Elvis & Joe in Audiobook: Recap & Odds 'n Ends

The Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel series by Robert Crais totals 13 books as of April 2010. Each of my posts in this series arc are linked below:

The Monkey's Raincoat
Stalking the Angel
Lullaby Town
Free Fall
Voodoo River
Sunset Express
Indigo Slam
L.A. Requiem
The Last Detective
The Forgotten Man
The Watchman
Chasing Darkness
The First Rule

The Narrator Round-Up

For the series of books, there have been 11 narrators who've read the 41 associated English-spoken audiobooks that I could identify. These audio readers include the series author, a former ad agency executive turned voice artist, and the remainder were actors by training and experience (TV, film, stage) who specialized in performing spoken word versions of books (among other things). The audiobook breakdown for each narrator is below (their total number of audiobook versions done in the series are in parentheses). Only 4 narrators total did one audiobook presentation each, 1 did only two, 3 did three, and the remaining 3 covered the lion share for the series with six, nine, eleven audiobook performances between them (26/41).

Robert Crais (3):



The Forgotten Man (abridged), The First Rule (abridged & unabridged)

James Daniels (9):



Lullaby Town (abridged), Free Fall (abridged), The Last Detective (abridged & unabridged), The Forgotten Man (unabridged), The Watchman (abridged & unabridged), Chasing Darkness (abridged & unabridged)

Mel Foster (3):



Lullaby Town (unabridged), Free Fall (unabridged), Voodoo River (unabridged)

William Hootkins (1):



L.A. Requiem (abridged)

Patrick G. Lawlor (3):



The Monkey's Raincoat (unabridged), Stalking the Angel (unabridged), Voodoo River (abridged)

John Bedford Lloyd (1):



L.A. Requiem (abridged)

Ron McLarty (1):



L.A. Requiem (unabridged)

Michael Prichard (2)



Sunset Express (unabridged), Indigo Slam (unabridged)

James Remar (1)



Voodoo River (abridged)

William Roberts (11):



The Monkey's Raincoat (unabridged), Stalking the Angel (unabridged), Lullaby Town (unabridged), Free Fall (unabridged), Voodoo River (unabridged), Sunset Express (unabridged), Indigo Slam (unabridged), The Last Detective (unabridged), The Forgotten Man (unabridged), The Watchman (unabridged), Chasing Darkness (unabridged)

David Stuart (6):



The Monkey's Raincoat (abridged), Stalking the Angel (abridged), Sunset Express (abridged & unabridged), Indigo Slam (abridged & unabridged)

Odds 'n Ends Audio Clips

The Monkey's Raincoat: "Ellen was still in the door..."
Stalking the Angel: "... could be hotter."
Lullaby Town: "Being a stranger in a small town is like..."
Free Fall: "I'm known as the king of rockin' detectives..."
Voodoo River: "... conversation is not his forte."
Sunset Express: "Hell, yes. What an ending!"
Indigo Slam: "... snubbed by my cat."
L.A. Requiem: 1) "How come you ain’t sayin’ nothin..."   2) "Who?"
The Last Detective: "The Los Angeles River is small, but mean..."
The Forgotten Man: "It was good to be home."
The Watchman: "... and sailed by men who lived by their belief in monsters."
Chasing Darkness: "It is a small house on the lip of a canyon..."
The First Rule: 1) "You good?"  2) "I'm his people."

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Elvis & Joe in Audiobook: The First Rule

With 2010's release of the 13th book (a lucky number for me) in the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel series by Robert Crais, this is the my final review in the arc that examines each novel and the audiobook versions that came out of them. All of this traces back to when television writer/producer Crais turned away from Hollywood more than 20 years ago to do what he always wanted, be a novelist. He originated a quirky but distinctive private detective with the unlikely name of Elvis Cole, and his memorable laconic partner, Joe Pike. That first book's success, The Monkey's Raincoat, brought the P.I. genre something extraordinary byway of the author's writing style and remarkable characterizations. The humor that epitomizes Robert Crais, along with the rich relationships and poignancy of his stories, brought the soon-to-be popular series to the fore of the mystery crime class. While the series works on its third decade with publishers and admirers, Elvis and Joe still continue to earn new fans with each new book release.

The First Rule

Robert Crais' thirteenth novel, The First Rule (print published in January 2010 for the U.S. market and pictured above - in sharp contrast of U.K. release, this cover art reaches back to previously established L.A. cityscape views of earlier books) returns Joe Pike to the forefront with the second book with this fan favorite in the lead. I could attempt my own synopsis of this novel, but I'll highlight the one done by Corey Wilde last November, instead:

"When Frank Meyers, ex-mercenary turned husband-father-businessman-upstanding citizen, is murdered along with his wife and children in a home invasion, Joe Pike takes strong exception. The dead man had been one of Pike's men during his professional soldier days. And Meyer wasn't just another soldier; he was the one man all the other soldiers thought had a real chance at a normal life. And Frank was succeeding - or was he? Pike will do whatever he must to find and bring down the killers, and learn the truth about his friend."

Whereas the author in the previous Joe Pike novel (The Watchman) had the taciturn one immediately trading gunshots this side of the prologue, here our protagonist is confronted with the brutal loss of a friend from his past. Essentially, what Robert Crais sets up from the start is a story of friendships and family, with L.A.'s Serbian mob serving as the counterpoint to Joe Pike. The thieves code, referred to by the novel's title, follows the Russian mobster's principle that nothing is more important than the gang they belong to (and family and children do not matter). Here, they'll be pitted against the one person where friendship means just about everything (including the guiding morality he's crafted). Because of this, Pike is placed again in a role that is preferred by his base of fans - that of the lethal hunter. Still, as he's done many times before, Crais manages to surprise readers with the depth of his two lead characters in this chain of novels. As Corey wrote,

"... as a result, instead of a generic action-thriller with a cardboard superman, the story carries an emotional wallop that resonates long after the last gun is fired."

