The latest case that lands in Elvis' lap is a simple missing persons case. Piece of cake for the self-professed World's Greatest Detective. Traci Beller is one of those ubiquitous 'influencers' that populate the Internet. She's 24, bakes muffins, and she has over 3 million followers. She's doing pretty good for herself.
She was born/raised in the western end of the San Fernando Valley. Her dad, Terry, was partnered with her uncle in an HVAC business. By all accounts, he was a decent man. Good father, husband, and provider. Until that day 10 years ago when, right after he finished his last job in (the fictitious) Rancha, CA (somewhere between Woodland Hills and Malibu), Terry simply vanished. Left the job, told the customer he hated the return traffic, hit the road and disappeared.
Cops thought little of it at the time. Wayward husband just up and leaves ne'er to be seen again. Nothing turned up. He'd just vanished. Five years later, the family hired a quality PI firm in LA to check into Terry's disappearance and come up empty. Only thing to come from that investigation was that Terry was officially and legally declared dead. With the 10th anniversary looming, Traci tries once more. That's were Elvis gets hired.
He wasn't hopeful. The previous firm did all the right things, asked the right questions, followed a disappointing trail, and failed to come up with any leads. Elvis is running the same race all over again with the same outcome becoming more clear by the day.
He does get a bit of a step further. Apparently, Terry stopped for burgers at a Rancha drive-up. The owner says Terry had some beer from the store across the street where a single mom struggles with the customers, her daughter, her boss, and the general Rancha low lifes.
The mom tells Elvis about this ex-con trailer trash woman and her daughter. Girl has some PTSD issues that date back to her high school years. These two now work for a flower delivery service. When Elvis shows them a photo of Terry Beller, their collective reactions trigger Elvis' BS meter - they are lying.
The girl's PTSD issues date began in her high school years when she was abducted by a guy in a panel truck but managed to escape. That's the hook Elvis needs to set in the right person for the facade of secrets to start to crumble and the truth about who Terry Beller was bubbles up secrets no one could possibly imagine.
And of course, Joe Pike has to step in when needed . . . and Elvis' cat makes the obligatory appearance and it has throughout Elvis' history with the beast. Just how old is that cat?
I'm not sure I gave this story the justice it deserves. Picked this up in the library on a Friday and was done by Monday. Crais's books are so readable, you just start reading and before you realize it, you've read 100 pages, put it done for a meal, pick it up again and another 100 pages are gone before you know it. After 20 novels and who knows how many teleplays for TV (e.g., Miami Vice, Hill Street Blues, Cagney and Lacy and dozens of others. Yeah, he's got the writing chops), you have to go in knowing that Crais is smooth, real smooth.
With 20 books to his credit, a new reader to Crais' world might think they have to go back to #1 (The Monkey's Raincoat). Nah, drop in anywhere and you'll get plenty of background you need to know. Elvis is SoCal cool in his Hawaiian shirts and yellow 2-seater 'vette. Pike is, well, he's Pike, the former Marine spec ops, former LA cop, now partnered with Elvis' PI firm and provides muscle and balls of brass when needed.
Having read most (all?) the Crais books, here's what's got me wondering. Why hasn't the Cole/Pike series been picked up for a streaming series? The material is there. I mean look at what's out there right now? Reacher. Longmire. Joe Pickett. Will Trent, Jack Ryan, The Dark Man series, and so many more. Why not Cole/Pike? The audience is there; every Crais book these days ends up on most all Best Seller lists. Only thing I can think of is that Crais just doesn't want to make the characters and stories available. Anybody know? Please tell me.
So, what's your soul craving about now? Yearning for a PI-missing persons tale that takes a very dark turn into the depths of depravity? Look no further. Firsts rate. 5 Stars. Top Shelf. Unparalleled. Unequaled.
East Coast Don
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