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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
A fun easy read that wasn't as horribly violent as others in the genre.
I was looking for a good audiobook and so I searched Audiofile Magazine. I can’t remember exactly why this title caught my eye since this novel was totally out of character for me. Crais writes hard boiled, suspense filled crime novels and my usual crime novels are more cozy mysteries than adrenaline filled adventures. I have read an occasional Dennis Lehane or James Lee Burke, but not for a long time and I don’t think those authors are quite so hard boiled.
I may have to change my usual plea that I can’t stand suspense so I don’t read any. I usually say that I couldn’t even deal with Lassie back in my childhood. However, Joe Pike and Elvis Cole were well worth meeting. I liked their attitudes, their humor and the way they worked well together.
I had no trouble suspending my disbelief with this tale. It was violent, scary and full of twists that had me very concerned for the heroes and the woman they were protecting. However, Crais hooked me. So I was ready to drive almost anywhere so I could listen to more of the story.
I think this would be a good story for people who read Lee Childs, Robert Parker or Harlan Coban. I know that I have found Dennis Lehane’s books to be also adrenaline filled and so if you read him, you should try Crais.
Mysteries that I have read that might have some things in common with Joe Pike:
Black Cherry Blues
Christine Falls
The Comedy is Finished
Fifty to One
Penumbra
None of these are the best matchups for Crais, but he is not my usual read.
I may have to change my usual plea that I can’t stand suspense so I don’t read any. I usually say that I couldn’t even deal with Lassie back in my childhood. However, Joe Pike and Elvis Cole were well worth meeting. I liked their attitudes, their humor and the way they worked well together.
I had no trouble suspending my disbelief with this tale. It was violent, scary and full of twists that had me very concerned for the heroes and the woman they were protecting. However, Crais hooked me. So I was ready to drive almost anywhere so I could listen to more of the story.
I think this would be a good story for people who read Lee Childs, Robert Parker or Harlan Coban. I know that I have found Dennis Lehane’s books to be also adrenaline filled and so if you read him, you should try Crais.
Mysteries that I have read that might have some things in common with Joe Pike:
Black Cherry Blues
Christine Falls
The Comedy is Finished
Fifty to One
Penumbra
None of these are the best matchups for Crais, but he is not my usual read.
The Watchman is the first book in the Elvis Cole series that switches focus to Elvis’ best friend and agency co-owner, Joe Pike. It’s a solid thriller, though for me, less impressive than other books in the series.
The plot of is classic bodyguard
subtypes Reluctant-Bodyguard, Financial-Mismatch, and Sexual-Tension. If you think you’ve seen this before, it’s because you probably have. It’s obvious from the first that there’s an insider leak jeopardizing the client, so Joe decides to play it solo. Except, of course, for a little help from his friends Elvis Cole and forensics analyst John Chen.
Though there are any number of reviews fangirling over Pike (male and female alike; using the word ‘fangirl’ in its non-literal sense), the Strong Silent Type to the exponential degree. I don’t necessarily mind this trope, but I feel Crais often overplays it. The biggest problem in this case is that Pike doesn’t do dialogue, which means the reader is often left with a) a lot of description, or b) witnessing ‘the girl’s’ fruitless attempts to engage him in dialogue. To compensate, Crais has to switch the narrative around, including John Chen, Elvis, and the client, a twenty-something year-old woman with the ridiculous name of Larkin Conner Barkley. Complicating this narrative are some time frame changes, in regards to the current protection gig as well as related to Joe’s past with LAPD.
Once you get past the first narrative hijinks and settle into the actual storyline, the plot grabs on and doesn’t let go. I’ll note that reading this kept me awake during my late afternoon sleepy-time, causing me to miss my old-person nap. I was wise enough to put it down last night after reading the first couple chapters, so I was ready for the thriller pacing today.
Although it was odd, I enjoyed seeing Elvis in the back-up role. Larkin proved to be a perfect foil for Elvis’ humor. It was also interesting seeing him actually detect, while Joe continued to do much of the muscle work.
Overall, an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. It was interesting to have the character focus change, the type of story change (even if it was rather a predictable one) and Crais is a solid writer. He has been one of the most reliable modern/long-series detective/thriller writers for me.