As has been his inclination in the series, the author brings back and expands on a character seen in previous books (namely The Last Detective and The Watchman), that of Jon Stone. The former-mercenary and current Professional Military Contractor broker brings an added level of passion to these proceedings. Though the reader can spot elements of both Joe and Elvis in his personality, he is an altogether unique persona (and one you want to read more of). As fans have come to expect, he's a marvelous addition to the carefully built character universe by this novelist. However, everything still orbits around Elvis and Joe. It's stated best by Robert Crais himself:

"... I could no more write a Joe Pike novel without Elvis than I could write an Elvis Cole novel without Joe. These guys are more than partners. They are friends. They are two underdogs who have turned themselves into heroes."

Brilliance Audio, no surprise, used the same artwork as that of the U.S. hardcover. What was surprising, however, was their answer to the retirement of their most experienced U.S. audiobook narrator of the series, James Daniels (who now practices law). This time, the publisher sought out the author to read both the audio unabridged and abridged versions for the new release. As I covered previously, Crais has had experience in doing the abridged audiobooks for The Forgotten Man and his standalone novel Hostage, for this publisher. As the author told book tour audiences this year, Brilliance asked him if he'd take over reader duties for this novel. In the past, such a job would have taken him away from his L.A. home/writing routine and required him to travel to the publisher's home base in Michigan. Nevertheless, they wanted him enough for this novel's audio form they brought out a studio crew to Los Angeles for this stint. All in all, he spent 6 days recording both versions. For this novel, author Robert Crais performed his first unabridged reading (8:12 run-time), along with its abridged (4:36) double-duty.

Normally, given my audiobook experience I'm very much against authors reading their own books, with the exception of those reading their non-fiction bio work (Jake Adelstein narrating his Tokyo Vice book being an excellent example of this). Many authors tend to be out of their depth, and lack the vocal, linguistic, and/or acting skills to pull it off (cough... Mark Bowden... cough). So, I was apprehensive when BA announced my favorite author as the The First Rule's narrator prior to its release. I have to admit, though, I was pleasantly surprised when I began reviewing the author's earlier abridged audio work during this series. Plus, his unabridged TFR reading was also his best work in the entire line (IMO). Although, I noted Brilliance sound engineers did not enhance the recording with their hallmark phone modulation touches as they've done with other works (this was likely due to working away from their home studio). Crais is at his best voicing and bringing to life Joe, Elvis, and Jon Stone in the audiobook, but weaker where I'd expect (foreign accents and women character vocalizations). Still, his reading easily involved the listener, and that's all that really matters for audio and series fans. His voice work took nothing away from the story, and added wonderfully to it at key moments. The unabridged sample passage is below (the download link is here):



I really wanted to contrast the passage on the shorter version, but that same portion of the conversation doesn't exist on this abridgement. Take that as you will. Given the recent track record, the UK BBC version (with their narrator William Roberts) probably isn't expected till sometime next year (I will re-visit this when it is released).

Next up: recap & odd 'n ends

The Series:
The Monkey's Raincoat
Stalking the Angel
Lullaby Town
Free Fall
Voodoo River
Sunset Express
Indigo Slam
L.A. Requiem
The Last Detective
The Forgotten Man
The Watchman
Chasing Darkness
The First Rule

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Elvis & Joe in Audiobook: Chasing Darkness

With this year's release of The First Rule,  lucky number 13 in the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel series by Robert Crais, it extends my all-time favorite book series. All of this traces back to when television writer/producer Crais turned away from Hollywood in the 80's to do what he always wanted, be a novelist. With his origination of a quirky, tough but tender, private detective--the unlikely named Elvis Cole--he gave birth to a popular series that's working past its second decade now. The author's ardent mix of humor and pathos, along with a gift for creating unique characters (like the P.I.'s one-of-a-kind sidekick, Joe Pike), brought his books acclaim with fans and critics alike. This is the penultimate post in my series examining each novel and the audiobook versions that came out of them.

Chasing Darkness

Robert Crais' twelveth novel, Chasing Darkness (print published in 2008 and pictured above - this cover art uses the archetypal city of lights night-scape) would herald a throw back of sorts to the root of the series, and genre. Unlike the previous novel, The Watchman, this book returns to a linear timeline and traditional crime mystery story. Conceptually, Chasing Darkness moves the work away from the last two Cole-focused novels (The Last Detective and The Forgotten Man) in that it does not plum the depths of the P.I.'s backstory and the character's psychological underpinnings. Still, is it like the first five books in the series? Again, no. This one has more in common with the transitional pair of novels, Sunset Express and Indigo Slam, in form with its prologue setting the stage for the mystery to unfold. As well, the author craftily bestows on this episode a very Chandleresque perspective in how it delves into the L.A. seats of power and its channels of corruption. The Raymond Chandler connection has been a significant influence on this novelist's writings, and on the P.I. genre in general (especially when it lands anywhere near The City of the Angels).

To make the point, I'd highlight a friend's look upon this. Corey Wilde's review from 2008 was succinct, but I appreciated his standpoint. His analysis was equally keen with his reply to my comment at the time as to why the author's skill level shouldn't be overlooked:

"Yes, I agree, in some aspects CD is very Chandleresque. I remember just as I was finishing the book thinking that CD was almost old-fashioned (and I mean that in a good sense: good quality, traditional PI plot) in that the detective work was very real, very dogged. If Marlowe was on the case rather than Elvis, I think he would have trod the same steps, asked the same questions Elvis did.

