Rating: 
Summary: My first Crais novel.....
Review: I read this book sitting in a hotel room in Florida. Then I went and got "The Monkey's Raincoat" and "Voodoo River" (all they had at the local bookstore). A week and a half later, I've read the 6 or so Elvis Cole novels in print, and I'm waiting on two Out-of-Print books (Indigo Slam, Sunset Express) that I grabbed on E-bay.I liked it a LOT.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful reading experience,
Review: It's easy to understand why it has an Edgar nomination. This is a most suspensful novel with strong characters. Easily the longest and deepest Elvis Cole novel to date. This time it's Elvis who is the archangel, as he looks to clear his partner Joe Pike. We also get the backstory on Pike, a welcome treat. This is one great series and Mr. Crais has truly made Elvis Cole and Joe Pike richer characters as the series extends.
Rating: 
Summary: Macho, macho man
Review: I gave this book a fair try and after about 167 pages just gave up. I really didn't like any of these cardboard characters. I couldn't stand Joe Pike's strong silent type personia, the ex-Marine with a mean dad. And Elivs Cole, yeah, all the women are hot for him. This writer can't compare with Chandler and Elwood. It's an ok book but it's insulting to women and I thought it stunk. I knew right away who the culprit was, right away! I can't be fooled by this pulp. Hated it!
Rating: 
Summary: LA Requiem
Review: LA Requiem is a gem. Interesting, intriguing, funny, well-written. It's not that I couldn't put it down, I didn't want to. I'm anxious for the next one!
Rating: 
Summary: Good--But No Chandler or Ellroy in Terms of LA Noir
Review: I picked LA Requiem up during a lazy, rainy weekend in LA, hoping to soak up the dark side of LA. Crais is a competent, sometimes excellent, "fast-paced thriller" writer with characters that, unfortunately, have become something of a cliche. However, judging from editorial and reader reviews, he's being hailed in some quarters as the heir of Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy. Not the case. Chandler and Ellroy draw readers into two overlapping eras of LA Noir with their profound understanding of the human and geographic terrain of that most contradictory of locales. Crais writes as an interested, informed and articulate LA observer--which is a far cry from exposing the dynamics of the genre from within. On that count, Crais remains a solid author who has chosen LA as his stomping ground. But don't expect rereading of Crais' work to offer up the rewards of Chandler and Ellroy in terms of engaging prose, compelling characters and a convincing look into the dark heart of sunbleached Los Angeles.
Rating:
Summary: By far his best
Review: I had about given up on Crais as just another formulaic private eye writer (alebit a good one) when I decided to pick up one more. This one was amazing. It not only made Pike more than a cutout, but it rivals James Ellroy and Michael Connolly for its depiction of the dark side of LA and the dark side of its police force. While Pike was riveting, the secondary police characters were more than the cardboard cutouts we get in most of these books. I'm a huge Ellroy fan but this puts Crais close.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: Just finished LA Requiem. What a read! I've spent the last day or so in Elvis and Joe's world and I'm sorry to have to leave it! I've recently come upon Robert Crais--bought all his books from the shelf and read them one by one. LA Requiem caps the series and I'm glad I read them in order--to come to know Joe Pike in context and particularly Lucy from Voodoo River. Gripping, heartbreaking, funny, wise, major page-turner! This book is fine, fine, fine. Harry Bosch, watch out! Best book I've read in a very long time.
Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC!
Review: Since "discovering" Crais novels last April, I have devoured ever single one, and I've not been disappointed by any -- all great reads. L.A. Requiem, however, tops them all. I LOVED this book. Felt wrung out after finishing it. I'm in love with Cole, can only wish the best for Pike, and yup, that cat is a helluva great character as well. If you've never read anything by Crais before, you are in for a treat.
Rating:
Summary: A dark, fantastic look into Joe Pike's head
Review: I've been a fan since Lullaby Town, when a fellow Spenser-o-phile recommended Crais to me. At first I thought (naturally) that it was a Spenser ripoff. That changed after 50 pages. Now comes LA Requiem, and if any other book didn't convince readers that this is no Spenser rip, this should clear all doubts. I have been waiting since day 1 for a peek inside Joe Pike's skull, and now I almost wish I hadn't looked. This was an absolutely fantastic novel. Crais just gets better and better with each Cole episode, and this one goes right over the top. I can't wait for the next one. Hopefully Elvis & Lucy will patch things up (sorry, Lucy haters, but she's a lot better than Spenser's Susan...)
Rating:
Summary: Crais at his best
Review: Fans of Robert Crais have seen his writing style progress with each of his Elvis Cole novels. All are entertaining, but L.A. Requiem suddenly vaults way ahead of anyone else this year and propels Crais to the top of the heap of detective writers. In fact, list Crais as one of the best writers of any fiction. This, by far, is the best book I've read this year. And I read a lot--I own a used bookstore. L.A. Requiem has its funny stuff, but it's darker than the rest. The book deals more with Joe Pike and his background. At times I felt like I was eavesdropping on Pike, knowing things about him he probably doesn't want us to know. Crais' portrayal of L.A. is a character of itself. The fires in the hills act as a metaphor for the conflict/tension building. The plot is great; they're searching for a killer. But Crais' use of language, thought, description really supercedes the plot. I've always been a big fan of Crais and grab as much of him as I can. I recommend him all the time at our store. L.A. Requiem is outstanding and more readers will take notice. I can't wait for his next book.
| 
