martyfried's review
5.0
I'm glad I didn't give up on this series after the first book, Monkey's Raincoat. I wasn't crazy about that one, although it was not bad. But after reading a later one featuring more Joe Pike, I decided to skip to number 3 as others have recommended. It didn't disappoint.
The story was good, the humor seemed to fit in better, and Joe Pike came through. The style is a lot like the Spenser series, but I like it better, perhaps because it's a little less dated. And Elvis Cole is the world's best detective, so there's that.
One of the best Joe Pike lines in the book (and he doesn't say much) is one where they are being chased by 8 mafia guys trying to kill them, and the woman they're helping says:
I'm looking forward to reading more now, and may reread one that I read long ago and forgot about.
The story was good, the humor seemed to fit in better, and Joe Pike came through. The style is a lot like the Spenser series, but I like it better, perhaps because it's a little less dated. And Elvis Cole is the world's best detective, so there's that.
One of the best Joe Pike lines in the book (and he doesn't say much) is one where they are being chased by 8 mafia guys trying to kill them, and the woman they're helping says:
“How can you stop them? There’re eight of them and we’re trapped here in the middle of nowhere with them.”
Pike chambered a round into his shotgun. “No,” he said. “They’re trapped with us.”
I'm looking forward to reading more now, and may reread one that I read long ago and forgot about.
rphdarla's review against another edition
5.0
I am enjoying reading this series from the beginning. It is like a blast from the past reading a book set in the late 80's or early 90's. Very fun mystery.
si0bhan's review against another edition
3.0
Lullaby Town is the third book in the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series, and it was another quick read that had me happy to power through the story. As with the prior books, I enjoyed this one, but it wasn’t enough to make this a series I’m desperate to follow.
With Lullaby Town, Robert Crais once again offers something different with the type of case handled, but it is filled with the elements that made the first two books so addictive. The characters leave you curious, the case leaves you eager to see how it comes together, and the feel of the story means this one flows with ease and leaves you wanting more.
As enjoyable as it was, it was slow at points and there were certain details that were a bit too predictable and felt almost formulaic after the prior books. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable third book in the series.
With Lullaby Town, Robert Crais once again offers something different with the type of case handled, but it is filled with the elements that made the first two books so addictive. The characters leave you curious, the case leaves you eager to see how it comes together, and the feel of the story means this one flows with ease and leaves you wanting more.
As enjoyable as it was, it was slow at points and there were certain details that were a bit too predictable and felt almost formulaic after the prior books. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable third book in the series.
ericwelch's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook:
Cole is hired by an arrogant and self-absorbed Hollywood director to find his estranged wife and son, now gone for more than 10 years. He just wants to connect with his son. Finding the woman is easy enough, but Cole learns she is now the VP of a small-town bank who is being used by some Boston mob bosses to launder money.
Now, I think Cole screwed up by trying to fix things in his macho way. A quick call to the FBI (despite her reluctance to enter witness protection) might have solved things since she had evidence of all sorts of wrong-doing. Cole risked messing up her life and that of her kid. She wanted nothing to do with Peter, the Hollywood bigshot, and to my way of thinking should have had nothing to do with Cole either.
All that aside, at least Cole uses his brain to figure a way out for her by pitting one member of the “family” against another. The spate of violence at the end is really not their doing. It was also refreshing that neither Cole nor Pike found it necessary to jump in Karen's bed.
Satisfactory, although Pike starts to grate after a while.
Cole is hired by an arrogant and self-absorbed Hollywood director to find his estranged wife and son, now gone for more than 10 years. He just wants to connect with his son. Finding the woman is easy enough, but Cole learns she is now the VP of a small-town bank who is being used by some Boston mob bosses to launder money.
Now, I think Cole screwed up by trying to fix things in his macho way. A quick call to the FBI (despite her reluctance to enter witness protection) might have solved things since she had evidence of all sorts of wrong-doing. Cole risked messing up her life and that of her kid. She wanted nothing to do with Peter, the Hollywood bigshot, and to my way of thinking should have had nothing to do with Cole either.
All that aside, at least Cole uses his brain to figure a way out for her by pitting one member of the “family” against another. The spate of violence at the end is really not their doing. It was also refreshing that neither Cole nor Pike found it necessary to jump in Karen's bed.
