Monsignor Steven Gray asks his old childhood friend, former FBI psychological profiler, Robert Payne to investigate the murder of Father Daly. Robert, who now works as an investigator for a Cedar Rapids, Iowa law firm, does not want to get involved with what looks to him like an internal church affair. However, for old time sakes, he agrees to look into this and a similar grisly murder of a priest.

Among Daly's possessions are a series of articles about the brutal killings of members of St. Mallory Church. From these clippings and other information, Robert develops a profile on a vicious serial killer. As he gets closer to identifying the culprit, Robert knows he must pick up the pace before another parishioner becomes the next brutalized victim.

HARLOT'S MOON, the latest Robert Payne novel (see HAWK MOON and BLOOD MOON), is a tremendous hard-boiled detective story, starring a great protagonist. When it comes to crime, Robert is as tough as they get, but Ed Gorman makes his star profiler seem human because he provides him with compassionate traits too. Throw in a well-designed fast-paced story line and a strong support cast that constantly move the plot forward and the audience has a top rate psychological who-done-it.

Harriet Klausner

In Hawk Moon, Ed Gorman not only gives us a fascinating murder mystery with the retired investigator Robert Payne, but he also treats us to a flashback case involving an almost identical murder that was investigated by one woman using then unheard of criminology techniques. Although the main story is sometimes confusing to read, there are plenty of surprises to keep the reader's interest. And the flashback story is pretty good, too, occasionally being more fascinating than the main story.

I have to hand it to Ed Gorman. This second entry in his Robert Payne "Moon" series clearly demonstrates just how nice a guy this Payne really is. Although sometimes you might think he comes across as being too good, or too nice, you can't help but like and yes, admire, this man. He has a strong sense of friendship and love; his reminiscences of his deceased wife are some of the most touching in modern crime fiction. You know Payne really loved this woman. And his relationships with different characters in both books further proves that Payne is probably the nicest "detective" out there.
As for the plot of this one, it's a little complex and sometimes incoherent, but it moves well, and once again, his parallel story telling ties the two segments together nicely. Particularly unique is his handling of Anna Tolan, a police investigator back in 1903, who in addition to trying to solve a similar case to Payne's in the nineties, is having doubts about her relationship with Trace Wydmore, a nice young man who is trying to score a "home run" with the virginal young girl. Considering the times, one can understand both Anna and Trace's different problems. Their dialogue rings so true, it's refreshing.
The murders that Payne has to solve lead him to a belligerent Native American named David Rhodes, whose estranged wife, just happens to be policewoman Cindy Rhodes. I'll say one thing for Iowa---they certainly advanced women's lib in their use of women as police officers.
The supporting characters are appropriately shady and/or nice, and Payne's adventures with the two elderly Native Americans who want to fly in his biplane is extraordinary.
A great novel in spite of its minor flaws.

What can I say? Another smoothie from the Master. Don't read this with the lights out -- in fact it'll be impossible to read this in the dark.

I hope Ed continues to write more funny stuff though, like Daugher of Darkness. Can we get more satirically hilarious old Hollywood kiss-and-tell quiche please? Love those faded actors. Maybe Gorman can do something about Bradbury versus Mr. Barrymore. He should work closely with Matheson, Jr. or David Schow and get back on the old saddle with hilarious faded cowboy actors and so on. Maybe he can freshen the read with faded scifi actors too (ala Galaxy Quest). Hey Ed, time to imagine a really satirical SF novel, with Hollywood in it. Whaddaya say, hey?