Interview with Patrick Moore, author of 27 Days
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Today it gives the Indie Crime Scene great pleasure to interview Patrick Moore, whose novel 27 Days was published on February 6, 2023 by Down & Out Books.
Your debut neo-noir political thriller 27 Days was published on February 6. What do the words “neo-noir” mean to you?
Multitudes of crime novels these days are grouped under the rubric “neo-noir” and the term is probably overused. So what does “neo-noir” actually mean? To me, a novel written in neo-noir fashion is dark and foreboding in tone. The reader knows that they have plunged into a fallen world in which the ordinary rules of polite, everyday living do not apply. Thus, the neo-noir novel exists in a dark and fallen realm but one that includes all our modern conveniences including the internet and modern technology in general.
27 Days follows private investigator Nick Crane as he races to save his best friend, held hostage by a powerful alt-right terrorist group that will spare no one to “Make America Safe Again.” This places the novel and its protagonist in a contemporary political context. Why was that important to you?
I placed 27 Days in a contemporary political context because I wanted to imbue the story with social and political relevance. Much crime fiction, although exciting and often gripping, is escapist in nature. The reader may finish the story and think: “Well, this was a great story” and then quickly forget about it. 27 Days, on the other hand, reminds the reader that crime is real and that the criminals are often wealthy and influential individuals.
Tell us about Nick Crane. How far does he differ from the traditional noir gumshoe and to what extent does he continue that tradition in the present?
According to Britannica, “The heroes of noir generally share certain qualities, such as moral ambiguity, a fatalistic outlook, and alienation from society.” (https://www.britannica.com/art/film-noir/The-noir-hero)
Based on this definition, Nick Crane certainly falls, at least partially, into the category of noir protagonists. He seems to accept that life is inevitably morally ambiguous and he is alienated from society, especially law enforcement, to some degree. He is also fatalistic and has little hope for the future. And like traditional noir protagonists, he is absolutely determined to help his clients to the best of his ability. On the other hand, in some ways, Nick is far more modern than the traditional noir protagonist. He utilizes current technology in working his cases and even has a staff member scouring the dark web for information. Plus, Nick is not a “loner” in the traditional sense. He has several close friends and even has a daughter for whom he feels normal, fatherly affection.
You are a Los Angeles based private investigator and sentencing mitigation specialist. Tell us about those – and what does it mean to be a sentencing mitigation specialist?
To clarify, I work for a licensed private investigator in Los Angeles. Although I have pitched in on some of my boss’s investigations, for the most part I work as a “sentencing mitigation specialist.” This means that I work closely with criminal defense lawyers in developing strategies in writing designed to persuade judges to give our clients lenient sentences. I achieve this by focusing on both my client’s personal lives and whatever legal arguments may be relevant. The winning formula is telling a client’s real life story as persuasively as possible in writing while also making legal arguments designed to reduce the client’s sentencing guidelines.
As a private investigator yourself, how far could you draw on personal experience in writing 27 Days and does it give you a different view of the PI role? Are you Nick Crane?
I have represented literally hundreds of clients. Many of them have been rough, tough, colorful characters. Spending time with these folks has helped me to invent and depict interesting characters in writing. Also, I spent a decade or longer scuffing around the “mean streets” of Northern California during my youth. This experience has also been very helpful. But I am not Nick Crane. Although I’ve spent time in the company of dangerous and sometimes violent individuals, I’ve always been good at avoiding the rough stuff myself.
Not many current thrillers have a political context. What motivated you to make that part of 27 Days?
As I said in response to an earlier question, I placed 27 Days in a contemporary political context because I wanted to imbue the story with social and political relevance. Most crime fiction, in my opinion, is generally escapist in nature. Although there is nothing wrong with such an approach, I wanted 27 Days to remind readers that we live in a dangerous and volatile world in which powerful alt-right forces are working feverishly to destroy our democracy.
Apart from Nick Crane himself, and his friend and business partner Bobby Moore, we meet idealistic FBI operative Carrie North, and his old enemy, the villainous Margaret Ferguson. What can you tell us about these characters and their role in the story? Who is Margaret Ferguson?
Nick Crane has always been sceptical about law enforcement and he is initially very reluctant to work with FBI Special Agent Carrie North. He is surprised to discover, however, that he and Carrie share a common laudable goal––to bring Marguerite Ferguson to justice. As 27 Days proceeds, Nick finds himself admiring Carrie North’s pluck, dedication and determination. Although SA North is green, she is “game” and Nick admires this quality in her.
