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Elvis Cole and Joe Pike #14
The Sentry
'Be once started, you'll have to cancel all engagements until you finish it' Independent on Sunday'The action in THE SENTRY is intense and the body count high but what is more memorable is the manner in which Crais cracks open the door into the enigmatic Pike's emotions' L A TimesAfter the nightmare of Hurricane Katrina, Dru Rayne and her uncle relocated to Los Angeles. Five years later, their struggling restaurant faces a different danger. When Joe Pike witnesses Dru's uncle beaten by a neighbourhood gang, he offers his own brand of protection, but neither Dru nor her uncle want his help. And neither do the federal agents mysteriously watching their store . . .But Pike is falling for Dru, and won't back away whether she wants his help or not. As the violence escalates, Joe discovers Dru and her uncle are not who they seem - and now a vengeful, murderous force from their past is catching up with them...
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 11, 2011
2033 people are currently reading
4028 people want to read
About the author
Robert Crais
180 books4,581 followers Robert Crais is the author of the best-selling Elvis Cole novels. A native of Louisiana, he grew up on the banks of the Mississippi River in a blue collar family of oil refinery workers and police officers. He purchased a secondhand paperback of Raymond Chandler’s The Little Sister when he was fifteen, which inspired his lifelong love of writing, Los Angeles, and the literature of crime fiction. Other literary influences include Dashiell Hammett, Ernest Hemingway, Robert B. Parker, and John Steinbeck.
After years of amateur film-making and writing short fiction, he journeyed to Hollywood in 1976 where he quickly found work writing scripts for such major television series as Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, and Miami Vice, as well as numerous series pilots and Movies-of-the-Week for the major networks. He received an Emmy nomination for his work on Hill Street Blues, but is most proud of his 4-hour NBC miniseries, Cross of Fire, which the New York Times declared: "A searing and powerful documentation of the Ku Klux Klan’s rise to national prominence in the 20s."
In the mid-eighties, feeling constrained by the collaborative working requirements of Hollywood, Crais resigned from a lucrative position as a contract writer and television producer in order to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a novelist. His first efforts proved unsuccessful, but upon the death of his father in 1985, Crais was inspired to create Elvis Cole, using elements of his own life as the basis of the story. The resulting novel, The Monkey’s Raincoat, won the Anthony and Macavity Awards and was nominated for the Edgar Award. It has since been selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Crais conceived of the novel as a stand-alone, but realized that—in Elvis Cole—he had created an ideal and powerful character through which to comment upon his life and times. (See the WORKS section for additional titles.) Elvis Cole’s readership and fan base grew with each new book, then skyrocketed in 1999 upon the publication of L. A. Requiem, which was a New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller and forever changed the way Crais conceived of and structured his novels. In this new way of telling his stories, Crais combined the classic ‘first person’ narrative of the American detective novel with flashbacks, multiple story lines, multiple points-of-view, and literary elements to better illuminate his themes. Larger and deeper in scope, Publishers Weekly wrote of L. A. Requiem, "Crais has stretched himself the way another Southern California writer—Ross Macdonald—always tried to do, to write a mystery novel with a solid literary base." Booklist added, "This is an extraordinary crime novel that should not be pigeonholed by genre. The best books always land outside preset boundaries. A wonderful experience."
Crais followed with his first non-series novel, Demolition Angel, which was published in 2000 and featured former Los Angeles Police Department Bomb Technician Carol Starkey. Starkey has since become a leading character in the Elvis Cole series. In 2001, Crais published his second non-series novel, Hostage, which was named a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times and was a world-wide bestseller. Additionally, the editors of Amazon.com selected Hostage as the #1 thriller of the year. A film adaptation of Hostage was released in 2005, starring Bruce Willis as ex-LAPD SWAT negotiator Jeff Talley.
Elvis Cole returned in 2003 with the publication of The Last Detective, followed by the tenth Elvis Cole novel, The Forgotten Man, in 2005. Both novels explore with increasing depth the natures and characters of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. RC’s third stand-alone novel, The Two Minute Rule, was published in 2006. The eleventh entry in the Elvis Cole series, The Watchman, will be published sometime in 2007.
After years of amateur film-making and writing short fiction, he journeyed to Hollywood in 1976 where he quickly found work writing scripts for such major television series as Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, and Miami Vice, as well as numerous series pilots and Movies-of-the-Week for the major networks. He received an Emmy nomination for his work on Hill Street Blues, but is most proud of his 4-hour NBC miniseries, Cross of Fire, which the New York Times declared: "A searing and powerful documentation of the Ku Klux Klan’s rise to national prominence in the 20s."
In the mid-eighties, feeling constrained by the collaborative working requirements of Hollywood, Crais resigned from a lucrative position as a contract writer and television producer in order to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a novelist. His first efforts proved unsuccessful, but upon the death of his father in 1985, Crais was inspired to create Elvis Cole, using elements of his own life as the basis of the story. The resulting novel, The Monkey’s Raincoat, won the Anthony and Macavity Awards and was nominated for the Edgar Award. It has since been selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Crais conceived of the novel as a stand-alone, but realized that—in Elvis Cole—he had created an ideal and powerful character through which to comment upon his life and times. (See the WORKS section for additional titles.) Elvis Cole’s readership and fan base grew with each new book, then skyrocketed in 1999 upon the publication of L. A. Requiem, which was a New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller and forever changed the way Crais conceived of and structured his novels. In this new way of telling his stories, Crais combined the classic ‘first person’ narrative of the American detective novel with flashbacks, multiple story lines, multiple points-of-view, and literary elements to better illuminate his themes. Larger and deeper in scope, Publishers Weekly wrote of L. A. Requiem, "Crais has stretched himself the way another Southern California writer—Ross Macdonald—always tried to do, to write a mystery novel with a solid literary base." Booklist added, "This is an extraordinary crime novel that should not be pigeonholed by genre. The best books always land outside preset boundaries. A wonderful experience."
Crais followed with his first non-series novel, Demolition Angel, which was published in 2000 and featured former Los Angeles Police Department Bomb Technician Carol Starkey. Starkey has since become a leading character in the Elvis Cole series. In 2001, Crais published his second non-series novel, Hostage, which was named a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times and was a world-wide bestseller. Additionally, the editors of Amazon.com selected Hostage as the #1 thriller of the year. A film adaptation of Hostage was released in 2005, starring Bruce Willis as ex-LAPD SWAT negotiator Jeff Talley.
Elvis Cole returned in 2003 with the publication of The Last Detective, followed by the tenth Elvis Cole novel, The Forgotten Man, in 2005. Both novels explore with increasing depth the natures and characters of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. RC’s third stand-alone novel, The Two Minute Rule, was published in 2006. The eleventh entry in the Elvis Cole series, The Watchman, will be published sometime in 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,162 reviews
February 13, 2015
While stopping to air up a tire, Joe Pike sees two men beating up a restaurant owner. Pike intervenes, falls for the owner's niece, and gets himself and Elvis Cole entangled in an FBI investigation involving a street gang and stolen drug money. Only everything Pike and Cole think they know is wrong...
