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Elvis Cole and Joe Pike #17
The Wanted
Spine creased. Orders received by 3pm Sent from the UK that weekday.
400 pages, Paperback
First published December 26, 2017
3068 people are currently reading
3887 people want to read
About the author
Robert Crais
180 books4,585 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 1,341 reviews
May 17, 2018
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.
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.
February 23, 2023
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.
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.
December 31, 2017
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 connect-the-dots with fingerprints."
"A task force has the case?"
"This is big, brudda man. You mess with rich people, you get the fullcourt press."
"They have prints and DNA, but no IDs."
"It happens. Never been busted, so they aren't in the system. They hood up, they're good about ducking the cameras, but the one kid, he finally screwed up. Unknown Male Numero Uno. We got him. First Tier got his face."
Dave was so proud of himself he laughed.
"Can I see his picture?"
"Sure. On the way."
My phone chimed when the picture arrived.
I knew who I would see even before I opened Dave's email.
THE BLURB: It seemed like a simple case before the bodies starting piling up. Investigator Elvis Cole and his partner, Joe Pike, take on the deadliest case of their lives, in the new masterpiece of suspense from the #1 New York Times bestselling author
When single mother Devon Connor hires private investigator Elvis Cole, it's because her troubled teenage son Tyson is flashing cash and she's afraid he's dealing drugs. But the truth is devastatingly different. With two other partners in crime, he's been responsible for a string of high-end burglaries, a crime spree that takes a deadly turn when one of them is murdered and Tyson and his girlfriend disappear.
They stole the wrong thing from the wrong man. Determined to get it back, he has hired a team that is smart and brutal, and to even the odds, Cole calls in his friends Joe Pike and Jon Stone. But even they may be overmatched. The hired killers are leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. A few more won't make any difference.
MY THOUGHTS: In the almost four years since I joined Goodreads.com, so many people have told me that I must read/will enjoy Robert Crais' Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series. They were right. Sometimes I am a little slow . . .
Yes, I know that I have joined the series at #17, but it really doesn't matter. The book is written so that it can be read as a stand alone. References to past history are few and well explained.
The Wanted is fast paced, action filled, and yet is remarkably tender when dealing with the emotions of the teenagers. And the teenagers are teenagers. They play follow the leader; the leader being the most assertive, the one who knows best, the one who is sure that the adults know nothing, the one who can manipulate, the emotionally damaged one.
As I said, this was my first encounter with the Cole/Pike team. It won't be my last. I am joining their massive fan club.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Wanted by Robert Crais for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about'page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
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 connect-the-dots with fingerprints."
"A task force has the case?"
"This is big, brudda man. You mess with rich people, you get the fullcourt press."
"They have prints and DNA, but no IDs."
"It happens. Never been busted, so they aren't in the system. They hood up, they're good about ducking the cameras, but the one kid, he finally screwed up. Unknown Male Numero Uno. We got him. First Tier got his face."
Dave was so proud of himself he laughed.
"Can I see his picture?"
"Sure. On the way."
My phone chimed when the picture arrived.
I knew who I would see even before I opened Dave's email.
THE BLURB: It seemed like a simple case before the bodies starting piling up. Investigator Elvis Cole and his partner, Joe Pike, take on the deadliest case of their lives, in the new masterpiece of suspense from the #1 New York Times bestselling author
When single mother Devon Connor hires private investigator Elvis Cole, it's because her troubled teenage son Tyson is flashing cash and she's afraid he's dealing drugs. But the truth is devastatingly different. With two other partners in crime, he's been responsible for a string of high-end burglaries, a crime spree that takes a deadly turn when one of them is murdered and Tyson and his girlfriend disappear.
They stole the wrong thing from the wrong man. Determined to get it back, he has hired a team that is smart and brutal, and to even the odds, Cole calls in his friends Joe Pike and Jon Stone. But even they may be overmatched. The hired killers are leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. A few more won't make any difference.
MY THOUGHTS: In the almost four years since I joined Goodreads.com, so many people have told me that I must read/will enjoy Robert Crais' Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series. They were right. Sometimes I am a little slow . . .
