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Chasing Darkness (Elvis Cole Novel) Hardcover – July 1, 2008

by Robert Crais (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 7,627 ratings
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Elvis Cole is Back--In a Desperate Fight to Clear his Name... It's fire season, and the hills of Los Angeles are burning. When police and fire department personnel rush door to door in a frenzied evacuation effort, they discover the week-old corpse of an apparent suicide. But the gunshot victim is less gruesome than what they find in his lap: a photo album of seven brutally murdered young women -- one per year, for seven years. And when the suicide victim is identified as a former suspect in one of the murders, the news turns Elvis Cole's world upside down. Three years earlier Lionel Byrd was brought to trial for the murder of a female prostitute named Yvonne Bennett. A taped confession coerced by the police inspired a prominent defense attorney to take Byrd's case, and Elvis Cole was hired to investigate. It was Cole's eleventh-hour discovery of an exculpatory videotape that allowed Lionel Byrd to walk free. Elvis was hailed as a hero.
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Previous page
  1. Book 12 of 20
    Elvis Cole and Joe Pike
  2. Print length
    288 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster
  5. Publication date
    July 1, 2008
  6. Dimensions
    6.75 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0743281640
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0743281645
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Bookmarks Magazine

Elvis Cole has been around for more than 20 years, and he has aged like fine wine. Chasing Darkness contains the classic crime elements that have made Crais’s series so popular, but the novel seems, as a few critics commented, more like a straightforward crime thriller this time around. Material Witness felt that the novel was perhaps less psychologically intense than previous installments, but nonetheless still as compelling in its exploration of crime and backroom politics. A tight, plausible plot and a wholly unexpected ending kept critics turning the pages. In sum, “[t]he Cole books are first-rate entertainment. If you don’t know them, this one is a good starting point” (Washington Post).
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

From Booklist

When Lionel Byrd is charged with murder, his attorney hires Elvis Cole. The PI corroborates Byrd’s alibi through a convenience store security tape, but murders similar to the one in which Byrd was a suspect continue. Then Byrd is found in his small rental in the Los Angeles hills, the victim of an apparent suicide. Beside his body is a notebook with pictures of all the victims, taken at the moment of death. The consensus among the cops, the press, and the victims’ families is that Cole freed a killer. Cole stands by his work and digs in again, but this time, his goal isn’t to clear Byrd, it’s to find the killer. The Cole novels are always thoughtful and entertaining, but sometimes a little short on mystery—usually readers know who but not necessarily why. Here the killer isn’t revealed until late in the game, and it’s a genuine “a-ha!” moment. Mix in the usual sterling dialogue, the shadowy presence of Cole’s sidekick Joe Pike, and an extended appearance by former bomb squad technician and semi-pro smart aleck Carol Starkey (Demolition Angel, 2000) for an intense and very satisfying thriller. Crais is one of the very best, and this novel encompasses all of his strengths. --Wes Lukowsky

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; First Edition ~1st Printing (July 1, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0743281640
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0743281645
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.75 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 7,627 ratings

About the author

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Robert Crais

Robert Crais

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Robert Crais is the author of the bestselling Cole & Pike novels. A native of Louisiana, Crais moved to Hollywood in the late 70s where he began a successful career in television, writing scripts for such major series as Cagney & Lacey, Miami Vice and Hill Street Blues. In the mid 80s, following his success with the TV buddy genre, Crais created a series of crime novels based around the characters Cole & Pike. In addition, Crais has also written several bestselling standalone thrillers. Robert Crais lives in LA with his wife and family.

Here are the Elvis Cole novels in series order:

The Monkey's Raincoat

Stalking the Angel

Lullaby Town

Free Fall

Voodoo River

Sunset Express

Indigo Slam

L. A. Requiem

The Last Detective

The Forgotten Man

The Watchman

Chasing Darkness

Stand-alone novels:

Demolition Angel

Hostage

The Two Minute Rule

The First Rule

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
7,627 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Robert Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars quality
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024
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This book is very well constructed, and the story is superb
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Gabriela Perez
4.0 out of 5 stars Crais continues his sterling series
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2008
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(This is really more of a 4.5 star rating; dang it, Amazon, give us that option, wouldja?!)