I'll be honest. I read one Robert Crais book before this one and wasn't completely sold. For most of that book, the Monkey's Raincoat, I thought Elvis Cole was little more than a ripoff of Robert Parker's Spenser and Joe Pike was a collection of guns following him around to do the dirty work. When I saw this come up on FirstReads, I entered the giveaway, thinking I'd give Crais another chance if I won. Sure enough, I won the FirstReads giveaway and here we are. What do I think about Joe Pike now?
My thoughts on The Sentry can be summed up with the words Holy Shit! Bad ass Joe Pike has some feelings after all and you feel for the poor bastard after all he goes through. While Pike is a mercenary, Crais doesn't make the book a mindless action-fest. The suspense builds slowly until the orgy of violence at the end.
The characters were well done, from Wilson Smith to Jack Straw, the FBI agent in charge of the operation. Even Jerry Button, the asshole LAPD cop, was a multi-faceted character. While I wasn't that enamored with Elvis Cole as the lead, he's great as a supporting cast member. Los Angeles as a setting was well realized. I felt like I could find my way around LA based on what I read.
Crais's writing rockets the story along. I devoured this four or five hours. This story has more twists and turns than a thirty foot anaconda, one right after another. Crais kept me on my toes through most of the book.
For fans of suspense and detective fiction, The Sentry is a must read. Looks like I'll have to start taking Robert Crais a little more seriously now.
Later edit: The Sentry is another victim of the downgrade parade . No idea why I rated this a 5 back in 2010.
I'll be honest. I read one Robert Crais book before this one and wasn't completely sold. For most of that book, the Monkey's Raincoat, I thought Elvis Cole was little more than a ripoff of Robert Parker's Spenser and Joe Pike was a collection of guns following him around to do the dirty work. When I saw this come up on FirstReads, I entered the giveaway, thinking I'd give Crais another chance if I won. Sure enough, I won the FirstReads giveaway and here we are. What do I think about Joe Pike now?
My thoughts on The Sentry can be summed up with the words Holy Shit! Bad ass Joe Pike has some feelings after all and you feel for the poor bastard after all he goes through. While Pike is a mercenary, Crais doesn't make the book a mindless action-fest. The suspense builds slowly until the orgy of violence at the end.
The characters were well done, from Wilson Smith to Jack Straw, the FBI agent in charge of the operation. Even Jerry Button, the asshole LAPD cop, was a multi-faceted character. While I wasn't that enamored with Elvis Cole as the lead, he's great as a supporting cast member. Los Angeles as a setting was well realized. I felt like I could find my way around LA based on what I read.
Crais's writing rockets the story along. I devoured this four or five hours. This story has more twists and turns than a thirty foot anaconda, one right after another. Crais kept me on my toes through most of the book.
For fans of suspense and detective fiction, The Sentry is a must read. Looks like I'll have to start taking Robert Crais a little more seriously now.
Later edit: The Sentry is another victim of the downgrade parade . No idea why I rated this a 5 back in 2010.
February 15, 2025
I’ve somehow found myself working through this series in reverse order, which isn’t too problematic as although you need a basic idea of the relationship between the two main characters the books are pretty much stand alone episodes. Here, Joe Pike (the hard but quiet one) spots some suspicious activity and, as a result, halts what seems to be an attempted store robbery. In the aftermath, he meets the niece of the store owner who ticks all the boxes for Joe, and they quickly form a bond. But shortly thereafter, she and her uncle are gone. Did they just move on? Are they running from something, or were they abducted? It’s not clear. Pike doesn’t like loose ends, and he plans to find out. Along the way, he engages the help of his close friend and partner, private investigator Elvis Cole (the brash and yappy one), and together, they attempt to solve the puzzle. The police and even a pair of federal agents get involved, and gradually, the whole thing gets more and more complicated, and in addition it’s not obvious who is a friend and who is foe here.
As always, Crais does a great job of cranking up the tension as the story progresses. He’s clever in the way he structures his stories and also how he cannily withholds information that would otherwise reduce the suspense he’s patiently built up. His two front men interact nicely and spark off each other. They’re very different personalities but similar in that they are both ruthlessly determined and fearless in pursuit of answers. That said, in the end I did find that the intricacies of the plot confused me somewhat - there are a lot of moving parts and maybe I wasn’t paying close enough attention but I had to re-track a couple of time to verify my interpretation of what was going on.
I’ve always liked Elvis, I find him mildly amusing and for a change he isn’t one of those flatfoots with a desperate drink problem or a dark secret lurking in the past (or at least, not that I’ve yet identified). But I didn’t expect to warm to Pike. His type has a habit of leaving a pile of bodies behind, having a totally absent sense of humour, and don’t utter enough to say anything interesting. But, actually, Pike does seem to have some redeeming hidden depths. This is the first time I’ve sensed this, though if I’d read the series in order, maybe I’d be better acquainted with the softer side of his personality by now. He’s a deep thinker and has a selfless disregard for his own wellbeing as he puts himself in danger in an attempt to help others. And the pair just offset each other so well. No wonder the series is so popular.
To me, the final act, the denouement, isn’t as important and the journey to get there, and Crais does create good journeys. He gets me interested, keeps the pace up, and throws in sufficient curveballs to keep my eyebrows twitching. I’ll be back.
As always, Crais does a great job of cranking up the tension as the story progresses. He’s clever in the way he structures his stories and also how he cannily withholds information that would otherwise reduce the suspense he’s patiently built up. His two front men interact nicely and spark off each other. They’re very different personalities but similar in that they are both ruthlessly determined and fearless in pursuit of answers. That said, in the end I did find that the intricacies of the plot confused me somewhat - there are a lot of moving parts and maybe I wasn’t paying close enough attention but I had to re-track a couple of time to verify my interpretation of what was going on.
I’ve always liked Elvis, I find him mildly amusing and for a change he isn’t one of those flatfoots with a desperate drink problem or a dark secret lurking in the past (or at least, not that I’ve yet identified). But I didn’t expect to warm to Pike. His type has a habit of leaving a pile of bodies behind, having a totally absent sense of humour, and don’t utter enough to say anything interesting. But, actually, Pike does seem to have some redeeming hidden depths. This is the first time I’ve sensed this, though if I’d read the series in order, maybe I’d be better acquainted with the softer side of his personality by now. He’s a deep thinker and has a selfless disregard for his own wellbeing as he puts himself in danger in an attempt to help others. And the pair just offset each other so well. No wonder the series is so popular.
