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Stalking the Angel by Robert Crais Summary & Study Guide
Stalking the Angel Study Guide consists of approx. 47 pages of summaries and analysis, including Plot Summary, Chapter Summaries & Analysis, Characters, Objects/Places, Themes, Style, Quotes, and Topics for Discussion.
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First published August 18, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 27, 2023
good read. but being the second in row i am reading of Crais it is a bit repeating itself.
September 14, 2014
I have become a huge fan of Robert Crais. I do like the more mature stories written about the time that I first encountered the books (about six or seven deep into the novels published about Elvis Cole and Joe Pike) better than the earlier ones that I’m reading now. Stalking the Angel features an Elvis Cole that is closer to Jim Rockford (of the ancient Rockford Files television series) than Sam Spade or Lew Archer. Elvis is more of a smart-mouth detective than the psychologically complicated private investigator later in the series. Joe Pike doesn’t appear quite as invincible in this novel as he later seems. But for all the comedic narrative and silly remarks, Stalking the Angel has plenty of surprises.
In Stalking the Angel, Cole feels it is necessary to mount his white charger and assume the role of knight in shining armor once again. In this story, the detective starts off trying to locate a valuable, ancient Japanese manuscript and ends up dealing with a kidnapping. The more he explores, the more he realizes (as most readers will quickly suspect) that things are not anywhere near what they seem. Is it the book, the kidnap victim, the yakuza, or the arrogant businessman which is most important? Of course, readers of this series will definitely know that it is the girl (ah, but which one) which is the most important to Cole—important enough for him to risk his P.I. license by working without a client (Where have we seen that before?).
In spite of my belief that the smart-mouth quips were way overdone in this volume, the writing is still tight and fascinating. I was particularly blown away by the narrator’s description of the death smell. Check this out:
“It’s a smell so strong and so alive that it has a taste and the taste is like when you were a kid and found a nickel in the winter and the metal was cold and you put it in your mouth to see what it would be like and your mother screamed that you would die from the germs and so you spit it out but the cold taste and the fear of the germs stayed.” (p. 69)
I like that rambling run-on with no punctuation, all of the sensations and images flooding back in that brief moment of smelling death. It may be the most vivid sentence in this genre that I’ve ever read. It’s powerful!
There was also a very brief bit of dialogue that was frighteningly emblematic of Pike’s character and his ruthless devotion to the mission/cause.
“I said, ‘If he gets on a plane, we’ve got trouble.’
‘No,’ Pike said, ‘We just shoot it down.’
I looked at him. You never know.” (p. 230)
That’s very true. With Pike, you never know. And that’s part of the fascination with this series. These are two very different characters with very different methodologies (though, in Stalking the Angel, they both have similar unarmed fighting styles) and you just don’t know where their unusual psychologies are going to take them. One things for sure, wherever they go, I’ll be with them voyeuristically. Just sayin’…
In Stalking the Angel, Cole feels it is necessary to mount his white charger and assume the role of knight in shining armor once again. In this story, the detective starts off trying to locate a valuable, ancient Japanese manuscript and ends up dealing with a kidnapping. The more he explores, the more he realizes (as most readers will quickly suspect) that things are not anywhere near what they seem. Is it the book, the kidnap victim, the yakuza, or the arrogant businessman which is most important? Of course, readers of this series will definitely know that it is the girl (ah, but which one) which is the most important to Cole—important enough for him to risk his P.I. license by working without a client (Where have we seen that before?).
In spite of my belief that the smart-mouth quips were way overdone in this volume, the writing is still tight and fascinating. I was particularly blown away by the narrator’s description of the death smell. Check this out:
“It’s a smell so strong and so alive that it has a taste and the taste is like when you were a kid and found a nickel in the winter and the metal was cold and you put it in your mouth to see what it would be like and your mother screamed that you would die from the germs and so you spit it out but the cold taste and the fear of the germs stayed.” (p. 69)
I like that rambling run-on with no punctuation, all of the sensations and images flooding back in that brief moment of smelling death. It may be the most vivid sentence in this genre that I’ve ever read. It’s powerful!
There was also a very brief bit of dialogue that was frighteningly emblematic of Pike’s character and his ruthless devotion to the mission/cause.
“I said, ‘If he gets on a plane, we’ve got trouble.’
‘No,’ Pike said, ‘We just shoot it down.’
I looked at him. You never know.” (p. 230)
That’s very true. With Pike, you never know. And that’s part of the fascination with this series. These are two very different characters with very different methodologies (though, in Stalking the Angel, they both have similar unarmed fighting styles) and you just don’t know where their unusual psychologies are going to take them. One things for sure, wherever they go, I’ll be with them voyeuristically. Just sayin’…
December 28, 2022
Always a good read
January 2, 2023
Just finished reading stalking the angel and I am very surprised at the depth that Robert Craig gets with his characters in only 260 pages!
I really enjoy reading his work because his main character is interesting with a funny side to him ... and he has a valuable friend, Confidante business partner in Joe Pike. I also love reading about Los Angeles and the surrounding areas including Hollywood through the eyes of a local person.
I appreciated the way that the author laid out this story enough to make me think twice about the motives of the mystery. Well done and I wouldn't mind reading some kind of follow-up about the characters in another book down the road.
I have to say after reading this I'm looking forward to reading more by Robert Crais!! I also recently watched an interview he did - completely appreciate his quirkiness. 😊
I really enjoy reading his work because his main character is interesting with a funny side to him ... and he has a valuable friend, Confidante business partner in Joe Pike. I also love reading about Los Angeles and the surrounding areas including Hollywood through the eyes of a local person.
I appreciated the way that the author laid out this story enough to make me think twice about the motives of the mystery. Well done and I wouldn't mind reading some kind of follow-up about the characters in another book down the road.
