chasing darkness: an elvis cole novel (elvis cole novels)

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-08
Not long enough
Having read all of Robert Crais's novels (except Hostage), it was nice to see Elvis Cole back in action. His last novel "Watchman" was more Joe Pike centered, with this installment centered around Elvis Cole. In my opinion Joe was not involved as much as I would have liked, but I understand exploring Elvis a little more deeper. This novel does exactly that...explore Elvis Cole's character and moral ethics. However, I was disappointed in the length of the novel, it seemed to develop to quickly, without the normal conflict and crisis levels common in Crais novels.

The last few chapters felt like Robert was under pressure to finish the novel so it could meet a publishing deadline and he really left a lot of loose strings hanging with out logical conclusions. I won't go into specifics to ruin the book, but it seems like an antagonist becomes a willing partner within a few paragraphs, just so the book can conclude in pretty quick order.

This is not to say I didn't thoroughly enjoyed the book, because I did, I just wish it could have been longer with more conflict...and more Elvis Cole signature wit.

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-07
Loved it!
I am a huge Robert Crais fan and I was not disappointed with Chasing Darkness. It did not have the stong emotional story that the last two Elvis Cole novels, but it was a great mystery! It had some twists and turns; just when you think you know who did it...you find out you were wrong...maybe.

I enjoyed Cole and Pike (as always) and was surprised to find that I liked Starkey in this book. Starkey is usualy a bit to "stalker like" for me. I did miss seeing what Elvis was cooking daily because I get some good ideas from him!

Buy the book and read it. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-07
Crais continues his sterling series
(This is really more of a 4.5 star rating; dang it, Amazon, give us that option, wouldja?!)

Like most of the reviewers here, I am a long-time Crais fan. I still can't remember who first turned me on to the Elvis Cole novels, but I'm eternally grateful.

I rarely re-read books, but I've recently gone back to some of the older Cole novels, ending with The Forgotten Man (Elvis Cole Novels) in order to refresh my memory of where Elvis might be at this novel's start, and I'm glad I did that.

This book is way too short for my liking; I read it in one day, mostly during bus rides thither and yon. And, you know, once you're done with a favorite author's work, you're just sitting there wondering how you'll survive the year or more until the next one is released. I wish it had been longer, hence the 4-star rating.

This novel begins with Elvis and Pike back in a rhythm; Lucy Chenier (the woman Elvis loves) is still elsewhere, apart from Cole because of the violence that seems to be a permanent part of his world. Starkey is around, still lusting after Cole. Poitras, Cole's connection to the police, is here as well. And the cat--yep, he's still here. Complete with cat-titude. I love the scene where he basically melts in Pike's hands. (He loves Elvis, but apparently he adores Joe, whose sweet, tender side usually comes out only in moments like this one.)

For the most part, this novel does not disappoint. Plenty of situations where Elvis has to pick apart the evidence he's given along with the stuff he uncovers. In this case, he's trying to determine whether a man he helped get off on a murder charge was really the murderer who then went on to kill even more women. Of course this means that Elvis has a stake in the investigation that goes beyond what a typical PI would have. That's not unusual, though. Elvis frequently becomes entangled in his investigations; that's what leads to much of the violence he experiences.

What has always been great about Elvis Cole is his humanity, the sense that his core is so caring and. . .well. . .tender. That doesn't sound macho, I know. But it's how I see him. He's not tender when it comes to his actions or his propensity to violence. But when it comes to other people, to their sadness and vulnerability, to their loss and his role in any of those, he's soft. He's got heart.

What I really liked about this novel:

1) Starkey and her vulnerability (which co-exists quite nicely with her hardass nature and her intellect);

2) Joe's clear understanding of the fragility of Elvis's grip on life (by this, I mean that after Elvis's near death of a couple of books back, Joe seems to be far less willing to let his friend approach danger without Pike standing right there with him); neither of these guys is terribly young at this point, and the risks they routinely take seem keenly felt by both; and

3)the story itself, which wasn't predictable or yawn-worthy.

If you've never read an Elvis Cole novel before, I urge you to pick up the whole lot of them. You don't need to read from beginning to end, but that would be a good thing if you want to see the evolution of the Elvis/Joe friendship and find out about both men in some sort of "natural" progression.