To me, the final act, the denouement, isn’t as important and the journey to get there, and Crais does create good journeys. He gets me interested, keeps the pace up, and throws in sufficient curveballs to keep my eyebrows twitching. I’ll be back.
January 18, 2019
If you can’t stop to put air in your tires without having to prevent some thugs from beating up somebody then you just might be the hero of an action/crime novel.
Professional bad-ass Joe Pike keeps a sandwich shop owner from getting pummeled by some local gangsters running a protection racket, and as a bonus he meets the owner’s good looking niece, Dru, who seems interested in him. Unfortunately, the punks seem intent on getting revenge, and when Joe can’t locate Dru or her uncle following some gruesome vandalism at the restaurant he fears the worst. Joe enlists the help of his detective partner Elvis Cole to help him find the missing people. What looks to be a simple case of payback by a street gang soon turns out to be a tangled mess involving murder, the FBI, and a psychotic hitman whose deadly skills are more than a match for Pike’s.
This series started out with Elvis as the main character who was your pretty typical smart-ass private detective with Joe as the trusty violent friend who always wore sunglasses and rarely spoke. Elvis got better when Robert Crais toned down his smart mouth and gave him some feelings, and by switching Pike to the lead character in some of the later novels we learned that he’s actually more a tragic and damaged figure than the typical ‘80s macho action type he seemed at the start. That shift continues to pay off in this book, and one of the selling points for me is the odd couple friendship the two men share with the outgoing and friendly Cole completely understanding the closed off Pike to the point where almost no conversation is necessary between the two.
While the set-up sounds like a straight ahead action thriller there’s also a lot of solid twists and turns to the plot that constantly subvert expectations and make some detective work necessary. So we get Pike in full hunter mode as he keeps pushing to find the missing people. That keeps the story momentum going while Cole does some of the leg work that uncovers that Pike’s potential new snuggle bunny isn’t quite who she said she was. Which also adds some emotion to the Pike part of the equation while Cole has to worry about how his friend is dealing with all of it. So it’s a nice blend of tension with enough character stuff to make it feel like it has some emotional stakes to it.
The only thing I found lacking was the sadistic killer. He’s genuinely scary at times as well as a former mercenary like Pike so that gives us a worthy foe. However, he’s just a little too crazy town banana pants to be believable. It’s hard to accept that a guy who actually hears voices in his head and believes that zombies are real can be operating at such a high level and also capable of staying ahead of the law for years.
Still, that’s a minor complaint, and overall I really enjoyed this one as another solid piece of work from Crais.
Professional bad-ass Joe Pike keeps a sandwich shop owner from getting pummeled by some local gangsters running a protection racket, and as a bonus he meets the owner’s good looking niece, Dru, who seems interested in him. Unfortunately, the punks seem intent on getting revenge, and when Joe can’t locate Dru or her uncle following some gruesome vandalism at the restaurant he fears the worst. Joe enlists the help of his detective partner Elvis Cole to help him find the missing people. What looks to be a simple case of payback by a street gang soon turns out to be a tangled mess involving murder, the FBI, and a psychotic hitman whose deadly skills are more than a match for Pike’s.
This series started out with Elvis as the main character who was your pretty typical smart-ass private detective with Joe as the trusty violent friend who always wore sunglasses and rarely spoke. Elvis got better when Robert Crais toned down his smart mouth and gave him some feelings, and by switching Pike to the lead character in some of the later novels we learned that he’s actually more a tragic and damaged figure than the typical ‘80s macho action type he seemed at the start. That shift continues to pay off in this book, and one of the selling points for me is the odd couple friendship the two men share with the outgoing and friendly Cole completely understanding the closed off Pike to the point where almost no conversation is necessary between the two.
While the set-up sounds like a straight ahead action thriller there’s also a lot of solid twists and turns to the plot that constantly subvert expectations and make some detective work necessary. So we get Pike in full hunter mode as he keeps pushing to find the missing people. That keeps the story momentum going while Cole does some of the leg work that uncovers that Pike’s potential new snuggle bunny isn’t quite who she said she was. Which also adds some emotion to the Pike part of the equation while Cole has to worry about how his friend is dealing with all of it. So it’s a nice blend of tension with enough character stuff to make it feel like it has some emotional stakes to it.
The only thing I found lacking was the sadistic killer. He’s genuinely scary at times as well as a former mercenary like Pike so that gives us a worthy foe. However, he’s just a little too crazy town banana pants to be believable. It’s hard to accept that a guy who actually hears voices in his head and believes that zombies are real can be operating at such a high level and also capable of staying ahead of the law for years.
Still, that’s a minor complaint, and overall I really enjoyed this one as another solid piece of work from Crais.
April 10, 2018
“Button’s face was blank as Pike approached, but a deep line cut Futardo’s brow. Pike wondered what she was thinking. Button’s jacket was already off in anticipation of the coming heat, and his hands were in his pockets. He didn’t take them out to shake. Instead, he nodded toward the canal. “There you go.” Pike looked, and in that moment he realized all his assumptions were wrong.”
I think this could be my favorite Joe Pike yet. It begins with a torture scene as Hurricane Katrina rages, and it's clear within a couple of pages that the torturer is in an actively schizophrenic phase. For me, it was a truly awful way to begin a book, and I only managed to make it another chapter before setting it down with serious doubts about continuing. Once again, let this be a lesson: though Crais may write at the borders of mystery and thriller, he is still able to avoid many of the crutches that irritate me so about the genre. I came back to it a couple weeks later and finished in two days, really enjoying the pace and the twists in the story.
Joe stops for gas and witnesses some homies purposefully walking down a street into a po'boy sandwich shop. Joe assists, and in the process meets the owner's niece, Dru. Joe is quite taken with her "smart eyes," (which was adorable) and offers his help. There's plenty of action, but almost as much problem solving, which made a nice plot balance.
"Pike stepped into the first bay and spotted the man from the Monte Carlo in an office at the rear of the building. He was in front of a television with his back to the door. The Dodgers were playing a day game. Pike checked to see that the other two men were still struggling with the fender, then slipped toward the office as silently as a fish gliding through water."
Crais has moved away from some of the staccato style that characterized the first Pike book and let himself lapse back into his more sophisticated writing to describe Pike's thoughts and actions. We still don't know very much about how Pike feels, but I'd argue that's because Pike doesn't know either. There's a little more complexity in the relationships, and Crais doesn't go to the easy narrative places that he's been before in the series, such as when Pike is briefly under suspicion by the police, or when he is talking with a community activist. I appreciate that. Overall, an extremely solid book for #14 in a series (and #3 in the Pike sub-series).
Three and a half stars, rounding up.
I think this could be my favorite Joe Pike yet. It begins with a torture scene as Hurricane Katrina rages, and it's clear within a couple of pages that the torturer is in an actively schizophrenic phase. For me, it was a truly awful way to begin a book, and I only managed to make it another chapter before setting it down with serious doubts about continuing. Once again, let this be a lesson: though Crais may write at the borders of mystery and thriller, he is still able to avoid many of the crutches that irritate me so about the genre. I came back to it a couple weeks later and finished in two days, really enjoying the pace and the twists in the story.