Also, in some places (but not so often that Crais could be accused of cheap imitation) Crais wrote in that darkly lyrical tone that colored so much of Chandler's work. Right at the beginning, when he describes the fires: "...sick desert wind carried the promise of Hell." And not hell, Hell. Just adding the cap adds impact. Is Crais smart or what?

Crais is, I think, more subtle than Chandler; in fact sometimes he's so subtle I think some of his themes and characterizations escape folks who read just for Elvis's humor and Joe's, um, skills. I particularly thinks that's true of The Watchman."

With Elvis seeking to clear his name (and possibly, his conscience) in a infamous series of murders, all of the undertones are in place in this book. As always, Elvis' orbit of friends and colleagues are there to assist the (self named) World's Greatest Detective. And with his return, it gives his fans hope that there will always be another Elvis Cole novel somewhere on the horizon.

[Chasing Darkness Cover Art photostream]



Brilliance Audio, naturally, used the hardcover's artwork for their audiobook edition (since they were released at the same time as the book). Furthermore, the audio publisher would continue to use their most series-seasoned narrator for this, James Daniels. However, this would be reader Daniels final audio narration for this now venerable series. From Publisher Weekly:

"After earning a law degree, James Daniels quit recording audiobooks, but returned to read Crais's newest Elivis Cole and Joe Pike mystery (his previous Crais recordings include The Forgotten Man, Hostage, The Last Detective, Lullaby Town and The Watchman). It's a welcome return and Daniel's no-nonsense reading elevates one of Crais's lesser efforts and turns it into an enjoyable listening experience. Slipping back into these characters, Daniels easily distinguishes Cole's wise-guy banter from Pike's steely resolution, and he gives this outing's enigmatic villain, Lionel Byrd, just the right note of weirdness."

I'd agree with their take of the narrator's interpretation of the material, but PW is sorely off-target on the rest. This isn't "one of Crais's lesser efforts...". Daniels performed his last double, too, in recording both the abridged version (at just under 6 hours) and the unabridged (7:18) audiobook. I'm including two audio clip samples here from both U.S. versions. The first covers the audiobook introduction and the great initial sentence Robert Crais begins the book with: abridged, unabridged. The second involves a significant sequence late in the novel -- luckily, the abridgment is not as severe as others in the series: abridged and unabridged.



BBC Chivers' audiobook would incorporate an entirely different cover art than the U.S. versions. I liken this artwork to that of the U.K.'s Orion hardcover; and it's one that echoed the imagery of the novel's prologue. Their audio version (coming in at just under 8 hours) would be delayed (again) by a year in lieu of the U.S. audiobook release overseas. William Roberts would bring another strong performance as the most senior and steadfast narrator for the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series. However, he will still have issues with certain Spanish surnames (unfortunately). Check out his audio samples with the introduction and the highlighted passage.

Next up: The First Rule

The Series:
The Monkey's Raincoat
Stalking the Angel
Lullaby Town
Free Fall
Voodoo River
Sunset Express
Indigo Slam
L.A. Requiem
The Last Detective
The Forgotten Man
The Watchman
Chasing Darkness
The First Rule

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Elvis & Joe in Audiobook: The Watchman

With this year's release of The First Rule,  lucky number 13 in the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel series by Robert Crais, it adds another to my favorite book series. This is the next post in my series examining each novel and the audiobook versions that came out of them. All of this traces back to when television writer/producer Crais turned away from Hollywood in the 80's to do what he always wanted, be a novelist. With his origination of a quirky, tough but tender, private detective--the unlikely named Elvis Cole--he gave birth to a popular series that's working past its second decade now. The author's ardent mix of humor and pathos, along with a gift for creating unique characters, brought his books success and elevated the P.I.'s one-of-a-kind sidekick, Joe Pike, to fan favorite status.

The Watchman

Robert Crais' eleventh novel, The Watchman (print published in 2007 and pictured above - this cover art marks a first in the series: a main character appears on it), would arrive after his third standalone book (2006's The Two Minute Rule) was published. And, the new novel would continue the author's groundbreaking streak. Ever since the 1999 game changer of L.A. Requiem, the novelist has been successful in reshaping the series and building upon its characters. With plenty of feedback by series fans, Crais began mining his other potential property, Joe Pike. The first Pike novel entered the marketplace (and aficionados heads) with much excitement. Here was a clear favorite amongst the readers and critics, just itching to come out. And with the book's perspective flipped toward his partner, Elvis Cole would fill in as the sidekick here, one could argue that this is another series entirely. However, that would be an incorrect supposition. The author and most of his readers simply do not see it that way. Since it shares the corresponding landscape (and there's only one L.A.) with the identical character universe, it essentially remains the same series. Although, this one is viewed through Joe Pike's ever present sunglasses and psyche. Here, the hi-powered and laconic one takes on the task of protecting a famous heiress in danger, with the help of his steadfast friend and partner, and tries to find the real reason behind it all. This fresh take on the series will result in a fast-paced thriller, and continues the written reveal of a complex character by the author. Not only will the novel turn out to be the most successful book in the series (in sales, at that time), it will be the one that Robert Crais himself said generated the most reaction from his base of fans. And most of that reaction came from women.

Note: this novel would introduce two new characters to the series that will have impact beyond the book. Larkin Conner Barkley raises a large level of hackles among the fan-base (even to this day) as the spoiled heiress with her relationship to Joe. Jon Stone, the ex-merc and security consultant, adds a name to an enigmatic character only briefly but importantly mentioned in The Last Detective. And he'll return, intriguingly, later in the series.