Satisfactory, although Pike starts to grate after a while.
ctgt's review against another edition
4.0
Another fun Cole/Pike story. Nothing too complex just a quick, entertaining read.
carol26388's review
4.0
Finally--I found a new detective series that manages to entertain without offending. Fabulous. I don't mean that the book is fabulous; I was starting to despair that I could find a private eye series that didn't involve cats or serial killers. Seriously, people--does is have to be one or the other? I mean honestly--cats are kind of serial killers, right?
I started with this one based on friends' reviews--thanks, friends. Published in 1992, there's definitely an aspect that feels very period to me, but its done well enough so forgetaboutit.
The story has a two part structure, so there isn't much to say about the second without spoiling the first. Our hero is Elvis Cole, a private eye with a smart mouth, no style sense (unless you call a sweatshirt with Mickey Mouse a style), and extensive martial arts training. A good friend asks him to meet with a ridiculously famous Hollywood director who wants him to find his ex-wife and son who he hasn't had contact with in over ten years. Cole doesn't ask enough questions, of course, but who can blame him? Mr. Hollywood Director got on my last nerve as well. Of course, not everyone appreciates Elvis' humor:
"Donnie Brewster made the nervous frown. 'Stop with the humor, okay? I tell him you're brilliant and gifted, you make with the humor, he's gonna know that you're not.'"
Elvis is not in the least a tortured soul, and as for his bestie, Joe Pike, well, who knows? He's a man of few words.
"Pike didn't answer.
'You know the director, Peter Alan Nelsen? He's our client.'
Pike didn't answer some more. Trying to talk with Pike is like carrying on a fill-in-the-blank conversation."
The writing is interesting, with thoughtful bits interwoven. Crais' style is occasionally deceptively simple, with a reliance on 'and' that would have had my English teacher reaching for the red pen.
"I closed the toilet lid and sat on the seat and felt myself living. I felt the blood move and the lungs work and the muscles pull against bone. I hurt, but it was better than being in the hospital and better than being dead."
The plotting managed to surprise me more with a deviation from the traditional missing persons format and then a couple of twists based on actions that were completely logical within character context, just not within the mystery plot format. I appreciated that the missing woman was given a great deal of agency, respect and self-awareness. Kudos to Crais for being ahead of his time.
As far as I can tell, the only downside is that Elvis does indeed own a cat, who probably a closet serial killer. I'll have to learn to tolerate it. Humor, decent writing, a general lack of overt sexism and an absence of torture means this is easily a four star genre read and a series I'll continue.
I started with this one based on friends' reviews--thanks, friends. Published in 1992, there's definitely an aspect that feels very period to me, but its done well enough so forgetaboutit.
The story has a two part structure, so there isn't much to say about the second without spoiling the first. Our hero is Elvis Cole, a private eye with a smart mouth, no style sense (unless you call a sweatshirt with Mickey Mouse a style), and extensive martial arts training. A good friend asks him to meet with a ridiculously famous Hollywood director who wants him to find his ex-wife and son who he hasn't had contact with in over ten years. Cole doesn't ask enough questions, of course, but who can blame him? Mr. Hollywood Director got on my last nerve as well. Of course, not everyone appreciates Elvis' humor:
"Donnie Brewster made the nervous frown. 'Stop with the humor, okay? I tell him you're brilliant and gifted, you make with the humor, he's gonna know that you're not.'"
Elvis is not in the least a tortured soul, and as for his bestie, Joe Pike, well, who knows? He's a man of few words.
"Pike didn't answer.
'You know the director, Peter Alan Nelsen? He's our client.'
Pike didn't answer some more. Trying to talk with Pike is like carrying on a fill-in-the-blank conversation."
The writing is interesting, with thoughtful bits interwoven. Crais' style is occasionally deceptively simple, with a reliance on 'and' that would have had my English teacher reaching for the red pen.
"I closed the toilet lid and sat on the seat and felt myself living. I felt the blood move and the lungs work and the muscles pull against bone. I hurt, but it was better than being in the hospital and better than being dead."
The plotting managed to surprise me more with a deviation from the traditional missing persons format and then a couple of twists based on actions that were completely logical within character context, just not within the mystery plot format. I appreciated that the missing woman was given a great deal of agency, respect and self-awareness. Kudos to Crais for being ahead of his time.
As far as I can tell, the only downside is that Elvis does indeed own a cat, who probably a closet serial killer. I'll have to learn to tolerate it. Humor, decent writing, a general lack of overt sexism and an absence of torture means this is easily a four star genre read and a series I'll continue.
More...