Joe stops for gas and witnesses some homies purposefully walking down a street into a po'boy sandwich shop. Joe assists, and in the process meets the owner's niece, Dru. Joe is quite taken with her "smart eyes," (which was adorable) and offers his help. There's plenty of action, but almost as much problem solving, which made a nice plot balance.
"Pike stepped into the first bay and spotted the man from the Monte Carlo in an office at the rear of the building. He was in front of a television with his back to the door. The Dodgers were playing a day game. Pike checked to see that the other two men were still struggling with the fender, then slipped toward the office as silently as a fish gliding through water."
Crais has moved away from some of the staccato style that characterized the first Pike book and let himself lapse back into his more sophisticated writing to describe Pike's thoughts and actions. We still don't know very much about how Pike feels, but I'd argue that's because Pike doesn't know either. There's a little more complexity in the relationships, and Crais doesn't go to the easy narrative places that he's been before in the series, such as when Pike is briefly under suspicion by the police, or when he is talking with a community activist. I appreciate that. Overall, an extremely solid book for #14 in a series (and #3 in the Pike sub-series).
Three and a half stars, rounding up.
April 29, 2017
Joe Piike is a man of few words. This is evident with sentences such as "I'm good." "Ask your questions." "This isn't a threat." "Lister. If you knew me as well as you knew Rainey, you wouldn't be here."
After helping an old man and his niece from being beatup from gang bangers in Venice, California, Joe Pike and his friend Elvis Cole are entangled in an FBI sweep. This sweep is looking for a man who has stolen over $12 million dollars from the Bolivian drug cartel. The Bolivans hired a executioner to kill Wilson Smith and his niece Dru Rayne. Joe Pike has become their protector and protecting is what he does best. A thrilling novel that will put you on a roller coaster ride of unbelivable tension. A good read.
Quote:
The blood and heads and the message on the wall felt like more than an act of malicious vandalism.
Pike wondered if predators swam this far inland. He wondered if they hid beneath the surface.
After helping an old man and his niece from being beatup from gang bangers in Venice, California, Joe Pike and his friend Elvis Cole are entangled in an FBI sweep. This sweep is looking for a man who has stolen over $12 million dollars from the Bolivian drug cartel. The Bolivans hired a executioner to kill Wilson Smith and his niece Dru Rayne. Joe Pike has become their protector and protecting is what he does best. A thrilling novel that will put you on a roller coaster ride of unbelivable tension. A good read.
Quote:
The blood and heads and the message on the wall felt like more than an act of malicious vandalism.
Pike wondered if predators swam this far inland. He wondered if they hid beneath the surface.
September 27, 2016
This is the first Robert Crais that I have read, and I enjoyed it very much. It is certainly action-packed and fast-paced from the very first page. There is a lot of brutal violence involved, and plenty of blood.
The hero, Joe Pike, watches out for the oppressed. He is a very tough guy, and I would certainly prefer to have him as a friend than an enemy. Surprisingly, for such a character, he sometimes lets his heart lead his mind. His supporter, Elvis Cole, is tough too, but seems more analytical in his approach, and tries to make Pike see the sense in his actions. The balance is great.
Some of the FBI agents and police officers involved are complete idiots, and some are bent. However, some of them are doing the right thing, and are straight down the middle. The twists and turns in the story keep you wondering which is which until the author chooses to reveal the truth. That is good suspense writing.
The bad guys are also very tough, and the match is almost even. Who will prevail? Well you have to read the whole book to its very gory conclusion to find out!
The one thing that did confuse and distract me, was that one of the characters is called Chloe, and is male. I have always thought of Chloe as a girl's name, so I was thinking, "This is one helluva tough chick," for about two-thirds of the book! Maybe it's a common guy's name in America, but not here in In-ger-land!
Anyway, this is a book that I'd recommend to anyone who can cope with a good story ladled with a huge dollop of violence.
The hero, Joe Pike, watches out for the oppressed. He is a very tough guy, and I would certainly prefer to have him as a friend than an enemy. Surprisingly, for such a character, he sometimes lets his heart lead his mind. His supporter, Elvis Cole, is tough too, but seems more analytical in his approach, and tries to make Pike see the sense in his actions. The balance is great.
Some of the FBI agents and police officers involved are complete idiots, and some are bent. However, some of them are doing the right thing, and are straight down the middle. The twists and turns in the story keep you wondering which is which until the author chooses to reveal the truth. That is good suspense writing.
The bad guys are also very tough, and the match is almost even. Who will prevail? Well you have to read the whole book to its very gory conclusion to find out!
The one thing that did confuse and distract me, was that one of the characters is called Chloe, and is male. I have always thought of Chloe as a girl's name, so I was thinking, "This is one helluva tough chick," for about two-thirds of the book! Maybe it's a common guy's name in America, but not here in In-ger-land!
Anyway, this is a book that I'd recommend to anyone who can cope with a good story ladled with a huge dollop of violence.
April 23, 2019
It all started because Joe Pike stopped to put air in his tires. While he is at the service station, he notices two suspicious men about to enter a sandwich stop across the street. Pike follows them and stops them from beating up the owner, Wilson Smith. When Pike is waiting to talk to the police, he meets Wilson’s niece, Dru Rayne. Both of them are refuges from New Oreleans, feeling after Hurricane Katrina five years before the story starts. When trouble comes for the duo again, Dru calls Pike, who brings his friend and partner Elvis Cole in to help. Elvis begins to uncover clues that things aren’t quite what they appear to be. What has the innocent act of stopping at a service station and doing a good deed gotten the duo into?
Thanks to the multiple view point narration, we have an idea what else might be happening before Pike and Cole do, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t interested. There is so much going on that what we are privy to is only a small part of the story. There are plenty of twists as this thriller works its way to the climax. Along the way we get new insight into both Joe Pike and Elvis Cole. We do see a few of the recurring characters, but they don’t get enough page time for any real development. The new characters are engaging enough to help keep us invested in the story. Even though we get some passages from Cole’s point of view, his humor is missing here, and I would have enjoyed it. Even by this series' standards, this book is violent. While these books always have more language and violence than my normal cozy mysteries, I felt what we got here could have been tone down without impacting the story in the slightest.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Thanks to the multiple view point narration, we have an idea what else might be happening before Pike and Cole do, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t interested. There is so much going on that what we are privy to is only a small part of the story. There are plenty of twists as this thriller works its way to the climax. Along the way we get new insight into both Joe Pike and Elvis Cole. We do see a few of the recurring characters, but they don’t get enough page time for any real development. The new characters are engaging enough to help keep us invested in the story. Even though we get some passages from Cole’s point of view, his humor is missing here, and I would have enjoyed it. Even by this series' standards, this book is violent. While these books always have more language and violence than my normal cozy mysteries, I felt what we got here could have been tone down without impacting the story in the slightest.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 19, 2011
What can I say about The Sentry except it was good. We got another glimpse into the mysterious Joe Pike and the deep bonds that hold Joe and Elvis together. It was what we all have come to expect from a Robert Crais novel…an action packed, exciting ride to a heart stopping finish with twists and turns along the way that you won‘t see coming.
