.com Don't start reading The Last Detective with much on your calendar. This tense, satisfying thriller will glue you to your chair, as private eye Elvis Cole--the star of eight previous Robert Crais novels, prior to the Cole-less Demolition Angel and Hostage--faces his toughest case: the abduction of his girlfriend's son, 10-year-old Ben Chenier, who was staying with Elvis when he was snatched. Panic at Ben's disappearance turns to terror when the kidnapper phones to reveal his apparent motive, a dark secret from Elvis's past. But the plot thickens and twists, and then twists again, as Elvis and his longtime buddy, tough guy Joe Pike, race the clock against a group of villains as sinister as they are capable. The author mixes Elvis's first-person narration with third-person sections that describe other points of view--a risky technique, but Crais makes it work. He also does a fine job resurrecting the wisecracking Elvis of earlier books while imbuing him with a new depth and darkness. This dazzlingly plotted, crisply told story is threaded with real detection (what a rarity!) and peopled by characters you can't help but care about--including Carol Starkey, the haunted bomb-squad cop from Demolition Angel, who's now a juvenile-abduction detective. Crais has long been getting better with each book, and The Last Detective continues the pattern. --Nicholas H. AllisonFrom Publishers WeeklyAfter two bestselling stand-alone novels (Demolition Angel and Hostage), Crais has returned to his popular Elvis Cole series with a thrilling action-adventure yarn. The private eye's eighth and last crusade against evil, L.A. Requiem, explored the events, from childhood on, that turned his sidekick, Joe Pike, into a hardened killing machine (albeit a moral one). Now it's Elvis's turn to be analyzed, as he tries to rescue his beloved Lucy Chenier's son, Ben, whose kidnapping by ruthless mercenaries apparently was prompted by something in the sleuth's past. With its relentless pacing, large cast, flashbacks to Elvis's unhappy youth and war experiences and constant shifting from first- to third-person narration, the book poses significant problems for an audio interpreter. Daniels, one of the format's prime performers, has given voice to Elvis and Joe before, on the less complex Lullaby Town and Free Fall (both Brilliance titles). He takes the present challenge in stride, using his own voice for the Elvis-narrated sections and an appropriate just-the-facts approach to the straightforward sentences in the third person passages. Just as deftly, he distinguishes the cultured Lucy from the rougher-edged policewoman Carole Starkey (the author's Demolition Angel in a surprise cameo); finds an assortment of Louisiana accents for Lucy's ex-husband and his bayou crew; and, most stirringly, treats Pike to a hardboiled whisper Clint Eastwood might mistake for his own. Crais is notoriously protective of his Elvis novels, reputedly rejecting the wealth of Hollywood rather than trust others with his creations. He's got nothing to worry about here.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.From Library JournalElvis is alive and wellDnot the singer but the detective, Elvis Cole, who has teamed up with Jack Pike in eight of Crais's ten works. Pike got a workout in L.A. Requiem, so now it is Elvis's turn: dark secrets emerge when his girlfriend's son disappears. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. what books should a beginner read The Last Detective
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A Parent's Worse NightmareBy HieronymousWhile Elvis Cole is chatting on the phone with Lucy, his girlfriend, her ten year old son is playing in the back of his house and disappears. With almost non-existent physical evidence and a phone call that suggests it was an act of revenge based on his distant past, Elvis and his partner Joe set about trying to rescue the boy amidst impossible circumstances.I am currently jumping around in Mr. Crais' Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series. I wanted to read this book because the story line gets referenced in a later book. So I have a basic idea of the entire plot. As such, it did not diminish the ability of the author and the story to draw you into the evolving plot line. It's like watching the original Star Trek episodes, the cast of interesting characters and their interplay with each other draws you into a complex situation that keeps you constantly guessing. Overall, a very enjoyable read. One that is difficult to put down until the very last page.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An international tale involving Los Angeles everyday people with a gut-wrenching problem that reaches your heart.By FRANK R. GIARDINOThe Last Detective is an interesting novel,,,written by a newer writer and is one of a series. His name is Robert Crais, and this novels hero is named Elvis Cole. Cole and his partner, Joe Pike are partners in a small time L.A. detective agency. Cole was a heroic Ranger in Nam and Pike is another veteran, soft spoken and tougher than nails.Every writer stumbles around trying to think how to start a novel...and struggles through a convoluted time looking for a starting gate. This book begins like an everyday Thursday afternoon in the Los Angeles basin and is loaded with crime and strange events and unusual pedestriians on the streets. Elvis Cole has a lady friend that works in TV and she has a 10 year old son named Ben. She is also divorced from an arrogant international business man named Richard. Cole and Pike have a good buddy who was a female cop ( on the "bomb squad") for L.A's finest. Her name was Starky. Unfortunately, on this Thursday, somebody kidnapped Lucy Chernier's son "Ben". Crais has an excellent writing style and his words put the reader right on the book page with the daily events. For example, Joe Pike pursued a Brown Bear in Alaska that was the largest animal on land while he tried to help hunters that the bear butchered. Elvis Cole, was near a stroke when informed of Cheniers son being kidnaped and the reader feels just as bad as Cole. The kidnapping is the core of the entire book...and the personalities and actions alone are riveting. This book describes everyday people in a savage, gripping situation loaded with personal fear and misgivings. The story is no walk in the park, but is a real ringer for readers.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. One Of The Best Books You Will Ever ReadBy CustomerFirstly, I am a huge fan of Elvis Cole Joe Pike.Crais has a gift for making his heroes human, with hopes and fears - as well as being tough guys.Sadly, It is almost impossible to review this book without giving out any plot-spoilers.So, you'll have to trust me when I say this is a fantastic book.........really fantastic.Crais' story writing is utterly gripping - he will bring tears to your eyes, make you angry, and make you laugh.And the end of the book, my first reaction was 'wow'.One thing, if you are thinking of reading this - read the other books in the series first.They can all be stand-alone novels, but to truly appreciate this one, it is best to know the history of all the characters.