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Moe Prager #3
The James Deans
It’s 1983 and Reaganomics is in full swing. But beneath the facade of junk bonds and easy money, New York remains a gritty metropolis offering Nirvana with one hand and desolation with the other. Moe Prager, ex-NYPD cop turned reluctant P.I. is too busy reeling from a family tragedy to see what’s coming. He’s about to be sucked into a case that might deliver him what he’s always wanted or plunge him into purgatory.
Two years earlier, Moira Heaton, a young intern for an up-and-coming politico, vanished without a trace. Although there is no evidence supporting her boss’s involvement, rumors and whispers have conspired to stall his once-promising career. Now, in a last- ditch effort to clear his name, state senator Steven Brightman, with the clout of a wealthy backer, enlists Moe’s help. With twists and turns galore and Moe’s inimitable voice, The James Deans is an absorbing page- turner that will add to the burgeoning reputation of one of today’s most promising writers.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 2005
99 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
Reed Farrel Coleman
166 books746 followersaka Tony Spinosa
Reed Farrel Coleman’s love of storytelling originated on the streets of Brooklyn and was nurtured by his teachers, friends, and family.
A New York Times bestseller called a hard-boiled poet by NPR’s Maureen Corrigan and the “noir poet laureate” in the Huffington Post, Reed is the author of novels, including Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series, the acclaimed Moe Prager series, short stories, and poetry.
Reed is a three-time Edgar Award nominee in three different categories—Best Novel, Best Paperback Original, Best Short Story—and a three-time recipient of the Shamus Award for Best PI Novel of the Year. He has also won the Audie, Macavity, Barry, and Anthony Awards.
A former executive vice president of Mystery Writers of America, Reed is an adjunct instructor of English at Hofstra University and a founding member of MWA University. Brooklyn born and raised, he now lives with his family–including cats Cleo and Knish–in Suffolk County on Long Island.
Reed Farrel Coleman’s love of storytelling originated on the streets of Brooklyn and was nurtured by his teachers, friends, and family.
A New York Times bestseller called a hard-boiled poet by NPR’s Maureen Corrigan and the “noir poet laureate” in the Huffington Post, Reed is the author of novels, including Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series, the acclaimed Moe Prager series, short stories, and poetry.
Reed is a three-time Edgar Award nominee in three different categories—Best Novel, Best Paperback Original, Best Short Story—and a three-time recipient of the Shamus Award for Best PI Novel of the Year. He has also won the Audie, Macavity, Barry, and Anthony Awards.
A former executive vice president of Mystery Writers of America, Reed is an adjunct instructor of English at Hofstra University and a founding member of MWA University. Brooklyn born and raised, he now lives with his family–including cats Cleo and Knish–in Suffolk County on Long Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
June 7, 2011
“Dinner was okay, if you were fond of starvation. 10-9-8’s chef’s favourite ingredient seemed to be big, mostly empty plates. Clearly, he had read too much French existentialism and wanted to make a statement about the importance and isolation of the individual in a starkly judgemental world. Who knows, maybe Camus wasn’t dead, but cooking in Manhattan.”
How’s that for a description of a restaurant meal in the 1980s?
I came across it in Reed Farrel Coleman’s novel ‘The James Deans’. It’s the third of the Moe Prager series.
It’s one hell of a good book, written with a smooth style that’s faultless to the end.
Moses Prager (ex-cop, wine shop owner, family man and a detective for hire) is persuaded to take on the job of clearing the name of a politician suspected of committing more than a little hanky-panky with one of his staff. The rub is that if he doesn’t help out, bad things will happen.
Off he goes on the trail of the victim, attempting to find out all he can that the police and a top-notch firm of detectives couldn’t find before.
In the course of his travels we get to see him traverse political terrain, the world of strip-clubs, old-school journalism, the police force, small-town America and Brooklyn.
The worlds that he enters are painted beautifully, with just the right amount of introduction. The same can be said of the back-stories that are subtly drip-fed where others might have simply chucked in big slices of indigestible material.
Of course our man Moe gets the job done. He accepts his rewards, is invited to take his dream job of detective and basks in the limelight of success while it lasts.
Problem is that this point comes only half-way through the book. When I reached it, I was wondering how such a perfect tale could be further extended without damaging what had gone before.
I needn’t have worried.
What follows is an even more tautly written prose that takes the reader to the end of the book in the way that one of his favoured Coney Island rides might have done.
The plot is wonderfully paced. I loved being taken on the ups and downs of the case and could never quite see where I was going next until I’d rounded the corner.
