brings it all back to life. A man is dying and wishes to unburden himself and will only do so to Me Prager. He may finally get the last piece of the painful puzzle that has haunted him for years and nearly destroyed his family.

This is a very good novel featuring a number of interesting characters. The read is a little disconcerting at times as it moves back and forth between 1977 and 78, and the present (1998). I'm not a fan of flashbacks, extended or otherwise, but in this case it actually enhances the story. By moving back and forth, it creates a different perspective for the reader as the mystery is slowly solved.

At the same time, the author has an incredible sense of detail and an uncanny ability to bring the work alive for the reader. He really got into my head and made me feel like I was there right with him, step for step, as he worked the case. There are not very many authors who can totally pull me into their world like that and he did it easily within the first ten pages or so. His characters were rich and complex with a decidedly noir slant and his sense of pacing and story development was right on.

This was a very good read and according to my local library, the first novel of a new series built around the main character, Moe Prager. Unfortunately my local library does not have his earlier novels, "Little Easter," Life Goes Sleeping," and "They don't Play Stickball In Milwaukee." You can bet I'm going to be looking for them.