Table of Contents
Main Characters: Elvis Cole P.I. Joe Pike ex-Marine Ex-LAPD, Lucy Chenier
Occupation: P.I.
Location: California, Occasionally New Orleans
Ala the Dos Equis Man “I may not read every Robert Crais Book, but when I do they are great! “Find Elvis Cole and Joe Pike My Friends”
I discovered the world of Elvis Cole when I read Robert Crais’ Voodoo River in September of1995. It was the fifth book in the Elvis Cole series. It was quickly followed by Free Fall Book #4.
Somehow I missed the first three books in the series. If I had been paying attention I would have seen that book #1 – The Monkey’s Raincoat won the following awards.
Robert Crais Awards
Macavity Award for Best First Mystery Novel (1988),
Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original (1988),
Shamus Award Nominee for Best Original PI Paperback (1988),
Edgar Award Nominee for Best Paperback Original (1988)
Throughout his 34 year career Robert Crais’ work have won numerous awards and you can check them out here at his website.
Through the years the Mystery/thrillers that I tend to read are mostly character driven and Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are two fantastic characters. How and you not love the self-proclaimed “World’s Greatest Detective”!
Elvis Cole Series
| Title | Series/No. | Date Published | Date Read | Notes /Reviews |
| The Big Empty | (Elvis Cole and Joe Pike#20) | 2025 | not read | At BC |
| Racing the Light | (Elvis Cole #19) Joe Pike #8) | 2022 | not read | on TBR shelves |
| A Dangerous Man | (Elvis Cole, #18; Joe Pike, #7) | 2019 | 2020 | |
| The Wanted | (Elvis Cole 17) ( Joe3 Pike#6) | 2017 | not read | on TBR shelves |
| The Promise | (Elvis Cole #16,Joe Pike#5)(Scott James & Maggie #2) | 2015 | 2019 | |
| Taken | (Elvis Cole, #15; Joe Pike, #4) | 2012 | 2019 | |
| The Sentry | (Elvis Cole #14, Joe Pike #3) | 2011 | not read | |
| The First Rule | (Elvis Cole, #13; Joe Pike, #2) | 2010 | 2010 | |
| Chasing Darkness | (Elvis Cole, #12) | 2008 | 2008 | |
| The Watchman | (Elvis Cole, #11; Joe Pike, #1) | 2007 | 2007 | |
| The Forgotten Man | (Elvis Cole, #10) | 2005 | 2005 | |
| The Last Detective | (Elvis Cole, #9) | 2003 | 2005 | |
| L.A. Requiem | (Elvis Cole, #8) | 1999 | 2000 | |
| Indigo Slam | (Elvis Cole, #7) | 1997 | 1998 | |
| Sunset Express | (Elvis Cole #6) | 1996 | not read | |
| Voodoo River | (Elvis Cole, #5) | 1996 | 1995 | |
| Free Fall | (Elvis Cole, #4) | 1994 | 1995 | |
| Lullaby Town | (Elvis Cole, #3) | 1993 | 2020 | |
| Stalking the Angel | (Elvis Cole #2) | 1992 | not read | |
| The Monkey’s Raincoat | (Elvis Cole, #1) | 1987 | 2015 | Post |
