L.A. Requiem (Elvis Cole Novels)
by Robert Crais
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Book Reviews of L.A. Requiem (Elvis Cole Novels)
Book Review: Crais' Masterpiece...A true "must read"
Summary: 5 Stars
It is funny, I don't usually pay much attention to the little plugs that author's give one another, but sometimes, they are not just selling a friend's book, but actually are right. I came to Robert Crais' after reading all the Harry Bosch novels. There is a small scene where Bosch acknowleges Cole in one of the later Bosch novels--a simple scene where they drive past each other. COnnelly liked Crais, which was good enough for me. I read Demolition Angel (which is good) and Hostage (which I loved--please, Bruce Willis don't make a bad movie from a great book) and turned to Cole--from the beginning.
All of the books in the series are really good. However, the earliest books, nominated for awards even, were a bit thin and airy. The stories were usually fun, but the stakes weren't too high. As the series goes on, Crais and his characters grow. By Free Fall, things change. Elvis deepens. He falls in love. He saves and the plot does indeed thicken. However, my biggest complaint was the lack of "backstory" on Elvis and Joe. I loved Joe, but why didn't he smile? Why did Elvis come to LA (we still don't know, but I think we learn that in the next two books). LA Requiem was the book I was most looking forward to reading and made all that came before worth the time and expense. That is not say you won't enjoy the novel if you don't read others first, just that this is a richer experience with the history behind it.
All of that said, I was not prepared for how incredible Requiem would be. On the front, David Balldaci (a writer I have not write) called it one of the best crime novels he had ever read. He was right. It is a masterpiece. It rivals Connelly's best and has echoes of James Ellroy. For me, that is high praise, as those are my two favorite crime writers. I'm sure it also harkens back to earlier masters, but, alas, I have not read them yet.
I don't want to say too much about the plot, except to say I could not put the book down. The last chapter is lyrical and beautiful and moving. The book is sad, so very sad, yet hopefully. Joe is finally revealed (mostly). Elvis becomes a man in crisis, but is revealed to be even better than we thought. Lucy? Some mysteries still there. I must admit that Chen gave me some laughs and I hated Krantz (too over the top?). The book is really one of the finest pieces of mystery fiction to come along. It will remain one of my most favorite novels. A true masterpiece. I'm nervous to finish out the series. One, because I will miss it. And two, because I wonder if anyone can write this well again. A gigantic leap forward and worth all the time you put in, even if I will only have 4 hours of sleep before work...
Book Review: Giri and Ninjo in Los Angeles
Summary: 4 Stars
The odd thing about this story is that it is much more about Joe Pike, Elvis Cole's partner than it is about Cole. Pike was originally in the L.A. Police, but left under the cloud of the accidental shooting of his partner. Now Pike is trying to find the murderer of Karen Garcia, a woman he left several years ago, in spite of his feeling about her. The old events seem destined to intertwine with current history as Joe and Elvis come into conflict with Harvey Krantz, a detective in homicide who desperately wants to punish Pike for his old sins.
The case becomes more complicated when Elvis discovers that Karen was killed with the same M.O. as several other victims. Everything points to a serial killer, but the victims seem to have nothing in common. And Krantz is doing everything in his power to keep Cole and Pike in the dark. Cole manages to strike a friendship with Samantha Dolan, another detective, and gains some headway, but with the friendship comes a host of other problems.
Lucy Chenier and her son have moved to Los Angeles because of the relationship between her and Elvis. To all appearances things are working between them. But this case will put Cole as a crisis point in chosing between Joe Pike, a friend, and Lucy, a lover. Suffice it to say, Elvis Coles shows himself as a master at making the wrong choices and Crais' normal noir style turns even darker as the murders, Joe Pike, Dolan, and Lucy all vie for his commitment. When you combine this with Cole's natural tendency to go off half-cocked, you get a situation which threatens not only relationships, but lives.
The problem with this story is Elvis Cole, who manages to get so conflicted that it interferes with the flow of the novel. You keep waiting for someone to have an attack of good sense, but it never happens. Only Pike seems able to keep his head, but he is also fixated on getting revenge for Karen Garcia, so he carries his doom around with him. He is the most interesting character in the story, as Cole seems to be parodying himself with malice aforethought.
For the reader this all becomes a question of loving the plot despite some wobbly character work. The themse of love and loss intertwine into a complex whole. The ending is the typical, grueling Crais ending, full of shocks and surprises. With the little loose ends that are a trademark of the noir detective story. I've liked other Crais tales more, but there is no denying the power behind this anguished conflict between the samurai values of duty and desire.