[The Watchman cover art photostream]



Brilliance Audio will maintain continuity with the hardcover book by using the same cover artwork for the U.S. audiobooks. Interestingly, the paperback cover (pictured at the start) used the inverse color palette for its artwork. This audio series will continue the same flow by staying with James Daniels as the reader in this chain of audiobooks. As he's done before, Daniels uses a distinct vocalization for the character of Joe Pike. It reminds many of a (Clint) Eastwood-like rasp. If you're familiar with John Carpenter's film Escape from New York, actor Kurt Russell's characterization of Snake Plissken will give you a good spoken approximation of just how that performance comes across. Some audiobook fans appreciate the treatment (and the indirect symbolism), while others just can not stand it. As he did with 9th book, Daniels would perform both the unabridged audiobook (7:48 runtime) and the abridged version (5:24 runtime). Luckily, the audio abridgment is not as severe as others in the series. Here's his abridged sample and the unabridged of the same passage.



In contrast, BBC's audiobook cover would use the same one as the U.K. hardcover book's artwork. The Chiver's audiobook would have another delayed release (more than a year later) while Brilliance sold their version overseas. William Roberts returned for another strong performance. In comparison with James Daniels, Roberts (and you could say the same for Recorded Book's narrator Ron McLarty) gives an entirely different vocal interpretation for the character of Pike. You'll need to decide which is your favorite portrayal of Joe in audio form. The same unabridged material done by this publisher and narrator comes in at 8:48 for their audio version. Check out his work with the same passage.

Next up: Chasing Darkness

The Series:
The Monkey's Raincoat
Stalking the Angel
Lullaby Town
Free Fall
Voodoo River
Sunset Express
Indigo Slam
L.A. Requiem
The Last Detective
The Forgotten Man
The Watchman
Chasing Darkness
The First Rule

Elvis & Joe in Audiobook: The Forgotten Man

The Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel series by Robert Crais remains my absolute favorite among the things I read or listen to. In celebration of this year's release of the 13th book, The First Rule, this is a continuation of the look-back series I started a couple weeks ago to briefly examine each novel within the series, and the audiobook versions that came out of them. When television writer/producer Crais turned away from Hollywood in the 80's to do what he always wanted, be a novelist, I don't think even he envisioned the kind of success his books would bring. The tough but tender L.A. private detective (with a penchant for Disney characters) he created, the unlikely named Elvis Cole, is over twenty years old in print (along with his partner, Joe Pike). The chain of novels, and their success and uniqueness, is proof that the author's trademark mix of humor, pathos, and memorable characters remain something special to both critics and fans alike.

The Forgotten Man

Robert Crais' tenth novel, The Forgotten Man (print published in 2005 and pictured above - this time with another nighttime photo of L.A. for the cover art) would bring a number of lives, past and present, to an apex in the series. Crucial revelations of partners Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, begun with L.A. Requiem and accompanied by The Last Detective, are looked at once again by their creator. In this work, Crais puts into motion four past imperfect individuals on a surprising intersect course that's reached by novel's end. Although he's recognized for the quality of his character drama, it's here in this book that the writer's touch for mystery and plotting attains a similar height. His narrative deftly moves across the elements of time, the principals, and their actions in a way that continually ups the ante for suspense and insight into those involved. All the while, the story steadily pulls the reader's emotions in with it. And that (IMO) puts Robert Crais in a rare class with his ability to craft character and relationships, along with an intriguing plot. I'm sure many fans thought Robert Crais would give the P.I. a break from the rigors he put him through in the previous novel. The results of that trial by fire, the scars he now sports, are analogous to his changed relationships toward Lucy Chenier and her son Ben. It is fitting that Cole's tale begins in the wee dark hours of a sleepless night and ends in the revelatory clarity of day.

But once again, the novelist would give his base the unexpected. With the glimpse of Elvis' backstory hitting the light of day in the ninth book, and since it's as interesting as his partner's, the novelist delves more deeply into Cole's demons, here. The preface of the lone child survivor of a family's massacre from years passed, in tandem with a dying man claiming Elvis as his son here, will start this dramatic and emotional tale. Along for this mystery will be all of the regulars that have come to make up the Crais  universe. This includes the now clearly smitten Carol Starkey (still with LAPD, but now ex-Bomb Squad). Her unspoken feelings toward Elvis adds another dimension to the plotline. Robert Crais will slowly unravel the mystery he's dangled at the start and composed with care. But, at no time will the author leave anything to drag in the story's events. For me, this novel (especially in the context of the series) had a bookend quality about it. By the time the reader reaches those last affecting pages, there is a discernible symmetry put there by the novelist. All of it echos back to the finale of that first novel in the series, The Monkey's Raincoat. The story's revelations and drama, humor and poignancy arrive altogether by TFM's end. If this series has proven anything, it's that partners Elvis and Joe are opposite sides of a rare and unique coin. And, it is impossible for something to happen to one without the other feeling it.

[The Forgotten Man cover art photostream]



Brilliance Audio released its audiobook version for the U.S. market at the same time as the printed novel. Their cover work art will employ the same evening shot of the motel location tied with the novel's storyline. For fans of Cole and Pike, and the audiobook format, this series has come a long way compared with the early novel treatments. Publishers now make sure print and audio versions were available the same day as release. Reader James Daniels would continue his impeccable work with the audio publisher and this series with the unabridged version of The Forgotten Man (runtime 8:06). With this performance, Daniels would tie the number for the most read in the series (in the U.S.). This reader's traits with the characters are firmly established, and his vocalizations for each remain subtle but distinct. His unabridged audio sample.



While Brilliance Audio used James Daniels to perform both the unabridged and abridged audiobook for the previous novel, the publisher will throw a distinct change-up with this book. Brilliance will employ Mr. Crais himself for the abridged reading (this was his second such reading - he narrated the abridged 2001 Hostage audiobook). It's not unheard of for authors to read their own work in the audio format. Some insist upon it. On the plus side, no one knows the material (or the wherewithal of storytelling) better than the writer of the words on the page. Some, too, have very good speaking voices, as is the case with Robert Crais. What is potentially missing in these situations, however, are the technical skills of the audio storytelling craft that the best of the professional audiobook narrators possess. Some of these techniques include vocalization, pitch, and cadence, and each can bring the words alive through that audio performer. Occasionally, it's as simple as knowing where to place an extra pause in the sentence that can stir a meaning in the listener, or not leave the passage flat. Brilliance would release the abridged version in the U.S. (above left) at the same time as their unabridged rendition (runtime: 4:54). Orion Publishing would release that same abridged audio a month later in the U.K., in March 2005 (above right). Here's his sample with the passage.



