Status
Available
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Brilliance Audio (2012), Edition: Abridged
Description
Fiction. Mystery. HTML:Life in the California sun suits Elvis Cole �?? until the day a fifteen-year-old girl and her two younger siblings walk into his office. Then everything changes. Three years ago, a Seattle family ran for their lives in a hail of bullets. Hired by three kids to find their missing father, Elvis now must pick up the cold pieces of a drama that began that night. What he finds is a sordid tale of high crimes and illicit drugs. As clues to a man's secret life emerge from the shadows, Elvis knows he's not just up against ruthless mobsters and some very angry Feds. He's facing a storm of desperation and conspiracy �?? bearing down on three children whose only crime was their survival .
Media reviews
Publishers' Weekly
At the end of this wild ride, Vietnamese revolutionaries, Russian assassins and federal operatives are all part of a tense face-off. Not surprisingly, wisecracking L.A. shamus Elvis Cole is stuck right in the middle of things. ... Never forgetting that wall-to-wall cuteness can't carry a novel
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unaided, Crais provides sympathetic and believable kids, a flawed father figure and a bunch of Vietnamese heavies with a softer side -- all of whom rocket along until they interlock smoothly at the big finish. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member miyurose
I think this is the first Robert Crais book I've read. I have vague memories of listening to something called "L.A. Requiem", but I don't know if he was the author. Anyway, it was pretty good. I won't turn down other books in the series. And how did I end up with #7 first? That's what happens when
I liked the Elvis Cole character, but I have no earthly idea what "Indigo Slam" means
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you get piles of paperbacks from your father.I liked the Elvis Cole character, but I have no earthly idea what "Indigo Slam" means
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LibraryThing member FieryNight
Great book. Sucks you in from the first page.
LibraryThing member FiberBabble
I sure like this character, Elvis Cole. He doesn't take himself too seriously.
This particular audio book was pretty painful to listen to, though. I blame the producer - not the writer or the narrator. When a story is set in one of the largest cities in the country (Los Angeles), it would be a good
Oh, and producer? You might let the narrator know that anyone who lives north of Los Angeles (in this case Seattle) does NOT talk like they're straight outta Fargo.
The story was good. The writing was good. If you're the kind of person who's going to be bugged, the pronunciation and accents will drive you batty.
This particular audio book was pretty painful to listen to, though. I blame the producer - not the writer or the narrator. When a story is set in one of the largest cities in the country (Los Angeles), it would be a good
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idea to tell the narrator how to say the names of the landmarks and streets correctly. Literally millions of people know how to say Sepulveda and La Cienega, but the poor narrator consistently butchered them. Surprisingly, he didn't have a problem with Ojai or Cahuenga Pass. Go figure.Oh, and producer? You might let the narrator know that anyone who lives north of Los Angeles (in this case Seattle) does NOT talk like they're straight outta Fargo.
The story was good. The writing was good. If you're the kind of person who's going to be bugged, the pronunciation and accents will drive you batty.
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LibraryThing member wareagle78
Elvis Cole, Los Angeles Private Investigator. Sound like a bad premise for a failed television show? Well this story could be just that. PI Elvis sets out to save three children against mobsters out to get them. Full of decent twists and turns, however.
LibraryThing member AuntieClio
This is pretty much your typical PI novel, with lots of shoot-em-ups, plotting, a twist, and things (mostly) working out at the end.
One day a 15-year-old named Teri walks into Elvis Cole's office with her younger sister and brother wanting to hire him to find their dad who has been missing for
After searching his heart and making sure the kids are good at taking care of themselves, much better than the foster care system could, Elvis goes in search of Clark Haines.
Only Haines isn't his name, and his occupation is much more questionable than the kids would ever know. Cole gets grabbed twice by the Russian mob and the Federal Marshal's office while in Seattle following up on clues.
Back home in Los Angeles, Cole starts realizing that Clark and, therefore his children, is in over his head. Turns out it's not just the Russians, or the Federal Marshals, but it's the local Vietnamese revolutionary group set on taking down the regime at home.
There's a lot of mayhem, and stuff that makes the reader say, "oh Come ON!" more than a few times, as well as a completely unnecessary, unresolved plot line involving Elvis' girlfriend who might be moving from Louisiana for a new job.
This was a good fluffy mind candy book, nothing to take too seriously. Since I read Crais out of order, he may be setting up something for Lucy and Elvis in the next book. But I'm not gonna expend too much energy trying to figure it out.
One day a 15-year-old named Teri walks into Elvis Cole's office with her younger sister and brother wanting to hire him to find their dad who has been missing for
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eleven days.After searching his heart and making sure the kids are good at taking care of themselves, much better than the foster care system could, Elvis goes in search of Clark Haines.
Only Haines isn't his name, and his occupation is much more questionable than the kids would ever know. Cole gets grabbed twice by the Russian mob and the Federal Marshal's office while in Seattle following up on clues.
Back home in Los Angeles, Cole starts realizing that Clark and, therefore his children, is in over his head. Turns out it's not just the Russians, or the Federal Marshals, but it's the local Vietnamese revolutionary group set on taking down the regime at home.
