Scan barcode
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised, given it's got the word Requiem in the title, but this book was depressing.
The book has an interesting structure. It alternates between an historic story about Joe Pike, a former LAPD patrol officer whose partner died, and a modern story where Pike and Elvis Cole (Pike and Cole are private investigators) investigate the disappearance, and subsequent death, of the daughter of a client. Neither of the stories have a particularly happy ending.
The story was a good story. It's a modern detective story, which means it focuses more on being more realistic than the stories told by Agatha Christie and PD James. Like all works of fiction there are differences between it and reality, but it was still a good read if you like your stories more modern (though not that modern, it was written before the internet became widespread).
The book has an interesting structure. It alternates between an historic story about Joe Pike, a former LAPD patrol officer whose partner died, and a modern story where Pike and Elvis Cole (Pike and Cole are private investigators) investigate the disappearance, and subsequent death, of the daughter of a client. Neither of the stories have a particularly happy ending.
The story was a good story. It's a modern detective story, which means it focuses more on being more realistic than the stories told by Agatha Christie and PD James. Like all works of fiction there are differences between it and reality, but it was still a good read if you like your stories more modern (though not that modern, it was written before the internet became widespread).
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised, given it's got the word Requiem in the title, but this book was depressing.
The book has an interesting structure. It alternates between an historic story about Joe Pike, a former LAPD patrol officer whose partner died, and a modern story where Pike and Elvis Cole (Pike and Cole are private investigators) investigate the disappearance, and subsequent death, of the daughter of a client. Neither of the stories have a particularly happy ending.
The story was a good story. It's a modern detective story, which means it focuses more on being more realistic than the stories told by Agatha Christie and PD James. Like all works of fiction there are differences between it and reality, but it was still a good read if you like your stories more modern (though not that modern, it was written before the internet became widespread).
As a general rule, I use "reading speed" as an indication of my enjoyment of a book. Admittedly I was on a long flight (13hrs), but I read the book in one sitting, which tells me I enjoyed the book, and I think most people who like modern detective fiction will like it too.
The book has an interesting structure. It alternates between an historic story about Joe Pike, a former LAPD patrol officer whose partner died, and a modern story where Pike and Elvis Cole (Pike and Cole are private investigators) investigate the disappearance, and subsequent death, of the daughter of a client. Neither of the stories have a particularly happy ending.
The story was a good story. It's a modern detective story, which means it focuses more on being more realistic than the stories told by Agatha Christie and PD James. Like all works of fiction there are differences between it and reality, but it was still a good read if you like your stories more modern (though not that modern, it was written before the internet became widespread).
As a general rule, I use "reading speed" as an indication of my enjoyment of a book. Admittedly I was on a long flight (13hrs), but I read the book in one sitting, which tells me I enjoyed the book, and I think most people who like modern detective fiction will like it too.
puzzlegirl30's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
chartsh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
nicovreeland's review against another edition
4.0
The first half of this book is a masterclass in building tension in a mystery. The solution to the mystery is less powerful, and the writing suffers from the casual racism and misogyny that passed, back in the 90s, for realism. Still, I’ll definitely check out another Robert Crais book
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
5.0
A woman Joe Pike used to be involved with is murdered and her father hires Elvis Cole and Joe Pike the find the killer. Things take a dark turn when it turns out the woman was murdered by a serial killer and that serial killer appears to be... Joe Pike?
As I've mentioned in pretty much ever review I've done for an Elvis Cole book so far, I thought he was a Spenser ripoff for the first book or two. This one leaves my initial impression in the dust like a drag racer trying to set a world land speed record on the salt flats. For me, this was the pinnacle of the series so far.
It started off ordinary enough but soon tore the doors off. The mysterious Joe Pike's past was explored, revealing much without killing all the mystery. Elvis's relationship with Lucy is strained near the breaking point so soon after she turned her life upside down to be with Elvis in LA. Elvis is forced to make some difficult decisions on his friend's behalf. Great stuff.
The new supporting characters were interesting. Krantz, with his ties to Joe Pike's past, made him one of the most interesting, even though he's a huge tool. I also really dug Samantha Dolan.
Crais had me going a couple times on this one. I had no idea who the killer was until he was revealed and even though I knew logically the killer wasn't Pike, I questioned myself a few times. For the first time in the series, I found Elvis and Lucy's relationship believable, maybe because it was coming apart. Joe and Elvis's relationship is still far more believable, as was Elvis' despair in the last thirty or so pages of the book, wondering if Pike was alive and if Lucy was still his.
That's about all I can say without revealing too much. L.A. Requiem is the best book yet in the Elvis Cole series. If you like the series up to this point, you'll love this one.
As I've mentioned in pretty much ever review I've done for an Elvis Cole book so far, I thought he was a Spenser ripoff for the first book or two. This one leaves my initial impression in the dust like a drag racer trying to set a world land speed record on the salt flats. For me, this was the pinnacle of the series so far.
It started off ordinary enough but soon tore the doors off. The mysterious Joe Pike's past was explored, revealing much without killing all the mystery. Elvis's relationship with Lucy is strained near the breaking point so soon after she turned her life upside down to be with Elvis in LA. Elvis is forced to make some difficult decisions on his friend's behalf. Great stuff.
The new supporting characters were interesting. Krantz, with his ties to Joe Pike's past, made him one of the most interesting, even though he's a huge tool. I also really dug Samantha Dolan.
Crais had me going a couple times on this one. I had no idea who the killer was until he was revealed and even though I knew logically the killer wasn't Pike, I questioned myself a few times. For the first time in the series, I found Elvis and Lucy's relationship believable, maybe because it was coming apart. Joe and Elvis's relationship is still far more believable, as was Elvis' despair in the last thirty or so pages of the book, wondering if Pike was alive and if Lucy was still his.
That's about all I can say without revealing too much. L.A. Requiem is the best book yet in the Elvis Cole series. If you like the series up to this point, you'll love this one.
elkensky's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
The best book in the series, and the only one I've really liked since it stopped being vaguely postmodern.
scott_a_miller's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
5 Stars. Definitely the best Cole and Pike book so far. One of the best books I’ve read, period. The were beaten down and almost destroyed. I’m not sure what they will look like in the next one. There’s still unfinished business but I’m not sure how Crais will handle it. Wow. What a book. What characters. What a series.