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-06
RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO DID IT... THEN YOU DON'T... THEN YOU DO... THEN.."
Robert Crais is one of the best, if not the best, master's of the "wise-cracking-detective-with-a-unique-sidekick" genre, and he shows he still has what it takes in the latest installment of the Elvis Cole series. When Lionel Byrd is found dead and alone in his house in the Laurel Canyon hills an apparent victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the only company he has with him is a photo album embossed with the title: "MY HAPPY MEMORIES." Inside the album are seven graphic pictures of seven murdered women, depicted despicably in photo's ranging from being choked with a chord or wire that was wrapped so deeply into her neck it disappeared into her skin, while another woman's "neck had been slashed so many times it was shredded." One of the poor deceased souls was Yvonne Bennett a prostitute... and she is what ties Elvis Cole "THE WORLD'S GREATEST DETECTIVE" to this case.

Three-years-ago Byrd was arrested for Yvonne's murder and confessed to the crime. His attorney, the famous J. Alan Levy hired Elvis to investigate the murder and see if he could find evidence to get his client off. Elvis was able to find a witness and a security tape that supposedly cleared him of the crime. But now three-years-later, along with Byrd's dead body, is a picture of Yvonne's dead body, which the police say could have only been taken by the murderer. Now everyone involved in the investigation, including all the grieving family members of the two additional girls that were murdered since Byrd's earlier release, blame their deaths on Elvis. And believe me, Elvis feels awful. So despite the fact that everyone in law enforcement from the Chief down to the street cops do not want Cole anywhere near the investigation... Cole has to answer to someone much more important than anyone in the legal chain of command... himself! "TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE!" Elvis will not... and cannot... rest... till he finds out who the true killer is. If you're an existing Elvis Cole fan you'll be happy to know a number of the unique and lovable cast of characters from earlier Cole novels are active in this episode. Of course we have his "dangerous-as-a-temperamental-cobra" number-one sidekick Joe Pike. (And as usual there is never enough of him.) There is also my favorite "supporting-supporting" character actor, criminalist John Chen, who in earlier books was described as "LIVING FOR THE TANG", but in this installment the author describes him as "a senior criminalist with the LAPD's Scientific Investigation Division, and one of the greediest people I knew. He was also a total paranoid." The first time Elvis calls him on the phone Chen says: "I can't talk. They're watching me." When Elvis tells him what he needs, Chen says: "This is going to cost you." When Cole and Chen get together for a clandestine meeting, Crais shows the humor he's as famous for as Hershey's is for chocolate. "Chen pulled up in a SID wagon. Chen was tall and skinny, and watching him get out of the wagon was like watching a question mark unfold. His oversize glasses making him look like a suspicious parrot."

Detective-Two Carol Starkey, the former bomb squad technician that was killed by a bomb in an earlier episode but lived to talk about it, has a great backup role. She is still chain smoking cigarettes but is now learning the ropes in homicide. When she first enters the scene she is drinking coffee from a "large black Hollywood Homicide mug with a big 187 stenciled on the side, which was the LAPD code for a homicide, along with the legend "OUR DAY BEGINS WHEN YOUR DAY ENDS." There is less levity than in other Cole novel's, but that's because Cole wears his heart on his sleeve, and takes the grieving families pain so personally. The author still paints short concise statements with as fine a brush as there is today: "HE WAS PROBABLY A PRETTY GOOD GUY AND I WOULD PROBABLY LIKE HIM IF HE WAS SOMEONE ELSE."

There are a number of times the reader may think they have figured things out, but you may be surprised. I recommend this book highly, and the biggest problem I had with it, is akin to when I eat my favorite desert... it's so good... I want to eat it so fast... but I try to slow down to savor it... because when I'm done... I know it'll be awhile till I get another piece.

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-06
Released too soon
Let me preface this by saying I am a huge Robert Crais fan; I have read all of his previous books, and with the exception of Demolition Angel, I thought they were all five star material. This is not five star material. It is more like a first draft; I felt like I was reading the outline not the book. There was no depth to the characters in this book, which R.C. usually provides in abundance. He tries to surprise us with the true identity of the villain, but I was only half surprised. In this case, I think he could have made the book more interesting by giving us a first person glimpse of the perpetrator(s), even if he wanted to keep the characters anonymous. Elvis' meager observations of the criminal(s) did little to peak my interest, and I think Elvis was frustrated with his lack of ingenuity as well. All in all, the book was as flat as week old ginger ale. I have seen this happen with several of my favorite authors, and perhaps it is because their publishers push too hard for that next book to be released and the next book tour to begin. I say let the book age properly and don't release it too soon.

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