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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
“The Wanted” by Robert Crais is number seventeen in his “Elvis Cole” series. Even though Elvis and Joe continue from previous books, new readers can jump right into this book without any problem.
Devon Connor hires private investigator Elvis Cole to find out how her “troubled” son is getting so much cash and expensive clothes. She fears drug trafficking, but the truth is much worse. The investigation drags everyone, Cole, Pike, the mom, the son, and his friends, into a pit of trickery, peril, and murder.
Several points of view drive the action. Readers follow Cole’s first person narrative as he tries to separate fact from fiction. Third person descriptions follow other players they play a deadly game of hide-and-seek. The body count rises, and the answers seem out of reach. Every shift in the narrative brings to light new information, more clues, and increasing problems.
The structure is fast-paced, and serious. As a result, Cole is all business with only a hint of his usual sarcastic, funny self. Of course, the yoga, the food, the Corvette, and the cat are still there, but in less conspicuous roles. Pike is, well, Pike, what little there is of him.
The plot is multifaceted, and Los Angeles, itself, plays a part as the frantic search takes readers through various suburbs and into downtown clubs and offices. The supporting characters make this a compelling novel. The normal lives of teenagers (clueless, publicity-obsessed), parents (both good and questionable), and the computer nerd (socially inept), deteriorate into chaos, as brutal hit men close in. The clock ticks; everything becomes more frantic, and yes, it ends with a HUGE bombshell.
I liked the book, but would have liked more of Cole’s usual funny and charming side. However, this complex plot just did not have much time for hilarity. Crais includes some hints of what might be to come by including with an interesting relationship along the way and a visit from a character from the past. (No, I will not spoil it)
I received a copy of “The Wanted” from Robert Crais, G P Putnam’s Sons, and NetGalley in exchange for my impartial review. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to both new readers and Elvis Cole fans.
Devon Connor hires private investigator Elvis Cole to find out how her “troubled” son is getting so much cash and expensive clothes. She fears drug trafficking, but the truth is much worse. The investigation drags everyone, Cole, Pike, the mom, the son, and his friends, into a pit of trickery, peril, and murder.
Several points of view drive the action. Readers follow Cole’s first person narrative as he tries to separate fact from fiction. Third person descriptions follow other players they play a deadly game of hide-and-seek. The body count rises, and the answers seem out of reach. Every shift in the narrative brings to light new information, more clues, and increasing problems.
The structure is fast-paced, and serious. As a result, Cole is all business with only a hint of his usual sarcastic, funny self. Of course, the yoga, the food, the Corvette, and the cat are still there, but in less conspicuous roles. Pike is, well, Pike, what little there is of him.
The plot is multifaceted, and Los Angeles, itself, plays a part as the frantic search takes readers through various suburbs and into downtown clubs and offices. The supporting characters make this a compelling novel. The normal lives of teenagers (clueless, publicity-obsessed), parents (both good and questionable), and the computer nerd (socially inept), deteriorate into chaos, as brutal hit men close in. The clock ticks; everything becomes more frantic, and yes, it ends with a HUGE bombshell.
I liked the book, but would have liked more of Cole’s usual funny and charming side. However, this complex plot just did not have much time for hilarity. Crais includes some hints of what might be to come by including with an interesting relationship along the way and a visit from a character from the past. (No, I will not spoil it)
I received a copy of “The Wanted” from Robert Crais, G P Putnam’s Sons, and NetGalley in exchange for my impartial review. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to both new readers and Elvis Cole fans.
Elvis continues to wise crack his way around LA. This time he's trying to save a kid and his friend from themselves. The story is a bit choppy as it move from viewpoint to viewpoint - but it is never dull. Elvis has a real personality and is someone I'd love to me. Joe Pike on the other hand.....
This book doesn't get 4 stars for being great literature. It's genre PI fiction. It gets four stars for being a smart, engaging read. Solid writing and narrative structure as a PI tries to rescue two teen who have been breaking into homes of the rich from two smart, meticulous thugs who are trying to track them down because of something they stole. The book could be filled with gratuitous violence and sex. It isn't. It could be full of cliches. It isn't. The writing is sharp and witty and the plot is intriguing and moves at a fast paste. The narrative structure is not straight forward, but is easy enough to follow.
If you are looking for a good PI read, this book comes highly recommended.
If you are looking for a good PI read, this book comes highly recommended.
I greatly enjoyed this Elvis Cole Joe Pike book. The issue seems very ordinary, until it's not. Loved the text conversations. Can't wait for the next book
An acceptable read but only if you've read everything up to now. You're getting more of the same with a little less of the inspiration that initiated the series.
The common refrain for judging a restaurant is to order the simplest thing on the menu. There is little room to hide with a roast chicken or pizza margherita. If the kitchen can get that right, you know you are probably in good hands.
The same could be said with an author. Do they need a lot of high concept hooks or narrative sleight of hand to hold your attention? They might write one good book or two, but they likely won’t have a long career. Crais’s latest Elvis Cole is a simple story told in a straight ahead style that earns its addictiveness through good, solid storytelling. Yes, it helps that these are established characters, but that also doesn’t leave a lot of room for background and digression. At this point, these guys are known to us and demonstrate it through their actions.
The tag team bad guys are fun and some of the more interesting characters Crais has come up with in awhile. It never felt like he was delaying unnecessarily when he switched POV to them for a chapter.
My only complaint would be wanting more Pike, but I always want that and realize he’s a weapon best deployed with restraint.
The same could be said with an author. Do they need a lot of high concept hooks or narrative sleight of hand to hold your attention? They might write one good book or two, but they likely won’t have a long career. Crais’s latest Elvis Cole is a simple story told in a straight ahead style that earns its addictiveness through good, solid storytelling. Yes, it helps that these are established characters, but that also doesn’t leave a lot of room for background and digression. At this point, these guys are known to us and demonstrate it through their actions.
The tag team bad guys are fun and some of the more interesting characters Crais has come up with in awhile. It never felt like he was delaying unnecessarily when he switched POV to them for a chapter.
My only complaint would be wanting more Pike, but I always want that and realize he’s a weapon best deployed with restraint.
Tyson Conner's mother, Dana, hires Elvis Cole to figure out why her shy, awkward son suddenly has a $40,000 Rolex watch in his room. She is convinced it's drugs, but they soon find out it is far worse. Tyson and his crew, led by a manipulative teenage girl, have been committing burglaries. Except they stole something someone will kill to get back. While Elvis searches for Tyson and his friends, two psychopaths are also hunting and Harvey and Stemms seem to be a lot closer to finding them than Elvis is. When one of the crew turns up dead, shot in the head and another witness is bludgeoned to death with an iron,Elvis and Joe Pike have to go petal-to-the-metal to keep the innocent from being harmed and stop the bad guys.
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.
This latest Elvis & Pike story does not disappoint. I am only sorry that it read so well I finished it in 2 days. Ah well, the wait is on for the next installment...