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The Wanted

(Elvis Cole and Joe Pike #17)

Robert Crais

4.20 · Rating details · 12,189 ratings · 1,073 reviews

Mystery

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Hardcover, 320 pages

Published December 26th 2017 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

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· 12,189 ratings · 1,073 reviews

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Start your review of The Wanted (Elvis Cole, #17; Joe Pike, #6)

May 16, 2018 Paromjit rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime-fiction, humour-comic-fiction, mystery, netgalley, thriller

I have read all of this brilliant series by Robert Crais, and had given up on any additions as Crais appeared to have abandoned Cole, so when I heard this was available, I knew I wanted to read it as soon as possible. Set in LA, the witty wisecracking PI, Elvis Cole and his strong, silent, tattooed ex-military partner, Joe Pike return in style here. Worried single mother, Devon Connor, suspects her 17 year old socially awkward, video game obsessed son, Tyson, of dealing in drugs when she finds o I have read all of this brilliant series by Robert Crais, and had given up on any additions as Crais appeared to have abandoned Cole, so when I heard this was available, I knew I wanted to read it as soon as possible. Set in LA, the witty wisecracking PI, Elvis Cole and his strong, silent, tattooed ex-military partner, Joe Pike return in style here. Worried single mother, Devon Connor, suspects her 17 year old socially awkward, video game obsessed son, Tyson, of dealing in drugs when she finds out he has an expensive Rolex and designer clothes. If only. Elvis tracks down the Rolex, and it soon becomes clear that Tyson, along with Alec Riley and Amber Reed have been breaking and entering into 18 homes of the rich and powerful, helping themselves to their possessions. When confronted with this news, Tyson does a runner rather than handing himself in with a lawyer representing him. Two assassins, Harvey and Stemms, pretending to be cops, are ruthlessly hunting the trio of young burglars, and intent on killing anyone with information on them and the goods they have taken.

Real LAPD cops, Cassett and Rivera, are under intense pressure to solve the burglaries and apprehend the perpetrators, but are lacking any significant leads that will identify them, badgering Cole to give them his intel. As a murder alerts Cole to the danger that Tyson and Amber are in, he and Devon put out all the stops out to get Tyson to get in touch before he is murdered, only Tyson, being young and obsessed with Amber, is not so easily convinced. It seems that the trio have stolen a laptap from a homeowner who will do anything to retrieve it, and does not care how many people have to die to get it back. Cole enlists the help of Joe Pike as he tries to protect Devon by moving her into his home. As Harvey and Stemms close in on the location of Tyson and Amber, Cole desperately wants to get hold of them first to get them to a safe house. Will he and Pike manage to save the wilful young burglars from themselves and the powerful forces set on eliminating them?

Crais has well established charismatic central leads in this wonderful series, who could not adore the charms of Elvis Cole and the effective support provided by Joe Pike? Despite this being a long running series, it continues to remain an utterly compelling read for the avid reader. This is largely due to the wide range of diverse and complex characters, the multi-layered storylines and its ability to make you crack a smile and laugh amidst the high levels of suspense and tension. Even the villains, Harvey and Stemms, are not one dimensional, but interesting, talented and worthy opponents for Cole and Pike. A great and entertaining crime thriller that I recommend highly to anyone who reads the crime genre! Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for an ARC. ...more

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Aug 19, 2018 James Thane rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime-fiction, robert-crais, elvis-cole

One of the blurbs for this book insists that this may be the "deadliest case" that Elvis Cole and Joe Pike have ever taken on. Considering some of the previous cases that they've barely survived, that may be a bit of a stretch, but The Wanted is still a very engrossing thriller and it's a lot of fun to read.

The book opens when Elvis is hired by Devon Connor, a hard-working single mother who's trying to raise a teenage son on her own. Under the best of circumstances, this is not an easy task, but One of the blurbs for this book insists that this may be the "deadliest case" that Elvis Cole and Joe Pike have ever taken on. Considering some of the previous cases that they've barely survived, that may be a bit of a stretch, but The Wanted is still a very engrossing thriller and it's a lot of fun to read.

The book opens when Elvis is hired by Devon Connor, a hard-working single mother who's trying to raise a teenage son on her own. Under the best of circumstances, this is not an easy task, but Devon freaks out when she finds her son in possession of a Rolex watch worth several thousand dollars. The kid, Tyson, claims that the watch is a knockoff, that it's not worth anything, and that his mom shouldn't worry.