Yes, I know that I have joined the series at #17, but it really doesn't matter. The book is written so that it can be read as a stand alone. References to past history are few and well explained.
The Wanted is fast paced, action filled, and yet is remarkably tender when dealing with the emotions of the teenagers. And the teenagers are teenagers. They play follow the leader; the leader being the most assertive, the one who knows best, the one who is sure that the adults know nothing, the one who can manipulate, the emotionally damaged one.
As I said, this was my first encounter with the Cole/Pike team. It won't be my last. I am joining their massive fan club.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Wanted by Robert Crais for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about'page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 28, 2017
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.
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.
June 16, 2021
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; electronics; and a Rolex watch that costs at least $40,000.
Concerned that Tyson is doing something illegal, Devon hires Los Angeles private investigator Elvis Cole - the self-styled 'World's Greatest Detective' - to find out what's going on with her son.
Using the serial numbers on the Rolex, Cole learns that it was stolen from Dr. Richard Slausen. Cole's visit to the physician's house brings him to the attention of two LAPD detectives - Cassett and Rivera.
Cassett and Rivera are investigating a string of 18 home burglaries in the area, including the heist at Slausen's place.
The detectives reveal that three people were seen on CCTV, breaking into the looted homes, but the burglars always hid their faces.....until one boy accidently glanced up at the camera.
This was Tyson, but the cops haven't identified him yet, and have no idea who his accomplices are.
Cassett and Rivera want Cole to reveal what he knows, but the PI keeps mum - hoping he can arrange for Tyson to get a lawyer, turn himself in, and make a deal. This deal isn't going to happen though because Tyson robs homes with two other teens, Amber and Alec, and he'd never rat them out. Especially not Amber, who has Tyson wrapped around her little finger.
So, instead of surrendering, Tyson goes on the run.
Unfortunately for the larcenous teens, they stole a laptop from someone who's desperate to get it back. The laptop owner hired a couple of shrewd toughs, named Harvey and Stemms, who have a spy in the police department AND know how to track people down.
When the thugs - who pretend to be LAPD detectives - find people with information about the teens, they 'interview' them.....then kill them.
Meanwhile, Elvis Cole is also hunting for Tyson and his friends, to keep them alive. Needing assistance, Cole calls on his partner in the detective agency, Joe Pike - a formidable former mercenary who uses few words, has red arrows tattooed on his biceps, and wears sunglasses 24/7.
With people getting killed left and right, you'd think the teenage crooks would be frightened - but Amber seems to think the whole business is a hoot....and that a Hollywood movie will be made about the gang's exploits.
Other interesting characters in the book include Tyson's former schoolmate Carl - a computer nerd who wears suits to his 'office' in the shed; and Amber's mother - who's annoyed when she has to abandon her skiing vacation to assist her daughter. Furthermore, Harvey and Stemms are more than just thugs for hire. When they're not killing people, the men discuss guitar riffs; changing a ringtone from the stabbing scene music in 'Psycho' to The Association's 'Windy'; and their personal lives.
There's plenty of action and excitement in this page turner, which ends in a dramatic climax.
I'm a big fan of Cole and Pike, two smart, capable guys who get the job done. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to thriller fans.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
March 25, 2018
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 running series I though, why not?
In style and setting I guess it’s closer to Michael Connelly than the authors I’ve mentioned above - but Elvis is a much more laid back character than Connelly’s Harry Bosch. Here, Cole gets involved in the case of a series of robberies carried out by three young light fingered thrill seekers. They’ve taken something that’s got rather more significance than they realised and the owner wants it back. Wants it back badly! Elvis stumbles into this case as he’s hired by the mother of one of the threesome to find out what her son has been up to. She’d found a valuable watch in his room and knew it must have been stolen. Soon a couple of wisecracking heavies are on the tail of the trio, can Elvis (and Joe, though he really only features in a cameo role here) save the day?
