Patrick H. Moore

Sometimes an author will come out of nowhere with a debut novel that blows me away. Patrick Moore with his novel Cicero's Dead is one such instance.

What struck me first was the realism, both with the dialogue and the characters' interactions. Moore perfectly captures all the nuances. The characters are each unique and well developed, with all the little quirks that make them feel human. The dialogue is perfection. Nothing feels stilted or forced. The flow is natural, always fitting well with the speaker.

The plot is intricate without being overly complicated. While this is largely a crime story, we're also given little twists to build suspense.

I was hooked from start to finish, and I'm hoping Moore has plans for a second Nick Crane novel.… (more)