Free Fall

From Amazon:

Private detective Elvis Cole takes Jennifer Sheridan's case, which involves her decorated Los Angeles-cop boyfriend in some mysterious trouble, and Cole and his partner Pike are soon plunged in police corruption, gangs, and the depiction of themselves as armed killers.

My Thoughts:

Robert Crais has created a tough wise cracking LA detective named Elvis Cole. Woman want him. Men want to be him. One of the greatest things about Crais' novels is Elvis' partner Joe Pike. An aviator glasses wearing silent but deadly killing machine. Think Dirty Harry with a drier sense of humor. Although this is a crime and detection novel, it's also a story about love and commitment. I don't remember another book that develops all of those show more dimensions nearly as well. If you have never read any of this outstanding series, start with The Monkey's Raincoat and work your way through it. You won't be disappointed. show less

I was't that impressed by the first book in this series, The Monkey's Raincoat. So I skipped the 2nd and went on to the third one, and like it a lot better. Now that I've read number four, I'm hooked. The humor is a little toned down, and fits much better. The story was a lot more involved and interesting, but still easy to follow, a good feature for audiobooks. It was so good, I'll probably have to go back and read the dreaded second book at some point. I may even go back to one I read years ago, before I joined Goodreads.

This story was not only exciting, but it was somewhat thought-provoking. A group of cops got in over their heads, and try to cover it up digging themselves deeper and deeper into a big pile of manure. But they were show more mostly not bad guys really, but it turned out that they had to do bad things. This is probably not unusual for the police, and it's perhaps a good thing to remember if we find ourselves judging them too harshly. show less

Jennifer Sheridan asks Elvis to find out what is bothering her policeman fiance, Mark Thurman. Moments after she leaves, her husband and partner visit Elvis and tell him to forget the whole thing. Now Elvis is curious as to what is going on. Soon he & Joe Pike are being chased by rogue cops and LA street gangs who seem to be connected and who want that connection kept secret even if it means killing Cole & Pike.

Fast paced with the usual humourous quips from Elvis. I especially like the descriptions of Elvis many car trips through LA and beyond. It almost makes me feel like I am there with him.

Free Fall is the 4th book in Robert Crais' Elvis Cole series. Not a foreigner to the "lady in trouble" situation, Elvis jumps in again and, with the able assistance of his partner, the mysterious Joe Pike, he finds the pool he's chosen to swim in is full of South Central gangs, cops you can't trust, an old police shooting that won't stay "a good shoot," and a suspect that turns the tables on Elvis and Joe and it is them at the top of the most wanted list. As with all of Crais' books, the people--good and bad--are solid and well-drawn, the plot moves you to avid pager-turning, and an ending you can like.

This is my first E. Cole book but not my last. I loved the characters, the deeply smartass sensibility, the locales. I didn't quite buy some of the basic plot premise here but enjoyed going along for the ride nonetheless.

Robert Crais has produced another masterful novel. The wise-cracking private detective Elvis Cole is back again in the fourth book of this excellent series.
In FREE FALL, a beautiful young woman hires Elvis to find out what her LAPD boyfriend is hiding from her. He claims that it is an affair, but she thinks that there is more to it. Upon his investigation, Cole stumbles upon a group of crooked cops, a wrongful death in South Central, and a druglord that seems to be unstoppable. To make matters worse, Cole and his aviator-sunglasses-wearing partner Joe Pike are arrested for murder.
Regulars Cole, Pike, and Lou Poitras are back in this thriller, and Crais does a fine job of adding in other interesting, well-developed characters. The snappy show more dialogue and intricate, cohesive storyline make for truly entertaining reading. His short, fast-paced chapters make this a page-turning, suspense-filled thriller that culminates with an amazing ending. This book is a can't miss. show less

Crais has a writing tic where he follows a line of dialog with a one-liner, but it didn't detract at all from the book. Really nice writing with unpredictable twists. Really liked the Elvis Cole character, too. Crais does a really nice job with balancing the humor with a lot of tension, making for the perfect tone.