It’s a story that grabbed me early on and never really let go. Yes, there’s some light-hearted moments here but in the main Crais plays it straight. The tension racks up as the tale plays out and as I flicked through the final few pages I found myself wanting to see more of Elvis and Joe. Yes, I’m now definitely a fan and I’ll certainly be churning my way back though other books in this series.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster UK Fiction and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In style and setting I guess it’s closer to Michael Connelly than the authors I’ve mentioned above - but Elvis is a much more laid back character than Connelly’s Harry Bosch. Here, Cole gets involved in the case of a series of robberies carried out by three young light fingered thrill seekers. They’ve taken something that’s got rather more significance than they realised and the owner wants it back. Wants it back badly! Elvis stumbles into this case as he’s hired by the mother of one of the threesome to find out what her son has been up to. She’d found a valuable watch in his room and knew it must have been stolen. Soon a couple of wisecracking heavies are on the tail of the trio, can Elvis (and Joe, though he really only features in a cameo role here) save the day?
It’s a story that grabbed me early on and never really let go. Yes, there’s some light-hearted moments here but in the main Crais plays it straight. The tension racks up as the tale plays out and as I flicked through the final few pages I found myself wanting to see more of Elvis and Joe. Yes, I’m now definitely a fan and I’ll certainly be churning my way back though other books in this series.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster UK Fiction and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2018
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 son. The experienced reader quickly understands that this will no doubt create artificial barriers with problem resolution, although thankfully, Elvis does not take it to extremes as he has at other times.
Crais continues to use multiple-point narration. While it is primarily Elvis' voice, which is in first person, he also switches to the son's, as well as that of two unknown but murderous men. I think following the two unknowns gives a heightened sense of tension because it becomes apparent they are both competent and intent on leaving no witnesses behind. I figured out the reason behind it fairly quickly, but it took Elvis a bit to catch up with me. Honestly, I could have lived without their viewpoint, and had Elvis work more on making the connection between the son and the pair. As it was, when it came together, it felt rather spurious and inconclusive.
The plot was decent, but it reminded me quite a bit of book 14, The Sentry, which was more thriller than mystery and also had a killer viewpoint. I have to say, I also caught strong Spenser parallels, particularly with the meal scenes. In a last damning item, I'll note that while Elvis had a date planned with one woman at the beginning of the book, he had a date planned with another by the end. I almost suspected a ghostwriter, but there were still touches of the emotional complexity that I associate with Elvis. Ah well. Perhaps it's time for a L.A. Requiem.
In this one, Crais turns the tables a bit, giving Elvis a legitimate client seeking help with a less-than-legit son. The experienced reader quickly understands that this will no doubt create artificial barriers with problem resolution, although thankfully, Elvis does not take it to extremes as he has at other times.
Crais continues to use multiple-point narration. While it is primarily Elvis' voice, which is in first person, he also switches to the son's, as well as that of two unknown but murderous men. I think following the two unknowns gives a heightened sense of tension because it becomes apparent they are both competent and intent on leaving no witnesses behind. I figured out the reason behind it fairly quickly, but it took Elvis a bit to catch up with me. Honestly, I could have lived without their viewpoint, and had Elvis work more on making the connection between the son and the pair. As it was, when it came together, it felt rather spurious and inconclusive.
The plot was decent, but it reminded me quite a bit of book 14, The Sentry, which was more thriller than mystery and also had a killer viewpoint. I have to say, I also caught strong Spenser parallels, particularly with the meal scenes. In a last damning item, I'll note that while Elvis had a date planned with one woman at the beginning of the book, he had a date planned with another by the end. I almost suspected a ghostwriter, but there were still touches of the emotional complexity that I associate with Elvis. Ah well. Perhaps it's time for a L.A. Requiem.
December 27, 2017
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 will get back on track. Joe Pike is fabulous, and he kept the book from being a 2-star read for me. I received this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
May 18, 2024
In this, the volume at the top of my small stack of unread Robert Crais novels, the author grants my wish and sets to streamlining his entire construct. No extraneous protagonists at all! No Justice League conglomeration of heroes that necessitate more complicated plots to make use of all those specialized skills! We're back to L.A. private detective Elvis Cole, with a smattering of scenes using Pike as muscle, and a case - a single case - to sink my currently overly-exerted imagination into. No complaints here.
