A review by pattydsf
The Watchman by Robert Crais

3.0

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.