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Elvis Cole and Joe Pike #18
A Dangerous Man
A brilliant new crime novel from the beloved, bestselling, and award-winning master of the genre--and Joe Pike's most perilous case to date.
Joe Pike didn't expect to rescue a woman that day. He went to the bank same as anyone goes to the bank, and returned to his Jeep. So when Isabel Roland, the lonely young teller who helped him, steps out of the bank on her way to lunch, Joe is on hand when two men abduct her. Joe chases them down, and the two men are arrested. But instead of putting the drama to rest, the arrests are only the beginning of the trouble for Joe and Izzy.
After posting bail, the two abductors are murdered and Izzy disappears. Pike calls on his friend, Elvis Cole, to help learn the truth. What Elvis uncovers is a twisted family story that involves corporate whistleblowing, huge amounts of cash, the Witness Relocation Program, and a long line of lies. But what of all that did Izzy know? Is she a perpetrator or a victim? And how far will Joe go to find out?
Joe Pike didn't expect to rescue a woman that day. He went to the bank same as anyone goes to the bank, and returned to his Jeep. So when Isabel Roland, the lonely young teller who helped him, steps out of the bank on her way to lunch, Joe is on hand when two men abduct her. Joe chases them down, and the two men are arrested. But instead of putting the drama to rest, the arrests are only the beginning of the trouble for Joe and Izzy.
After posting bail, the two abductors are murdered and Izzy disappears. Pike calls on his friend, Elvis Cole, to help learn the truth. What Elvis uncovers is a twisted family story that involves corporate whistleblowing, huge amounts of cash, the Witness Relocation Program, and a long line of lies. But what of all that did Izzy know? Is she a perpetrator or a victim? And how far will Joe go to find out?
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2019
About the author
Robert Crais
129 books4,259 followers Robert Crais is the author of the best-selling Elvis Cole novels. A native of Louisiana, he grew up on the banks of the Mississippi River in a blue collar family of oil refinery workers and police officers. He purchased a secondhand paperback of Raymond Chandler’s The Little Sister when he was fifteen, which inspired his lifelong love of writing, Los Angeles, and the literature of crime fiction. Other literary influences include Dashiell Hammett, Ernest Hemingway, Robert B. Parker, and John Steinbeck.
After years of amateur film-making and writing short fiction, he journeyed to Hollywood in 1976 where he quickly found work writing scripts for such major television series as Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, and Miami Vice, as well as numerous series pilots and Movies-of-the-Week for the major networks. He received an Emmy nomination for his work on Hill Street Blues, but is most proud of his 4-hour NBC miniseries, Cross of Fire, which the New York Times declared: "A searing and powerful documentation of the Ku Klux Klan’s rise to national prominence in the 20s."
In the mid-eighties, feeling constrained by the collaborative working requirements of Hollywood, Crais resigned from a lucrative position as a contract writer and television producer in order to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a novelist. His first efforts proved unsuccessful, but upon the death of his father in 1985, Crais was inspired to create Elvis Cole, using elements of his own life as the basis of the story. The resulting novel, The Monkey’s Raincoat, won the Anthony and Macavity Awards and was nominated for the Edgar Award. It has since been selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Crais conceived of the novel as a stand-alone, but realized that—in Elvis Cole—he had created an ideal and powerful character through which to comment upon his life and times. (See the WORKS section for additional titles.) Elvis Cole’s readership and fan base grew with each new book, then skyrocketed in 1999 upon the publication of L. A. Requiem, which was a New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller and forever changed the way Crais conceived of and structured his novels. In this new way of telling his stories, Crais combined the classic ‘first person’ narrative of the American detective novel with flashbacks, multiple story lines, multiple points-of-view, and literary elements to better illuminate his themes. Larger and deeper in scope, Publishers Weekly wrote of L. A. Requiem, "Crais has stretched himself the way another Southern California writer—Ross Macdonald—always tried to do, to write a mystery novel with a solid literary base." Booklist added, "This is an extraordinary crime novel that should not be pigeonholed by genre. The best books always land outside preset boundaries. A wonderful experience."
Crais followed with his first non-series novel, Demolition Angel, which was published in 2000 and featured former Los Angeles Police Department Bomb Technician Carol Starkey. Starkey has since become a leading character in the Elvis Cole series. In 2001, Crais published his second non-series novel, Hostage, which was named a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times and was a world-wide bestseller. Additionally, the editors of Amazon.com selected Hostage as the #1 thriller of the year. A film adaptation of Hostage was released in 2005, starring Bruce Willis as ex-LAPD SWAT negotiator Jeff Talley.
Elvis Cole returned in 2003 with the publication of The Last Detective, followed by the tenth Elvis Cole novel, The Forgotten Man, in 2005. Both novels explore with increasing depth the natures and characters of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. RC’s third stand-alone novel, The Two Minute Rule, was published in 2006. The eleventh entry in the Elvis Cole series, The Watchman, will be published sometime in 2007.
After years of amateur film-making and writing short fiction, he journeyed to Hollywood in 1976 where he quickly found work writing scripts for such major television series as Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, and Miami Vice, as well as numerous series pilots and Movies-of-the-Week for the major networks. He received an Emmy nomination for his work on Hill Street Blues, but is most proud of his 4-hour NBC miniseries, Cross of Fire, which the New York Times declared: "A searing and powerful documentation of the Ku Klux Klan’s rise to national prominence in the 20s."
In the mid-eighties, feeling constrained by the collaborative working requirements of Hollywood, Crais resigned from a lucrative position as a contract writer and television producer in order to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a novelist. His first efforts proved unsuccessful, but upon the death of his father in 1985, Crais was inspired to create Elvis Cole, using elements of his own life as the basis of the story. The resulting novel, The Monkey’s Raincoat, won the Anthony and Macavity Awards and was nominated for the Edgar Award. It has since been selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Crais conceived of the novel as a stand-alone, but realized that—in Elvis Cole—he had created an ideal and powerful character through which to comment upon his life and times. (See the WORKS section for additional titles.) Elvis Cole’s readership and fan base grew with each new book, then skyrocketed in 1999 upon the publication of L. A. Requiem, which was a New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller and forever changed the way Crais conceived of and structured his novels. In this new way of telling his stories, Crais combined the classic ‘first person’ narrative of the American detective novel with flashbacks, multiple story lines, multiple points-of-view, and literary elements to better illuminate his themes. Larger and deeper in scope, Publishers Weekly wrote of L. A. Requiem, "Crais has stretched himself the way another Southern California writer—Ross Macdonald—always tried to do, to write a mystery novel with a solid literary base." Booklist added, "This is an extraordinary crime novel that should not be pigeonholed by genre. The best books always land outside preset boundaries. A wonderful experience."
