Reed Farrel Coleman

Reed Farrel Coleman (born 1956, Brooklyn, NY) - His fictional private investigator, Moe Prager, is Jewish, and his Jewish heritage, along with his insider-outsider New York sensibility and struggles with faith, is a significant aspect of his character and the series. While often described as an “unobservant Jew” or non-practicing, his background informs his worldview and internal conflicts. 

Key Aspects of Moe Prager’s Jewish Identity

Cultural Background: He’s a Brooklynite, bringing a New York Jewish flavor to the hardboiled detective genre.

Internal Struggle: He grapples with decisions in his life and reflects on his Jewish identity, sometimes finding internal peace within his heritage.

Author’s Inspiration: Author Reed Farrel Coleman, who has Jewish heritage himself, uses Moe to explore themes related to Judaism and the “view from the fringes,” according to Mystery Readers Journal.. 

In essence, Moe Prager’s Jewishness isn’t just a detail; it’s a core part of his personality and the texture of the novels, making him a unique figure in crime fiction. Coleman also has a 3-book series featuring Dylan Klein, an insurance investigator. Aside from Klein’s name, however, there is nothing Jewish about him.] [Google/AI]

Coleman, Reed Farrel [Moe Prager #1], (Walking the Perfect Square [hc, Permanent Press, 2002]) 978-1579620394 [pb, Permanent Press, 2010]) 978-1579622909

Coleman, Reed Farrel [Moe Prager #2], (Redemption Street [hc, Viking, 2004] 978-0670032914 [pb, Gallery Books, 2012] 978-1440563850

Coleman, Reed Farrel [Moe Prager #3], The James Deans [pb, Plume,2005]) 978-0452286504

Coleman, Reed Farrel [Moe Prager #4], (Soul Patch [hc, Bleak House Books, 2007]) 978-1932557411 [pb] Bleak House Books, 2007] 978-1932557350

Coleman, Reed Farrel [Moe Prager #5], (Empty Ever After [hc, Bleak House Books, 2008]) 978-1932557640 [pb, Busted Flush Books, 2010] 978-1935415091

Coleman, Reed Farrel [Moe Prager #6], (Innocent Monster [hc, Tyrus Books, 2010]) 978-1935562207 [pb, Gallery Books, 2012] 978-1440536090

Coleman, Reed Farrel [Moe Prager #7], (Hurt Machine [hc, Gallery Books, 2011]) 978-1440532023 [pb, Gallery Books, 2011]  978-1440531996

Coleman, Reed Farrel [Moe Prager #8], (Onion Street [hc, Gallery Books, 2013]) 978-1440539459 [pb, Gallery Books, 2013] 978-1440539466

Coleman, Reed Farrel [Moe Prager #9], (The Hollow Girl [hc, Gallery Books, 2014]) 978-1440562020 [pb, Gallery Books, 2014] 978-1440573019