Fat chance.

Devon worries that her kid might be dealing drugs and calls in Elvis to figure out what's actually going on. It turns out that Tyson, previously a shy and withdrawn boy, has fallen under the spell of a sexy new girlfriend. Elvis fairly quickly discovers that the problem is much worse than drugs. Tyson, his new main squeeze, and another boy have been ripping off the houses of wealthy people who are away from their homes. They've converted the things they've stolen into a pile of cash which they are flashing around and spending like crazy at trendy clubs. And when Mom starts asking too many question, Tyson disappears.

Unfortunately, the trio of thieves has inadvertently stolen something particularly meaningful to a very rich man who has no scruples whatsoever. He, in turn, has hired a couple of particularly nasty characters to track down the thieves and recover his property before it falls into the wrong hands. At this point, these kids had better pray that Elvis and his partner, Joe Pike, find them first.

The only problem I had with the book was that, for me at least, it strained credulity to think that these three high school kids could have such a long successful string of ripping off the houses of such wealthy people, virtually all of which have very elaborate security systems, and especially given the way in which the thieves are lavishly spending the proceeds of their burglaries. Realistically, the cops should have had them very early on, and it was hard to believe that they hadn't found these kids long before Cole was even called into action. But setting aside that concern, I really enjoyed the book. Elvis Cole is one of my favorite crime fiction characters and I always enjoy following his adventures. ...more

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Nov 29, 2017 Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-star, contemporary-fiction, suspense, thriller, netgalley-arc, crime, 2017, sandy-s-reading-retreat, sandy-s-ng-nirvana

EXCERPT: "...these kids leave prints and DNA everywhere."
The world slowed when I heard him.
I said, " Kids."
"They're kids. Three morons."
I said it again, just to be sure.
"Kids."
"Teenagers, young adults, whatever. A female and two males. I'm not saying they're little children."
I stared out the window. Wilcox described big nasty mothers and multiple burglaries.
"How many burglaries are we talking about?"
"Seventeen, eighteen, something like that. The number's in play. The task force is playing conn ...more

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Jan 02, 2017 Maureen Carden rated it really liked it

Shelves: detective, thriller, netgalley, supense

It's been too long since the last Elvis Cole and Joe Pike book came out. For red blooded ‘murican(sic) women it's been way too long since the last Joe Pike was published. Just sayin'. This book went far too quickly considering how much I enjoy the smart-ass Elvis Cole and the ummm, strong, silent, stoic, and intriguing Joe Pike. Oh, I'm sorry; I got carried away there for a moment.
Elvis Cole is a L.A private detective, hailing from LA. Joe Pike is his silent partner who is called in when the go It's been too long since the last Elvis Cole and Joe Pike book came out. For red blooded ‘murican(sic) women it's been way too long since the last Joe Pike was published. Just sayin'. This book went far too quickly considering how much I enjoy the smart-ass Elvis Cole and the ummm, strong, silent, stoic, and intriguing Joe Pike. Oh, I'm sorry; I got carried away there for a moment.
Elvis Cole is a L.A private detective, hailing from LA. Joe Pike is his silent partner who is called in when the going gets tough. The publishers need to change the book blurb; Jon Stone is not in this book. Should be a rule that either someone who wrote the book, edited the book or at least read the book should write the damn blurb.
Cole is hired by single mom, Devon Connor, to discover why her son is sporting high dollar watches and threads. She is afraid her socially awkward, anxiety-ridden son, Tyler has gotten involved in drug dealing.
If only. Instead, Cole quickly discovers Tyler has joined a small, smart, and almost lucky burglary crew who hit high end L.A. homes. Their luck disappeared when they hit the wrong home and now the owners will do anything, even sanction murder, to get their property back.
Cole is determined to save Tyler from himself after one of the crew is murdered and he goes on the run with a messed up young woman.
The semi-hero of the hour is a geeky gamer. Wow, what a surprise on that description.
Talk about a character stereotype. Just once, I would like to see the gamer/computer maven be portrayed as a normal kid. Not overweight, not with a spotty face, not living in some parent’s gamer ‘cave’ located in the basement or garage, and most of all one with normal social skills.
On the other hand, the pair of killers hunting for the young burglary crew constantly surprised me. Except for the killing part, they are cool and interesting. Way to go, Crais.
Another surprise, the young woman who seems to lead the crew turns out to have some moxie of her own unrelated to her burglary skills.
The story was fresh and fast-paced, the flow perfect. Cole with his trade mark humor was as usual a delight, Pike was Pike, which is very very good. The other characters all added to the story, and even the computer gamer/hacker/maven had his moments of charm. As an extra bonus, the mom, Devon Connor really nailed it with Lucy Chenier, Coles’ past, long-gone love.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Although maybe I should have warned NG that I’ve been huge Crais fan and would probably love his shopping list; as long as Pike was part of the shopping list. ...more