Like most of the reviewers here, I am a long-time Crais fan. I still can't remember who first turned me on to the Elvis Cole novels, but I'm eternally grateful.

I rarely re-read books, but I've recently gone back to some of the older Cole novels, ending with  The Forgotten Man (Elvis Cole Novels)  in order to refresh my memory of where Elvis might be at this novel's start, and I'm glad I did that.

This book is way too short for my liking; I read it in one day, mostly during bus rides thither and yon. And, you know, once you're done with a favorite author's work, you're just sitting there wondering how you'll survive the year or more until the next one is released. I wish it had been longer, hence the 4-star rating.

This novel begins with Elvis and Pike back in a rhythm; Lucy Chenier (the woman Elvis loves) is still elsewhere, apart from Cole because of the violence that seems to be a permanent part of his world. Starkey is around, still lusting after Cole. Poitras, Cole's connection to the police, is here as well. And the cat--yep, he's still here. Complete with cat-titude. I love the scene where he basically melts in Pike's hands. (He loves Elvis, but apparently he adores Joe, whose sweet, tender side usually comes out only in moments like this one.)

For the most part, this novel does not disappoint. Plenty of situations where Elvis has to pick apart the evidence he's given along with the stuff he uncovers. In this case, he's trying to determine whether a man he helped get off on a murder charge was really the murderer who then went on to kill even more women. Of course this means that Elvis has a stake in the investigation that goes beyond what a typical PI would have. That's not unusual, though. Elvis frequently becomes entangled in his investigations; that's what leads to much of the violence he experiences.

What has always been great about Elvis Cole is his humanity, the sense that his core is so caring and. . .well. . .tender. That doesn't sound macho, I know. But it's how I see him. He's not tender when it comes to his actions or his propensity to violence. But when it comes to other people, to their sadness and vulnerability, to their loss and his role in any of those, he's soft. He's got heart.

What I really liked about this novel:

1) Starkey and her vulnerability (which co-exists quite nicely with her hardass nature and her intellect);

2) Joe's clear understanding of the fragility of Elvis's grip on life (by this, I mean that after Elvis's near death of a couple of books back, Joe seems to be far less willing to let his friend approach danger without Pike standing right there with him); neither of these guys is terribly young at this point, and the risks they routinely take seem keenly felt by both; and

3)the story itself, which wasn't predictable or yawn-worthy.

If you've never read an Elvis Cole novel before, I urge you to pick up the whole lot of them. You don't need to read from beginning to end, but that would be a good thing if you want to see the evolution of the Elvis/Joe friendship and find out about both men in some sort of "natural" progression.
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Wayne C. Rogers
5.0 out of 5 stars Anything by Robert Crais is a winner!
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2008
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Elvis Cole, the world's greatest detective, is back in action with Robert Crais' newest novel, Chasing Darkness. I've been reading the "Elvis Cole" series since the mid-nineties, and I've never been disappointed in a single one of the twelve books. In fact, this is a series that I'll buy in hardcover as soon as it comes out, rather than waiting for the paperback edition to present itself a year down the road. That alone says a lot about the quality of the storytelling here and the author's writing.