Oh, by the way, both Cole and Pike continuously refer to the person they are guarding as ‘the girl.’ I get that this is meant in an experienced-protective-old-man-way, and not a sexist-ancient-pig-kind-of-way, but it’s still annoying. Just how serious are those implications? Though she’s actively involved in the story, most reviews on GR don’t even mention her name. Half a star off for it.
The plot of is classic bodyguard
subtypes Reluctant-Bodyguard, Financial-Mismatch, and Sexual-Tension. If you think you’ve seen this before, it’s because you probably have. It’s obvious from the first that there’s an insider leak jeopardizing the client, so Joe decides to play it solo. Except, of course, for a little help from his friends Elvis Cole and forensics analyst John Chen.
Though there are any number of reviews fangirling over Pike (male and female alike; using the word ‘fangirl’ in its non-literal sense), the Strong Silent Type to the exponential degree. I don’t necessarily mind this trope, but I feel Crais often overplays it. The biggest problem in this case is that Pike doesn’t do dialogue, which means the reader is often left with a) a lot of description, or b) witnessing ‘the girl’s’ fruitless attempts to engage him in dialogue. To compensate, Crais has to switch the narrative around, including John Chen, Elvis, and the client, a twenty-something year-old woman with the ridiculous name of Larkin Conner Barkley. Complicating this narrative are some time frame changes, in regards to the current protection gig as well as related to Joe’s past with LAPD.
Once you get past the first narrative hijinks and settle into the actual storyline, the plot grabs on and doesn’t let go. I’ll note that reading this kept me awake during my late afternoon sleepy-time, causing me to miss my old-person nap. I was wise enough to put it down last night after reading the first couple chapters, so I was ready for the thriller pacing today.
Although it was odd, I enjoyed seeing Elvis in the back-up role. Larkin proved to be a perfect foil for Elvis’ humor. It was also interesting seeing him actually detect, while Joe continued to do much of the muscle work.
Overall, an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. It was interesting to have the character focus change, the type of story change (even if it was rather a predictable one) and Crais is a solid writer. He has been one of the most reliable modern/long-series detective/thriller writers for me.
Oh, by the way, both Cole and Pike continuously refer to the person they are guarding as ‘the girl.’ I get that this is meant in an experienced-protective-old-man-way, and not a sexist-ancient-pig-kind-of-way, but it’s still annoying. Just how serious are those implications? Though she’s actively involved in the story, most reviews on GR don’t even mention her name. Half a star off for it.
Can't quite figure out whether I like the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series. Writing isn't bad and the LA background feels right, but the main characters aren't 3D and the plots garbled. I'll try one more, maybe.
Robert Crais is a former TV writer who started writing crime drama and private sleuth tales featuring the duo of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Cole is witty and personable, Pike is not.
In The Watchman, Pike does a friend a favor by agreeing to bodyguard the Hiltonesque heiress Larkin Barkley, who was in an auto accident and is now the target of assassins. Pike finds himself unsure of who he can trust when it seems that every move he makes to safeguard Larkin is anticipated by those out to get her. Crais writes snappy dialogue, brisk action and keeps the pedal to the floor on his story.
A Crais novel is a quick read, but it's certainly a lot of fun and a great way to spend a few hours.
Original available here.
In The Watchman, Pike does a friend a favor by agreeing to bodyguard the Hiltonesque heiress Larkin Barkley, who was in an auto accident and is now the target of assassins. Pike finds himself unsure of who he can trust when it seems that every move he makes to safeguard Larkin is anticipated by those out to get her. Crais writes snappy dialogue, brisk action and keeps the pedal to the floor on his story.
A Crais novel is a quick read, but it's certainly a lot of fun and a great way to spend a few hours.
Original available here.
Focused on Pike, fills out a little back story on this character.
First of Crais novels featuring Joe Pike as the lead character. I love the Pike character and thought this books was great. I am a big fan of Crais whether it is Elvis Cole or Joe Pike as the lead. I love their relationship and the humor added by Elvis Cole.
Not my genre it seems. This was utterly boring. Or might just be because it’s no 11 in a series...
Surprisingly tender. A little hard to swallow at times, in the Mary Sue sort of way that will be familiar to anyone who's read Crais before. In all highly enjoyable and perhaps even memorable. I'm glad I picked it up.