Scan barcode
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
3.0
Back in the day I read all the MacKenzie and Genaro books by Dennis Lehane. Set in Boston, they were gritty, but had some humour too. This book, which is set in Los Angeles, works the same vein, but with a little less grit, and humour.
In this book, the wife of a (Hard Rock Cafe style) restauranteur turns up dead. Elvis Cole is brought in for the defence to help the case, which he does, with his usual professionalism, but when things go sideways, to his eyes, he goes rogue, and really solves the case.
It’s not the most profound fiction in the world, but it’s just a little formulaic maybe? You kind of knew the direction of travel, from the moment the body is found.
In this book, the wife of a (Hard Rock Cafe style) restauranteur turns up dead. Elvis Cole is brought in for the defence to help the case, which he does, with his usual professionalism, but when things go sideways, to his eyes, he goes rogue, and really solves the case.
It’s not the most profound fiction in the world, but it’s just a little formulaic maybe? You kind of knew the direction of travel, from the moment the body is found.
paulabrandon's review against another edition
3.0
Elvis Cole agrees to join the investigative team of lawyer Jonathan Green in defending Hollywood restaurateur Teddy White against charges of killing his wife. The angle they are going for is that the vital evidence against Teddy was planted there by ambitious detective Angela Rossi, who is trying to bounce back from a career setback.
Of course, Cole winds up way in over his head! While new girlfriend Lucy Chenier comes to visit, he uncovers evidence that could undeniably prove Teddy White's guilt. But things don't quite add up, and the inevitable conspiracy starts!
A more exciting thriller was hiding somewhere inside these pages, but kind of got lost between the relationship build-up and drama of Elvis and Lucy, and too much description. Instead of telling us every little last detail about what Elvis observes (most of it unnecessary), or every single bloody road he drives down to go somewhere (something that personally drives me nuts), Crais could have given us more information about why
Elvis and Lucy exchange far too many goofy grins and too much time is spent on their dates, romantic pursuits and Lucy's selfish silent treatment when ex-husband issues bug her. I know Lucy becomes an important character in later books (particularly The Last Detective), but she's a large reason that this is never as exciting as it could have been. The chapters with her really slow things down.
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are two of my favourite fictional characters. I was hooked in by L.A. Requiem and have largely read the serious out of order, but they all stand on their own. The stuff before Requiem isn't as good as what came after, but they're decent reads. If it weren't for all the relationship filler here, it could have been one of the better ones. As it is, by the end,
Summary: Engaging. Elvis and Joe are great as usual, but one star off for too much padding with Elvis and Lucy's relationship, and another star off for all that endless description about roads and travel routes.
Of course, Cole winds up way in over his head! While new girlfriend Lucy Chenier comes to visit, he uncovers evidence that could undeniably prove Teddy White's guilt. But things don't quite add up, and the inevitable conspiracy starts!
A more exciting thriller was hiding somewhere inside these pages, but kind of got lost between the relationship build-up and drama of Elvis and Lucy, and too much description. Instead of telling us every little last detail about what Elvis observes (most of it unnecessary), or every single bloody road he drives down to go somewhere (something that personally drives me nuts), Crais could have given us more information about why
Spoiler
Teddy actually wanted his wife dead, which was the event that set the whole plot into motion!Elvis and Lucy exchange far too many goofy grins and too much time is spent on their dates, romantic pursuits and Lucy's selfish silent treatment when ex-husband issues bug her. I know Lucy becomes an important character in later books (particularly The Last Detective), but she's a large reason that this is never as exciting as it could have been. The chapters with her really slow things down.
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are two of my favourite fictional characters. I was hooked in by L.A. Requiem and have largely read the serious out of order, but they all stand on their own. The stuff before Requiem isn't as good as what came after, but they're decent reads. If it weren't for all the relationship filler here, it could have been one of the better ones. As it is, by the end,
Spoiler
we still don't know why Teddy killed his wife! We know he's guilty, but there's no motive, and he gets away with it. Elvis doesn't seem bothered by this, but he's all bent out of shape that Jonathan Green got away with murder as well. Why feel one way for one person and not the other?Summary: Engaging. Elvis and Joe are great as usual, but one star off for too much padding with Elvis and Lucy's relationship, and another star off for all that endless description about roads and travel routes.
chartsh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lthankins94's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Crais deviated from his formula on this one and I really enjoyed it.
iamkallia's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
papidoc's review against another edition
3.0
Vintage Robert Crais...in the style of Robert B. Parker, but not as ponderous, a little more light-hearted.
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
Millionaire restauranteur Teddy Martin is charged with his wife's murder and hires celebrity attorney Jonathan Green, who hires Elvis Cole to prove an LAPD detective planted evidence. Will Elvis uncover more than he bargained for?
Robert Crais's Elvis Cole series is slowly climbing the ranks of my favorite detective series. This one, a take off on the O.J. Simpson case, explores the legal system and how it is inherently full of shit.
The supporting cast is an interesting bunch, from the slimey lawyers like Green and Truly, to Kerris, to lowlifes like James Lester, to cops like Angela Rossi and Dan Tomsic. Anglea in particular is bad ass and I hope Crais uses her again later in the series. I like Elvis's relationship with Lucy and Ben quite a bit, even though he fell for her a little too quickly. I'm hoping their relationship actually goes somewhere and she doesn't Susan Silverman the rest of the series for me.
Elvis and Joe Pike do what they do best: wander around, pissing people off, until the shooting starts. It's a little formulaic but I like how Crais saves most of the action for the end.
Any complaints? Not really. Crais is a good mystery writer and this is another worthwhile entry in the Elvis Cole series.
Robert Crais's Elvis Cole series is slowly climbing the ranks of my favorite detective series. This one, a take off on the O.J. Simpson case, explores the legal system and how it is inherently full of shit.
The supporting cast is an interesting bunch, from the slimey lawyers like Green and Truly, to Kerris, to lowlifes like James Lester, to cops like Angela Rossi and Dan Tomsic. Anglea in particular is bad ass and I hope Crais uses her again later in the series. I like Elvis's relationship with Lucy and Ben quite a bit, even though he fell for her a little too quickly. I'm hoping their relationship actually goes somewhere and she doesn't Susan Silverman the rest of the series for me.
Elvis and Joe Pike do what they do best: wander around, pissing people off, until the shooting starts. It's a little formulaic but I like how Crais saves most of the action for the end.
Any complaints? Not really. Crais is a good mystery writer and this is another worthwhile entry in the Elvis Cole series.
bookhawk's review against another edition
4.0
Sunset Express is a solid installment in the Elvis Cole series. Crais comes up with a good plot and fills in with Cole's witty comments and good guy actions. A very good series.