The Wanted by Robert Crais

Devon Connor is a single mom who is worried about her teenage son.  Tyson has never been a good student but he has always been a good kid.  However, his latest transfer to an alternative high school has resulted in new friends, Alec and Amber, who appear to be leading Tyson astray.  Tyson suddenly has new expensive clothes and electronics plus rolls of cash.  Devon is concerned Tyson is dealing drugs but doesn’t want to call the police until she’s positive Tyson is breaking the law.  So, she hires Elvis Cole to investigate.  Elvis quickly learns that Tyson is involved with the two other wayward souls, robbing rich people’s homes.  Foolishly, they keep the merchandise they want and fence the rest.  Elvis gets a list of the victims and their reported stolen merchandise from his cop friends who also tell him they have a video of the perps and expect to soon make an arrest.

Devon hires a lawyer and strikes a deal with the ADA for Tyson if he confesses and turns himself in.  After much coercion Tyson agrees but then disappears before his intended surrender.  Turns out he is infatuated with Amber and wants to warn her of her impending arrest.

Meanwhile, Elvis learns that the police aren’t the only ones looking for the teenage burglars.  Harvey and Stemms are two ruthless hitmen who have been hired by one of the victims to retrieve a stolen laptop computer apparently containing incriminating information about the owner.  Harvey and Stemms know no bounds when it comes to getting what they want.  They also have the video of the crooks and discover their identity before the cops.  They kill one witness and arrange a fatal accident for Alec before he can warn his partners.  Elvis enlists the help of Joe Pike.  Now they are in a race to find Tyson and Amber before either the hitmen or the police make their move.

Crais comes through with another hit in his Elvis Cole/ Joe Pike series.  The contrasting personalities of the two detectives hold your interest to the end.  Elvis with his smart-ass remarks alienates some but endears others.  Pike’s stoic, ‘just the facts mam’ style comes off as just cool.  Together they keep you in anticipation of their direct and decisive response to unwarranted violence.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance look.