As a writer I like to try and figure out what will happen next and where this ride is taking me, but as always I was stumped by the master storyteller and humbled by his skill.
Joe Pike falls in love, yes you heard me right…people he is not a monk! Dru and her uncle Wilson have blown in from the devastated New Orleans, with a few other stops along the way. Joe Pike does what he always does, he helps people in distress and these two have their hands full of drama and violence.
Elvis plays a major role in this novel as well from the eerie dream in the beginning, to the stunning conclusion. So many things in this life aren’t what they seem, but Pike charges forward to save the woman who has captured his heart, no matter what the cost.
From a rich and varied cast of characters to Robert’s wonderful descriptions, this book held me tightly in it’s grasp from the beginning straight through to the end.
As a writer I like to try and figure out what will happen next and where this ride is taking me, but as always I was stumped by the master storyteller and humbled by his skill.
Joe Pike falls in love, yes you heard me right…people he is not a monk! Dru and her uncle Wilson have blown in from the devastated New Orleans, with a few other stops along the way. Joe Pike does what he always does, he helps people in distress and these two have their hands full of drama and violence.
Elvis plays a major role in this novel as well from the eerie dream in the beginning, to the stunning conclusion. So many things in this life aren’t what they seem, but Pike charges forward to save the woman who has captured his heart, no matter what the cost.
From a rich and varied cast of characters to Robert’s wonderful descriptions, this book held me tightly in it’s grasp from the beginning straight through to the end.
September 26, 2025
2nd reading - Joe Pike is in the right place at the wrong time to intervene in a strongarm attempt on a businessman in L.A. The owner and his niece don't want to make a fuss, including calling the police, but what's done is done.
Joe becomes infatuated with the girl, Dru, and is in knight-in-shining armor mode. Pike and his partner, Elvis, become embroiled with the FBI and local homicide cops in cross and double cross escapades. Good action yarn.
1st reading - The 12th Elvis and 3rd Joe Pike story. Mistaken identities, several million in missing Bolivian drug money, a possible romance for Joe, Mexican mafia, and Lucy.
Joe becomes infatuated with the girl, Dru, and is in knight-in-shining armor mode. Pike and his partner, Elvis, become embroiled with the FBI and local homicide cops in cross and double cross escapades. Good action yarn.
1st reading - The 12th Elvis and 3rd Joe Pike story. Mistaken identities, several million in missing Bolivian drug money, a possible romance for Joe, Mexican mafia, and Lucy.
September 8, 2018
Another excellent Pike & Cole novel. This one really stands out due to the fantastic antagonist. You gotta have a great villain! I'm really glad I took a chance on this series.
December 26, 2020
Superb Cole and Pike, with Pike perhaps leading. A very good balance between the two. Complex and hard to predict, some very nice twists, and a romance of sorts for Pike.
I’ve somehow lost my notes for this book, sorry.
... but I don't remember many quoteworthy passages, just good solid prose, "it does what it says on the label". Great stuff.
----
There are at least two of Robert's works that he wrote from the heart, with visible love and wonder and care, my very favourites:
1. The Man Who Knew Dick Bong
My review of the collection of short stories by authors honouring Marlowe: Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe
2. Suspect about the detective, Scott, and his dog, Maggie. Robert took the 2 month dog handling course at LAPD before writing this book, and he told me personally how much he loved it. I could see how special this experience was to him.
My review of Suspect
I’ve somehow lost my notes for this book, sorry.
... but I don't remember many quoteworthy passages, just good solid prose, "it does what it says on the label". Great stuff.
----
There are at least two of Robert's works that he wrote from the heart, with visible love and wonder and care, my very favourites:
1. The Man Who Knew Dick Bong
My review of the collection of short stories by authors honouring Marlowe: Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe
2. Suspect about the detective, Scott, and his dog, Maggie. Robert took the 2 month dog handling course at LAPD before writing this book, and he told me personally how much he loved it. I could see how special this experience was to him.
My review of Suspect
January 22, 2020
It has been a good while since I read Robert Crais. I had forgot just how much I had enjoyed the Cole & Pike series. This edition was more than I could have ever expected. The suspense began with the first chapter and never let up until the last. 👏 The cast of characters were well developed as was mystery.
May 3, 2011
I do love my detectives and their tough-guy sidekicks: Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, Spenser and Hawk, and now Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Elvis Cole is an ex-Ranger with a Mickey Mouse phone, a bright yellow Corvette and a troubled past Joe Pike is his silent partner — dark shades, distinctive tattoos and very few words. The bonus for fans like me is that Robert Crais has taken the sidekick in his popular detective series and given him a series of his own — double the reading, double the pleasure for me. His latest Joe Pike novel, The Sentry, draws Pike into the problems of a lovely woman and her shady uncle…whether they want him there or not.
Joe Pike is the silent partner for a reason — he doesn’t talk much. He keeps his thoughts to himself and he never gives a two-word answer when one word will do. He’s ex-military, a sniper, and has his own troubled past to deal with. He is fiercely loyal, which is how he ends up involved with Dru Rayne, and why he stays involved when a lesser man would have thrown up his hands and walked away.
Pike sees an assault in progress and steps in to stop it. The victim, Wilson Smith, isn’t exactly grateful. He seems unreasonably annoyed with Pike for saving him from a pretty vicious beating. Then, Pike meets Dru, Smith’s niece. He’s immediately drawn to her intelligent eyes, which seems out of character for Pike. He’s too tough and closed-off to be much of a ladies’ man, but he feels a real connection with Dru. She tells him her story and then she disappears. The official story is that she and her uncle left town, but Pike isn’t buying it. His instincts tell him that Dru is in danger and he looks for her, even as he story begins to unravel.
Elvis Cole also has his part to play in this, and it’s not the role he wanted. No one wants to tell a good friend that someone they care for may be lying to them, but it’s what a good friend does. He is always going to be there for Pike, no matter what it costs. Their relationship is one of the things I’ve loved about these novels.
I devoured this book. I love detective fiction and I am especially fond of Cole and Pike. They work well together, the story was interesting with a number of twists and turns, and each Pike novel seems to reveal a little more about Joe, the enigma. I just wish they could tell us more about these guys without ripping their hearts out.
I would strongly recommend The Sentryto any fan of detective fiction or cop stories. My copy was an Advanced Reader Edition, provided free of charge by the publisher.
