L.A. crime fighter
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		PCs   films   music   health   fiction   games   science   relating   websites   postcards   wargames			The private-eye thriller is not exactly a neglected genre, and it can be difficult to differentiate between many of the authors writing in this field. No such problem with Crais, a fairly recent find for me; his leading characters and style are novel and very engaging. His series of books, centred around LA-based private eye Elvis Cole and his part-time, and all but silent, partner Joe Pike, is up to about nine volumes now, and the freshness of the original entries is inevitably difficult to maintain.   But Crais’s well-judged decision to give us only enough information about the characters’ past to set the scene and make us aware there’s more worth knowing allows him to please regular readers by fleshing out this area in future books. And each book remains worth reading in its own right. The combination of the light-hearted, wise-cracking lead, tight plotting, and fast-paced action sees to that.   I’ve read six of Crais’s books so far, and liked all of them. Particular recommendations would include The Monkey’s Raincoat and Lullaby Town, both centred around the film industry. I discovered only recently that the reason his depiction of “the industry” is so casually convincing is because Crais was himself a VP at Paramount and scriptwriter of several leading TV series before turning author. Of course this does mean that you won’t find the same level of detail and accuracy as regards police procedure as in the works of ex-cops or reporters, such as Wambaugh or Connelly— but Crais’s focus is different and doesn’t seem to be a handicap.   Another favourite is Free Fall, particularly impressive because its subjects, police corruption and the LA gang scene, have been over-worked in the past but don’t suffer for it here, with Crais still able to maintain a constant level of interest and high tension.   Robert Crais’s books are available from Amazon.co.uk: The Monkey’s Raincoat, Lullaby Town, and Free Fall.   Or you can order them from Amazon.com: The Monkey’s Raincoat, Lullaby Town, and Free Fall.   We receive a commission—at no extra cost to you—from the businesses we refer you to. If you decide to purchase something that we have recommended, please do so by following the links from our website. Thank you!
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