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Moira Heaton worked as an intern in the office of rising political star Steven Brightman when she disappeared on Thanksgiving eve in 1981, never to be seen again. It's now 1983 and Steven Brightman is still fighting public suspicion that he had something to do with her disappearance. He needs to clear his name if he's to move any higher up the political food chain. A wealthy backer of Brightman's invites Moe to his daughter's wedding and asks him to investigate Moira's disappearance. When Moe tries to refuse, state liquor authority auditors descend on his wine shop. Moe gets the message that if he doesn't take the job he will suffer some serious consequences, so he begins to dig deeper into the case. As he reviews the files compiled by both the police and private investigators, Moe figures the crime to have been committed by a guy charged with multiple counts of similar crimes. He even gets a confession from the guy. There are press conferences and job offers and parties of congratulation, but it's all a little too pat for Moe. He enlists the help of a celebrity journalist modeled on Dominic Dunne and together they discover the truth, not only about Moira but also about another long-forgotten murder. This story is a lot more fun than the synopsis would lead you to believe. Moe Prager is smart-mouthed and cynical in a credible Brooklyn way. He's also willing to sacrifice his own personal dreams for the common good. His complicated and painful back story makes him at once believable and incredibly sympathetic. The best part of this book, though, is the language. Coleman has a poet's sensibilities and through his beautiful evocations of place and character he gives us something much richer and more insightful than anything your average crime novel dares to attempt. Buy this book. Coleman is a writer to watch, and you'll want to be among the first to join his fan club.
Reviewed by Carroll Johnson, November 2004
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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