There's a lot of mayhem, and stuff that makes the reader say, "oh Come ON!" more than a few times, as well as a completely unnecessary, unresolved plot line involving Elvis' girlfriend who might be moving from Louisiana for a new job.
This was a good fluffy mind candy book, nothing to take too seriously. Since I read Crais out of order, he may be setting up something for Lucy and Elvis in the next book. But I'm not gonna expend too much energy trying to figure it out.
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LibraryThing member susanbeamon
Elvis is back and this time guns come out. Joe Pike has to shoot people. Violence was present in the others of this series, but not as much as in this one. Of course, when you put Russian gangsters and counterfeiters and Vietnamese freedom fighters in the mix. violence happens. Add in a dirty U. S.
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Marshall and things go sideways real fast. And Elvis' personal life isn't any smoother this time out. It does all get sorted out in our hero's favor, but it's a fast ride to get there. Show Less
LibraryThing member AliceAnna
Typical, yet great, Robert Crais story. The thought of Pike babysitting an obnoxious brat tickled my fancy. I really like Crais' take on justice. It's never quite what you expect.
LibraryThing member lamour
Three children walk into Elvis Cole's office and hire him to find their missing father. The trail leads form LA to Seattle and a group of Russian Mafia who counterfeit money. Searching for the father and dodging the Mafia hit men while looking after three children, keeps Elvis and his partner, Joe
Meanwhile, his girl friend, Lucy Chenier, is job hunting in LA. When her ex-husband interferes and sabotages her dream job application, Elvis has another problem to worry about. Fortunately, Lucy has the moxy to beat her ex at his own game and the novel ends with Lucy planning on moving to LA from New Orleans and the ex calling to warn Elvis that this isn't over. You can read how that works out for all concerned in the Crais' next novel, The Last Detective.
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Pike, busy. The ending may a bit too pat but it sure is a fast, fun read.Meanwhile, his girl friend, Lucy Chenier, is job hunting in LA. When her ex-husband interferes and sabotages her dream job application, Elvis has another problem to worry about. Fortunately, Lucy has the moxy to beat her ex at his own game and the novel ends with Lucy planning on moving to LA from New Orleans and the ex calling to warn Elvis that this isn't over. You can read how that works out for all concerned in the Crais' next novel, The Last Detective.
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LibraryThing member Tatoosh
In the seventh novel featuring private investigators Elvis Cole and Joe Pike a young teenage girl attempts to hire Elvis to find her father. It is clear that she and her younger brother and sister are alone and her father has been gone for 11 days. Elvis declines but follows her home to be sure
It turns out that the father (Clark) is a former counterfeiter and apparent drug user. He has been in the witness protection program after testifying against a Russian mobster but left the program and is now involved in another scheme involving Vietnamese loyalists. The brother of the Russian mobster wants Clark dead. Elvis has to find Clark, extricate him from his present situation, reunite him with his children, and secure their safety from the Russians and Vietnamese.
As in Voodoo River, in the end Elvis and Joe manage to pit the two gangs against each other. Meanwhile, Lucy is offered a job and begins making plans to move to L. A.
This is a solid addition to the Cole/Pike series.
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they are okay. He finds a neat, orderly home and no apparent cause for concern aside from the absence of the father. However, Lucy Chenier, his Baton Rough attorney girlfriend, is visiting and she insists on visiting the children when Elvis explains the situation to her. After a brief visit she insists that Elvis help find the missing father.It turns out that the father (Clark) is a former counterfeiter and apparent drug user. He has been in the witness protection program after testifying against a Russian mobster but left the program and is now involved in another scheme involving Vietnamese loyalists. The brother of the Russian mobster wants Clark dead. Elvis has to find Clark, extricate him from his present situation, reunite him with his children, and secure their safety from the Russians and Vietnamese.
As in Voodoo River, in the end Elvis and Joe manage to pit the two gangs against each other. Meanwhile, Lucy is offered a job and begins making plans to move to L. A.
This is a solid addition to the Cole/Pike series.
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LibraryThing member ckNikka
Another "lucky you" if you have not read the seris yet!
LibraryThing member tmph
The writing is so much more distinctive than Connelly. More fun and much richer.
LibraryThing member Carol420
I've read everything in this series and really liked them all...so when needing a book for a challenge I revisited them. Elvis and Joe are perfect investing partners and perfectly good friends. What should be a simple missing person case spirals out of control bringing in the Russian mafia with the
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Feds close on their heels. Staying alive is a struggle...saving three kids looks beyond even Cole's and the world's toughest guy, Joe Pike's abilities. Robert Crais's skill as a story teller plus two wonderful characters combine to make this a good, if not great. Elvis Cole entry. This one was written 25 years ago and it hasn't lost anything over the years. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheGalaxyGirl
I enjoyed the premise of three children hiring a P.I. to find their missing father, and they turn out to be in the witness protection program (the reader knows this from the beginning, so not a spoiler) and mayhem ensues. Fairly typical plot, featuring gangsters and lots of shooting and chasing.
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Not exactly my usual cup of tea, but enjoyable from an 'it is what it is' perspective. Better written than most of this ilk. Plus I met Robert Crais at a conference last year and he couldn't have been nicer. Did you know he is vegan? Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Shamus Award (Shortlist — 1998)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1997
ISBN
1455840432 / 9781455840434