The teenaged James Tyson Connor, a lonely boy with a passion for computers, has fallen in with the wrong crowd. This wrong crowd has taken up, as a pastime, residential burglary. Their targets are mansions in the more exclusive neighborhoods of Los Angeles, and the problem they come across is that they simply don't have the skill for this. Something is stolen that shouldn't have been and, because of their general incompetence, the group is turning out to be very easy to track. And they are being tracked. A worried James Tyson Connor's mother gets in touch with Elvis Cole.
Weeding out the canvas leaves lots of room for character work, and Crais makes nice use of it. While the villainous trackers get most of the attention, there's some fine detail in the personalities of the incompetent burglary crew, the troubled mother, and the stressed-out police detectives who have no patience for the clearly steps-ahead-of-them Cole. There are a couple of clever twists in the center of all of this. The climax was, I don't know, predictable? Inevitable? I'm not going to take him to task for it. I actually got to spend a little quiet time with one of my favorite writers. So...lucky me.
The teenaged James Tyson Connor, a lonely boy with a passion for computers, has fallen in with the wrong crowd. This wrong crowd has taken up, as a pastime, residential burglary. Their targets are mansions in the more exclusive neighborhoods of Los Angeles, and the problem they come across is that they simply don't have the skill for this. Something is stolen that shouldn't have been and, because of their general incompetence, the group is turning out to be very easy to track. And they are being tracked. A worried James Tyson Connor's mother gets in touch with Elvis Cole.
Weeding out the canvas leaves lots of room for character work, and Crais makes nice use of it. While the villainous trackers get most of the attention, there's some fine detail in the personalities of the incompetent burglary crew, the troubled mother, and the stressed-out police detectives who have no patience for the clearly steps-ahead-of-them Cole. There are a couple of clever twists in the center of all of this. The climax was, I don't know, predictable? Inevitable? I'm not going to take him to task for it. I actually got to spend a little quiet time with one of my favorite writers. So...lucky me.
June 6, 2018
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 from this with more knowledge but I liked it lots regardless.
It was a breezy fun read which I powered through in a weekend. The plot isn’t complex but enough so to keep things ticking over and keep you guessing. The characters worked really well together and I’d be keen to see how these relationships have grown.
I’m definitely going to start at the beginning with this series, it sounds like the first couple aren’t as tight as the later ones but that wouldn’t be the only case of a series growing the longer it goes. Loved it, big thanks to Andrew and his review.
Thanks to Netgalley for the copy to review
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 from this with more knowledge but I liked it lots regardless.
It was a breezy fun read which I powered through in a weekend. The plot isn’t complex but enough so to keep things ticking over and keep you guessing. The characters worked really well together and I’d be keen to see how these relationships have grown.
I’m definitely going to start at the beginning with this series, it sounds like the first couple aren’t as tight as the later ones but that wouldn’t be the only case of a series growing the longer it goes. Loved it, big thanks to Andrew and his review.
Thanks to Netgalley for the copy to review
December 21, 2017
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 totally committed to finding and rescuing Tyson. When Devon is threatened by two murderous and very scary men, Elvis calls in Joe Pike. Can there be any more reassuring words to a terrified mother than “I’m Pike. I’ve got you. You’re safe.” Robert Crais is an author I can rely on to provide absorbing, tightly written, and enjoyable thrillers - books I always feel good about recommending.
Thank you to Penguin Putnam and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Penguin Putnam and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 5, 2017
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 clothes and other high-end items, and his mother wants to find out if he's into the illicit drug business. As it turns out, it's worse; he and a couple of friends have been getting their jollies (and plenty of flashy trinkets) by invading the homes of the very wealthy, taking what they like and reselling what they don't want to keep.
With the cooperation of Tyson's mother, Elvis works out a deal through which Tyson will turn himself in with minimal consequences - but the deal goes south when Tyson goes missing. Around the same time, one of the teenage cohorts ends up dead - and while at first blush it looks to be a case of road rage gone horribly wrong, the bullets in the body tell a much different story.
Now, Elvis knows that Tyson and the third teen, an exceptionally maniculative girl, are sure to be the next targets of two highly accomplished hit men who apparently have been hired by one of the burglary victims. He calls in his partner Joe to help find the kids, but for a time the trail doesn't lead much of anywhere except to more dead bodies. When they finally start to close in on the teens, so, too, do the hit men. Who will get to them first results in a not-so-merry chase that kept me turning pages all the way to the end.