The British audio cover art used the motel theme, too. But, with a decidedly different and moody composition. As it was with the previous novel, BBC Chivers would get a delayed crack at this audiobook with their experienced reader (William Roberts). Brilliance Audio would get to release their unabridged audiobook first overseas in early 2005 (along with the print version) while Chivers wouldn't have their unabridged version out till late in the year (runtime: 8:46). Narrator Roberts stagecraft is fully evident in his narration, as always. His characterizations frame the individual's emotion more clearly in his reading. However, from time-to-time, his Spanish surname pronunciation can be lacking (Daniels and Crais in comparison know how to correctly pronounce Padilla). Check out his work with the sample passage.

Note: Like others, I consider The Forgotten Man the third part in a informal trilogy begun with L.A. Requiem (with LAR being the keystone of that trilogy and the series), and bridged so well by The Last Detective. The quirky Los Angeles P.I. and his taciturn partner were always interesting characters in the first seven books of the series. Having said that, the emotional involvement for readers reached another level entirely starting with the first page of LAR till TFM reaches its last lines:

"Okay. I'm done."
"You good?"
"Yeah. We had a nice talk."
Pike and I drove back to the airport, and returned to Los Angeles the same day.
It was good to be home.

So, for those who've read it (this is your customary spoiler warning), I'm including a bonus clipping of a key scene by each of the highlighted narrators here for your further examination: Robert Crais, James Daniels, William Roberts.

Next up: The Watchman

The Series:
The Monkey's Raincoat
Stalking the Angel
Lullaby Town
Free Fall
Voodoo River
Sunset Express
Indigo Slam
L.A. Requiem
The Last Detective
The Forgotten Man
The Watchman
Chasing Darkness
The First Rule

Elvis & Joe in Audiobook: The Last Detective

The Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel series by Robert Crais remains my absolute favorite among the things I read or listen to. In celebration of this year's release of the 13th book, The First Rule, this is a continuation of the look-back series I started a couple weeks ago to briefly examine each novel within the series, and the audiobook versions that came out of them. When television writer/producer Crais turned away from Hollywood in the 80's to do what he always wanted, be a novelist, I don't think even he envisioned the kind of success his books would bring. The tough but tender L.A. private detective (with a penchant for Disney characters) he created, the unlikely named Elvis Cole, is over twenty years old in print (along with his partner, Joe Pike). The chain of novels, and their success and uniqueness, is proof that the author's trademark mix of humor, pathos, and memorable characters remain something special to both critics and fans alike.

The Last Detective

Robert Crais' ninth novel, The Last Detective (print published in 2003 and pictured above - first time with a nighttime photo of L.A. for the cover art), was the proof positive that the author had indelibly changed the game. The preceding novel reverberates in this story, its structure, and how these familiar characters spark anew with personal revelations. The narrative was no longer firmly first person, nor was it even restricted to a linear timeline for our heroes. Crais was now free to do whatever this novel's mind demanded. Following the brief break of the two standalone books (Demolition Angel and Hostage) that came on the heels of the breakthrough L.A Requiem, the novelist returned to the series with Elvis Cole clearly in the crosshairs. And the painful past and present would be the aim-points. Though the previous novel was a story of remembrance, this one is a thriller to its core. Remnants of the aforementioned story continue to echo in the lives of Cole and Pike when a crisis very close to Elvis traps him in nightmare kidnapping of a loved one. And with that, this tale will drive the clock, friendships, and the main character's sanity to the edge. The author will put plot and his characters on a very high boil, here.

It's also important to note, at this point in the series, a central penchant of author Robert Crais. Specifically, his continuing skill with weaving in and developing new characters (both minor and major) into this series. If you've read any of these books, you're very much aware of this and how it expands this series' universe. This fact is clearly on display in this reader forum. Here's an insightful thought from that thread:

"How many characters do you remember from the Harry Bosch books, besides Harry? I remembered Bosch plus four more. The Spenser books, after Spenser, Hawk and Susan, how many characters do you remember? I remember three. (But I’ve only read about 2/3 of that series.) How about Lee Child’s Reacher series? I remember three characters besides Jack. John Sandford’s Prey series? Well, there my memory kicked in. I remembered quite a few characters from that series, although at least half of them are recurring characters.

And then I said to self, huh. Crais really does do a remarkable job at creating memorable characters, both good and bad. Maybe better than I had realized." ~ Naomi Johnson

Criminalist John Chen was notably introduced with L.A. Requiem, and etched ever deeper into reader's minds in this novel. But surprisingly, it is the author's brilliant addition (with regards to this book) of Carol Starkey that will bring another dynamic to the series without diluting it. The ex-bomb squad tech protagonist is successfully brought over from Demolition Angel to join the series milieu -- and it may well be Robert Crais' second best idea ever for this chain of novels. The first easily being that he didn't let himself kill Mr. Pike by the end of the first book. The mix of Carol in Cole's fragile orbit of female friends will bring added zest and a re-balancing of sorts by this novel's (perhaps) bittersweet ending.