Originally published on my website, AliveontheShelves.com.
Joe Pike is the silent partner for a reason — he doesn’t talk much. He keeps his thoughts to himself and he never gives a two-word answer when one word will do. He’s ex-military, a sniper, and has his own troubled past to deal with. He is fiercely loyal, which is how he ends up involved with Dru Rayne, and why he stays involved when a lesser man would have thrown up his hands and walked away.
Pike sees an assault in progress and steps in to stop it. The victim, Wilson Smith, isn’t exactly grateful. He seems unreasonably annoyed with Pike for saving him from a pretty vicious beating. Then, Pike meets Dru, Smith’s niece. He’s immediately drawn to her intelligent eyes, which seems out of character for Pike. He’s too tough and closed-off to be much of a ladies’ man, but he feels a real connection with Dru. She tells him her story and then she disappears. The official story is that she and her uncle left town, but Pike isn’t buying it. His instincts tell him that Dru is in danger and he looks for her, even as he story begins to unravel.
Elvis Cole also has his part to play in this, and it’s not the role he wanted. No one wants to tell a good friend that someone they care for may be lying to them, but it’s what a good friend does. He is always going to be there for Pike, no matter what it costs. Their relationship is one of the things I’ve loved about these novels.
I devoured this book. I love detective fiction and I am especially fond of Cole and Pike. They work well together, the story was interesting with a number of twists and turns, and each Pike novel seems to reveal a little more about Joe, the enigma. I just wish they could tell us more about these guys without ripping their hearts out.
I would strongly recommend The Sentryto any fan of detective fiction or cop stories. My copy was an Advanced Reader Edition, provided free of charge by the publisher.
Originally published on my website, AliveontheShelves.com.
February 20, 2012
I love it when a book surprises me, I really do, and it's always terrific when it's a book by an author I'm a fan of. But then again, there is definitely something to be said for writers who deliver consistently great books each time; nothing too different, just the right blend of action and plot, with characters you grow attached to from book to book.
I'm a big fan of Robert Crais' books featuring wisecracking but sensitive PI Elvis Cole, and his partner, former policeman-turned-mercenary-turned-tough guy, Joe Pike. Over the last few years Crais has centered a few of his books around Pike, and although his writing doesn't change, Pike, a man of few words but truly defined values and beliefs, is a powerful presence. In The Sentry, while pumping gas one day, he notices two gang members acting strangely, and winds up stopping them from severely beating a sandwich shop owner. Drawn to the owner's niece, Dru Rayne, he promises to protect them, and tries to intervene when gang members step up their attacks, and Dru and her uncle flee in fear. But Pike quickly discovers that nothing is what it seems, that the number of enemies he should fear is far larger than he realizes, and the only people he can count on are Cole and their associates.
Joe Pike is an interesting character, and I always picture him similar to a less talkative and hammy Dwayne Johnson (The Rock). I love the way Crais has given Pike so much depth and the way he has fleshed out the relationship between him and Elvis Cole. The Sentry has all of the features of Crais' great books—brutal violence, diabolical villains, and fast-paced action. My only criticism of this book is that the main villain's "sidekicks" (I won't say more than that) are really annoying, with a tendency to parrot back a portion of everything he says. Over 400 or so pages, that gets a little wearying. But other than that, this is another Robert Crais book worth picking up.
I'm a big fan of Robert Crais' books featuring wisecracking but sensitive PI Elvis Cole, and his partner, former policeman-turned-mercenary-turned-tough guy, Joe Pike. Over the last few years Crais has centered a few of his books around Pike, and although his writing doesn't change, Pike, a man of few words but truly defined values and beliefs, is a powerful presence. In The Sentry, while pumping gas one day, he notices two gang members acting strangely, and winds up stopping them from severely beating a sandwich shop owner. Drawn to the owner's niece, Dru Rayne, he promises to protect them, and tries to intervene when gang members step up their attacks, and Dru and her uncle flee in fear. But Pike quickly discovers that nothing is what it seems, that the number of enemies he should fear is far larger than he realizes, and the only people he can count on are Cole and their associates.
Joe Pike is an interesting character, and I always picture him similar to a less talkative and hammy Dwayne Johnson (The Rock). I love the way Crais has given Pike so much depth and the way he has fleshed out the relationship between him and Elvis Cole. The Sentry has all of the features of Crais' great books—brutal violence, diabolical villains, and fast-paced action. My only criticism of this book is that the main villain's "sidekicks" (I won't say more than that) are really annoying, with a tendency to parrot back a portion of everything he says. Over 400 or so pages, that gets a little wearying. But other than that, this is another Robert Crais book worth picking up.
November 17, 2011
Another good action adventure with Pike and Cole. I must admit that I got interested in the series more following Joe Pike than E. C. I suspect that both these characters have readers who are more interested in one than the other. The writer presents both of them realistically yet without wearing us out relating detail (though I am thoroughly informed now about Joe's running and dietary habits....I don't need to hear it again. But I suppose I will.)
Here Joe gets involved with a...wait a minute, I better put that under a spoiler warning: A bit of a departure for Joe's character here but a pretty well done book.
I enjoyed it and have started another Robert Crais book and have another on hold at the library...and consequently AGAIN my own books set on the shelf and go wanting for my attention as I finish library books and get them returned.
I have no will power.
But as I said, pretty good read, intellectual junk food. Enjoy, 4 stars.
Here Joe gets involved with a...wait a minute, I better put that under a spoiler warning: A bit of a departure for Joe's character here but a pretty well done book.
I enjoyed it and have started another Robert Crais book and have another on hold at the library...and consequently AGAIN my own books set on the shelf and go wanting for my attention as I finish library books and get them returned.
I have no will power.
But as I said, pretty good read, intellectual junk food. Enjoy, 4 stars.
January 27, 2011
A terrific novel featuring Joe Pike and Elvis Cole but in a few ways a little too pat so I ended up giving it 4 stars instead of 5 stars
Pike interrupts some gang members beating up a man, Wilson Smith, in a sandwich shop. He decides to intervene in Smith's problems because of Dru, a young woman who is the man's niece. Pike meets with a local gang boss who promises Pike that he will get his young men to leave the Smith and Dru alone, but instead Smith and Dru disappear and Pike goes on the hunt for them fearing that they have been kidnapped, by gangsters who were seen at the house.
Pike finds that Smith is not who he says he is and that several different people are after him, including a psycho Bolivian hitman, who talks to invisible friends and likes to torture and kill his victims, the FBI and the police.
Pike will enlist Cole to help him track Smith and Dru down. There are some twists and turns to the plot and some cops and robbers have it out. The usual gun battles occur and Pike and Cole have to use their wits and strong right arms to foil the various plots and killers.
Fast great read. Crais is just so good its scary.