Book Review: My First Robert Grais' Book
Summary: 4 Stars
I was not surprised to find out that of 208 reviews on amazon.com, 142 are five stars (as of March 24, 2011). One on-line review even starts with these words, "If you don't buy and read this book, you ought to be shot. All right, maybe that's pushing it a little, but if you want to keep your membership card in the human race, you need to read L.A. REQUIEM by Robert Crais." The comment like this is every writer's dream, and no matter how much I like the book, I can't be more passionate. The author of the review which I have quoted also mentions that he envies the readers who discover Crais with this book. So, here I am; L.A. Requiem is the first book of Robert Crais in the Elvis Cole - Joe Pike series of the mysteries/murder investigations in the city of L.A. that is also a very important character. I found it a very good book, a page turner crime drama/mystery/police procedure with the interesting and memorable characters. I don't think I'll forget both Elvis Cole, the narrator, "The World's Greatest PI" which may not be just a joke, and of course his friend and partner, enigmatic and mysterious man who does not talk much or rather almost does not talk at all but when he does, you want to listen. If I were Grais, I would never agree to screen adaptation of the book because the only actor, who would be able to play Pike successfully, sadly can't do it anymore - even Clint Eastwood can't turn the time back. Now, after I finished the book, I think the combination of well thought of and suspenseful thriller and the flashbacks to the characters' backgrounds and important moments in their lives that help to understand their motivations and the reasons behind their actions make the novel gripping and compelling. By the end of the novel almost all secrets that were well hidden in the past but played the dramatic role in the present were revealed with the exception of one. What did Joe Pike whispered in the ear of Harvey Krantz during the Internal Affairs Interrogation scene?
As much as I liked the book, I would not call it flawless or perfect and it may not be a masterpiece of literature but it is a very good book that made me want to read all Elvis Cole - Joe Pike novels starting from the earliest.
4.5/5
Book Review: Pike's Story and it's One You Can't Put Down
Summary: 5 Stars
L.A. REQUIEM takes up right where INDIGO SLAM left off. Lucy Chenier and her nine-year-old son Ben have moved to So Cal from Louisiana to be with our erstwhile hero Elvis Cole, Private Eye, but why she got her own place and didn't move in with Elvis, I didn't quite get. Probably because it makes breaking up so much easier to do when you don't live together. But other then that little thing that didn't sit right with me, I really loved this book that belongs as much to the dark and brooking Pike as it does to Elvis. At last, after all this time, we learn about Pike's past and what make's him tick.
Politically connected Frank Garcia's daughter Karen went jogging and didn't come home. Frank goes to the police, but she hasn't been missing long enough. Frank calls Lucy's old boyfriend Pike, who brings Elvis into the investigation. Elvis wants to know Pike's relationship to the missing girl. Pike answers, "I broke her heart." And that's all Elvis needs to know. Then Karen's body is found and now it's not a missing person case anymore. It's murder and Frank uses his connections to get Elvis in on the investigation.
But as the investigation unfolds Elvis finds himself should out by a blue wall of resistance. The cops resent an outsider among them and they hate Pike because of his past. Then clue after clue points to Pike, then there is an eyeball witness who swears she saw Pike kill the man that found Karen's dead body. Pike is arrested, charged with murder and the cops are all slapping each other on the back.
Of course Pike isn't content to let Elvis run around and prove his innocence, he quickly escapes and all of a sudden the cops aren't so happy anymore and now they think Elvis is somehow involved. To make matters worse the killer who looks like Pike threatens Ben and that just about puts paid on the relationship with Lucy as Elvis and Pike race to catch the killer and clear Pike's name.
L.A. REQUIEM would get five stars from me just for the delicious background on Pike alone, but in addition to that we get the usual excellent detective mystery from Robert Crais that we have come to expect. An excellent book.
Reviewed by Vesta Irene
Book Review: My first book by Robert Crais, and I was HOOKED!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't even remember why I picked this book up, but I didn't realize at the time that it was part of a series. I admit that when I did I was a bit disappointed because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to follow along.
Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, there's nothing better for a reader than to find a great writer and realize that he or she already has a body of work published and you can go back and read it all, rather than waiting a year or two for the next book to be published.
L.A. Requiem introduced me to the wacky, wise-cracking world of Elvis Cole, private investigator ("the best detective in the world" as he calls himself) and his enigmatic partner, Joe Pike. Of the two, it's hard to say which character I like better. Elvis Cole narrates in first person, and he's truly funny, but tough. Joe Pike has a dark side, but he's loyal and in this book you really get to see some backstory of Pike (as I realized later, after reading some earlier Robert Crais books). If I had to date one? I think I'd have a good time with Cole, but be hopelessly attracted to Joe Pike.
I've read every book written by Robert Crais since I picked this one up, and I've never been disappointed -- even with the ones that aren't in the series. My understanding is that Crais has sold the movie rights to his books that don't feature Cole/Pike (such as "The Hostage") but won't sell the Elvis Cole books. Which is fine with me, because I don't know if any movie could live up to my expectations of the great characters Robert Crais has created.
You can pick up the Cole series anywhere, as I did, but do yourself a favor and start near the beginning. Every single one of his books are worth at LEAST one read (I've read most several times). I can't wait for the next installment, and understand it will be another Joe Pike novel.
Five stars -- Highly recommended!