Crais followed with his first non-series novel, Demolition Angel, which was published in 2000 and featured former Los Angeles Police Department Bomb Technician Carol Starkey. Starkey has since become a leading character in the Elvis Cole series. In 2001, Crais published his second non-series novel, Hostage, which was named a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times and was a world-wide bestseller. Additionally, the editors of Amazon.com selected Hostage as the #1 thriller of the year. A film adaptation of Hostage was released in 2005, starring Bruce Willis as ex-LAPD SWAT negotiator Jeff Talley.
Elvis Cole returned in 2003 with the publication of The Last Detective, followed by the tenth Elvis Cole novel, The Forgotten Man, in 2005. Both novels explore with increasing depth the natures and characters of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. RC’s third stand-alone novel, The Two Minute Rule, was published in 2006. The eleventh entry in the Elvis Cole series, The Watchman, will be published sometime in 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,352 reviews
July 17, 2019
Robert Crais's fabulous crime thriller series set in Southern California and Los Angeles, featuring the well established duo of the strong, silent and dangerous Joe Pike with his military background and PI Elvis Cole returns with this latest cracker of an addition. Joe is at the bank where he is served by the young teller, Isabel 'Izzy' Roland. When Izzy leaves for an early lunch break, Joe is outside and just happens to see her being abducted by two men who bundle her in a car and take off. It's Izzy's lucky day, for Joe does what he has to do, and the two kidnappers have not a hope in hell as he rescues her. The men are arrested by the local police, but go on to make bail. A terrified Izzy contacts Joe, at which point it becomes clear that Joe is going to take on the mantle of her protector. As Izzy disappears after seeing a suspicious SUV outside her home, Joe calls in his best friend and business partner, Elvis to investigate.
Soon it becomes apparent there is a local crime crew and arrivals from out of state have a malign interest in getting hold of Izzy, but why? Izzy seems a straight forward, normal young woman, whose parents have died and with little in the way of any background or reasons for why she should suddenly have become a high value target for criminals. Connections begin to emerge with the torture and killing of a retired US Marshall earlier, a man by the name of Ted Kemps, a long time presence in Izzy's family life and who she refers to as an 'uncle'. With the US Marshall Service intent on hunting down Kemps killer, Joe and Elvis find themselves in a case that involves a long ago pharmaceutical trial for fraud, whistleblowers, the Witness Protection Programme and a powerful force seeking vengeance at any cost. John Chen, the usual ambitious forensic guy that Pike turns to, finds his career prospects taking a distinct downturn after helping Joe, but Joe being Joe is not going to let Chen's career go down the pan.
Crais masterfully showcases his ability to write fast paced, tense and compulsive crime reads with this short but well crafted story. His characterisation is pin sharp, I particularly loved Izzy and her bestie, the marvellously exuberant Carly, their relationship was a joy to observe. I am always going to read any addition to this wonderful series, i will take any opportunity to return to LA and dip into the action packed lives of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. This is for fans of this series and anyone who loves well written and tense crime thrillers. Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for an ARC.
Soon it becomes apparent there is a local crime crew and arrivals from out of state have a malign interest in getting hold of Izzy, but why? Izzy seems a straight forward, normal young woman, whose parents have died and with little in the way of any background or reasons for why she should suddenly have become a high value target for criminals. Connections begin to emerge with the torture and killing of a retired US Marshall earlier, a man by the name of Ted Kemps, a long time presence in Izzy's family life and who she refers to as an 'uncle'. With the US Marshall Service intent on hunting down Kemps killer, Joe and Elvis find themselves in a case that involves a long ago pharmaceutical trial for fraud, whistleblowers, the Witness Protection Programme and a powerful force seeking vengeance at any cost. John Chen, the usual ambitious forensic guy that Pike turns to, finds his career prospects taking a distinct downturn after helping Joe, but Joe being Joe is not going to let Chen's career go down the pan.
Crais masterfully showcases his ability to write fast paced, tense and compulsive crime reads with this short but well crafted story. His characterisation is pin sharp, I particularly loved Izzy and her bestie, the marvellously exuberant Carly, their relationship was a joy to observe. I am always going to read any addition to this wonderful series, i will take any opportunity to return to LA and dip into the action packed lives of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. This is for fans of this series and anyone who loves well written and tense crime thrillers. Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for an ARC.
July 14, 2020
For me, Crais is up there, one of the heavies, like John Sanford, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, and others. It’s difficult to rate their books, they are the gold standard, and should all be five stars. A Dangerous Man is no exception. This book is pure entertainment. Excellent craftsmanship. The book has a thriller construction that runs very fast. It’s not overburden with prose or description. What really works in Crais books is how he quickly he sets his conflict and establishes a contract with the reader that says, “This is what I’m going to show you.” The book also runs fast because Crais shows and doesn’t tell. All the scenes are short and to the point. He sets up his transitions so well you have to turn the page to see what happens next.
This is a Joe Pike novel with Elvis Cole as a tag-along. Pike is taciturn and knows how to take care of business. I do enjoy the Elvis Cole books his wry humor and perception of life is opposite of Joe’s. I would like to see another Elvis Cole book with just his point of view.
This story opens with a Damsel in distress and Joe Pike as the knight. There is a secondary plot line that gives relief to the main plot line and involves a reoccurring character named Chen that is done well.
I you like Joe Pike, don’t miss this one it’s a five star for me.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson Series.
This is a Joe Pike novel with Elvis Cole as a tag-along. Pike is taciturn and knows how to take care of business. I do enjoy the Elvis Cole books his wry humor and perception of life is opposite of Joe’s. I would like to see another Elvis Cole book with just his point of view.
This story opens with a Damsel in distress and Joe Pike as the knight. There is a secondary plot line that gives relief to the main plot line and involves a reoccurring character named Chen that is done well.
I you like Joe Pike, don’t miss this one it’s a five star for me.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson Series.
October 13, 2019
Here's the scoop:
A Dangerous Man is distressingly like Taken (Cole/Pike book #15) (as an aside, you know how many books have the title 'Taken'? It's kind of creepy. I bet most of the 'taken' are females, too), except that we skip that book's twist. It also reads more coherently; though Crais can’t resist cutting other viewpoints, including that of the kidnapper, the action is more streamlined, focused on kidnapping and recovery.
On a related note, it seems that Crais might be succumbing to what I consider the Parker Phenomenon; ie., the gradual simplification of the book as a work of creation through the course of a long career (so named because the difference between the beginning Spencer books and the end Spencer books is so stark that they might have been written by different people).
Along with scene and word simplification comes greater white space. What do I mean? This one is broken into sections, with a face plate to each section, and each section broken into short chapters. At almost halfway through the book, I was on ‘Chapter 25.’ Loads of white space in the margin (Remember that trick from college, the one where you stretch out the margins to 1.25″?) Overall, just not the same caliber as L.A. Requiem or even Chasing Darkness. I mean, I wouldn’t begrudge either of them quitting. Honestly, after 25 years doing the same thing, I’d be bored too. Can’t they just re-brand or something, like yogurt or Subway and call it the Lite version? ‘Joe Pike: Improved! Faster than Ever! Finish Your Book in Record Time!’
Speaking of, it does move fast, once the pieces fall into place. Crais thankfully avoided a couple of the tropes he pulled on in prior books, so that adds an feeling of difference. Besides, it is always nice to witness Joe be an agent of retribution, or vengeance, or something like that. It’s like John Connolly, only happy. Action-movie version.
I noted some vaguely uncomfortable bits in dialogue and texting between two twenty-something single women, that felt vaguely … weird. Did Crais sub this out to someone in the office? It feels incongruent. Again, just not up to earlier caliber. I can’t tell if I was supposed to laugh, or feel like the women were ‘real-life’ or what, but their sexuality and obliviousness to danger just didn’t sit well with me. Add it to the lack of atmosphere, character depth or subtly, and I’m starting to file Crais into my mental ‘airport-level-thriller’ category of read-and-forget (I mean quickly, as opposed to my normal level of forgetting).
The mom's getting this one in large-print, so we'll see what she thinks.
A Dangerous Man is distressingly like Taken (Cole/Pike book #15) (as an aside, you know how many books have the title 'Taken'? It's kind of creepy. I bet most of the 'taken' are females, too), except that we skip that book's twist. It also reads more coherently; though Crais can’t resist cutting other viewpoints, including that of the kidnapper, the action is more streamlined, focused on kidnapping and recovery.
On a related note, it seems that Crais might be succumbing to what I consider the Parker Phenomenon; ie., the gradual simplification of the book as a work of creation through the course of a long career (so named because the difference between the beginning Spencer books and the end Spencer books is so stark that they might have been written by different people).
Along with scene and word simplification comes greater white space. What do I mean? This one is broken into sections, with a face plate to each section, and each section broken into short chapters. At almost halfway through the book, I was on ‘Chapter 25.’ Loads of white space in the margin (Remember that trick from college, the one where you stretch out the margins to 1.25″?) Overall, just not the same caliber as L.A. Requiem or even Chasing Darkness. I mean, I wouldn’t begrudge either of them quitting. Honestly, after 25 years doing the same thing, I’d be bored too. Can’t they just re-brand or something, like yogurt or Subway and call it the Lite version? ‘Joe Pike: Improved! Faster than Ever! Finish Your Book in Record Time!’
Speaking of, it does move fast, once the pieces fall into place. Crais thankfully avoided a couple of the tropes he pulled on in prior books, so that adds an feeling of difference. Besides, it is always nice to witness Joe be an agent of retribution, or vengeance, or something like that. It’s like John Connolly, only happy. Action-movie version.
I noted some vaguely uncomfortable bits in dialogue and texting between two twenty-something single women, that felt vaguely … weird. Did Crais sub this out to someone in the office? It feels incongruent. Again, just not up to earlier caliber. I can’t tell if I was supposed to laugh, or feel like the women were ‘real-life’ or what, but their sexuality and obliviousness to danger just didn’t sit well with me. Add it to the lack of atmosphere, character depth or subtly, and I’m starting to file Crais into my mental ‘airport-level-thriller’ category of read-and-forget (I mean quickly, as opposed to my normal level of forgetting).
The mom's getting this one in large-print, so we'll see what she thinks.
March 25, 2023
This entry in the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series is billed as "An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel," but really it's a Pike novel with Elvis in a supporting role. It opens when Pike makes a routine trip to the bank. As he leaves, he sees two men abduct Isabel Roland, the young teller who has just assisted him, as she walks out of the bank headed to lunch.
Naturally, Pike gives chase and rescues Izzy. The two kidnappers are arrested and briefly jailed, but no sooner are they out than they are found murdered. Pike will be questioned about this but manages to convince the police, at least for the moment, that he was not involved in the killings.
Meanwhile, poor Isabel disappears, and it quickly becomes apparent that she's been kidnapped again. The original kidnappers are dead and so there's obviously a lot going on beneath the surface here. Why would this young bank teller be a target for a group of desperate criminals? Pike calls on Elvis who puts his detective skills to work trying to figure out why anyone would be after Izzy while Joe attempts to rescue her again. And, as often happens in these books, things are going to get pretty bloody and violent before justice is served, Elvis and Joe-style.
This was a fairly light, quick read that seemed to be missing some of the heft and complexity of earlier books in the series. The plot is pretty straightforward and there's plenty of action--an enjoyable read, but in my view, not one of the better books in a long-running series. 3.5 stars sounded up.
Naturally, Pike gives chase and rescues Izzy. The two kidnappers are arrested and briefly jailed, but no sooner are they out than they are found murdered. Pike will be questioned about this but manages to convince the police, at least for the moment, that he was not involved in the killings.
Meanwhile, poor Isabel disappears, and it quickly becomes apparent that she's been kidnapped again. The original kidnappers are dead and so there's obviously a lot going on beneath the surface here. Why would this young bank teller be a target for a group of desperate criminals? Pike calls on Elvis who puts his detective skills to work trying to figure out why anyone would be after Izzy while Joe attempts to rescue her again. And, as often happens in these books, things are going to get pretty bloody and violent before justice is served, Elvis and Joe-style.
This was a fairly light, quick read that seemed to be missing some of the heft and complexity of earlier books in the series. The plot is pretty straightforward and there's plenty of action--an enjoyable read, but in my view, not one of the better books in a long-running series. 3.5 stars sounded up.
August 29, 2019
Absolutely fabulous! 10 of 10 stars!
August 12, 2019
Honestly, this series is so damn addictive. Anyhoo, there's already a shwack of reviews so all I'll say is it delivers exactly what you expect....Crais's stylish prose & a white knuckle ride courtesy of Elvis & Joe. Just get it.
November 19, 2023
I finally got to the writing of mr. Crais and never having read the stories about Elvis Cole and mr. Pike. And to make it easier it not even the beginning of the series but smack somewhere in the middle. So good gracious me.
The good news is that this installment is perfect for picking up the series, you lack any need for starting at book one. The characters are self explaining and Will grow in your sympathy throughout the book.
A young bankteller by the name of Isabel is getting kidnapped during her Lunchbreak where it not for the interference of a certain mr. Pike who would be a large opponent for most criminals.
When both criminals are killed after being released and Isabel dissapears again mr
Pike steps up and calls in his partner detective Elvis Cole. Both soon discover that a familyfriend got killed before it all started with Isabel. The person in question used to be an US Marshall, which raises questions and alters the story significant.
Less of a detective story more of a straight action thriller, with interesting characters. Now I feel obliged to read some more books of this series. Just what one wants another series to read.......
A real pleasure to read, well advised by my person.
The good news is that this installment is perfect for picking up the series, you lack any need for starting at book one. The characters are self explaining and Will grow in your sympathy throughout the book.
A young bankteller by the name of Isabel is getting kidnapped during her Lunchbreak where it not for the interference of a certain mr. Pike who would be a large opponent for most criminals.
When both criminals are killed after being released and Isabel dissapears again mr
Pike steps up and calls in his partner detective Elvis Cole. Both soon discover that a familyfriend got killed before it all started with Isabel. The person in question used to be an US Marshall, which raises questions and alters the story significant.
Less of a detective story more of a straight action thriller, with interesting characters. Now I feel obliged to read some more books of this series. Just what one wants another series to read.......
A real pleasure to read, well advised by my person.
October 25, 2019
This is Crais’ 7th offering featuring Joe Pike, and the 18th featuring Elvis Cole. Joe proves to be a very dangerous man indeed. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time when Isabel Roland, a friendly bank teller, is kidnapped as she leaves the bank. Pike foils that kidnap attempt, but she is abducted again the next day. Soon, Joe pulls in Elvis Cole to help him find Isabel.
Crais highlights Pike’s military/mercenary background to help explain Pike’s penchant for using lethal force when confronting Isabel’s kidnappers. The body count continues to rise as the story progresses and it is disconcerting when Pike’s actions become vigilante-like in the end. Is that really justice?
Crais highlights Pike’s military/mercenary background to help explain Pike’s penchant for using lethal force when confronting Isabel’s kidnappers. The body count continues to rise as the story progresses and it is disconcerting when Pike’s actions become vigilante-like in the end. Is that really justice?
August 18, 2019
The usual very good book by Crais. This story belongs to Joe more than it does to Elvis. Joe stops a young woman from being kidnapped, but two days later she goes off the grid. He quickly realizes she has been taken again and, with Elvis' help, decides to get her back. The ending is superb. A quick and easy read with lots of action and wit. What's not to like? Highly recommended.
August 13, 2019
7.5/10
This is only my second book in this series so I'm definitely approaching things from the wrong end, but by no means do I think that hindered my enjoyment of it and I never felt like I was missing out on something.
Whereas the last one I read seemed to focus more on Elvis Cole, this one seems to be more based around Joe Pike. They both have plenty to do in the book but he came across more as the protagonist here. He differs to Elvis in that he's more the silent type and not as wisecracking as Elvis but together they work well.
The plot was interesting without ever being a thriller that I couldn't put down. The action comes early doors and doesn't really stop throughout. The characters are pretty standard once you get past the main few but it was enjoyable and that is the main thing I need when I pick this type of book up.
I need to read this series from the beginning and know I will when I get chance as there is so much I like here that I'd be foolish not to. A good thriller all round and I'm glad I took a chance on this series.
I received a copy for review from NetGalley
This is only my second book in this series so I'm definitely approaching things from the wrong end, but by no means do I think that hindered my enjoyment of it and I never felt like I was missing out on something.
Whereas the last one I read seemed to focus more on Elvis Cole, this one seems to be more based around Joe Pike. They both have plenty to do in the book but he came across more as the protagonist here. He differs to Elvis in that he's more the silent type and not as wisecracking as Elvis but together they work well.
The plot was interesting without ever being a thriller that I couldn't put down. The action comes early doors and doesn't really stop throughout. The characters are pretty standard once you get past the main few but it was enjoyable and that is the main thing I need when I pick this type of book up.
I need to read this series from the beginning and know I will when I get chance as there is so much I like here that I'd be foolish not to. A good thriller all round and I'm glad I took a chance on this series.
I received a copy for review from NetGalley
August 29, 2019
I think this is the fifth or sixth Elvis Cole/Joe Pike novel I’ve read. I’m jumping around the series in pretty random order (I’ve read the first, the most recent and a few in between) and enjoyed them enough to prompt me to pre-order an audio copy of this latest release. The Southern Californian setting appeals to me and I like Elvis Cole’s laid back intelligence and, sometimes, his snappy one-liners. Joe Pike is a character I’d yet to warm too, though. His laconic style and tough man stance – Mitch Rapp in civilian clothing - felt a little stereotypical to me. But hey, maybe there’d be more of Elvis and a little less of Joe here. Wrong.
The ever vigilant Joe spots what he’s convinced is an abduction after leaving his local bank one day. Isobel Roland, the friendly teller who’d recently served him, has just walked out of the premises and is now being forced into a car, which then speeds off. Joe’s quickly in pursuit. So begins a series of events which is to lead Pike down a convoluted path and to the discovery an unexpected history that has led to a perilous present for Izzy.
This is very much a Joe Pike tale. His menacing, focused presence is all over this story. Yes, Elvis appears eventually, but his is very much a bit-part presence. But I surprised myself by quickly warming to Joe. He doesn’t say too much but he’s a thinker. And he cares. Joe, I learned, has depth. There’s enough action here to satisfy loves of hard-man tales but there’s also a subtlety of touch to the story telling to satisfy those, like me, who are looking for a little more. It’s all really very well done.
I’d say that the plot itself is a fairly routine thing. There are some surprises here but it’s hardly a mind-bender. But I did find myself routing for Isobel, though I found her to be a little vacuous, her character somewhat under developed. The real enjoyment for me was in the pace of the thing – it never let up – and in discovering that I really want to read more books that feature Joe Pike as the lead character (something I think I’d been unconsciously avoiding). I’ll be back.
The ever vigilant Joe spots what he’s convinced is an abduction after leaving his local bank one day. Isobel Roland, the friendly teller who’d recently served him, has just walked out of the premises and is now being forced into a car, which then speeds off. Joe’s quickly in pursuit. So begins a series of events which is to lead Pike down a convoluted path and to the discovery an unexpected history that has led to a perilous present for Izzy.
This is very much a Joe Pike tale. His menacing, focused presence is all over this story. Yes, Elvis appears eventually, but his is very much a bit-part presence. But I surprised myself by quickly warming to Joe. He doesn’t say too much but he’s a thinker. And he cares. Joe, I learned, has depth. There’s enough action here to satisfy loves of hard-man tales but there’s also a subtlety of touch to the story telling to satisfy those, like me, who are looking for a little more. It’s all really very well done.
I’d say that the plot itself is a fairly routine thing. There are some surprises here but it’s hardly a mind-bender. But I did find myself routing for Isobel, though I found her to be a little vacuous, her character somewhat under developed. The real enjoyment for me was in the pace of the thing – it never let up – and in discovering that I really want to read more books that feature Joe Pike as the lead character (something I think I’d been unconsciously avoiding). I’ll be back.
August 8, 2019
Joe Pike Rides Again!!
Another incredible case of a young woman, with no knowledge of her dead parents former life, being hunted by a man her mother stole 19 million dollars from! This happened twenty-five years ago and the woman, Isabel, has no clue about either the money or her parents part in this scheme. But the old man has found her, after so long chasing her Mom, and is determined to get her, hiring men who will fight,torture and steal to get their way..
Isabel works at a bank, a teller Pike has just visited and is still outside in his jeep, when he notes her exiting the bank. A well-dressed man approaches her then quickly pushes her into his car and the driver takes off! He wouldn't be Joe Pike if he didn't follow and take matters into his own hands...
This is the start to an explosive run to keep Isabel safe, of course Elvis Cole joins up and John Chen helps with forensics to his own detriment when he is fired for taking prints off a car in a case he is not assigned!
A fabulous,fast-paced read that all will love, as Pike fixes things for everyone he holds dear. A 5 STAR story from a team I can never get enough of!!!
Another incredible case of a young woman, with no knowledge of her dead parents former life, being hunted by a man her mother stole 19 million dollars from! This happened twenty-five years ago and the woman, Isabel, has no clue about either the money or her parents part in this scheme. But the old man has found her, after so long chasing her Mom, and is determined to get her, hiring men who will fight,torture and steal to get their way..
Isabel works at a bank, a teller Pike has just visited and is still outside in his jeep, when he notes her exiting the bank. A well-dressed man approaches her then quickly pushes her into his car and the driver takes off! He wouldn't be Joe Pike if he didn't follow and take matters into his own hands...
This is the start to an explosive run to keep Isabel safe, of course Elvis Cole joins up and John Chen helps with forensics to his own detriment when he is fired for taking prints off a car in a case he is not assigned!
A fabulous,fast-paced read that all will love, as Pike fixes things for everyone he holds dear. A 5 STAR story from a team I can never get enough of!!!
September 10, 2019
Pike wasn't looking to save someone's life on the day he left the bank . . . -- page 33
Another in the long and excellently dependable line - averaging one about every other year since 1987 - of Crais' L.A.-set crime-thriller series featuring private eye Elvis Cole, A Dangerous Man marks one of the occasional forays in focusing on Joe Pike as the story's lead character. Pike, Cole's partner / sidekick, is one of those strong, silent but lethal types - a Marine Corps veteran, a former police officer, and currently the owner of a firearms store (that is, when he's not conducting clandestine soldier-of-fortune / mercenary operations as a 'gun for hire' or assisting Cole on his investigations).
While out running errands Pike witnesses and then interrupts the kidnapping of a bank teller named Izzy. Of course, this being a Crais novel Pike's at-first coincidental involvement opens up a entire can of worms (but in a good way, so to speak) for the young lady. Pike immediately intuits that it was no mere sexual assault attempt, but a specifically targeted abduction by an organized and prepared squad of hired goons. Pike calls in Cole to assist in guarding Izzy, and soon the main characters are mired in an increasingly perilous situation concerning an investigation into the disappearance and murder of a U.S. marshal, old family secrets involving assumed identities, and a large quantity of money that's been missing for 25 years. The book was classic Crais - mixing action, suspense, and mystery . . . and wrapping it up with a finale that delivers an appropriate cold blast of rough justice.
Another in the long and excellently dependable line - averaging one about every other year since 1987 - of Crais' L.A.-set crime-thriller series featuring private eye Elvis Cole, A Dangerous Man marks one of the occasional forays in focusing on Joe Pike as the story's lead character. Pike, Cole's partner / sidekick, is one of those strong, silent but lethal types - a Marine Corps veteran, a former police officer, and currently the owner of a firearms store (that is, when he's not conducting clandestine soldier-of-fortune / mercenary operations as a 'gun for hire' or assisting Cole on his investigations).
While out running errands Pike witnesses and then interrupts the kidnapping of a bank teller named Izzy. Of course, this being a Crais novel Pike's at-first coincidental involvement opens up a entire can of worms (but in a good way, so to speak) for the young lady. Pike immediately intuits that it was no mere sexual assault attempt, but a specifically targeted abduction by an organized and prepared squad of hired goons. Pike calls in Cole to assist in guarding Izzy, and soon the main characters are mired in an increasingly perilous situation concerning an investigation into the disappearance and murder of a U.S. marshal, old family secrets involving assumed identities, and a large quantity of money that's been missing for 25 years. The book was classic Crais - mixing action, suspense, and mystery . . . and wrapping it up with a finale that delivers an appropriate cold blast of rough justice.
September 14, 2019
Joe Pike’s trip to the bank for a routine deposit ends when he witnesses two men try to kidnap his teller, Isabel Roland. Joe being Joe, he jumps into action and rescues her. However, when the kidnappers are released from jail, they are both murdered. Was kidnapping Isabel a crime of opportunity, or was she a target? Is she safe? Why would someone target her?
Those familiar with the series will notice a similar set up to a previous entry, but that’s where the similarity ends. This book takes off in some unexpected places, and author Robert Crais uses multiple viewpoints well to hook us as events unfold. This is a thriller that kept me glued the entire time. While we don’t learn much new about PI partners Elvis Cole or Joe Pike, it is wonderful to spend time with them and see them in action again. Most of the new characters are wonderful and fully developed, but a few very minor characters are very annoying. Likewise, I don’t find John Chen, a recurring character in the series, that funny. I’m sure the characters who annoy me are supposed to be comic relief, but I just don’t get it. While the book certainly has more language and violence than the cozies I normally read, I didn’t feel it was excessive here. Elvis and Joe have a huge following, and I’m sure there many fans will be thrilled with this book. Pick it up and hang on because it is going to be a very wild ride you won’t want to put down.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Those familiar with the series will notice a similar set up to a previous entry, but that’s where the similarity ends. This book takes off in some unexpected places, and author Robert Crais uses multiple viewpoints well to hook us as events unfold. This is a thriller that kept me glued the entire time. While we don’t learn much new about PI partners Elvis Cole or Joe Pike, it is wonderful to spend time with them and see them in action again. Most of the new characters are wonderful and fully developed, but a few very minor characters are very annoying. Likewise, I don’t find John Chen, a recurring character in the series, that funny. I’m sure the characters who annoy me are supposed to be comic relief, but I just don’t get it. While the book certainly has more language and violence than the cozies I normally read, I didn’t feel it was excessive here. Elvis and Joe have a huge following, and I’m sure there many fans will be thrilled with this book. Pick it up and hang on because it is going to be a very wild ride you won’t want to put down.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
August 7, 2019
I consider myself a Robert Crais fan, but even I have to admit this is a pretty lightweight addition to the series. This book is shown under the publication details as 352 pages and yet I read it in less than 12 hours with all kinds of interruptions from workmen in my house for about four hours. And I'm a very slow reader. There just isn't a lot of story here to latch on to. Not when compared to other, older books in the series.
Joe Pike is one of my favorite fictional characters but I don't think Isabel Roland was a good pairing for Joe to be dealing with. I kept expecting him to just walk off the case and leave her to her giggling, squealing, texting self. The contrast between the two of them was too great for me to accept. The criminals were a little bit summer stock, but the US Marshalls were an interesting group. So I enjoyed the book overall, but mainly because I'm so invested in these characters, not because this one will ever be considered a favorite read.
Joe Pike is one of my favorite fictional characters but I don't think Isabel Roland was a good pairing for Joe to be dealing with. I kept expecting him to just walk off the case and leave her to her giggling, squealing, texting self. The contrast between the two of them was too great for me to accept. The criminals were a little bit summer stock, but the US Marshalls were an interesting group. So I enjoyed the book overall, but mainly because I'm so invested in these characters, not because this one will ever be considered a favorite read.
May 10, 2020
A Dangerous Man is the 18th book in the Elvis Cole & Joe Pike series - which is one of my all time favourites. This one is definitely all about Pike, with Elvis playing only rather a minor role, which doesn’t bother me. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these as an audiobook and while I enjoyed the story, the medium didn’t work for me for this kind of story.
Joe Pike is minding his own business and doing some routine banking when he sees the cashier being bundled into a car, so he doesn’t hesitate to step in and rescue her. Isabel Rowland has no idea what they could want from her, and the police put it down to a random attack, but when she disappears again, Joe asks Elvis for help. Finding links to the torture and murder of a US Marshall agent weeks earlier, they discover that Isabel is not who she thinks she is, and some very dangerous men will do whatever it takes to learn her secret.
I love my action thrillers and can normally zip through them in a day or two, but given I only really listen to audiobooks when I’m on the treadmill, and how much longer they are than ebooks - even sped up - it’s taken me several weeks and I’ve read multiple other books at the same time, which stopped me getting properly involved in the plot and I got confused by all the minor characters - it’s not easy to just look them up as with an ebook. I will therefore try and keep audiobook thrillers for long car journeys in future.
My biggest beef with the audiobook format was the narrator, Luke Daniels. His accent and delivery were fine, but I hated the way he did the voices, especially Pike’s - a sort of deep raspy snarl that was nothing like how I imagine him sounding. I haven’t listened to enough audiobooks to know if it’s normal but personally I would prefer narration without different voices.
The plot was fairly classic Crais - Joe & Elvis step in at significant personal risk to save an underdog and take on an increasingly nasty series of baddies with no great surprises as to the outcome. Once again John Chen plays an important background role - but for once I actually ended up feeling sorry for him - if only he could stop being a d**k and meet a nice girl - but then he wouldn’t be Chen... I found Isabel a fairly feeble heroine and was frustrated by her frequent stupid actions, and creeped out by her and her 20-something friends lusting after Pike, who has got to be over 60 by now.
Overall this wasn’t a favourite in the series but Crais is still a cut above most other thriller writers and I’ll still be waiting eagerly for the next one. 3.5 rounded up.
Joe Pike is minding his own business and doing some routine banking when he sees the cashier being bundled into a car, so he doesn’t hesitate to step in and rescue her. Isabel Rowland has no idea what they could want from her, and the police put it down to a random attack, but when she disappears again, Joe asks Elvis for help. Finding links to the torture and murder of a US Marshall agent weeks earlier, they discover that Isabel is not who she thinks she is, and some very dangerous men will do whatever it takes to learn her secret.
I love my action thrillers and can normally zip through them in a day or two, but given I only really listen to audiobooks when I’m on the treadmill, and how much longer they are than ebooks - even sped up - it’s taken me several weeks and I’ve read multiple other books at the same time, which stopped me getting properly involved in the plot and I got confused by all the minor characters - it’s not easy to just look them up as with an ebook. I will therefore try and keep audiobook thrillers for long car journeys in future.
My biggest beef with the audiobook format was the narrator, Luke Daniels. His accent and delivery were fine, but I hated the way he did the voices, especially Pike’s - a sort of deep raspy snarl that was nothing like how I imagine him sounding. I haven’t listened to enough audiobooks to know if it’s normal but personally I would prefer narration without different voices.
The plot was fairly classic Crais - Joe & Elvis step in at significant personal risk to save an underdog and take on an increasingly nasty series of baddies with no great surprises as to the outcome. Once again John Chen plays an important background role - but for once I actually ended up feeling sorry for him - if only he could stop being a d**k and meet a nice girl - but then he wouldn’t be Chen... I found Isabel a fairly feeble heroine and was frustrated by her frequent stupid actions, and creeped out by her and her 20-something friends lusting after Pike, who has got to be over 60 by now.
Overall this wasn’t a favourite in the series but Crais is still a cut above most other thriller writers and I’ll still be waiting eagerly for the next one. 3.5 rounded up.
August 9, 2019
It's a quick, pithy read. Sentences are short; not too many words on the page. Real men are laconic; bozos have to say more; women twitter about cluelessly, either baleful and bitter or naive and vulnerable. It's a straight-forward story; it's not a bad read; it has some of Crais's trademark qualities (especially good descriptions of place). I remember Crais's earlier books being richer, more descriptive, deeper; this one seems like a carbon-copy where only the outlines remain. Maybe it's because it's a Joe Pike book, and it's taken on his flat simplicity. Maybe I read the earlier books with a different set of expectations. Whatever it is, it feels like the two most recent books are more acts of erasure than evolution, so I'll take a break from Crais's new books, at least for a while, to preserve in my mind the vivid world and characters he created in the early ones.
May 4, 2024
If you are looking for action, suspense, mystery, and a quick read, this fits the billing.
You need not have read this series before to follow the characters, as you get a sense of their bravado rather quickly.
There are many twists and turns along the way that keep one guessing, which for a mystery lover provides a rather satisfying reading experience.
You need not have read this series before to follow the characters, as you get a sense of their bravado rather quickly.
There are many twists and turns along the way that keep one guessing, which for a mystery lover provides a rather satisfying reading experience.
October 9, 2023
This book probably hits dead-center for Crais's fans. It's the first Crais I've read so I am not already involved with Cole and Pike; it could be that earlier books are more nuanced and Cole and Pike more developed. It's tough to redevelop the series characters book after book, yet good writers like Craig Johnson and John Sandford do exactly that. Here, Pike speaks mainly in grunts; he never met a person worthy of an entire sentence. This is his way of being perfectly tough and perfectly macho. He's Jack Reacher without the annoying wear-the-shirt-three-times-and-trash behavior. How exciting! How comic book. The bad guys are similarly tough, heartless, and emotionless except they have to posture and swear at the other bad guys, always sucking up to the alpha male and slapping down those who are lower on the hierarchy. I couldn't care, or particularly accept any of these characters, though it was a reasonably clever plot with lots of action, fighting, gunplay, and terror.
October 15, 2023
This is one of my favorited series to read. I love JOe Pike and Elvis Cole, they are always interesting. This was a quick read and I could not put it down. Joe and Elvis are trying to help a woman who was kidnapped. She did not know that her parents were in witness protection through the government and that her mother had stolen money from the bad guys she turned in. They were trying to get the money back after 20 years but Joe and Elvis rescued her and all was good. Definitely recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2019
Robert Crais’s novel A dangerous Man is the newest addition to his stellar series of John Chen mystery novels. As most readers know by now, John is the intrepid sports-car driving L.A. medical examiner who despite sleuthing in a hostile work environment, suffering an extraordinarily long dry-spell with the ladies, and enduring the infernal bumbles of his friends Joe Pike and Elvis Cole, he still manages to solve crimes that would leave most detectives scratching their heads in bewilderment.
In A Dangerous Man, John uses his forensic expertise to unravel the mystery behind Isabel Roland. Izzy has an unfortunate tendency of getting kidnapped. Why, why is this happening? John, using the considerable smarts and skills at his disposal links these abductions to the murder of a U.S. Marshal and kabloom! We are off to the races.
Crais writes a fine thriller, and like the other books in this series there are thrills, chills, and even a hint of romance (but not alas for our thin-limbed John Chen as fate it seems will always thwart his amorous attempts to share the multitude of love that burbles in his heart like a pot of chili that has just reached boiling).
In A Dangerous Man, John uses his forensic expertise to unravel the mystery behind Isabel Roland. Izzy has an unfortunate tendency of getting kidnapped. Why, why is this happening? John, using the considerable smarts and skills at his disposal links these abductions to the murder of a U.S. Marshal and kabloom! We are off to the races.
Crais writes a fine thriller, and like the other books in this series there are thrills, chills, and even a hint of romance (but not alas for our thin-limbed John Chen as fate it seems will always thwart his amorous attempts to share the multitude of love that burbles in his heart like a pot of chili that has just reached boiling).
January 4, 2021
3.5 stars, a disappointment, far weaker than the previous few books in the series.
An attempted kidnap outside a bank is thwarted by Joe Pike, who becomes involved in protecting her and learning the reasons for repeated attempts.
The action is good, but there are too many viewpoints to keep the pacing up.
I enjoyed this, but it's let down by a many-viewpoint, clumsy ending.
"But now Debra Sue didn’t smile. She eased open her nightstand drawer and studied the black 9mm Sig Sauer pistol. Ed’s nightstand contained an identical pistol."
Full size image here
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An attempted kidnap outside a bank is thwarted by Joe Pike, who becomes involved in protecting her and learning the reasons for repeated attempts.
The action is good, but there are too many viewpoints to keep the pacing up.
I enjoyed this, but it's let down by a many-viewpoint, clumsy ending.
"But now Debra Sue didn’t smile. She eased open her nightstand drawer and studied the black 9mm Sig Sauer pistol. Ed’s nightstand contained an identical pistol."
Full size image here
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September 14, 2021
Second crime novel I've enjoyed in a row! An entertaining plot and characters and I'm intrigued enough to read more books in the series, after this engaging one. Not sure if I want to start from the beginning or jump around in the series
September 7, 2020
A thrill a minute from page one! Robert Crais continues his string of winners with Joe Pike and Elvis Cole! Loved this one!
March 18, 2023
Always a pleasure to read an Elvis Cole/Joe Pike book. This was more Joe Pike, with Elvis helping him out in a big way, but nobody hired their agency to do this job - Joe did it out of kindness, and because he could. We also learn a bit more about Joe's past and present, and see a bit of the human side of him for a change.
It was a pretty exciting read, although I had to overlook one slightly old-fashioned aspect.. the weak women who just won't listen to what the man tells them to do. But it was pretty minor, and it could just as easily have been a man making the mistakes. Didn't really detract from the story for me.
It was a pretty exciting read, although I had to overlook one slightly old-fashioned aspect.. the weak women who just won't listen to what the man tells them to do. But it was pretty minor, and it could just as easily have been a man making the mistakes. Didn't really detract from the story for me.
July 3, 2019
AsI have stated before, I have been a diehard fan of Robert Crais/Elvis Cole/Joe Pike for THIRTY YEARS. Seriously, when The Monkey’s Raincoat was published in 1987, I was working in a public library, grabbed it as soon as it came in, and was HOOKED. Since then, this has been one of the most reliable series in the mystery genre – consistent as in “OMG, has a new book coming out! YAY!” So I was happy to receive a copy of The Wanted from Penguin Group/G.P.Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley in return for my honest review.
In this latest installment, Joe Pike is minding his own business on a beautiful Southern California day when he goes to the bank. As he is leaving, he sees a young woman named Isabel “Izzy” Roland, who works in the bank, being abducted by two men. Being Joe Pike, he leaps into action, rescues her, and the men are arrested. Should be settled, right? No chance, as Izzy disappears and Joe calls on Elvis Cole to help him unravel a complex mystery that includes whistleblowing, the Witness Protection Program, millions of dollars that may or may not have been stolen by Izzy’s mother, and a boatload of lying.
It isn’t clear what Izzy really knows about the whole thing, and whether she is a victim or a criminal. Joe and Elvis take the reader on a classic Pike/Cole ride to justice, with lots of action and good writing along the way.
In addition to just absolutely loving Elvis, I love Robert Crais’s writing, including structure, setting, character and plotting. The chapters in this book rotate among the main characters, including Joe Pike, Elvis Cole, law enforcement types, and the bad guys. The various areas of Los Angeles are familiar, and well described as Joe and Elvis search for Izzy, although I did have a “huh?” moment, when Joe is driving: “They followed Sunset Boulevard through the Palisades on a winding downhill slide to the sea. The rain slowed to a dying drizzle. Pike turned west on the Pacific Coast Highway, and followed the black edge of the ocean.” Nice writing, but PCH runs North and South, unless things have changed a lot since I left Southern California. But that’s a minor quibble as Crais continues his usual way of capturing the vibe of Southern California, noting how the “…warm night air was rich with the scent of night-blooming jasmine and orange blossoms…” Joe Pike is his usual self: “The blond man waited for Pike to say something, but Pike said nothing. The blond man filled the silence.” Crais is a master of having a character’s silence speak volumes, and in this case we have come to truly know the two main characters.
Or have we? Frankly, the relationship between Joe and Izzy is pretty warm and fuzzy, and I will not be surprised if we meet Izzy again in a future book in this series. But whether Joe will become warmer and fuzzier or whether his action in the final chapter (which may shock some readers) represents the man he has become (or maybe always has been?) is a big question.
In any case, I had a great time reading it, and look forward to the next adventure featuring Joe and/or Elvis. Five stars.
In this latest installment, Joe Pike is minding his own business on a beautiful Southern California day when he goes to the bank. As he is leaving, he sees a young woman named Isabel “Izzy” Roland, who works in the bank, being abducted by two men. Being Joe Pike, he leaps into action, rescues her, and the men are arrested. Should be settled, right? No chance, as Izzy disappears and Joe calls on Elvis Cole to help him unravel a complex mystery that includes whistleblowing, the Witness Protection Program, millions of dollars that may or may not have been stolen by Izzy’s mother, and a boatload of lying.
It isn’t clear what Izzy really knows about the whole thing, and whether she is a victim or a criminal. Joe and Elvis take the reader on a classic Pike/Cole ride to justice, with lots of action and good writing along the way.
In addition to just absolutely loving Elvis, I love Robert Crais’s writing, including structure, setting, character and plotting. The chapters in this book rotate among the main characters, including Joe Pike, Elvis Cole, law enforcement types, and the bad guys. The various areas of Los Angeles are familiar, and well described as Joe and Elvis search for Izzy, although I did have a “huh?” moment, when Joe is driving: “They followed Sunset Boulevard through the Palisades on a winding downhill slide to the sea. The rain slowed to a dying drizzle. Pike turned west on the Pacific Coast Highway, and followed the black edge of the ocean.” Nice writing, but PCH runs North and South, unless things have changed a lot since I left Southern California. But that’s a minor quibble as Crais continues his usual way of capturing the vibe of Southern California, noting how the “…warm night air was rich with the scent of night-blooming jasmine and orange blossoms…” Joe Pike is his usual self: “The blond man waited for Pike to say something, but Pike said nothing. The blond man filled the silence.” Crais is a master of having a character’s silence speak volumes, and in this case we have come to truly know the two main characters.
Or have we? Frankly, the relationship between Joe and Izzy is pretty warm and fuzzy, and I will not be surprised if we meet Izzy again in a future book in this series. But whether Joe will become warmer and fuzzier or whether his action in the final chapter (which may shock some readers) represents the man he has become (or maybe always has been?) is a big question.
In any case, I had a great time reading it, and look forward to the next adventure featuring Joe and/or Elvis. Five stars.
November 2, 2019
Excellent!
September 28, 2020
I was so happy to discover another novel by one of my favorite PI novels authors. And if I had to choose between Elvis and Pike (the two protagonists of many of Crais's novels) the one I prefer, I would say Pike, the big-hearted badass. But he and Elvis, the funny private investigator, always make a good duet (with the rearguard help of their friend Chen).
And this novel focuses on Pike's (yippee!) intervention to save a kidnapped young woman who has no idea why she was chosen by her kidnappers, but who discovers surprising things about her parents' past.
You can't go wrong if you like private detective stories by reading one of Crais' novels. He's one of the great authors in this genre and, as far as I'm concerned, he may be THE best.
If you've never read one of his novels, start with the first of the long series and keep reading. Lucky you! You'll have fun for a long time.
And this novel focuses on Pike's (yippee!) intervention to save a kidnapped young woman who has no idea why she was chosen by her kidnappers, but who discovers surprising things about her parents' past.
You can't go wrong if you like private detective stories by reading one of Crais' novels. He's one of the great authors in this genre and, as far as I'm concerned, he may be THE best.
If you've never read one of his novels, start with the first of the long series and keep reading. Lucky you! You'll have fun for a long time.
January 2, 2023
Another fine action outing for Pike and Cole, who try to protect a bank teller. Throw in US Marshals, witness protection, and a plethora of bad guys and it's a fun machine.
September 29, 2019
You can't go wrong with Elvis and Joe!
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