I have to say after reading this I'm looking forward to reading more by Robert Crais!! I also recently watched an interview he did - completely appreciate his quirkiness. 😊
June 23, 2023
I’ve been on a Robert Crais kick, reading backwards. So I was happy to learn how Elvis got his name in an earlier book. Stalking the Angel is fun, unbelievable, action packed and endearing. Yes, I can use that word in spite of the fact that the Yakuza are hard-core evil killers.
The plot twists, but frankly the twists are expected and not surprising. So I debated about a 3 star review. However, Crais manages to create a flawed but likable hero willing to risk all for the damsel in distress. He lives by a very specific code, and stays true to himself. His breezy writing style is fun to read.
His bad-ass best buddy Joe Pike has a completely different code of ethics. Pike comes in very handy, when evil needs to be dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
The ride is fun, almost in spite of the plot instead of because of the plot.
The plot twists, but frankly the twists are expected and not surprising. So I debated about a 3 star review. However, Crais manages to create a flawed but likable hero willing to risk all for the damsel in distress. He lives by a very specific code, and stays true to himself. His breezy writing style is fun to read.
His bad-ass best buddy Joe Pike has a completely different code of ethics. Pike comes in very handy, when evil needs to be dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
The ride is fun, almost in spite of the plot instead of because of the plot.
March 16, 2020
From the hard boiled school of honorable detectives, PI Elvis Cole could be a collaboration of Robert B. Parker and Michael Connelly. Witty and tough in turns Cole, along with inscrutable ex-cop Joe Pike, pursues a stolen ancient manuscript while dodging members of the murderous yakuza and the equally disfunctional family from whom the treasure was stolen.
April 7, 2025
This author is on my favorites list this is a great story one with lots of twists and also a lesson the place where I could say that there’s something that I don’t want you to hear now is gone, but I do want you to take the last part of the book and think about what you could do to help people in this situation
Read
September 2, 2017I forgot all about this novel! Definitely one of my favorites. Its funny sarcastic, just the way it's narrated the author killed this book.
March 19, 2020
Just as good as The Monkey's Raincoat, with the additional benefit of my having already met the characters.
Read
April 22, 2020A little heavy on the wisecracks, but mostly enjoyable. Good sense of LA and the times (the '80s).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2022
Yeah I lost interest pretty quickly. I think I’m done with this series.
December 1, 2022
Not bad, but not quite as good as the first Elvis Cole story. Same writing style. More good characters.
August 21, 2024
Excellent first book that started the Elvis Cole saga. If you liked hard boiled crime. This is for you.
January 10, 2013
The reason I love Robert Crais is that his books are fast Paced, the dialogue is real and his main characters remain the same.
Elvis Cole is a Private Investigator working with his elusive partner, Joe Pike. When Bradley Warren's Hagakure is stolen, his assistant, Jillian, convinces him to hire Elvis. Death threats are made to the Warren family by the yakuza and then, Mimi, Bradley's 16 year old daughter is kidnapped. Of course, Elvis and Joe not only find Mimi, they also recover the Hagakure.
In between the action, they also discover that Mimi wasn't kidnapped, she ran away from home because her father, Bradley Warren, was sexually molesting her. When "rescued", Mimi says to Elvis "I make uP things all the time" which begs the question "Was her father molesting her?". I am not too sure, she was a troubled child though. Reserved and didn't have the dramatic airs that teenage girls have; such as untidy rooms, preoccupation with everything...
I love Robert Crais' Elvis Cole's series. Always fast Paced, action packed and well packaged. The story line is tight and not all over the place.
One thing for sure, Elvis always gets his man.
Elvis Cole is a Private Investigator working with his elusive partner, Joe Pike. When Bradley Warren's Hagakure is stolen, his assistant, Jillian, convinces him to hire Elvis. Death threats are made to the Warren family by the yakuza and then, Mimi, Bradley's 16 year old daughter is kidnapped. Of course, Elvis and Joe not only find Mimi, they also recover the Hagakure.
In between the action, they also discover that Mimi wasn't kidnapped, she ran away from home because her father, Bradley Warren, was sexually molesting her. When "rescued", Mimi says to Elvis "I make uP things all the time" which begs the question "Was her father molesting her?". I am not too sure, she was a troubled child though. Reserved and didn't have the dramatic airs that teenage girls have; such as untidy rooms, preoccupation with everything...
I love Robert Crais' Elvis Cole's series. Always fast Paced, action packed and well packaged. The story line is tight and not all over the place.
One thing for sure, Elvis always gets his man.
April 20, 2016
Another entertaining read with great character development and plot twists. Ideal book for the daily commute. A good bit of sarcastic humor mixed in with unbelievable plot segments made the time pass easily. I've always wondered how PIs can shoot multiple victims, break untold numbers of laws, upset large numbers of state, local and Federal police and still get the girl in the end. Now I know. Thank you Elvis
April 18, 2014
Typical good Elvis Cole story...The only hard part about going back to an earlier book in the series is the lack of technology...It's off-putting when they can't just pick up their phones and call each other, but have to drive to a pay phone instead...I probably shouldn't have read this one right after one of his latest ones...Still good entertainment though.
December 22, 2016
Interesting characters and intriguing plotline. Looking to read more from Robert Craig.
For my full review, check my blog at: http://ozmosisbookmarked.blogspot.com...
For my full review, check my blog at: http://ozmosisbookmarked.blogspot.com...
June 16, 2013
Wonderful
October 22, 2013
A great improvement.
July 27, 2015
entertaing noir. loved the yukio mishima reference (homage?)
October 15, 2016
kidnapping japanese book
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews