Product Description

A reckoning has come to the City of Angels . . . Karen Garcia is missing and her father doesn't trust the cops - he wants someone he knows on the case - so he enlists the help of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. It seems that Karen is the latest victim of a distinctive serial killer and the police are determined to pin her death, and four others, on the witness who found her body. Cole doesn't believe the man has the guts to murder, and with his partner and the police at each other's throats, it's down to him to find the connection that will reveal the killer. But nailing the murderer means choosing between the two people he cares most about . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40145 in Books
• Published on: 2000-03-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Robert Crais (auhtor of Monkey's Raincoat) returns with his eighth Elvis Cole mystery, LA Requiem, a breakneck caper that leaves the wise-cracking detective second-guessing himself. Cole's partner, the tight-lipped, charm-free Joe Pike gets a call from his friend Frank "Tortilla" Garcia. Not only is Garcia a wealthy businessman, he's a political heavyweight and father of Karen, Joe's ex. Frank sends the gumshoe duo out to find his girl but the boys are beaten to the punch by the men in blue: Karen is found in a park with a bullet in the brain. The two stay on the case but when another murder points to Pike as a suspect, things take a turn for the worst. The boys on the force are all too willing to put Pike away--he has a chequered past. When Cole attempts to save him, he finds a lot more than he bargained for and some life-altering, soul-searching to boot. Crais' knack for snappy dialogue and clean-cut scenes bespeak his former days as a writer for the award-winning television series, Hill Street Blues and LA Law: "Krantz's mouth split into a reptilian smile and I wondered what was playing out here. He said, 'I want this man questioned, Lieutenant. If Pike here knows the vic, maybe he knows how she got like this.' Pike said, 'It won't happen pants.' Krantz's face went deep read, and an ugly web of veins pulsed in his forehead. I moved close to Pike. 'Is there something happening here that I should know about?'" --Rebekah Warren

THE SUNDAY TIMES
'Clever, observant, atmospheric and witty - and the talented William Hootkins has a ball with such grade-A material'

About the Author
Robert Crais is the author of fourteen bestselling novels. He has won the Macavity and Anthony awards and been nominated for an Edgar. He lives in L.A. with his wife and daughter.

Customer Reviews

Absolutely Brilliant
This is the 8th Novel in the Elvis Cole series of books by Robert Crais and without question his best. I would go further and say that this is one of my favourite books of all time. This book does what many of his previous books hasnt done, by delving deeply into the background of Coles partner, Joe Pike. So the strong silent indistructable image that you have built up of Pike over the previous 7 novels is broken down to find the reasons for his behaviour. Fantastic.
Then there is the relationship between Cole and his new girlfriend Lucy, and how this relationship developes or collapses under the strain of Coles investigations, and the difficult choices that he has to make.
The plot is first class, a number of murders, a police department that has the wrong leadership, and an ending that rivets you to your seat.
An absolutely enthralling read, made better if you read the previous 7 novels, so that you already know how the people and relationships have evolved.

Requiem for a Dream!
I will start this review by saying that I feel this is the best Elvis Cole novel I have read yet. The others in the series contained the same gritty nature and great humor but 'L.A. Requiem' brings an added depth to this already excellent collection of novels.

In 'L.A. Requiem' things become more personal for Cole and his quietly deadly partner Pike as they investigate the disappearance and murder of Pike's former girlfriend. What unfolds throughout the book is that not everything is what it seems and the answer to what is occurring in the present may have something to do with what happened in Pike's past.

This novel excellently fleshes out the character of Pike and lets us understand why he is so quiet and thoughtful. Along with this history lesson we get a cracking crime story that rattles along at a good pace. I think reading some of the earlier Cole novels would probably be best before tackling this one as they are a lot lighter and help you understand why this novel is such a great departure.

If you’re a fan of LA crime stories this a must and is one of my top picks from the genre. Sammy Recommendation.

Worthy Heir to Ross MacDonald and Raymond Chandler
L.A. Requiem is one of those rare detective mystery thrillers that transcends the genre into becoming a fine novel. Mr. Crais has taken on one of the most difficult challenges any mystery novelist can in L.A. Requiem and pulled it off extremely well. He has developed a complete, rich characterization for Joe Pike, Elvis Coles's (the self-described "world's greatest detective") detective partner, based on disclosing no contemporary internal thoughts by Pike and almost no dialogue involving Pike. Instead the character is built through a series of flashbacks into the violent, troubled past of Joe Pike that show how his personal values and strength were forged. At the same time, Mr. Crais has built a rousing tale with lots of action, conflict, a love story, and a particularly dense mystery that is unveiled through intricate development of police procedures. The book's only drawback is that it draws upon an excess of depravity, violence and gore, putting the book squarely also in the same category as the most noir of the Raymond Chandler works. If you miss this book, you cannot consider yourself to be a serious fan of top mystery writing in the classic style of the tough guy, but honest, P.I.

The flashbacks are connected to Pike's troubled relationship with his former police partner. From those same days, a former girl friend mysteriously disappears and is eventually found murdered. Her father asks Joe to help find the killer, and Elvis joins in as well. This is a bad time for Elvis because Lucy Chenier has just moved from Baton Rouge to Los Angeles with her son to be closer to Elvis. Soon the investigation puts their relationship on an awkward footing. At the same time, the police seem to be stonewalling. What could be their motive?

Before long, great danger is revealed that connects back to the past in unexpected ways. Finding the killer and keeping loved ones safe turns out to be an almost impossible challenge. You'll be rooting for Elvis and Joe, and feeling your heart pound as the tension builds . . . and builds . . . and builds. I recommend that you start the book early in the day, because you will probably not be able to put it down.

The book is also noteworthy for providing great character development of two members of the police.

The plot is particularly rewarding for its ability to test major characters to explain who they are and what they stand for in ways that no amount of dialogue could ever do.

After you finish this book, I suggest that you ask yourself what principles you stand for that you would back to the death. Hopefully, you will never be tested in that way, but this book will undoubtedly raise that issue in your own mind.

Do the right thing!