All in all, another excellent installment in this series - one of my favorites. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
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 clothes and other high-end items, and his mother wants to find out if he's into the illicit drug business. As it turns out, it's worse; he and a couple of friends have been getting their jollies (and plenty of flashy trinkets) by invading the homes of the very wealthy, taking what they like and reselling what they don't want to keep.
With the cooperation of Tyson's mother, Elvis works out a deal through which Tyson will turn himself in with minimal consequences - but the deal goes south when Tyson goes missing. Around the same time, one of the teenage cohorts ends up dead - and while at first blush it looks to be a case of road rage gone horribly wrong, the bullets in the body tell a much different story.
Now, Elvis knows that Tyson and the third teen, an exceptionally maniculative girl, are sure to be the next targets of two highly accomplished hit men who apparently have been hired by one of the burglary victims. He calls in his partner Joe to help find the kids, but for a time the trail doesn't lead much of anywhere except to more dead bodies. When they finally start to close in on the teens, so, too, do the hit men. Who will get to them first results in a not-so-merry chase that kept me turning pages all the way to the end.
All in all, another excellent installment in this series - one of my favorites. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
March 6, 2020
*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 side will emerge.
Cole is hired by worried mum Devon Connor to find out how her 17 year old son, Tyson, is acquiring designer clothes and a Rolex watch.
As Cole investigates the ownership of the watch he finds it is stolen property and part of a major police investigation involving a large number of burglaries. Cole seems to be one step ahead of the police in this investigation however, there are two thugs, hired to find some of the stolen goods, that are steps ahead of them both and they are leaving dead bodies in their wake. The baddies were bad but they were also laugh out loud funny which was the perfect contrast to lighten the darkness in this story.
The Wanted is fast paced and gritty. The portrayal of the teens, Tyson and his friends, was real. Their skill with technology but also their naivety was well depicted.
I have now found myself a new series and at book #17 I have plenty to catch up on.
*I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley
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 side will emerge.
Cole is hired by worried mum Devon Connor to find out how her 17 year old son, Tyson, is acquiring designer clothes and a Rolex watch.
As Cole investigates the ownership of the watch he finds it is stolen property and part of a major police investigation involving a large number of burglaries. Cole seems to be one step ahead of the police in this investigation however, there are two thugs, hired to find some of the stolen goods, that are steps ahead of them both and they are leaving dead bodies in their wake. The baddies were bad but they were also laugh out loud funny which was the perfect contrast to lighten the darkness in this story.
The Wanted is fast paced and gritty. The portrayal of the teens, Tyson and his friends, was real. Their skill with technology but also their naivety was well depicted.
I have now found myself a new series and at book #17 I have plenty to catch up on.
*I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley
January 29, 2018
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 cops look incredibly inept, with Elvis the only serious detective working a case where there is serious pressure to bring the perps to justice.
February 3, 2018
Almost a perfect story, save the stupidity of a couple characters. 8 of 10 stars
February 4, 2018
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 and raced through the book I was reading so that I could start this one.
Unfortunately, for me, that's about where the excitement stopped. Usually I'll make it through a book in a couple days but this one took me 5 or so days just because I was fairly bored. Not that it's bad, I want to stress that because this book is very well written, it just wasn't the action-packed adventure that I had hoped based on my initial impressions. If anything it read more like a made for tv teen drama, so I'm sure there's an audience who lives for this sort of thing but it wasn't for me.
What did I think?: I thought this story was well written, but I was disappointed in that it didn't feel suspenseful or very intricately crafted. I wasn't left on the edge of my seat or needing to know what happens next. Ultimately I ended up finishing this one only so that I could move on to my next read.
Who should read it?: If you love crime thrillers, this one might be a bit bland but if you're generally into YA crime or Teen Drama, this one would probably be a favorite! While the characters are pretty stereotypical, they're likable enough to feel real which was nice. Depends on what you're in the mood for whether I'd recommend you pick this one up or not.