Pike interrupts some gang members beating up a man, Wilson Smith, in a sandwich shop. He decides to intervene in Smith's problems because of Dru, a young woman who is the man's niece. Pike meets with a local gang boss who promises Pike that he will get his young men to leave the Smith and Dru alone, but instead Smith and Dru disappear and Pike goes on the hunt for them fearing that they have been kidnapped, by gangsters who were seen at the house.
Pike finds that Smith is not who he says he is and that several different people are after him, including a psycho Bolivian hitman, who talks to invisible friends and likes to torture and kill his victims, the FBI and the police.
Pike will enlist Cole to help him track Smith and Dru down. There are some twists and turns to the plot and some cops and robbers have it out. The usual gun battles occur and Pike and Cole have to use their wits and strong right arms to foil the various plots and killers.
Fast great read. Crais is just so good its scary.
February 9, 2013
Joe Pike is a bad man and a good guy. This exciting story is well worth the read. I wish it were longer. 9 of 10 stars
July 31, 2024
Another good Cole and Pike story. I hope to read all of them that are out there.
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March 21, 2012
Been loving the series of Elvis Cole and his quiet buddy/friend/business partner, Joe Pike.
It started with Elvis as the headliner and Joe his co-star but this is the third series of Joe as star and Elvis as co-star although Elvis' role in this last book is more predominent than in others.
While Elvis clearly has had a love interest, Joe only love interest was mentioned because she was murdered. So our interest is stirred as soon as he seems interested in a woman he meets. Because of the situation, being harassed by local gang members, he commits to protecting her and her uncle who own a sandwich shop.
Like 'who's on first' skit, the book takes all kinds of turns to discover who are the good guys. The really sadistical killer (and Elvis and Joe, of cours) is the only one we're sure of and he's not letting anyone get in his way, even these two talented P.I.'s.
For me, Crais' writing never seems to slack. I admit some books are more my favorites than others, the first one, The Monkey's Raincoat (Edgar Award Winner) and L. A. Requiem (Edgar nominee) but as a series, it hasn't wandered far from it's roots. I do recall though Elvis being a little more 'light' and funny than he is these days, but hey, give the guy a break; he's had a lot of things happen to him since those sunny days 'eyeing the candy' from his second floor office where his clock tick-tocks with is eyes moving from side to side and tail keeping up with the eyes.
And Joe, what a friend Elvis is to Joe and visa versa. They read each other well and depend on each other without hesitation. Perhaps their individual sense of honor has something to do with their commitment to each other. Nice to have a friend who has 'got your back.'
It started with Elvis as the headliner and Joe his co-star but this is the third series of Joe as star and Elvis as co-star although Elvis' role in this last book is more predominent than in others.
While Elvis clearly has had a love interest, Joe only love interest was mentioned because she was murdered. So our interest is stirred as soon as he seems interested in a woman he meets. Because of the situation, being harassed by local gang members, he commits to protecting her and her uncle who own a sandwich shop.
Like 'who's on first' skit, the book takes all kinds of turns to discover who are the good guys. The really sadistical killer (and Elvis and Joe, of cours) is the only one we're sure of and he's not letting anyone get in his way, even these two talented P.I.'s.
For me, Crais' writing never seems to slack. I admit some books are more my favorites than others, the first one, The Monkey's Raincoat (Edgar Award Winner) and L. A. Requiem (Edgar nominee) but as a series, it hasn't wandered far from it's roots. I do recall though Elvis being a little more 'light' and funny than he is these days, but hey, give the guy a break; he's had a lot of things happen to him since those sunny days 'eyeing the candy' from his second floor office where his clock tick-tocks with is eyes moving from side to side and tail keeping up with the eyes.
And Joe, what a friend Elvis is to Joe and visa versa. They read each other well and depend on each other without hesitation. Perhaps their individual sense of honor has something to do with their commitment to each other. Nice to have a friend who has 'got your back.'
January 23, 2011
Joe Pike spots two men go into a store. By their body language he can tell that they are planning to do something malicious. When Joe enters the store to check it out, he finds the men have the store owner on the floor and are beating him.
Joe dispatches one of the men and the other runs away. The one man is arrested but later gets out on bail.
That night someone throws a can of paint through the store window.
The owner's niece, Dru Rayne, speaks to Joe and Joe offers to help. He learns that the men were attempting to shake down the store owner to have him pay for protection. Joe visits with the gang leader and gets the man's promise to leave the store alone.
Dru and Joe go out for coffee and it seems as this is a relationship that culd lead to something. Dru shows Joe a photo of her child and Joe seems captivated.
Again, the next night, someone trashes the store and leaves a sign painted on the wall "I am here." Then, Dru and her uncle disappear.
The story continues at a fast pace. Violence and suspense mount but Joe is the calm person in the midst of it all. He's got his mind set to right a wrong, no matter what. The authorities, and other people are looking for Dru and her uncle and Joe attempts to find them first to make sure they don't come to any harm.
I found myself totally drawn to this book and feel that readers will also enjoy it.
Joe dispatches one of the men and the other runs away. The one man is arrested but later gets out on bail.
That night someone throws a can of paint through the store window.
The owner's niece, Dru Rayne, speaks to Joe and Joe offers to help. He learns that the men were attempting to shake down the store owner to have him pay for protection. Joe visits with the gang leader and gets the man's promise to leave the store alone.
Dru and Joe go out for coffee and it seems as this is a relationship that culd lead to something. Dru shows Joe a photo of her child and Joe seems captivated.
Again, the next night, someone trashes the store and leaves a sign painted on the wall "I am here." Then, Dru and her uncle disappear.
The story continues at a fast pace. Violence and suspense mount but Joe is the calm person in the midst of it all. He's got his mind set to right a wrong, no matter what. The authorities, and other people are looking for Dru and her uncle and Joe attempts to find them first to make sure they don't come to any harm.
I found myself totally drawn to this book and feel that readers will also enjoy it.
March 24, 2018
Joe Pike shares a Private Investigative Firm with Elvis Cole, a combat buddy. When Pike comes across a gang beating up on a man in a small sandwich shop, he doesn’t back down. Then he meets the niece of the shop owner and you’d think Pike was falling for her, but these two strangers are not who Pike thinks they are. His buddy Cole has unveiled something much bigger than themselves, and to get to the bottom of it, they follow the clues, walk the trails and surveil the houses and those involved. Together, they unleash much more than they bargained for.
I really like this series on Joe Pike. Every time I read about the area Joe travels within, I swear, I think Harry Bosch and Joe Pike could very well be neighbors. It is so weird reading the street names so familiar in Michael Connelly’s, Harry Bosch series. But that isn’t all. While Bosch is endearingly called my “bull in a china shop’ man, Pike is becoming my ‘shoot first ask later’ guy and I love them both. The writing style is just a bit different but not enough to deter me from reading more. The only thing that annoys me is the way that Pike kills and gets away with it, in a way.