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Mar 23, 2018 Andrew Smith rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

I’ve really enjoyed the one-off novels Crais has written but for some reason I’d largely avoided his Elvis Cole/Joe Pike books. I did pick up the very first book in the Cole series, The Monkey’s Raincoat, some years back but I found it dated – well, it was written in 1987 – and a bit too whimsical for my tastes, which run closer to the hardboiled novels penned by Lawrence Block, Reed Farrel Coleman and others. But given the opportunity to have a flip through the latest offering in this long runn ...more

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Jun 29, 2018 carol. rated it liked it

Shelves: thriller, mystery

Alas; I have reached the current end in the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series, a collection of private investigator thrillers set predominantly in the Los Angeles basin. Over seventeen books, we've mocked Elvis' office clock, tread warily around his feral cat and winced at his taste in shirts. Through it all, he's been witty, an outrageous flirt with the ladies and protective of his clients.

In this one, Crais turns the tables a bit, giving Elvis a legitimate client seeking help with a less-than-legit s ...more

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Jun 12, 2018 Barbara rated it liked it

Shelves: bayb-2018

3.5 stars

In this addition to the 'Elvis Cole - Joe Pike' series, the Los Angeles private detectives try to help a trio of over-privileged teenage thieves. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

Devon Connor is worried about her 17-year-old son Tyson. The troubled boy was booted out of two high schools, making it necessary to enroll him in an expensive 'alternative school' - and now Tyson's room contains wads of cash and big-ticket items he can't afford, like designer clothes from Barneys; ele ...more

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Sep 15, 2018 Manuel Antão rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2018

If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.

In the Darkness, Everyone is Alone: "The Wanted" by Robert Crais

In the darkness, everyone is alone.

None to speak to you but silence,
The quiet of words unspoken,
An old friend scarce known.
A silence we dread to see broken,
Yet somehow constantly bemoan. ...more

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Dec 27, 2017 Cindy Burnett rated it liked it

I am a huge fan of Elvis Cole, but The Wanted fell flat for me. I generally love reading about both Elvis and Joe Pike, but I could barely stomach reading about the two ridiculous bad guys – they were way too over the top for me. I also didn’t feel that Tyson Connor was very believable which made the mystery not very believable as well. I realize that mystery series with numerous books such as this one are bound to have an installment or two that are not my favorite so I am hoping the next one w ...more

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Feb 27, 2017 Tucker rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What a treat it is to have Elvis Cole and Joe Pike back! When teenager Tyson Connor’s mother Devon calls Elvis, she is afraid her son is selling drugs because he’s suddenly flush with cash and wearing expensive clothes. Initially, Elvis suspects the same thing, but a little more investigation reveals that Tyson is involved in high-end burglaries with two other teenagers. And they’ve stolen a laptop that the owner is desperate to get back - at any cost. Elvis is still his wisecracking self but is ...more

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Mar 04, 2020 Veronica ⭐️ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020, crime, s-s, a

*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
The Wanted has been on my Netgalley to read list for over two years. I don’t know what it was that caused me to keep putting it off. I had never read Robert Crais before. (Where have I been!!)

The main character, Private Investigator Elvis Cole, is easy to like. He is calm, collected and thoughtful. He is a bit of a ladies man so I am interested to read more backstory. His partner, Joe Pike, is dark sunglasses and taciturn but every now and then a softer s ...more

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Jan 28, 2018 Skip rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime-detective

Rounded up to 4 stars. Elvis Cole is asked by a concerned mother why her son has an extravagant Rolex watch, and the truth is horrifying: he and two friends are involved in a criminal enterprise, and there are two stone-cold killers, posing as cops, after them. Here is the essence of the book: "They're kids. Three morons." Elvis busts his ass to save them, dragging Joe Pike in to help, but too much of the plot is about the three morons, who don't have a lick of common sense. Also, Crais made the ...more

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Dec 05, 2017 Monnie rated it it was amazing

Private eye Elvis Cole and his partner, Joe Pike, make a great team - reminiscent of the late Robert B. Parker's Spenser and Hawk. Together, they can take on the world. But when they bump up against a trio of teens who specialize in upscale burglaries, they may have met their match.