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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 and raced through the book I was reading so that I could start this one.
Unfortunately, for me, that's about where the excitement stopped. Usually I'll make it through a book in a couple days but this one took me 5 or so days just because I was fairly bored. Not that it's bad, I want to stress that because this book is very well written, it just wasn't the action-packed adventure that I had hoped based on my initial impressions. If anything it read more like a made for tv teen drama, so I'm sure there's an audience who lives for this sort of thing but it wasn't for me.
What did I think?: I thought this story was well written, but I was disappointed in that it didn't feel suspenseful or very intricately crafted. I wasn't left on the edge of my seat or needing to know what happens next. Ultimately I ended up finishing this one only so that I could move on to my next read.
Who should read it?: If you love crime thrillers, this one might be a bit bland but if you're generally into YA crime or Teen Drama, this one would probably be a favorite! While the characters are pretty stereotypical, they're likable enough to feel real which was nice. Depends on what you're in the mood for whether I'd recommend you pick this one up or not.
WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
December 26, 2017
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 enter my reading orbit?
Tyson Connor is a troubled teen, who gets in with the “wrong” crowd. His mother is worried with the appearance of a rolex (watch) in his room, along with some very expensive threads (clothing), that he simply could not afford as a student. Enter Elvis Cole, private eye, and (by the sounds of it), all round decent bloke. Elvis endeavours to track down Tyson (who has disappeared), and as these stories tend to go, things get distinctly murky....there’s more to Tyson’s five-fingered discounts, than a stolen rolex.
I really enjoyed the quirkiness of the Elvis Cole character.
"When you live with a cat, you talk to the cat.”
This was an easy page turner, and on this basis of how quickly I finished this book, I’ll definitely consider reading more of Robert Crais’ books.
Many thanks to NetGalley & the publishers Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with an advance copy to read, in exchange for an honest review.
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 enter my reading orbit?
Tyson Connor is a troubled teen, who gets in with the “wrong” crowd. His mother is worried with the appearance of a rolex (watch) in his room, along with some very expensive threads (clothing), that he simply could not afford as a student. Enter Elvis Cole, private eye, and (by the sounds of it), all round decent bloke. Elvis endeavours to track down Tyson (who has disappeared), and as these stories tend to go, things get distinctly murky....there’s more to Tyson’s five-fingered discounts, than a stolen rolex.
I really enjoyed the quirkiness of the Elvis Cole character.
"When you live with a cat, you talk to the cat.”
This was an easy page turner, and on this basis of how quickly I finished this book, I’ll definitely consider reading more of Robert Crais’ books.
Many thanks to NetGalley & the publishers Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with an advance copy to read, in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2018
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.
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.
December 30, 2017
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, involving an undesirable team of supposed 'officers' who are not what they say. Murder of one of the young man in the teenage team causes things to heat up immediately, and Joe Pike comes to assist his friend.
This is a great detective series, written well so that you keep coming back to find out what Elvis and Pike are up to!! Wonderful to have these two back, giving me an enjoyable night of traveling with them during their escapades, taking my mind off the reality of life and letting me relax as only their words can.
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, involving an undesirable team of supposed 'officers' who are not what they say. Murder of one of the young man in the teenage team causes things to heat up immediately, and Joe Pike comes to assist his friend.
This is a great detective series, written well so that you keep coming back to find out what Elvis and Pike are up to!! Wonderful to have these two back, giving me an enjoyable night of traveling with them during their escapades, taking my mind off the reality of life and letting me relax as only their words can.
January 4, 2021
A full five stars, one of the all-time best Cole & Pike, complex with brilliant pacing. Cole and Pike are well-balanced, and in top form. The ending is gangbusters, very satisfying, a terrific book. I loved it.
And it has two very special scenes, too. See below.
As usual with my reviews, please first read the publisher’s blurb/summary of the book. Thank you.
Pike's favourite gun, the Colt Python
Full size image here
Now. Pay attention:
3/4 the way through, this book also has a most unusual musical scene, with the two smartest, most ruthless and well-skilled hitmen in all of Crais' books musically duelling with a 12-yr old kid in a bar in Mexico.