[The Last Detective cover art photostream]



After the 2000 Demolition Angel audiobook was published by Random House Audio and Recorded Books, all future Robert Crais books once more returned to the Brilliance Audio fold (starting with 2001's Hostage standalone book). It was a short turn for the preceding publishers, but the change back would allow Brilliance's experienced audiobook narrator from prior novels (Lullaby Town and Free Fall) to return to work again with these characters. James Daniels would reprise his earlier efforts by performing afresh, and for the first time executing both the abridged and unabridged versions. His reading here (and in the next novels) pushes his presentation of Elvis and Joe to new levels. His vocalizations, especially for the former with his past and present being deftly explored by Crais through the story's turmoil, are subtle but stirring, nonetheless. Sample audio stream (or to download the clip, click here).



U.K. publisher BBC Chivers was also brought back for audio publication overseas for this and future series novels. However, the change here was Orion Publishing Group (who handled the print novel for British distribution) would also circulate the James Daniels recording (likely licensed from Brilliance) and would put it out the same year, 2003, as the book. Chivers wouldn't publish their version, with audio series-veteran William Roberts, until 2005. Both publishers would use an entirely different cover art (compared with the U.S. version) for both U.K. audiobooks. In this case, a beautiful, arresting image of a paddy field in Vietnam. Roberts' more evocative take returned with him, as would be expected by the senior audiobook reader in the series with the most Crais novels under his belt. His sample stream (download version is here)

Note: the Brilliance Audio unabridged audio runs approximately 8 hours, compared to just under 9 hours for the U.K.'s  unabridged version, and the 4-hour abridged version. I was going to include the other James Daniels passage from the condensed audiobook (also from the prologue segment), but that version completely excises that introductory section of the book! It is amazing, at times, what gets removed in audio abridgments.

Next up: The Forgotten Man

The Series:
The Monkey's Raincoat
Stalking the Angel
Lullaby Town
Free Fall
Voodoo River
Sunset Express
Indigo Slam
L.A. Requiem
The Last Detective
The Forgotten Man
The Watchman
Chasing Darkness
The First Rule

Elvis & Joe in Audiobook: L.A. Requiem

The Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel series by Robert Crais remains my absolute favorite among the things I read or listen to. In celebration of this year's release of the 13th book, The First Rule, this is a continuation of the look-back series I started a couple weeks ago to briefly examine each novel within the series, and the audiobook versions that came out of them. When television writer/producer Crais turned away from Hollywood in the 80's to do what he always wanted, be a novelist, I don't think even he envisioned the kind of success his books would bring. The tough but tender L.A. private detective (with a penchant for Disney characters) he created, the unlikely named Elvis Cole, is over twenty years old in print (along with his partner, Joe Pike). The chain of novels, and their success and uniqueness, is proof that the author's trademark mix of humor, pathos, and memorable characters remain something special to both critics and fans alike.

L.A. Requiem

Robert Crais' eighth novel, L.A. Requiem (print published in 1999 and pictured above - now with a new icon for Los Angeles, the Library Tower building in downtown, for the cover art), is simply the pivotal book in the series. It marks the juncture in time when the author stretched himself, his fictional characters, and the mystery genre to the point of seismic change. So much so, that when it was done, the landscape was no longer the same. I've heard Robert Crais describe it using the phrase, "... to blow the doors off the series." The narrative change he briefly played with in the previous two novels, is fully unleashed here with flashbacks, multiple storylines and perspectives, and all with an assured writing style. And, the norms and structures of the genre expanded right along with it. Author Dave White perhaps said it best, "Crais blew the whole genre up."

"He took things that had been done before--the PI novel, the police procedural, the thriller, and studying two dark characters deeply and managed to mix it into one incredibly satisfying novel."

By doing all of this, Mr. Crais would break from the established touchstones of his first seven books, and elevate his work to that of the great detective writers of old (Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett) and new (MacDonald, Parker, Mosely). Furthermore, Robert Crais knows this city - regardless that he's someone who has been transplanted here. His outside perspective, even compared to those born and raised here, brings a refreshing clarity to his observations of the people/locale he places his fictional characters in the middle of, in general. And to this novel, specifically. Suffice it to say this explains the 'L.A.' portion in the book's title. Still, keep this adage in mind when reading or listening to the book:

"One may not be able to choose their family... but, one does get to choose their friends."

On top of everything else in the book, this aspect is critical to what transpires here. What about the 'Requiem' bit in the title, you ask? That is reserved for the unexpected subject of the book. The enigmatic partner of Elvis Cole, Joe Pike. What's been building for some time in the series, the dark background of this key character, will finally be revealed in a stunning story involving a serial killer, those that hunt him, and bitter history. All of the characters we've come to know and care about from the previous novels will be left touched, or scarred, by this tale. This repose for the dead.

[Note: there has been a variety of cover art for this landmark novel in hardcover, paperback, and audiobook. Some of them quite eye-catching. To view a sample of this selection, see this photostream I put together.]



Beginning with this influential novel, other facets changed, too. For the audiobook series, L.A. Requiem will mark the first book not published (in some version) by Brilliance Audio for the U.S. market. As well, long-time overseas publisher BBC Chivers will not get a crack with it in the U.K., either. New publishers on both sides of the pond will be brought in, as well as an altogether new set of narrators. Ironically, each reader will only have one turn with this series. Lastly, note the differences not only between the narrators and their styles, but of the abridgements and the complete version in the audio samples (after the jump).

Elvis & Joe in Audiobook: Indigo Slam

With this year's release of the 13th book, The First Rule, in the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel series by Robert Crais, this is another post in my continuation of a series examining each novel and the audiobook versions that came out of them. All of this traces back to when television writer/producer Crais turned away from Hollywood in the 80's to do what he always wanted, be a novelist. With that, he originated and began to write about a quirky, tough but tender, private detective with the unlikely name of Elvis Cole (and his partner, Joe Pike). That first book's success and uniqueness in portraying the genre with the author's mix of humor and pathos meant a standalone novel gave birth to a popular series that's working past its second decade.