For much of the first half of this book, Elvis takes solo center stage. He's hired by Devon Connor, whose son Tyson has been deviating wildly from his usual sweet self. It seems he's acquired some cash, expensive clot ...more

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Feb 01, 2018 Megan Johnson rated it it was ok

Shelves: mystery-thriller-suspense

I want to start out by saying that this is my first Cole/Pike story. I also want to say it wasn't bad - I just...felt bored. Maybe it's my fault.

In the bookstore, this was just on a normal shelf - not on a display table or prominently placed or anything, so to say that this cover is beautiful would be an understatement. It grabbed my eyes immediately. Then, I opened up the book jacket only to read "It seemed like a simple case until the bodies started piling up." Yup, sold. I bought the book an ...more

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May 29, 2018 Richard rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime, arc

8/10

I’ve gone completely off the rails, I’ve done the unthinkable! I’ve jumped into a series on the 17th novel and not the 1st novel, I’m surely due to go to the looney bin soon?! I must be as I loved this!

After reading Andrew’s great review of this one I decided I’d go and request it and see if anything came of it. Whilst having no knowledge of the characters or their histories I could have been well and truly in the deep end but that was never the case here. I could probably have gained more ...more

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Dec 25, 2017 Nat K rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017-books, netgalley, suspense

3.5★s for me.

I have to admit that I’ve never previously read a Robert Crais book. No particular reason. I think that from being such a creature of habit, I tend to stick with Authors that I already know and love. But thanks to NetGalley, I’ve now had my reading tastes shift to now include such interesting characters as Elvis Cole and Joe Pike on my reading menu.

I was truly surprised after finishing this to see that this is book No. 17 in the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series. How did so many books not ...more

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Feb 03, 2018 Tim rated it really liked it

Almost a perfect story, save the stupidity of a couple characters. 8 of 10 stars

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Jan 11, 2018 Truman32 rated it really liked it

The Elvis Cole detective books are perhaps the most progressive series in the mystery genre today. This is a startling fact when you consider Robert Crais’s The Wanted is the 17th go round with this private investigator and his stoic partner Joe Pike. What makes these books so pioneering is the optimistic and sunny disposition of the lead detective, Elvis Cole. That’s right, we are given a lead character who is in no way haunted, tormented, addicted, grouchy, smug, or stewing with deep psycholog The Elvis Cole detective books are perhaps the most progressive series in the mystery genre today. This is a startling fact when you consider Robert Crais’s The Wanted is the 17th go round with this private investigator and his stoic partner Joe Pike. What makes these books so pioneering is the optimistic and sunny disposition of the lead detective, Elvis Cole. That’s right, we are given a lead character who is in no way haunted, tormented, addicted, grouchy, smug, or stewing with deep psychological animosity towards authority. It feels innovative and bold to have such a well-grounded protagonist. Cole is a guy who let’s his clients stay at his pad when the heat is getting too hot to remain at their homes. When they eventually move to a safe house he raids his own pantry for food and toilet paper to bring for them. And with Cole, you just know the toilet paper is going to be a super soft multi-ply—none of that cheapo scratchy stuff for his peeps (and it’ll probably be the giant pack of jumbo rolls from Costco too!). The worst thing you can find about this guy is his struggle to find a use for his surplus of warm hugs.

It’s refreshing to have a well-adjusted and just plain nice detective leading the story every once and awhile. Cole would fit in well between Roma Downey and Della Reese if they ever want to reboot Touched By An Angel as an hour-long mystery for CBS on Sunday nights.

This time out Cole is hired by a distraught mother. She has found cash, Swiss watches and other high dollar items in her teenage son’s room. She’s worried he got these items in some troubling manner, something that is soon proven true. Her boy is part of a (goodhearted but bone-headed)teenage housebreaking team—they have burglarized 18 homes in the wealthy suburbs of L.A. Events become even more alarming when one of the plundered owners hires two deadly thugs to retrieve one of the purloined items. These galoots aren’t fooling around, they leave a trail of mangled bodies in their wake as they hunt for these kids and the important item they have swiped.

