Robert Crais

I drove to Murder on the Beach Bookstore in Delray Beach on Saturday for Robert Crais’ book signing. He has always filled the store. I first met Bob back in LA, when we were both members of MWA SoCal chapter. He went on to great things and I went to Key West.

A few years ago, Bob was one of the two guests for SleuthFest, the Florida chapter of MWA and its main event. I emailed him and said he probably didn’t remember me, but I’d see him in Deerfield Beach at SleuthFest.

He wrote back saying he remembered me and added a few comments asking how I was, etc. I thought that was nice of him but figured he had no clue who I really was.

I always went to MWA author book signings in LA and, of course, I went to Bob’s first for The Monkey’s Raincoat, a paperback original and first book of his Elvis Cole series. I moved to Key West and my books came with me. The Hurricane Georges came through Key West and took my books, my floating home. Well, took everything that wasn’t in my car.

During the years, I’ve lived on sailboat, another, smaller houseboat and now in the house. Slower during this time I’ve replaced my library and most of Bob’s books. I brought them to SleuthFest and he laughed and called me by name. Maybe he did remember me. I was last in line, so we got to speak a little before James Born and a few others took him away.

Every time he signs in Deerfield, I email him and show up. We promise to get together sometime in LA when I visit. His book signing tour had him in Houston Friday, Deerfiled Saturday and Vero Beach on Sunday.

His new book, Suspect, is not an Elvis Cole book but listening to him talk about in Saturday night he had the audience laughing when he said the dog in the book – a German Shepard – said little and scared everyone. Kind of like Joe Pike! This is his 19th book, so I had no need to ask what he’d been up to since I left LA.

I think what impresses me more than his writing, is that he is friendly and takes a minute to say hi to someone that knew him way back when! If anyone deserves a swelled head for his successes, it’s Bob Crais.