The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
srturner's review
4.0
"Walking the Perfect Square" is just a good mystery. No gimmicks. Nothing flashy. The detective is not super-human nor does he have superior powers of detection, but he is very likeable. The story swings between 1978 and 1998, but the segues are not jarring. A very well written, easy read.
bethnellvaccaro's review
3.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment in the Amie Prager series. Looking forward to reading more. I think I like reading books set in the 1970s.
gawronma's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know what to expect, but this was a very good read. The characters were vivid and what engaging plot. This is Reader's Group selection and I'm looking forward to the discussion.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
As an avid book reader who appreciates a good series to dive into, itâs fun when you discover a writer whose voice you really enjoy. Though there are many issues with Walking the Perfect Square, I liked this one a lot.
Reed Farrel Coleman has a great sense of time. His version of 70s New York City feels real and lived in. His main character, Moe Prager, is an interesting one. An Jewish ex-cop moonlighting here as a private eye for a high profile mystery case, Prager makes for a fun tour guide throughout the world Coleman is building.
The mystery itself is compelling and kept me guessing. And as with many good PI novels, the layering of the mystery is the most important thing, as mysteries in this genre are rarely stone-cold whodunnits. Coleman builds this one well, making it deep and guessable but not too confusing or ridiculous.
Also, the racial, sexual and gender politics of this book are surprisingly good. I know the old joke âA male feminist walks into a bar, itâs lowâ somewhat applies but since I endure so many eyeballing moments at a genre dominated by white people, especially men, I appreciated it.
The book has plenty of shortcomings, namely a tragic homosexual angle. Without giving too much away, there are some potentially triggering moments of homophobic violence. And again, even if there werenât, the tragic homosexual is a tired trope in books. It really needs to die.
Also, I didnât care much for most of the characters outside of Moe. The love interest one is written thinly; sheâs given stuff to do but mostly kowtows to Moeâs mansplaining. And the bad guys here are reallllllly evillllll (rubs hands) which is kind of annoying.
So take those for what itâs worth but it wasnât enough to diminish how much I enjoyed this book and how I will look forward to diving into this series.
Reed Farrel Coleman has a great sense of time. His version of 70s New York City feels real and lived in. His main character, Moe Prager, is an interesting one. An Jewish ex-cop moonlighting here as a private eye for a high profile mystery case, Prager makes for a fun tour guide throughout the world Coleman is building.
The mystery itself is compelling and kept me guessing. And as with many good PI novels, the layering of the mystery is the most important thing, as mysteries in this genre are rarely stone-cold whodunnits. Coleman builds this one well, making it deep and guessable but not too confusing or ridiculous.
Also, the racial, sexual and gender politics of this book are surprisingly good. I know the old joke âA male feminist walks into a bar, itâs lowâ somewhat applies but since I endure so many eyeballing moments at a genre dominated by white people, especially men, I appreciated it.
The book has plenty of shortcomings, namely a tragic homosexual angle. Without giving too much away, there are some potentially triggering moments of homophobic violence. And again, even if there werenât, the tragic homosexual is a tired trope in books. It really needs to die.
Also, I didnât care much for most of the characters outside of Moe. The love interest one is written thinly; sheâs given stuff to do but mostly kowtows to Moeâs mansplaining. And the bad guys here are reallllllly evillllll (rubs hands) which is kind of annoying.
So take those for what itâs worth but it wasnât enough to diminish how much I enjoyed this book and how I will look forward to diving into this series.
heyalisa's review against another edition
5.0
npr was right, it is a really great hard-boiled mystery. i'm ready to read the other ones.
redbecca's review against another edition
2.0
I like murder mysteries and I like stories of NY in the 1970s, but this mystery didn't work for me. It was too easy to figure out the main mystery and the detective character wasn't especially interesting.
grywhp's review against another edition
3.0
A solid start to a series. Makes me want to read the next book.
jeanetterenee's review against another edition
4.0
I was torn between three and four stars for this one, but the book REALLY held my interest, so I went with the higher rating. I finished it in 24 hours! Outstanding choice for those times when you want something fairly easy to read that sucks you in right away and keeps you reading. Beach, airplane ride, bad day at work, hangover, vacation, or all of the above.
I liked this enough that I went right out and got the next one in the series, so that's a good sign.
I liked this enough that I went right out and got the next one in the series, so that's a good sign.