Book Review: The Monkey’s Raincoat by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole 1)

I read this at not such a great time in my life and enjoyed it quite a bit but I associated it with the bad time (being made redundant and searching for a new job) so I gave Robert Crais a bit of an unwarranted cold shoulder. Having read some more Elvis Cole novels, I was wrong!!!

This novel concerns the LA private detective and his strange partner Joe Pike. The narrative is crisp and well done as well as the quips from the characters, particularly Elvis Cole. It is an enjoyable easy read.

Cole is hired by a lady called Ellen Lang to track down her missing husband and son. Unfortunately her husband we discover has been killed and Elvis has to track down her son and restore him to his mother. However the path to the truth is a seedy one through the darker parts of Hollywood sex and drugs. Some nasty people have also declared war on Elvis and Ellen Lang. The book shows how Elvis overcomes evil and rights wrongs. Pretty realistic and believable and with some sunny quips along the way.

A good novel and 8/10 for me.