Thursday, January 15, 2009

THE LAST DETECTIVE

Elvis Cole is watching his girlfriend's son, Ben, while she is out of town. The 10-year-old is out in Elvis' yard for just a few minutes and then he is gone. Ben is frantic and so is Lucy. It doesn't help when Lucy's ex-husband comes to town and tells them that this is to be expected considering Cole's background and the career he is involved in. In the meantime, the clock is ticking and Elvis, along with Joe Pike, Carol Starkey of the L.A.P.D. are determined to do whatever is necessary to bring the boy home. A call from the kidnappers points to Cole's stint in Vietnam, taking Elvis back to a time he'd rather not remember.

As usual, the action is fast and furious. Elvis Cole is a likeable guy and on of my favorite characters. Joe Pike is also great here because for once, his physical best is a little less than perfect as he continues to recover from a gunshot wound. Pike is easier to relate to when he struggles a little. Sometimes the plot line in Robert Crais' books is a little too convoluted for me to follow but this one was pretty straightforward and I like it all the better for it. As usual, I can't wait to dig into the next of Crais' books, especially if it features Elvis Cole or Joe Pike.

Rating - 5 stars

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