::READERS REVIEWS::

Elvis Cole #2 (a review of the audiobook) - 6 discs.
7 hours.

Synopsis: Elvis Cole and his partner Joe Pike are hired by a Los Angeles businessman to find a missing copy of the "Hagakure", a book that details Bushido, or the way of the Samurai. Along the way, they discover hidden family secrets, connection to the Yakuza (Japan's ultra-violent mafia) and deal with a kidnapping and modern followers of the Bushido.

Written in 1989, "Stalking the Angel" is an early Elvis Cole book. Crais is still doing a bit of casting about to find his rhythm with the characters of Joe Pike, Elvis and even his irascible cat. The plot doesn't flow as well as later books but it still a very nice listen.

It is narrated by Patrick G. Lawlor who does a solid job of catching Cole's wisecracking side but overall does not catch on to Elvis as well as the narrators of his later books do.

Love Elvis but don't care for the standard PI plot - First Line: I was standing on my head in the middle of my office when the door opened and the best looking woman I'd seen in three weeks walked in.

When Bradley Warren and his assistant, Jillian Becker, try to hire Elvis Cole to find a stolen (and priceless) Japanese manuscript, Cole isn't all that eager to accept the case. Warren rubs his fur completely the wrong way. But when Warren's young daughter is kidnapped, the P.I. puts aside his differences and starts tracking down the bad guys.

When I read the first Elvis Cole mystery, The Monkey's Raincoat, I fell head over heels for Elvis and his partner, Joe Pike. Unfortunately, while reading this second book in the series, the bloom was off the rose. The plot, the pacing, the writing are just as good, and I still love Elvis and Joe, but reading Stalking the Angel made me realize something:

The reason why I don't read many mysteries featuring the hard-boiled types of private investigators is because I have a very low tolerance for the plots.

The plots all seem to be the same. Some drop dead gorgeous broad clacks her way into the P.I.'s seedy office, bats her eyelashes, and persuades the manly investigator to do something he really doesn't want to do. There's usually an obnoxious male cretin on hand as a foil for the P.I. and his wisecracks. At least 30% of the characters are pond scum, and the P.I. hero has to have the crap beaten out of him at least once. Preferably twice.

Unfortunately (for me) the plot and the formula went hand in hand in this book. I still love Elvis and Joe, but I think this love affair just has no room for growth. And before any of you die hard fans gang up on me, let me say once more that these books are well-written and the two main characters are fantastic. Even though the story lines aren't my cup of tea and I seriously doubt that I will read any more books in the series...

...if you give me an ELVIS AND JOE 4EVER!!!! bumper sticker, I'll cherish (and use) it with pride.

One of my favorites! - So far, this is one of my favorites because I use to work in downtown L.A. and I live in West L.A. and everytime Elvis make a turn on the street, I know exactly where he is and can't help but laugh because he describes it to vividly, it's almost like I am in the car with him, thinking his thoughts, seeing through his eyes. I love this series!

Good Writing, Derivative Storyline - STALKING THE ANGEL is the second novel in Robert Crais' "Elvis Cole" series, about a private detective in Los Angeles. I though it was a pretty enjoyable read, although a bit too derviative of Robert Parker's Spenser novels.

Elvis Cole is like Spenser in a variety of ways: he's a non-stop comedian, he's a war vet with a code of honor, he has an ultra-tough sidekick (named "Pike" instead of "Hawk"), he has a love-hate relationship with the cops, and his clients are typically rich, privileged, oversexed, and insufferably arrogant.

The plot of STALKING THE ANGEL, which involves a missing Japanese manuscript, reminds me of the first Spenser novel, which also involves a missing manuscript. Elvis Cole also tries to "save" a young girl from her dysfunctional family, which reminds me of Spenser novels like EARLY AUTUMN and CEREMONY. In other words, there is very little here that struck me as fresh and original.

Still, Crais is a highly skilled writer, and STALKING THE ANGEL is a funny and entertaining diversion. If you like Robert Parker's work, this book is definitely worth a try. My understanding is that the Elvis Cole series gets better with time, so I will definitely try some of the later installments in the near future.

I'm Hooked On Cole! - I'm happy to say that I'm hooked on Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. I know I'm late to the party, but hey, better to be late then to not show up at all. I started the series from the beginning with "The Monkey's Raincoat.", and immediately after reading that, I grabbed "Stalking the Angel" The first book was great, and this book, no exception.

Robert Crais has created some of my new favorite characters to date, I love the always witty and wisecracking Elvis "Hound Dog" Cole, and the quiet Joe Pike.

The plots are very intriguing, but for me it's the characters that I enjoy the most. Each time I read them, it's like being with a friend. I don't find that very often in a book. Props to Mr. Crais.

I plan to read the whole series. (12 so far and counting)

As long as Robert Crais keeps them coming, I will keep reading them.

Do yourself a favor and get hooked with me...it feels good!

Happy reading!