GROUP A BOOKS 2023-2024: 14 Nominated books. Vote for no more than 7.

A11 Type: Private Detective (PI) Stories Free Fall by Robert Crais, 1994 / MVLC: 7 CWC: 39

Basics · Protagonist: Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, a pair of Hollywood private eyes. A woman hires Elvis and Joe to look into her cop fiancé; they discover it is a LOT of trouble, and find themselves with targets on their own backs. · Setting: Contemporary Los Angeles, CA · Context: This is the 4th book in a 19 book series that began in 1987, and is ongoing. · % of Amazon readers giving 5-star ratings: 60% · Combined % of Amazon readers giving either 4 OR 5-star ratings: 90% · Total all Amazon ratings this book: 5,727 Long Form Elvis Cole is just a detective who can't say no, especially to a girl in a terrible fix. And Jennifer Sheridan qualifies: Her fiancé, Mark Thurman, is a decorated LA cop with an elite plainclothes unit, but Jennifer's sure he's in trouble—the kind of serious trouble that only Elvis Cole can help him out of. Five minutes after his new client leaves his office, Elvis and his partner, the enigmatic Joe Pike, are hip-deep in a deadly situation as they plummet into a world of South Central gangs, corrupt cops, and conspiracies of silence. And before the case is through, every copy in the LAPD will be gunning for a pair of escaped armed-and-dangerous killers—Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. ------- "I've now read several of the Elvis Cole books and one review probably serves them all equally. I have been pleasantly surprised and found them to be enjoyable reads. Sure, you know what you're getting. Wise-cracking P.I. takes on bad guys, other cops, bureaucracies, government hacks, etc. He is smarter than the average investigator and funnier (though I don't personally know any investigators—they just seem like they'd be a dour lot). He, of course, has the requisite side-kick, Joe Pike. Pike is the quintessential straight man, bad-ass, sun glass-wearing, stealth protector who occasionally shows a glimpse of humanity to make him more endearing as he beats the crap out of someone. This series by Robert Crais is more believable than the Lee Child stuff, more current (and also more believable) than Robert Parker mysteries, and more fun than Connelly's Harry Bosch character. An easy read with humor and enough intelligent writing to keep me from feeling guilty as I enjoy spending the time flying through the story." –An Amazon reviewer I have read several Robert Crais books. He is an excellent writer. I'd like to make time to read them all in order. –Dick Awards for this Book § Finalist 1994 Edgar Award for Best Mystery