The characters are so 3 dimensional that if they chose to make the movie, there’d be no need for glasses to get them to leap from the screen.
The settings are superbly drawn and make me want to go on the Moe Prager tour of New York should I ever get there (if no one has set one of those up, it might be a hell of a business idea).
Best of all is the man himself. Moe is deep thinking, caring, unselfish and full of wisdom, his own and that of other people.
“Life is hard for us all. It’s not a contest of whose life is worse. When the Gettys are sad, their misery is as real as mine or yours. Money is a retreat not a fortress.”
for example, or
“That was always the test, I thought, not how good you were at avoiding the blows, but how you dealt with them after they landed.”
(Amen to that) and that’s before you get to page 9.
Add to that the great name and a cover that is out of the top drawer and you have more than enough on your plate, even if you’re eating at 10,9,8s.
The James Deans is my kind of book by my kind of author. I can’t wait for the next in the series, Soul Patch. The order’s made and should be in transit as I write. God’s speed to the postal service is all I can say.
Hard-boiled with a soft centre. Highly recommended.
How’s that for a description of a restaurant meal in the 1980s?
I came across it in Reed Farrel Coleman’s novel ‘The James Deans’. It’s the third of the Moe Prager series.
It’s one hell of a good book, written with a smooth style that’s faultless to the end.
Moses Prager (ex-cop, wine shop owner, family man and a detective for hire) is persuaded to take on the job of clearing the name of a politician suspected of committing more than a little hanky-panky with one of his staff. The rub is that if he doesn’t help out, bad things will happen.
Off he goes on the trail of the victim, attempting to find out all he can that the police and a top-notch firm of detectives couldn’t find before.
In the course of his travels we get to see him traverse political terrain, the world of strip-clubs, old-school journalism, the police force, small-town America and Brooklyn.
The worlds that he enters are painted beautifully, with just the right amount of introduction. The same can be said of the back-stories that are subtly drip-fed where others might have simply chucked in big slices of indigestible material.
Of course our man Moe gets the job done. He accepts his rewards, is invited to take his dream job of detective and basks in the limelight of success while it lasts.
Problem is that this point comes only half-way through the book. When I reached it, I was wondering how such a perfect tale could be further extended without damaging what had gone before.
I needn’t have worried.
What follows is an even more tautly written prose that takes the reader to the end of the book in the way that one of his favoured Coney Island rides might have done.
The plot is wonderfully paced. I loved being taken on the ups and downs of the case and could never quite see where I was going next until I’d rounded the corner.
The characters are so 3 dimensional that if they chose to make the movie, there’d be no need for glasses to get them to leap from the screen.
The settings are superbly drawn and make me want to go on the Moe Prager tour of New York should I ever get there (if no one has set one of those up, it might be a hell of a business idea).
Best of all is the man himself. Moe is deep thinking, caring, unselfish and full of wisdom, his own and that of other people.
“Life is hard for us all. It’s not a contest of whose life is worse. When the Gettys are sad, their misery is as real as mine or yours. Money is a retreat not a fortress.”
for example, or
“That was always the test, I thought, not how good you were at avoiding the blows, but how you dealt with them after they landed.”
(Amen to that) and that’s before you get to page 9.
Add to that the great name and a cover that is out of the top drawer and you have more than enough on your plate, even if you’re eating at 10,9,8s.
The James Deans is my kind of book by my kind of author. I can’t wait for the next in the series, Soul Patch. The order’s made and should be in transit as I write. God’s speed to the postal service is all I can say.
Hard-boiled with a soft centre. Highly recommended.
February 23, 2012
This was another excellent book in Reed Farrel Coleman's enjoyable Moe Prager series. I'm reading them in order, so as the third one in the series, this was the third one I read. This book takes place 2 years after the last book, this time in 1983. As in the last book, Moe the former policeman and part time investigator, is asked to leave his job at the wine store to help investigate the disappearance of a woman from 2 years prior. Moe quickly comes to a solution that satisfies his clients and leads to his possible reinstatement on the police force as a detective. Of course, Moe is not entirely satisfied and keeps at it a little longer. This book is told in the first person so you are always learning along with Moe and also getting his interesting perspective. Although reading the prior books in the series gives you some interesting background on Moe Prager and his family, it is not necessary to enjoy this book. However, I would strongly recommend reading the first 2 books before this one since they are so well written and enjoyable.
