Rating: 
Summary: L.A. Requiem: A Dark Story
Review: Wow! At last the back story on Joe Pike, Elvis Cole's strong, silent and very dangerous partner. This book is much darker and more serious than Crais' other Cole mysteries, which tend to be a little flip and wise cracking. I like this style better. Cole and Pike are asked by the elderly, infirm Frank Garcia to look into the disappearance of his daughter, Karen. Joe Pike and Karen were romantically involved years ago, so of course they accept the assignment. What seemed to be a straightforward missing persons investigation quickly morphs into a serial killer hunt, possible police corruption, and further complications to Cole's love life. This book introduces John Chen, the young criminalist who reappears in DEMOLITION ANGEL. It also flashes back to Joe Pike's early years and shows us how he evolved into the mysterious man he has become. Cole is as successful in his portrayal of modern L.A. as James Ellroy has been in evoking the L.A. of the 40's and 50's. A definite winner.
Rating:
Summary: I'm a new fan
Review: What started off as a seemingly simple assignment for private eye Elvis Cole turned out to be a deep plot planned painstakingly. The thrills, twists, combined with moving and subtle touches of male-bonding, bitter sweet romances kept me turning the pages. This is the first book by Mr Robert Crais which I've read and I will definitely read the others!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: This was my first Robert Crais novel, but it won't be my last. I can't wait to read the other books with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike as the lead characters. Well written. Fast paced. An excellent plot line dotted with thoughtful prose and subtle humor. A spectacular conclusion. This was the best detective novel I've read in a long, long time.
Rating:
Summary: L. A. Requiem
Review: I loved this book for several reasons, the two that stand out the most for me are the easily identifiable and interesting characters and the the way Mr. Crais brings the sights and sounds of LA to life. Having lived there myself I know he his dead on in his description of Southern California. Engaging story, great writer.
Rating:
Summary: Robert Crais hits a home run with this one
Review: Crais' lastest Elvis Cole book is great. In this book, Crais focuses more on Joe Pike and it really, really works. Elvis is still Elvis, a chronic genre tough guy with a quick wit. But this novel focuses way more on Pike and Coles relationship and Pike's background. If you like mysterys, you will love this book.
Rating: 
Summary: OPPRESSIVE DEPARTURE
Review: Surely an impressive thriller, but not what I wanted from Crais: the style becomes slowly and increasingly obsessive, gloomy, introspective. By the end of the book, everything has fallen apart, and you are left depressed and exhausted. The sudden changes of pace (Cole's 1st person, then Pike, then the killer, then flashbacks of various nature, etc.) leave you discontented, interrupted, on unwanted cliffhangers. You long for Cole's resumption of narrative, yet you find him different, gradually mutating mood and even character. You can see from the beginning that Crais wants to create an ambiguity between Pike and the killer, and you get nervous, because you already know that in the end it'll be impossible... I want the original back!
Rating:
Summary: An Exceptional Book
Review: As with most of the reviewers, I've followed Robert Crais from the beginning and this is his best book yet.It starts with Joe Pike's ex-girlfriend, Karen Garcia, being gunned down by the Hollywood Reservoir as she's out jogging. Karen's father, an Hispanic with huge political clout, doesn't trust the police to work the case so he asks Joe to act as an overseer to the case, and Joe involves Elvis Cole. As more evidence surfaces it looks like a serial killer may be at work and when the prime suspect is himself murdered, Joe Pike is arrested for the killing. First, the plot is very well done. It has the requisite twists and turns and I don't think many people will figure this one out before the author wants you to. Secondly, the writing is superb. Crais has always been a good writer in a mild breezy way, but with this book he shows us he can handle deeper emotions. This is a darker, more serious, book than his others and he handles it with aplomb. I, at first considered this series as a Spenser wannabee, but his writing has now pushed him beyond that. He is a very good writer. Third, his characterization is rich. Joe Pike, who up until now has been Elvis Cole's spear carrier, emerges as the complex human being we've always felt he might be. Far from being the emotionless killer, we find that Joe's emotions are there but well hidden. The book does a wonderful job of explaining what made Joe the way he is. Some others have remarked that Joe is a little too unbelievable, but I don't think so. There really are men like this in the world. I can't recommend this book highly enough. I gave it five stars and I don't give out that rating lightly. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good
Review: Detective and murder mystery. Elvis and Joe Pike are hired to solve the murder of a friends daughter. The killing is one of a series. This story brings in crooked cops, old loves, mafia type friends, lots of detecting, and strong relationships. My first Crais book, and now I will read them all.
Rating:
Summary: Elvis Is Alive!
Review: My favorite entry in the highly entertaining Elvis Cole series. The author takes a true leap in style and substance. It kept me enthralled tothe very last paragraph.
Rating:
Summary: OK
Review: Much of the book was quite good; I enjoyed the whole "L.A." setting. It was refreshing that what seemed like a good relationship (Elvis and Lucy) dissolved. The main objection(s) I had concerned the Joe Pike character. Come the heck on, I mean sunglasses all the time! It just seemed like yet another "strong/mysterious/silent guy" cliche. I found the sparse/clipped dialogue of Pike especially contrived and annoying. Further, the fact that Pike was so naturally adept at all things "masculine" and police oriented was rather pathetic. Then again, I did read the whole book, ...
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