In Chasing Darkness, Los Angeles P.I. Elvis Cole has to deal with the possibility that he got a serial killer (Lionel Byrd) off the hook several years before when he was hired by the man's lawyer to find evidence of the client's innocence with regards to a particular murder. Now, Byrd is dead and the evidence that is found with his body suggest that he might have killed a large number of young women over the years and the police and the victim's families are blaming Cole for the additional deaths that occurred after Byrd's release from police custody. Cole, however, doesn't believe that Byrd was the killer, and the only way for him to prove this is to find the real murderer. Even with the help of LAPD officers Carol Sharky and Lou Portias, Cole is going to have a difficult time following the necessary leads because the Task Force that's been set up to investigate the serial killings is keeping him out of the loop. If that isn't bad enough, the evidence and witnesses are disappearing as fast as Cole becomes aware of their existence, causing him to believe that the killer is still at work and that he may be a person of prominence in the local community. Elvis Cole will definitely have his work cut out for him as he attempts to stay alive and to clear his name at the same time. Of course, he'll have the help of his partner, Joe Pike.

That Robert Crais is a much better writer today than he was a decade ago is beyond question. His writing style took a giant leap with the publication of L.A. Requiem a few years ago, bringing his work to the attention of a much larger reading audience and to a spot on the New York Times Bestseller list. His prose certainly creates images in the reader's mind that linger long after the book is finish. His characters are filled with the energy of actual people who have to find a way through the utter chaos of life and to hopefully grow through the trial and tribulations that are placed in front of them. Cole is still his sarcastic self in Chasing Darkness, but a more serious side of his personality comes out as he deals with the family members who hold him responsible for the deaths of their children and siblings. The ever silent and dangerous Joe Pike is still at Cole's side, but he plays a much smaller role this time around. The few scenes that Pike is in, however, are powerful and almost steal the show from our hard-working and wisecracking detective. If I needed someone to cover my back, I'd definitely want Joe Pike there to do it. Cole feels the same way!

Needless to say, Chasing Darkness is another excellent novel in this outstanding series. Why Hollywood hasn't scooped up the film rights to the Cole/Pike books is beyond me. These novels are perfect for the big screen. They're entertaining, witty, fun, thought provoking, and sometimes deadly serious. So, if you're looking for some high quality reading for the remaining weeks of the summer, pick up Chasing Darkness, or go back and buy L.A. Requiem paperback, or maybe even The Last Detective. You can never go wrong with a novel by Robert Crais.
4 people found this helpful
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David Wade
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2023
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The story: Elvis Cole worked a case three years ago proving a man didn't commit a murder. Then, the man committed suicide and, from the evidence with him, it looks like he committed that murder and six more. Elvis Cole decides to do some digging, because his conscience is bothered by what he might have missed.

My thoughts: Good story and writing. This is a good series.
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Lee Gimenez
4.0 out of 5 stars Another good thriller by Robert Crais
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2023
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Chasing Darkness is another good thriller by Robert Crais. I've read many of the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series of novels and found them to be excellent, and this book is just as good as those. This is a very good mystery thriller, with excellent plotting, dialogue, and character development.
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Jan Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Crais never fails to please his readers.
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2024
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I always look forward to the next Elvis Cole/Joe Pike story. This one will entertain you from start to finish. I enjoy the books that feature Elvis' girl friend, Lucy, and her son Ben, and I believe that you will too. For comic relief there is always that mean cat who hates everyone but Elvis and Joe.
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Top reviews from other countries

David Stroud
5.0 out of 5 stars Another cracker from Crais.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2023
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A good plot with lots of twists and turns. Political intrigue and strained family lives all rolled into one book.
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samuel migicovsky
5.0 out of 5 stars Comparable to early Jack Reacher novels
Reviewed in Canada on April 1, 2021
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As a fan of the earlier Reacher novels, Elvis Cole and Joe Pike adventures are similar in style and tone . A great read .
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Loren
4.0 out of 5 stars A solid murder mystery, well told
Reviewed in France on February 10, 2019
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This Cole and Pike story has them working well together, and the other main characters are interesting and generally believable. I found some bits a little hard to swallow, and the "bad guy" is not very clearly sketched out, but it's still a good read.
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Peter Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in Australia on November 3, 2022
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Great as always.
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rowland
5.0 out of 5 stars great
Reviewed in Australia on June 7, 2021
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always good
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