September 3, 2007
THE JAMES DEANS (Private Investigator-New York- 1980s) – Ex
Coleman, Reed Farrel – 3rd in series
Plume, 2005 – Trade paperback
Moe Prager, former cop turned PI, is hired to find political intern Moria Heaton. Moria left political headquarters on evening, never to be seen again.
*** Moe is the refreshing antithesis of most characters being written today. He is a loving husband, father and brother, neither an alcoholic nor a drug user, but with secrets and burdens of his own. I still rave about "Walking the Perfect Square" as one of my favorite books. Coleman creates an environment that feels personal. But it's the writing that makes this book and series one I feel deserves attention and recognition. Highly recommended.
Coleman, Reed Farrel – 3rd in series
Plume, 2005 – Trade paperback
Moe Prager, former cop turned PI, is hired to find political intern Moria Heaton. Moria left political headquarters on evening, never to be seen again.
*** Moe is the refreshing antithesis of most characters being written today. He is a loving husband, father and brother, neither an alcoholic nor a drug user, but with secrets and burdens of his own. I still rave about "Walking the Perfect Square" as one of my favorite books. Coleman creates an environment that feels personal. But it's the writing that makes this book and series one I feel deserves attention and recognition. Highly recommended.
May 6, 2010
Okay, this is the great undiscovered American private eye series. Or, anyway, it used to be -- until Busted Flush Press reprinted four of the titles in (in my opinion) the best series of covers in recent paperback history.
All the Moe books are sensational but this may be the best of the bunch. As always, it's Moe's narrative, steeped in intelligence, morality, and melancholy, that floats the book so far above most of the competition. Reed Farrell Coleman is on top of my "automatic buy" list.
All the Moe books are sensational but this may be the best of the bunch. As always, it's Moe's narrative, steeped in intelligence, morality, and melancholy, that floats the book so far above most of the competition. Reed Farrell Coleman is on top of my "automatic buy" list.
November 8, 2014
Moe Prager reluctantly takes a job looking into the disappearance of a young woman who was interning for an up and coming state senator. Moe is a great character and the story had just enough plot twists to keep me turning the pages.
September 23, 2019
The James Deans by Reed Farrel Coleman is book #3 in the Moe Prager detective mystery series. The third book in the series is another exciting mystery adventure by the author; he a great story-teller and mystery writer.
From the Publisher:
It’s 1983 and Reaganomics is in full swing. But beneath the facade of junk bonds and easy money, New York remains a gritty metropolis offering Nirvana with one hand and desolation with the other. Moe Prager, ex-NYPD cop turned reluctant P.I. is too busy reeling from a family tragedy to see what’s coming. He’s about to be sucked into a case that might deliver him what he’s always wanted or plunge him into purgatory.
Two years earlier, Moira Heaton, a young intern for an up-and-coming politico, vanished without a trace. Although there is no evidence supporting her boss’s involvement, rumors and whispers have conspired to stall his once-promising career. Now, in a last-ditch effort to clear his name, state senator Steven Brightman, with the clout of a wealthy backer, enlists Moe’s help. With twists and turns galore and Moe’s inimitable voice, The James Deans is an absorbing page-turner that will add to the burgeoning reputation of one of today’s most promising writers.
From the Publisher:
It’s 1983 and Reaganomics is in full swing. But beneath the facade of junk bonds and easy money, New York remains a gritty metropolis offering Nirvana with one hand and desolation with the other. Moe Prager, ex-NYPD cop turned reluctant P.I. is too busy reeling from a family tragedy to see what’s coming. He’s about to be sucked into a case that might deliver him what he’s always wanted or plunge him into purgatory.
Two years earlier, Moira Heaton, a young intern for an up-and-coming politico, vanished without a trace. Although there is no evidence supporting her boss’s involvement, rumors and whispers have conspired to stall his once-promising career. Now, in a last-ditch effort to clear his name, state senator Steven Brightman, with the clout of a wealthy backer, enlists Moe’s help. With twists and turns galore and Moe’s inimitable voice, The James Deans is an absorbing page-turner that will add to the burgeoning reputation of one of today’s most promising writers.
October 6, 2023
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Another fantastic whodunit by Reed Farrel Coleman. Moe Prager returns when he is arm twisted into investigating the murder of a young intern, Moira Heaton, in a political campaign. Senator Brightman, the politician in whose employ the intern died, has suffered a setback due his affiliation with the unsolved murder. Brightman's benefactor, Thomas Geary, arm twists Moe Prager into investigating the murder to clear Brightman.