As for Marguerite Ferguson, she is married to a “coal country” billionaire. She is distinctly anti-democratic and has specific heinous goals for America in mind which include turning the United States into an isolationist nation with a powerful private prison infrastructure designed to incarcerate Latinos and Muslims in vast numbers. Marguerite is a persuasive, albeit fiendish, woman and good-hearted readers will likely despise her.
Is it fair to say that you are passionately concerned about injustice, and does this inform your writing?
I can’t say that I am “passionately concerned about injustice.” I am very aware of the fact, though, that injustice permeates both our legal system and our society in general, as exemplified by the targeted prosecution of minorities by law enforcement and the yawning economic chasm between the “haves” and the “have nots” in our society. I would certainly like to live in a more just society and I felt I could do my small part by writing a thriller that doesn’t shy away from our current social problems and issues.
Why are Nick Crane and his friends and allies sceptical about law enforcement officers, especially the police?
Nick Crane and his friends and allies are sceptical about police, prosecutors and judges. They know the deck is stacked against poor people and minorities and do NOT pretend that everything is hunky-dory when they know darned well that it’s not. I’ve represented several disgraced cops in criminal matters and have heard their stories about some of the more appalling habits and tendencies of actual law enforcement officers. It is not a pretty picture.
How does this relate to traditional attitudes to the police in crime thrillers, attitudes that cover the ground from seeing them as wholly corrupt to idealising them?
I do not idealize the police and probably see them as more corrupt than not. Many crime thrillers do not hesitate to reveal law enforcement’s many faults and flaws, but still ultimately give them a pass. As if the authors are saying, “It’s a rough job and these men and women are far from perfect, but at the end of the day, they are doing the best they can and should still be honoured.” I see this attitude as a copout (no pun intended). As a whole, law enforcement in America is broken and anyone who disagrees has either an ulterior motive, is deluded, or is simply in denial.
Tell us about your All Things Crime blog, which started in 2013, and has been one of the most popular crime blogs in America with over 3 million views.
With the help of some friends, I originally conceived of All Things Crime Blog as a hybrid blog that would focus on crime fiction and true crime. Our audience quickly skewed in the direction of true crime, however, and that became our primary focus. The blog was great fun but eventually became too popular. Internet trolls began attacking us and family members of folks discussed in our true crime posts began writing comments on our stories. It was getting too “up close and personal” and I reluctantly made the decision to “kill” the blog. It still exists but is a mere shadow of its former self. Most of our posts have been taken down and our fans have apparently moved elsewhere for their daily “true crime” fix.
You studied English Literature and Creative Writing at San Francisco State University, publishing numerous short stories and novel excerpts. In 2014, your indie-published thriller, Cicero’s Dead, was a finalist for the Beverly Hills Book Awards. How did those experiences shape your writing and bring you to write 27 Days?
At San Francisco State, I wrote mostly in an experimental vein. I also co-wrote a non-fiction novel about the Vietnam veteran on whom I based my character Bobby Moore. So even then, I was moving in the direction of writing realistic prose. Cicero’s Dead was my first published novel. I am very grateful to my indie publisher, Max Myers of US iNdIe Books for launching it into the world. Although it was (and is) a valid crime thriller, like many crime thrillers, it is escapist in nature and does not concern itself with present day social and political issues. One might say that Cicero’s Dead was a stepping stone on the path to me writing 27 Days.
What next for Nick Crane and how do you see the series going forward?
Down & Out Books will publish the prequel to 27 Days early next year. It is called Rogues and Patriots and it will answer many of the questions readers of the current book have concerning what led up to the predicament Nick Crane finds himself in at the beginning of 27 Days. Rogues and Patriots is almost finished. There will be a third and final book in the “Nick Crane versus Marguerite and the Principals” series with the working title of Giant Steps. After that, I may write more Nick Crane thrillers but they will either be stand-alones or part of a new series with different antagonists.
What are your concerns about the future for writers, books and libraries in the USA?
Boy, you saved the tough question for last! God only knows what will become of writers, books, and libraries in the future. A lot depends on whether we, the American people, succeed in stemming the destructive thrust of alt-right conservatism. If we do not succeed in neutralizing this societal plague, books will likely continue to be banned in libraries in red states and even conservative parts of blue states.
As for writers moving forward, the biggest problem we face is that there are too many of us. Too many published authors, most of whom are highly competent, and not nearly enough readers. Without sufficient readers, we writers may find ourselves going the way of the dinosaur by the beginning of the next century.
In closing, I want to thank you for formulating your many excellent questions and for inviting me to answer them.
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