I really like this series on Joe Pike. Every time I read about the area Joe travels within, I swear, I think Harry Bosch and Joe Pike could very well be neighbors. It is so weird reading the street names so familiar in Michael Connelly’s, Harry Bosch series. But that isn’t all. While Bosch is endearingly called my “bull in a china shop’ man, Pike is becoming my ‘shoot first ask later’ guy and I love them both. The writing style is just a bit different but not enough to deter me from reading more. The only thing that annoys me is the way that Pike kills and gets away with it, in a way.
February 9, 2011
I had two favorite lines in this one. First was when the guy who drives a Prius says, "Go green, Mr. Pike, the planet needs love." HA! I just can't picture Joe Pike, all six-foot-one-inch, 200 pounds of him, tooling around in a little black Prius. Doesn't go with the image.
My other favorite line is the great truth: "Men stayed sharp when it came to money. Men got stupid when it came to women." Even Pike is not immune.
That SNAG (Sensitive New Age Guys) moment at the end was just too tender, wasn't it?! I guess even tough guys learn to treasure their friendships as they get older.
I love Joe Pike, love Elvis Cole. My only criticism here is that Pike and Cole seem to get away with breaking too many laws. They commit some serious crimes in the course of their heroism. Who makes those problems disappear for them?
My other favorite line is the great truth: "Men stayed sharp when it came to money. Men got stupid when it came to women." Even Pike is not immune.
That SNAG (Sensitive New Age Guys) moment at the end was just too tender, wasn't it?! I guess even tough guys learn to treasure their friendships as they get older.
I love Joe Pike, love Elvis Cole. My only criticism here is that Pike and Cole seem to get away with breaking too many laws. They commit some serious crimes in the course of their heroism. Who makes those problems disappear for them?
August 28, 2011
Joe Pike walks into a sandwich shop to see the owner being beaten up by two punk gangstas. He steps in, beats one up, and then falls for the owner's niece. After retaliation, Joe meets with the gang's boss and thinks the matter is resolved until the owner and niece disappear. When the two punks are found dead, all assumptions are off and Joe enlists the help of Elvis Cole to help find them before they are killed. As it turns out, they are running from a Bolivian mafia enforcer and some other enterprising folks. Things get very messy.
December 26, 2015
For anyone looking for a new fun series to try, give Robert Crais a shot. Elvis Cole is a PI that gets in all kind of trouble. His buddy, Joe Pike, provides the muscle and military background. All of the stories revolve around L.A. Now, since I got an Amazon gift card for Christmas, I am going to buy Pretty Girls and The Crossing. But which one do I start tonight?
January 25, 2011
I really don't know of a more readable author than Robert Crais. Even though I had a few quibbles with some of the plotting I could not turn the pages fast enough.
March 18, 2018
Another first class instalment in the adventures of Cole & Pike.
December 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this 14th book in Robert Crais's "Elvis Cole" series!
It is also the 3rd book in his "Joe Pike" series.
It is also the 3rd book in his "Joe Pike" series.
March 1, 2024
This book has an ominous tone from the jump. That Hurricane Katrina flashback and then Elvis Cole having a nightmare about Joe Pike’s death. Plus, getting mopey about being alone because of his dangerous job. Lucy IS the bad penny that never goes away.
Like a common theme in the last few Crais books, one decision can affect your life in extreme ways. This time it’s Pike stopping to put air in his tires. It puts him on a collision course with an extremely dangerous assassin.
This book was great and terrible at the same time. It dragged and then accelerated where you were like what, huh, and who?!?
⚠️⚠️⚠️spoilers ahead⚠️⚠️⚠️
Lots of super sad deaths. Super high body count. A few plot holes. Like if you were a fugitive from a drug cartel why in the f*ck would you open a sandwich shop?!? I’d be hiding on a remote beach island 🏝️ somewhere. These were NOT smart criminals no matter what Pike thought of her “smart eyes 👀 “. I rolled mine often. 🙄🙄 Joe Pike has great taste when picking his friends BUT he’s HORRIBLE at picking woman to love, yikes 😳
This had a satisfying end thank god it turned the 3 stars ⭐️ I was going to give it to 4.
I’m pausing on my Cole and Pike binge for a bit. And going back to my Quarry (hard case) by Max Allan Collins binge 😬😬
Like a common theme in the last few Crais books, one decision can affect your life in extreme ways. This time it’s Pike stopping to put air in his tires. It puts him on a collision course with an extremely dangerous assassin.
This book was great and terrible at the same time. It dragged and then accelerated where you were like what, huh, and who?!?
⚠️⚠️⚠️spoilers ahead⚠️⚠️⚠️
Lots of super sad deaths. Super high body count. A few plot holes. Like if you were a fugitive from a drug cartel why in the f*ck would you open a sandwich shop?!? I’d be hiding on a remote beach island 🏝️ somewhere. These were NOT smart criminals no matter what Pike thought of her “smart eyes 👀 “. I rolled mine often. 🙄🙄 Joe Pike has great taste when picking his friends BUT he’s HORRIBLE at picking woman to love, yikes 😳
This had a satisfying end thank god it turned the 3 stars ⭐️ I was going to give it to 4.
I’m pausing on my Cole and Pike binge for a bit. And going back to my Quarry (hard case) by Max Allan Collins binge 😬😬
March 22, 2018
The Sentry by Robert Crais features two of Crias' reoccurring characters, Elvis Cole (Series #14) and Joe Pike (Series #3). This adventure involves a couple who Pike helps after they become entangled with the Mexican mob. Lots of gun battles and sleuthing..
February 24, 2011
As always, Crais moves the story along nicely with enough suspense and unanswered questions to quickly propel the reader along. In typical Crais style the characters are all really well-developed with their own distinct personalities. (Think Jared.) That said, The Sentry was not, though, at the top of my list of favorite Robert Crais novels (maybe not a favorite, but still good enough to merit four stars). The main premise of the story was just not believable. That Pike could have developed such a deep and personal connection to this girl with whom he’s spent only a very small amount of time just doesn't cut it. There is certainly some saving of the damsel in distress in play here, but the problem is that it goes on and on and on no matter what the distress and no matter how little Pike knows of Dru and her "uncle." And even worse, when he DOES know the truth about Dru and her "uncle." Without giving too much away, therein lies the problem. While I understand that Pike is loyal to a fault, it just does not resonate that, no matter what the circumstances are, he will never go back on his word once promised. But to be so loyal to someone you just met, and because of a perceived love connection, and just because you said you would, even after all that you have learned? I'm sorry, but that's just not admirable. And that’s not Pike. This is Joe Pike we're talking about. And Joe is smart. This is what has saved his life time and time again. Were it not for this one false premise (as I saw it), I think I would have enjoyed The Sentry much more.
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