The book has some tongue in cheek references like the reference to certain Democratic Governor from Arkansas whom everyone dismisses (*ahem* *ahem* Clinton). In addition, like the other books, the book tried to capture the emotion of the 1980s.
I am constantly impressed Coleman's ability to weave an interesting whodunit without making the mystery obvious. I am interested in the dead girl Moira, and who killed her. The book has quite a few twists which managed to surprise me.
Coleman has another fan!
Another fantastic whodunit by Reed Farrel Coleman. Moe Prager returns when he is arm twisted into investigating the murder of a young intern, Moira Heaton, in a political campaign. Senator Brightman, the politician in whose employ the intern died, has suffered a setback due his affiliation with the unsolved murder. Brightman's benefactor, Thomas Geary, arm twists Moe Prager into investigating the murder to clear Brightman.
The book has some tongue in cheek references like the reference to certain Democratic Governor from Arkansas whom everyone dismisses (*ahem* *ahem* Clinton). In addition, like the other books, the book tried to capture the emotion of the 1980s.
I am constantly impressed Coleman's ability to weave an interesting whodunit without making the mystery obvious. I am interested in the dead girl Moira, and who killed her. The book has quite a few twists which managed to surprise me.
Coleman has another fan!
September 23, 2018
I have really taken to this series.
It’s 1983 and Reaganomics is in full swing. But beneath the facade of junk bonds and easy money, New York remains a gritty metropolis offering Nirvana with one hand and desolation with the other. Moe Prager, ex-NYPD cop turned reluctant P.I. is too busy reeling from a family tragedy to see what’s coming. He’s about to be sucked into a case that might deliver him what he’s always wanted or plunge him into purgatory.
Two years earlier, Moira Heaton, a young intern for an up-and-coming politico, vanished without a trace. Although there is no evidence supporting her boss’s involvement, rumors and whispers have conspired to stall his once-promising career. Now, in a last- ditch effort to clear his name, state senator Steven Brightman, with the clout of a wealthy backer, enlists Moe’s help.
It’s 1983 and Reaganomics is in full swing. But beneath the facade of junk bonds and easy money, New York remains a gritty metropolis offering Nirvana with one hand and desolation with the other. Moe Prager, ex-NYPD cop turned reluctant P.I. is too busy reeling from a family tragedy to see what’s coming. He’s about to be sucked into a case that might deliver him what he’s always wanted or plunge him into purgatory.
Two years earlier, Moira Heaton, a young intern for an up-and-coming politico, vanished without a trace. Although there is no evidence supporting her boss’s involvement, rumors and whispers have conspired to stall his once-promising career. Now, in a last- ditch effort to clear his name, state senator Steven Brightman, with the clout of a wealthy backer, enlists Moe’s help.
April 17, 2021
The third in the Moe Prager series, a former cop who is seriously injured in a deadly carbon paper slip and fall incident, and now works for a wine store manager withis brother and as an occassional detective. This time Prager solves a missing person's case from a few years ago which results in a murder charge for an already convicted seriel killer and the clearance of an up and coming politician. As Prager gets his long sought for Detective badge, he and the reader feels that he is being manipulated. He stays on the case and the truth, if not justice, wins out. This is an emotionally involving and, in the end, satisfying story of how the past lives on in the present. A haunting tale of past sins, present accountability and the efforts of a basically decent man to affect the future.
February 19, 2019
Pretty good. Retired cop turned private detective looks into an intern’s disappearance to clear a rising politician’s name and discovers a deeper secret and an elaborate coverup. Less than four stars because I’m not sure that the simple disappearance of an intern would derail a career, there needed to be something more to connect her with him. And even in the pre internet days (it’s the 80s) someone would have looked into the politician’s home town. Also it’s just a bit over written with personal angst mixed in with a little too much editorializing about people and the times. There’s a good scene with the young Bill Clinton though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2018
*4.25 stars.
"'Ah, a man with the flare for the self-evident'" (43).
"By the feel of the hot, damp night on the skin of my face, it might as well have been mid-July. The dankness that lurked in the peach and teal green corners of my cheap room did nothing to argue me out of the illusion of summer" (169).
"'It's yellow as cartoon piss, but it's pretty good stuff. Here.'
"'Don't go into advertising, Ralph'" (170).
"It was a gray tropical rain, heavy and fast with a sun chaser" (171).
"'Ah, a man with the flare for the self-evident'" (43).