Indigo Slam

Robert Crais' seventh novel, Indigo Slam (print published in 1997 and pictured above - and continuing with another classic view of L.A., the freeway and skyline, for the cover art), is an interesting work from the author. Crais continues to play the narrative change-up started in the last novel (Sunset Express). Moreover, you can see the changes coming to future books in the series with this tale of three children seeking help from Elvis to find their lone missing parent. In this tale, their father is a talented printer/counterfeiter on the run from Russian mobsters. The humor is somewhat downplayed in the novel as the case unfolds and winds through various twists in the story, some of it set in and around Seattle. As well, Elvis' continuing relationship with Lucy Chenier further evolves, and begins to complicate. All of this places the seeds of troubled families in and around both the P.I. and his partner. The concept of affected childhoods are potently planted with this book--to be revealed, powerfully, later.



Brilliance published the unabridged Indigo Slam audiobook, initially, as another Bookcassette® version--pardon me as I adjust the balance to the proper channel. Later editions would come out as Audio CD, MP3, pre-loaded player, and for download. Like the previous audiobook, this one was released the same year as the print version. Likewise, David Stuart returned for his second round as narrator (chronologically), but it would be his last stint as reader in the series where he does both the unabridged and abridged versions of a Robert Crais audiobook for the publisher. However, Mr. Stuart does stumbles a bit here, at least for those sharp-eared audiobook listeners who live in the City of the Angels. If you've spent any time here, you can easily pick up on the Spanish heritage of the city as seen in the names of the locales and streets (the author has noted this in this series). So, for us who have either grown up or come to live in the southland and learned to enunciate the spanish street names, it is painfully obvious when a narrator, like Stuart, really mis-pronounces them. And when they occur, it certainly jolts the local listener away from the Crais' story, and his narration (friends that I've lent these to can attest to this). I won't include anything glaring as that, though, in his audio sample.



As was done with Sunset Express, Books on Tape produced another (and hard to find, now) audiobook version of this novel for library user consumption. Michael Prichard is again the narrator. Though very proficient in the many non-fiction works he's recorded over the years (and with his very distinctive voice), his reading with these very established characters couldn't be more matter of fact in its presentation (think Dragnet's Joe Friday, and that's not a good thing). It's a take that is as curious as any in the series. His range with characters, compared to the other readers in the series, is limited; and the story is just not his style as an audiobook narrator. The BoT studio managers (whether they knew how temporary this gig was or not), just did not match up the right reader to the material. I say this because I have this audiobook on cassette. See if you agree with me. Here's his sample with the selected passage.



The U.K.'s Chivers audiobook uses the Seattle skyline for its cover artwork (although, the majority of the plot in the novel takes place in southern California). The seventh novel in the Cole/Pike series will be reader William Roberts' next turn with these characters. His experience shines through with another reliable effort. Check out his work with the sample. Perhaps, it is symbolic that this narrator's streak will end at 7. But, given what's coming, it just might be fitting for the series.

[Note: as I've stated, both Sunset Express and Indigo Slam novels serve as a preparatory bridge for the reader/listener to cross, especially with regard to the natural maturation of a talented author. That is evidenced with this pair of novels. These characters have ripened just to the point that makes what's coming that much sweeter. Though, one can read the next book without the preceding novels of the series and still enjoy it. But, from here on out, the landscape definitely changes.]

Next up: L.A. Requiem

The Series:
The Monkey's Raincoat
Stalking the Angel
Lullaby Town
Free Fall
Voodoo River
Sunset Express
Indigo Slam
L.A. Requiem
The Last Detective
The Forgotten Man
The Watchman
Chasing Darkness
The First Rule

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Elvis & Joe in Audiobook: Sunset Express

With this year's release of the 13th book, The First Rule, in the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel series by Robert Crais, this is another post in my continuation of a series examining each novel and the audiobook versions that came out of them. All of this traces back to when television writer/producer Crais turned away from Hollywood in the 80's to do what he always wanted, be a novelist. With that, he originated and began to write about a quirky, tough but tender, private detective with the unlikely name of Elvis Cole (and his partner, Joe Pike). That first book's success and uniqueness in portraying the genre with the author's mix of humor and pathos meant a standalone novel gave birth to a popular series that's working past its second decade.

Sunset Express

Robert Crais' sixth novel, Sunset Express (print published in 1996 and pictured above - the classic silhouetted palm tree photograph of L.A. replaces the previous graphic motifs for the cover art), returns Elvis to a Los Angeles in its tumult period, post O.J. Simpson-trial. That true event, and its influences, abound within this novel. Here, the author shines a keen spotlight on the effects of it. Crais examines the media, lawyers, and the public in the unique way that only a fictional tale with our favorite characters can bring to readers. Due to this, having our favorite protagonist involved in a high-stakes, media murder trial of a celebrity defendant offers a new angle and depth to the series.

I look at this book, and the next, as a transitional pair in this series. The author is laying the groundwork for a metamorphosis. Additionally, the author breaks away from his traditional Page One meeting of the client setup (as was done in the first five books). Almost like a police procedural, Robert Crais moves to establish some situation/character background before moving back to the first person narrative of the story. And finally, the author begins to ease into his slow reveal of partners Elvis Cole and Joe Pike's make-up and background. This will continue through much of the remaining books in the series. The changes signaled with this novel don't stop there, either.



Even though I've been going through the books in series order, the U.S. audiobook versions were never published in that sequence. The first audiobook released by Brilliance Audio of the author's work started in mid-series with this novel. The unabridged and abridged versions were released in the same year as the hardcover with book resellers. This, in reality, was David Stuart's initial stint, and he was the first Elvis Cole/Joe Pike audiobook narrator for Brilliance (and he performed both the full and shortened versions). He has a good vocal versatility within this story, but a southern California lad he's not (I'll explain that more in the next book). Audio sample.

