Robert Crais is one of my faces. From the very first Elvis Cole novel, Monkey's Raincoat, I've been completely enamored with Crais' writing, his characters, primarily Cole and Joe Pike. I need a Joe Pike to my Elvis Cole. :). In Taken, Crais created a fast paced taut mystery that is compelling and hard to put down. It's pacing is so fast and clean, I couldnt stop reading, from the plain to the train, to the cab and finally snuggled in bed, reading it straight through. Crais' timing is perfect, Cole and Pike spot on, and getting to the end is imperative as quickly as possible. Absolute perfection.