"By the feel of the hot, damp night on the skin of my face, it might as well have been mid-July. The dankness that lurked in the peach and teal green corners of my cheap room did nothing to argue me out of the illusion of summer" (169).
"'It's yellow as cartoon piss, but it's pretty good stuff. Here.'
"'Don't go into advertising, Ralph'" (170).
"It was a gray tropical rain, heavy and fast with a sun chaser" (171).
December 31, 2022
A great read to end the year!
Must read for those who want to participate in an old school ,realistic, methodical investigation process.
I personally like stories which talk about different eras and doing that, allows me a glimpse of life elsewhere at a different time.
Take this..
..This book was first published in 2005
...The story is set in 1980
...I read it in 2022
And yet found it captivating and relevant!
Must read for those who want to participate in an old school ,realistic, methodical investigation process.
I personally like stories which talk about different eras and doing that, allows me a glimpse of life elsewhere at a different time.
Take this..
..This book was first published in 2005
...The story is set in 1980
...I read it in 2022
And yet found it captivating and relevant!
July 13, 2017
Very interesting quick read. Will get others of his. Came across this in NO bookstore and got because of forward by Michael Connelly one of my favorite authors. Story is of former policeman now the owner of two wine stores with brother who gets roped in to investigating a disappearance of an aide to a rising political star who needs it gone to go for higher office.
December 9, 2021
A great writer in the Robert B. Parker tradition
Reed Farrell Coleman is fast becoming one of my favorite mystery writers. I discovered him in his Jesse Stone books, continuing the legacy of Robert Parker, and find his writing always compelling. He gives JesseStone a depth I think Parker only touched on. His own work stands up to the best mystery writing I’ve read.
Reed Farrell Coleman is fast becoming one of my favorite mystery writers. I discovered him in his Jesse Stone books, continuing the legacy of Robert Parker, and find his writing always compelling. He gives JesseStone a depth I think Parker only touched on. His own work stands up to the best mystery writing I’ve read.
May 16, 2017
Enjoyed this a lot. Some characterization, but not so much that it overshadows the story. Plot fairly standard but well executed. The feel of the settings add to the whole thing for a nice sort of noir lite. Will try more
June 2, 2017
The best of the Moe Prager noir mysteries so far. He continues getting better with each book. This one's main theme is a death in the distant past and one more recent. I'm so glad these books were reprinted so I had the opportunity to read them as I hadn't heard of this author before.
May 16, 2019
There are so many things to like in this book: characters are well developed, the writing is sharp and direct and the landscape descriptively detailed. Coleman knows New York City. You feel it in his writing. The narrative is smart, fast moving with plenty of twists.
May 10, 2023
My first M.P. book and at first I thought it a bit slow but well written and kept me interested. Boy am I glad I stayed with it. Wonderful plot that had me gripped till the end. I shall now search out the rest of the series.
August 12, 2025
Moe Prager is a great character. His way of solving crimes that took place years ago is great. This one had a nice element in it where the crime was solved and then it got turned upside down when he found an anomaly of a clue while closing up the details.
April 26, 2018
This guy is amazing, truly one of the best!! 5 stars all the way!!
August 28, 2018
Another good entry in the series with Moe hired to solve the mystery of an intern's death to help a politician reclaim his reputation. Nice twists and turns, leading to a satisfying denouement.
Want to read
November 8, 2018Synopsis: in 1981, Moira Heaton, a young political intern, vanished. Two years later Senator Brightman enlists PI Moe Prager’s help to clear his name.
May 16, 2019
Moe just gets better and better as disaster hangs over his head.
May 26, 2019
Not bad! If you like Moe....you'll wnjoy this. Keep on reading... if you don't like the book your currently reading, get another one. Life's too short to be stuck with a bad book :)
February 27, 2020
Very good book. Well written and great twists. The pace was a little slower than a thriller, but I was kept interested the entire time. Moe Prager is a great protagonist!!
November 13, 2020
Liked it much better than I thought I would. Definitely like Moe Prager.
January 13, 2022
Could hear Moe's voice coming through perfectly but felt as though there was a significant and unsatisfying abruptness to the ending. Characters remained highly likeable however.
Read
September 11, 2022Smooth.
February 1, 2023
Private investigator Moe Frager seeks killer of Moira Heaton to clear her employer, an up and coming politician.
Good writing.
Read more of his
Good writing.
Read more of his
September 4, 2023
Love Moe Prager. I enjoy what Coleman does within confines of genre. Brings life and fun dialogue.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews