The Sentry (Joe Pike) (edition 2011)

Typical good Robert Crais fast-paced story. Pike falls for a waitress and finds himself immersed in much more---of coure! ( )

Robert Crais kidnaps the reader once again in The Sentry, but the reader doesn't wish to be rescued, well unless Joe Pike and Elvis Cole are the rescuers. The reader feels like they are protected from the injustices of the world while visiting with old friends, Joe Pike and Elvis Cole, in this adventure filled with twists and turns. Crais lets the reader see just enough of Pike to want more but not enough to solve the mystery of Pike. The mystery of Pike and the humor of Cole are much of what keep me coming back for more from Crais with each book. In The Sentry, Pike's integrity won't allow him to turn his back on a woman he perceives in need of saving. Once in motion, Pike can't be stopped. His sense of right and wrong drives him to find the truth, save the girl, solve the crime, and make things right even if it puts him in danger in ways that go beyond the physical. Crais deftly balances Pike's stoicism with Cole's humor while letting the reader get to know Pike a little better and yet, Pike remains a mystery. As usual, Crais delivers a story so engrossing when it ends the reader only has one question. When do I get more of Joe Pike and Elvis Cole? ( )

I do love my detectives and their tough-guy sidekicks: Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, Spenser and Hawk, and now Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Elvis Cole is an ex-Ranger with a Mickey Mouse phone, a bright yellow Corvette and a troubled past Joe Pike is his silent partner — dark shades, distinctive tattoos and very few words. The bonus for fans like me is that Robert Crais has taken the sidekick in his popular detective series and given him a series of his own — double the reading, double the pleasure for me. His latest Joe Pike novel, The Sentry, draws Pike into the problems of a lovely woman and her shady uncle…whether they want him there or not.

Joe Pike is the silent partner for a reason — he doesn’t talk much. He keeps his thoughts to himself and he never gives a two-word answer when one word will do. He’s ex-military, a sniper, and has his own troubled past to deal with. He is fiercely loyal, which is how he ends up involved with Dru Rayne, and why he stays involved when a lesser man would have thrown up his hands and walked away.

Pike sees an assault in progress and steps in to stop it. The victim, Wilson Smith, isn’t exactly grateful. He seems unreasonably annoyed with Pike for saving him from a pretty vicious beating. Then, Pike meets Dru, Smith’s niece. He’s immediately drawn to her intelligent eyes, which seems out of character for Pike. He’s too tough and closed-off to be much of a ladies’ man, but he feels a real connection with Dru. She tells him her story and then she disappears. The official story is that she and her uncle left town, but Pike isn’t buying it. His instincts tell him that Dru is in danger and he looks for her, even as he story begins to unravel.

Elvis Cole also has his part to play in this, and it’s not the role he wanted. No one wants to tell a good friend that someone they care for may be lying to them, but it’s what a good friend does. He is always going to be there for Pike, no matter what it costs. Their relationship is one of the things I’ve loved about these novels.

I devoured this book. I love detective fiction and I am especially fond of Cole and Pike. They work well together, the story was interesting with a number of twists and turns, and each Pike novel seems to reveal a little more about Joe, the enigma. I just wish they could tell us more about these guys without ripping their hearts out. ( )

Before this book I haven't read many detective mysteries, and this book really sucked me in with all the action. The pace of action is really fast, and the writer sets up the story really well by providing lots of details. Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and will look for other books by Robert Crais! ( )

I read this as part of the Elvis Cole series, not Joe Pike. Overall disappointing, Joe said told a woman he felt attracted to that he would take care of things after stopping a bashing. Things didn't stop and neither did Joe. I think Crais means for Elvis and Joe to only have each other (and the cat, of course). ( )