Crais has been honored with the Mystery Writer’s of America Grand Master Award so it’s easy to surmise a few things: 1.) he can write a riveting good story and 2.) that he often goes out in public wearing his illustrious MWA Grand Master hat (for those that don’t know, this famed chapeau resembles the Pope’s hat with a propeller spinning at the top. It is usually a striking magenta, fringed in blinking lights, covered in felt shamrocks, with the message: Kiss the Grand Master embroidered on the front. He has it on every time he goes out to dinner, and quit honestly the girls at Hooters are more than a little tired of it by now.)

The Wanted continues his hot streak—the characters are layered, Cole is out there spreading kindness and smiles as he works to save these teenage dunderheads. It all reads very fast and the mystery will leave you guessing. While the conclusion is a little disappointing and his partner Joe Pike is shortchanged, this is still an exciting read in a very worthwhile series.
...more

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Nov 29, 2017 Heidi rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-netgalley, read-in-2017, fav-thrillers, favourite-series, favourites-2017

Many many years ago I stumbled across the first book featuring the funny and enigmatic Elvis Cole, and it was love at first book! I have been a huge fan of the series since, and they are the type of comfort books I turn to when I feel a bit book-jaded. Crais always delivers a solid mystery, and Elvis’ quick wit and dry humour put a permanent grin on my face whilst reading. And of course the books would not be complete without the silent, loyal and indestructible Joe Pike, who always manages to g Many many years ago I stumbled across the first book featuring the funny and enigmatic Elvis Cole, and it was love at first book! I have been a huge fan of the series since, and they are the type of comfort books I turn to when I feel a bit book-jaded. Crais always delivers a solid mystery, and Elvis’ quick wit and dry humour put a permanent grin on my face whilst reading. And of course the books would not be complete without the silent, loyal and indestructible Joe Pike, who always manages to get Elvis out of trouble when the going gets tough. I love them!

As usual, Crais has nailed the art of delivering an action packed mystery that tests all of Elvis’ detecting skills. I am not going to get into the story, as the blurb contains all you need to know, so allow yourself to get swept up by the action just as I did. This is one of those rare books that can be read as a stand-alone, even if you haven’t read the previous 16 books in the series (although I highly recommend reading them all, they are great!). There is enough background to understand Elvis’ and Pike’s relationship, and most of the other characters are either new or play a peripheral role where previous knowledge is not essential.

Crais tells his story from the different characters’ POVs, including that of the “bad guys”, in short concise chapters that move the narrative along at the perfect pace, giving just the right amount of clues to keep the reader guessing but hinting at things yet to come. Each of the narrators has a unique and interesting voice, which is a hard balance to achieve, and kept me hooked from start to finish. I love it how Crais combines the private detective story with the cat-and-mouse game of a fast paced action thriller, and a police procedural as an aside – with three genres rolled into one, what more can you want? Cole and Pike are a fictional partnership that really works and carries the story, and I was happy to have them both included in this latest instalment. I admit I prefer the books in the series that have Elvis as the main character and Pike as his side-kick, since I adore Elvis’ humour and it is a huge factor of enjoyment for me.

All in all, if you haven’t discovered this great detective series yet, The Wanted is a perfect opportunity to take the plunge. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed, though it may add quite a few new books to your TBR list. Another irresistible read from Crais, who has certainly made a name for himself in the mystery genre and is one of my go-to authors when I feel a bit book-jaded and just want a great read. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

*blog* *facebook* *instagram*

...more

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Dec 30, 2017 Kathi Defranc rated it it was amazing

I have been reading the Pike/Elvis saga for years, and continue to enjoy the relationship between the two and the problems they get themselves involved in! Just a fun book to read, with bumbling bad guys, off the wall teenage burglars, and interesting police officers with a little bit of romance indicated between Elvis and an officer.
Cole is hired by a teenagers mom after she notes changes in him, with expensive clothes and gadgets. He takes the case, which widens quickly as he investigates, in ...more

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Mar 18, 2019 Jean rated it liked it

Shelves: audio-book, fiction, mystery

It has been a number of years since I read an Elvis Cole book by Robert Crais. I have always enjoyed Elvis’s wisecracking narration. In this book Elvis and Joe are after a trio of teenagers who are on a burglary spree. Unfortunately, they stole something from the wrong person and are now being hunted by some bad guys.

The book is well written; the plot twists and turns and the dialog is witty. It is a fun book to read. Elvis has a black cat he calls Cat. The cat primarily ignores him. The book is ...more

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Nov 15, 2016 Joe Slavinsky rated it it was amazing

We all waited forEVER for this book, which was supposed to be out more than a year ago. The problem, is that Crais' stuff is SO good, that I finished the book within 24 hours. Elvis Cole, and Joe Pike are icons, in modern-day crime fiction. The stories are so well-written, with such a frenetic pace, that you can't help but try to read them in one sitting. Now, the wait starts all over again. Aargh!! ...more

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Dec 29, 2017 Mandy White (mandylovestoread) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book hooked me in...This is book 17 in the Elvis Cole series but the first that I have read. It read fine as a stand alone story but there wasn't too much insight into the characters.

Elvis is hired to look into how a teenager at high school has suddenly come into large amounts of cadh and expensive clothes. This begins a rollercoaster of a mission to get to the bottom of it.

I would like to read more by the author, it was fast paced and I enjoyed the writing style.

Thank you to Netgalley an ...more

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Apr 29, 2018 Dave rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Great Stuff

I may have come late to the party starting at the seventeenth book in the series, but the best part of that is that I have sixteen more books in the series all available now. I don't have to wait for Crais to publish the next volume. I got lots to play with. His character, Elvis Cole, is yet another in a long line of private eyes, but the writing is really smooth. This guy knows how to tell a story. The pages melt away under your fingers it's such an easy quick absorbing read. It's a ...more

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Mar 26, 2018 John McDermott rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-him-danno, won-many-giveaways-i-have

Many thanks to Goodreads and Simon & Schuster for my free proof copy of The Wanted by Robert Crais.
Well straight away l have to say that I'm a big fan of Robert Crais. There's not one of his books that I've not enjoyed and The Wanted was no exception. If you're a fan of American crime fiction and you've not read Mr.Crais then you need to start and if you do like Robert Crais, then rest assured his latest is just as good as his previous books. Highly recommended. ...more

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Nov 28, 2017 Hobart rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017-reads

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
A single mom has worries about the way that her teen-aged son is behaving -- and when you add in flashy clothes, a Rolex, and more money in his pocket than most book bloggers have in their checking account. So, she hires Elvis to figure out what the bad news is.

It takes The World's Fastest Detective just a couple of hours to figure out what Tyson has been up to, and it's not good: Tyson and a couple of friends have ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
A single mom has worries about the way that her teen-aged son is behaving -- and when you add in flashy clothes, a Rolex, and more money in his pocket than most book bloggers have in their checking account. So, she hires Elvis to figure out what the bad news is.

It takes The World's Fastest Detective just a couple of hours to figure out what Tyson has been up to, and it's not good: Tyson and a couple of friends have been breaking into empty homes and making off with all sorts of high-end merchandise. Think The Bling Ring, but without anything for Emma Watson to do. Multiple security companies, insurance investigators as well as the police have been hunting for them, and Elvis has stumbled onto the trail.

Of all those on the hunt for this crew, one team is closer to finding them than Elvis is -- and these two seem to be leaving a lot of bodies in their wake. They're identified right from the get-go, so I don't mind talking about them too much. They've clearly been partners for a long time -- the give and take between the pair is enough to almost make you forget they're horrible people. At one point, the two get into a discussion about the appropriateness of the word "retard" in conversation, another conversation is about the depiction of women in moves/fiction, and they get into a big argument about annoying ringtones that one of them is using. If they weren't going around killing people for mysterious, yet clearly nefarious, reasons, I could really like them (or, if Crais was going for a Tarantino/Leonard thing with them).

The pacing on this is relentless -- well, it's obvious to the reader right off that the clock is ticking, but once Elvis catches up to what we know, things are almost non-stop. It's similar to Taken, but without the jumping around in time, Crais knows how to handle the tension and momentum just right so the suspense is genuine. It also reminded me of The Watchman, in that you have Elvis and Cole trying to protect a self-involved teen (or two) on the run from some very determined killers.

In so many ways this is classic Elvis Cole: Joe Pike doesn't do much -- it's almost like the early books, he shows up does his Batman kind of thing, and vanishes. It was a nice way to deal with him -- we don't want to get too chummy with Pike, he looses a bit of the mystique that way. When he does act -- we get our money's worth. John Chen is very John Chen-y, which is always fun (as long as we don't get too much of him). We get some quick visits with some other old friends, too. Elvis cooks like hosts on Food Network aspire to. All the mainstays are there.

