Reed Farrel Coleman, The James Deans

The James Deans

Reed Farrel Coleman

Plume, Feb 2005, $12.00, 288 pp.

ISBN: 0452286506

Former New York cop Moe Prager and his wife attend a wedding ceremony for his assistant Constance in the fancy Long Island estate of her father. During the gala, Constance's dad Mr. Geary asks Moe if he remembers former State Senator Steven Brightman, whose career died when he was linked to a dead intern, Moira Heaton. At the time of the incident two years ago, Moe was working a difficult case in the Catskills so he knows little about the Brightman incident. Mr. Geary hires Moe to uncover what happened so that Brightman's once bright career can rise from the ashes like a Phoenix. Though Moe owns wine shops in Brooklyn, he accepts the private investigation.

Moe interviews broken-down cop Pete Parson and next his father-in-law, a major political fund raiser. Quickly Moe uncovers the identity of the killer, but something does not seem right as the resolution was achieved too easily, too quickly, and too perfectly. Moe continues to make inquiries and soon uncovers a much better buried secret that makes someone want him silent.

THE JAMES DEANS is an excellent private investigative tale starring a delightful inner-city, "broken-down" former cop whose personal life has collapsed ever since his beloved wife miscarried a few months ago; she has failed to emotionally recover.. The investigation is filled with clever twists and turns that seem right yet will stun the audience who will think they have resolved who killed Moira when another spin occurs. Reed Farrel Coleman has provided a fabulous tale starring a strong hero and a wonderful secondary cast that will send the audience seeking more Moe works like WALKING THE PERFECT SQUARE.

Harriet Klausner