I personally spoke to Robert about this scene, about how much I loved it, and he replied "It was a labour of love".
I leave here the entire "musical dual" as a not-a-plot-spoiler in case you wish to read it in the book:
Harvey and Stemms stayed in Ciudad juarez for another eight days, but did not return to the cantina. Stemms thought about the kid every so often in the years since, and wondered how he was doing. Wondered if he kept that twelve-string guitar.
Soon after the duel, the hitmen discuss misogyny, as exemplified in the shower scene from Psycho, music by Bernard Herrmann. Again left as a not-a-plot-spoiler for those who wish to read it in the book:
Colt revolver
Full size image here
I spoke with Crais on 3 July 2018 in Staines UK about his books, and told him the bonded-pair of policeman James and police dog Maggie in Suspect was actually a "super-hero" with senses and abilities far beyond "human alone". He loved it, and told me of the months he spent researching and working with police dog trainers in L.A. Fabulous!
A truly fabulous evening with masters Robert Crais, Joseph Knox and Abir Mukherjee at Waterstones in Staines -
Full size image
Robert Crais
Full size image here
There are at least two of Robert's works that he wrote from the heart, with visible love and wonder and care, my very favourites:
1. The Man Who Knew Dick Bong
My review of the collection of short stories by authors honouring Marlowe: Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe
2. Suspect, the first story with the police dog, Maggie. Wonderful.
And it has two very special scenes, too. See below.
As usual with my reviews, please first read the publisher’s blurb/summary of the book. Thank you.
Pike's favourite gun, the Colt Python
Full size image here
Now. Pay attention:
3/4 the way through, this book also has a most unusual musical scene, with the two smartest, most ruthless and well-skilled hitmen in all of Crais' books musically duelling with a 12-yr old kid in a bar in Mexico.
I personally spoke to Robert about this scene, about how much I loved it, and he replied "It was a labour of love".
I leave here the entire "musical dual" as a not-a-plot-spoiler in case you wish to read it in the book:
Harvey and Stemms stayed in Ciudad juarez for another eight days, but did not return to the cantina. Stemms thought about the kid every so often in the years since, and wondered how he was doing. Wondered if he kept that twelve-string guitar.
Soon after the duel, the hitmen discuss misogyny, as exemplified in the shower scene from Psycho, music by Bernard Herrmann. Again left as a not-a-plot-spoiler for those who wish to read it in the book:
Colt revolver
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I spoke with Crais on 3 July 2018 in Staines UK about his books, and told him the bonded-pair of policeman James and police dog Maggie in Suspect was actually a "super-hero" with senses and abilities far beyond "human alone". He loved it, and told me of the months he spent researching and working with police dog trainers in L.A. Fabulous!
A truly fabulous evening with masters Robert Crais, Joseph Knox and Abir Mukherjee at Waterstones in Staines -
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Robert Crais
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There are at least two of Robert's works that he wrote from the heart, with visible love and wonder and care, my very favourites:
1. The Man Who Knew Dick Bong
My review of the collection of short stories by authors honouring Marlowe: Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe
2. Suspect, the first story with the police dog, Maggie. Wonderful.
February 8, 2022
I have read all of Robert Crais’ novels, including his stand-alones, and consider all to be 4-star or 5-star reads. His Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series is one of the relatively few US detective series that has not lost its punch over the years. Somehow I missed this one, #17 in the set, although I read and reviewed #18 in 2019.
This one places Elvis Cole at the centre of the story, and so is more lighthearted than those focused on the enigmatical Joe Pike, although Joe does make an appearance to ensure that Elvis ends up all right.
Elvis is always laidback and optimistic, even when he begins discovering bodies, discoveries showing that he is a step behind Harvey and Stemms, cold-blooded killers-for-hire. My favourite Elvis quote in this book is:
When you live with a cat, you talk to the cat.
Whereas my favourite Joe Pike dialogue section is:
Pike didn’t know what to say.
“I’m sorry they took your jewelry box.”
“He gave it to me for Mother’s Day.”
Cole should be here. Cole would know what to say.
And that about sums up the relationship between the two partners.