Slipping in every now and then between the adrenaline from the chase and the fan service is a solid emotional grounding that was as effective as it was unexpected.

Time with a couple of old favorites, an almost perfectly constructed thriller, and some solid emotional moments -- who could ask for more? From the hitting-the-ground-running beginning through to the very touching ending, this is a heckuva read that should please fans new and old.
...more

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Jan 27, 2018 Rob Twinem rated it really liked it

If you internet search Robert Crais it is interesting to note that he was greatly influenced by the works of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. It you add this piece of information to the fact that he was a writer for some early 80's made for TV series (Hill Street blues, Cagney and Lacy) then you will have an understanding of the writing style of this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Wanted". Elvis Cole is helping out an old friend Devon, it would appear that her son has been involved in a If you internet search Robert Crais it is interesting to note that he was greatly influenced by the works of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. It you add this piece of information to the fact that he was a writer for some early 80's made for TV series (Hill Street blues, Cagney and Lacy) then you will have an understanding of the writing style of this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Wanted". Elvis Cole is helping out an old friend Devon, it would appear that her son has been involved in a series of robberies and things become very serious when Devon discovers a very rare and valuable Rolex watch in her son's bedroom. He calls in his associate and partner Joe Pike (tattoos and the permanent wearing of shades!) and together both must act quickly to safeguard Tyson and his comrade in arms a young immature girl called Amber. Elvis Cole is not your ordinary detective, rather than drink (which seems to be the flaw of most cops) he likes to cook.."I turned up a package of frozen peas, two stalks of asparagus, and a lemon. Inspired. I filled a pot with water threw in some salt, and kicked op the heat. "....

Two assassins have been hired to find a stolen laptop presumably removed by the thieves Tyson and Amber, containing information that might incriminate their client, The race is on for Elvis Cole aided by his ever present sidekick Joe Pike to find the two remaining teenage burglars and try to explain to them the error of their ways, This is a fast stripped down detective story and in some ways feels a bit like a script made for TV, nevertheless very enjoyable. Sometimes all you want when reading a book is an easy to follow storyline and neat very readable prose which is certainly in abundance here..."schooling like orchestral sharks at a blood-drunk feast."....."men with dusty boots and women with rough hands."...."as out of place on the lovely street as a fly in a glass of juice."...

As always Robert Crais delivers in his own recognizable style making for a very enjoyable and fast read. Many thanks to the food people of netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written ...more

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Jan 09, 2018 Ed rated it it was ok

Disappointing book #17 in an otherwise entertaining crime fiction series. I thought it read like a 1970's "Made for TV" movie with the pace, prose and complexity of last year's calendar. Where have you gone Elvis and Joe Pike! ...more

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Jan 05, 2018 Sandy rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime, american-authors, family-drama, private-eye, series, suspense

Thank God I finished when I did....I have no fingernails left. Review to follow.

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Oct 04, 2017 The Real Book Spy rated it it was amazing

See this review and more at www.TheRealBookSpy.com

Concerned about her son, single mother Devon Connor hires Private Investigator Elvis Cole to look into things, which turn out to be much worse than she ever imagined in Robert Crais’ new novel, The Wanted.

At first, the case sounds fairly simple. A mother is worried about her teenage son, and Cole is brought in to provide some answers. But during their first meeting to discuss the investigation, things take an interesting turn when Cole hears wh ...more

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About Robert Crais

Robert Crais

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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. 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. ...more

Other books in the series

Elvis Cole and Joe Pike (1 - 10 of 18 books)

Books by Robert Crais

The Watchman (Elvis Cole, #11; Joe Pike, #1)

The First Rule (Elvis Cole, #13; Joe Pike, #2)

The Sentry (Elvis Cole, #14; Joe Pike, #3)

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Meet the Authors of Spring's Biggest Mysteries

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Quotes from The Wanted

“Waiters and busboys flowed in and out of the kitchen, and walked on tightropes between the tables.” — 0 likes

“I told myself Tyson was going to pick up their laptops, but half a mile later they joined the drive-thru line at an In-N-Out Burger. Tyson. Eating was constant. Maybe he needed sustenance before they retrieved the laptops.” — 0 likes

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