Note, the mid-90's was a time the audiobook industry began expanding its distribution formats. The audio cassette had been the traditional medium (and it's still produced to this day, though waning). Brilliance Audio also came up with a way to minimize production costs by getting twice as much on to a single cassette: the dubious and short-lived Bookcassette®. Luckily, the clear move toward audio CD and MP3 disc (and later downloads) as their preferred distribution medium succeeded with audiobook listeners.



Another interesting detail concerning Sunset Express is the fact that Brilliance Audio wasn't the only publisher of an audio version in the U.S. market. Books on Tape, a publisher known to many who've checked out audiobooks from libraries, was licensed to produced their own (in a rare and hard-to-find) unabridged Sunset Express version (ISBN-10: 0913369896) in 1997. The accomplished Michael Prichard was their narrator. Since I've not found a copy of it, here's a sample of Mr. Prichard's work from another book for your examination of his voice and style.



Chivers' cover art for their U.K. audiobook mirrored the book's with its cityscape photograph. Narrator William Roberts has another quality outing with his sixth audiobook turn with these characters. Please notice that Roberts (like Patrick Lawlor and Mel Foster did with Voodoo River) uses the proper French pronunciation for Lucy's last name, Chénier [shey-nyey]. Since she's from Louisiana, it is the way those from the area would pronounce the name [at least that's what I suspected at the time I wrote this]. Narrator David Stuart (and later James Daniels) will use the American enunciation for it [shen-neer]. Here's Roberts' sample with the passage.

Next up: Indigo Slam

The Series:
The Monkey's Raincoat
Stalking the Angel
Lullaby Town
Free Fall
Voodoo River
Sunset Express
Indigo Slam
L.A. Requiem
The Last Detective
The Forgotten Man
The Watchman
Chasing Darkness
The First Rule

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Elvis & Joe in Audiobook: Voodoo River

With this year's release of the 13th book, The First Rule, in the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel series by Robert Crais, this is another post in my continuation of a series examining each novel and the audiobook versions that came out of them. All of this traces back to when television writer/producer Crais turned away from Hollywood in the 80's to do what he always wanted, be a novelist. With that, he originated and began to write about a quirky, tough but tender, private detective with the unlikely name of Elvis Cole (and his partner, Joe Pike). The early success of his books, and uniqueness in portraying the genre with the author's mix of humor and pathos, meant a growing reputation among readers and critics toward this now popular series.

Voodoo River

Robert Crais' fifth novel, Voodoo River (print published in 1995 and pictured above - and continuing the similar graphic design motif from the last novel), brings us back to the author's original stomping grounds, Louisiana. Elvis is hired by an adoptee, albeit one who is now a famous TV starlet, to find her original birth parents back in the 18th state of the union. Fans of this series know this book very well for it marks the introduction of one Lucy Chenier into the expanding universe that is Cole and Pike. Along with the intrigue of the story-line, her inception brings an unexpected love interest for our intrepid P.I. (one that still leaves an impact on the series to this day). As well, you can tell by the novel's composition that Crais is writing from long time experience with this work. His familiarity with the area, food, and its people is very apparent via their descriptions and behavior on the pages. It is a good change of pace for the series, but it will eventually sprout two distinct camps among the faithful with regard to this new character.



Brilliance Audio, most probably because of scheduling conflicts or the like with either of the two previous narrators (David Stuart or James Daniels), brought in another new reader for their 2003 abridged version of Voodoo River. This was the first introduction of Patrick G. Lawlor as a reader in this line of audiobooks. I've already mentioned that his range and gravelly voice are ill-matched for the audiobook and characters, but his take on a Louisiana drawl is what I find particularly grating. Though you won't get an example of it in his sound clip, you will get his take on how he interprets a woman's voice.



To this point, it would be easy to think that the Brilliance folk produced the first U.S. audiobook for this book series. However, that's not the case. Soundlines Entertainment did the first one out. This very abridged, and rare, version was released in the same year as the hardcover ('95) and proved to be the very first published audiobook of a Robert Crais work. This audiobook is barely 3 hours in length (compared to 5.6 hours for BA's abridged version). It is read by veteran character actor, James Remar. While a good actor, his vocalizations of various characters are lacking and the abridgment is too severe in this version to recommend it other than as a odd curiosity in the series. Sample clip.



The unabridged version was released in July 2008 with the solid (yet, unspectacular) Mel Foster returning for his last effort as reader in the series. Again, note the difference in the length of the passage (compared to the abridged versions). You get what you pay for. Here's his sample.



While the U.S. version emphasized the bayou on their covers, Chivers used the river-way for theirs in the 2003 release. As I've already mentioned, Lawlor's drawl got on my nerves when I first heard this book. I contrast him with William Roberts' rendition of the same (BBC) audiobook and his ease with dialects. It is no contest, here. Covering the same material, Roberts is superb, and Lawlor is... well, you already know. Perhaps, I'm spoiled by Stuart, Daniels, and especially Roberts' interpretations, or just plain used to them. No doubt, others will disagree. Fair enough. Check out his work.

[Note: I tend to look at the first five Elvis Cole/Joe Pike novels as a loose group. What my friend and book blogger, Corey Wilde, calls, "the early books, full of a wisecracking Elvis and deadpan - and deadly - Joe Pike." For me, the next couple of novels will signal a maturity and a subtle shift in the series.]

Next up: Sunset Express

The Series:
The Monkey's Raincoat
Stalking the Angel
Lullaby Town
Free Fall
Voodoo River
Sunset Express
Indigo Slam
L.A. Requiem
The Last Detective
The Forgotten Man
The Watchman
Chasing Darkness
The First Rule

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