The Watchman (Cole & Pike) - Softcover

Crais, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1409135594 ISBN 13: 9781409135593

Publisher: Orion, 2011

Synopsis

A superb Joe Pike and Elvis Cole novel from the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author, Robert Crais.

A long time ago, Joe Pike asked for help. In return, he would, one day, be called upon to return the favour, no questions asked. That day has come.

Joe Pike is asked to protect the life of Larkin Conner Barkley, a spoiled rich girl who happens to be a federal witness in a major case. But someone is leaking information about their whereabouts, and the killers are getting all too close. So Pike hatches a plan: disappear into the anonymous underbelly of Los Angeles, turn the tables, and hunt down the hunters.

Enlisting the help of Elvis Cole, Pike uncovers a web of lies and betrayals; even the cops aren't who they seem. But as the body count rises, it becomes clear that Pike's biggest threat may be the girl herself - an edgy, yet intensely vulnerable soul determined to destroy herself, unless Joe can fill the void in her bruised heart.

About this title

Review

In Robert Crais’ The Watchman, we have the author firing on all cylinders – and Crais aficionados will know that’s an experience to savour. It’s one of the tough long-term Crais protagonists, Joe Pike, who sets the edgy narrative in motion here, and the narrative barely pauses for breath once one of Crais most high adrenaline novels is in motion. Joe has been asked to look after a young female witness in a case involving a very dangerous gangster. The witness, Larkin Conner Barkely, couldn’t be more different from the close-mouthed Joe: she's rich, wilful and very much used to getting her own way. The uneasy alliance between the two is not much helped when some very violent men start breathing down their necks. Joe realises that he has to drag a reluctant Larkin from her privileged background and hide her from view in the more downmarket areas of L.A., while at the same time bloodily taking the battle to the enemy.

All of this is handled with the aplomb that we expect from the ever-reliable Crais, and admirers of the author will be pleased to hear that Joe Pike calls upon his partner Elvis Cole to help them stay alive and track down those wanting to eliminate Joe’s wealthy charge. Crais calls upon some classic elements of the L.A. detective story here (corrupt cops are a feature of such novels all the way back to Philip Marlowe), but there's no sense of clichés being warmed over. Rather, this is a satisfying juggling of comfortable elements, with the mix shaken up by some new and surprising ones -- such as the fact that the girl Pike and Cole are trying to protect seems to have a pronounced death wish -- a death wish that looks set to take down her protectors along with her. Crais fans can safely start reaching for their credit cards. --Barry Forshaw

Review

Packed with whiplash plot twists and taut dialogue, Crais' latest deftly reveals the taciturn, damaged Joe Pike. THE WATCHMAN is as good a psychological test case as it is a thriller (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY)

The narrative is taut, the menace palpable, the suspense unbearable (DAILY TELEGRAPH)

Fans of the Elvis Cole series have long wished for an instalment focusing on sidekick Pike, and their wish is more than granted with this stunningly emotional thriller (BOOKLIST)

About this edition

• Publisher: Orion
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1409135594
• ISBN 13: 9781409135593
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400