Even the killers of innocent bystanders, Harvey and Stemms, have a comic interlude where they get into a quarrel about Harvey’s phone ringtone (the string piece from Psycho where Janet Leigh is stabbed in the shower).
I’m eagerly awaiting #19, supposedly due out in November 2022.
This one places Elvis Cole at the centre of the story, and so is more lighthearted than those focused on the enigmatical Joe Pike, although Joe does make an appearance to ensure that Elvis ends up all right.
Elvis is always laidback and optimistic, even when he begins discovering bodies, discoveries showing that he is a step behind Harvey and Stemms, cold-blooded killers-for-hire. My favourite Elvis quote in this book is:
When you live with a cat, you talk to the cat.
Whereas my favourite Joe Pike dialogue section is:
Pike didn’t know what to say.
“I’m sorry they took your jewelry box.”
“He gave it to me for Mother’s Day.”
Cole should be here. Cole would know what to say.
And that about sums up the relationship between the two partners.
Even the killers of innocent bystanders, Harvey and Stemms, have a comic interlude where they get into a quarrel about Harvey’s phone ringtone (the string piece from Psycho where Janet Leigh is stabbed in the shower).
I’m eagerly awaiting #19, supposedly due out in November 2022.
October 30, 2024
This book was fun, humourous at times, and very much a standard Californian-based crime novel. The action takes place in the vicinity of the Michael Connelly novels but Crais does not write tight plot lines like Connelly.
If I were to compare the writing to any, I would say that Crais writes like Elmore Leonard. Although the book takes place from several points of view, the criminals, police and others, the writing is in first person from the private investigator, the book's main character. The chapters are short and the sentences are short, punchy and staccato.
This is the first Crais I have read and although I only 3 star this read, I am looking forward to reading more. The plot was entertaining yet not deep, so an easy read between longer books. A crime novel at heart but not one where you need to predict the outcomes. The crimes are shown to you from the start so it is just a case of following how it all plays out.
If I were to compare the writing to any, I would say that Crais writes like Elmore Leonard. Although the book takes place from several points of view, the criminals, police and others, the writing is in first person from the private investigator, the book's main character. The chapters are short and the sentences are short, punchy and staccato.
This is the first Crais I have read and although I only 3 star this read, I am looking forward to reading more. The plot was entertaining yet not deep, so an easy read between longer books. A crime novel at heart but not one where you need to predict the outcomes. The crimes are shown to you from the start so it is just a case of following how it all plays out.
December 17, 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 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.
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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.
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December 29, 2017
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 and Simon and Schuster Australia for an advance copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions.
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 and Simon and Schuster Australia for an advance copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions.
March 18, 2019
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 hard to put down but requires little thinking. The book makes a good get-away-from-it all story.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours and thirty-eight minutes. Luke Daniels does a great job narrating the book. Daniels is an actor and well-known audiobook narrator. Daniels has won thirteen Earphone Awards and has Three Audie Nomination.
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 hard to put down but requires little thinking. The book makes a good get-away-from-it all story.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours and thirty-eight minutes. Luke Daniels does a great job narrating the book. Daniels is an actor and well-known audiobook narrator. Daniels has won thirteen Earphone Awards and has Three Audie Nomination.
January 1, 2018
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!!
April 30, 2018
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 cat and mouse case for Elvis to find a kid in trouble before a pair of professional hoods get the kid first. Well written, smooth, enjoyable read.
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 cat and mouse case for Elvis to find a kid in trouble before a pair of professional hoods get the kid first. Well written, smooth, enjoyable read.
December 30, 2017
★ ★ ★ ★ 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.
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.
September 26, 2018
It has been almost two years since I read the last book in this series but meeting Elvis Cole and Joe Pike again was like being reunited with a couple of old friends. I have always like this series even though he last couple of books seemed to be repeats of the same theme. This one has broken that mold and we are right back in those long ago early days with the "World's Greatest Detective", as Elvis's business cards read. The story runs smoothly with our hero, Elvis at the center. The only negative thing I could really find with the book was that Elvis's sense of humor doesn't come across as well as in previous books, plus I would like to have seen more of Joe Pike. Overall... it's a very good read.
August 21, 2018
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.
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.
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