Racing the Light (Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, #19)

by Robert Crais

*On Reader's Digest's list of "30 new books we can't wait to read in 2022"*

Private investigator Elvis Cole and his enigmatic partner, Joe Pike, are back on the case in this brilliant new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Robert Crais.

        Adele Schumacher isn't a typical worried mom. When she hires Elvis to find her missing son, a controversial podcaster named Josh Shoe, she brings a bag filled with cash, bizarre tales of government conspiracies, and a squad of professional bodyguards. Finding Josh should be simple, but Elvis quickly learns he isn't alone in the hunt—a deadly team of mysterious strangers are determined to find Josh and his adult film star girlfriend first.
        With dangerous secrets lurking behind every lead, Elvis needs his friend Joe Pike more than ever to uncover the truth about Josh, corrupt politicians, and the vicious business cartels rotting the heart of Los Angeles from within. And when Elvis's estranged girlfriend, Lucy Chenier, and her son, Ben, return, he learns just how much he has to lose...if he survives.
        Written with the heart, humor, and relentless suspense for which Crais is famous, Racing the Light delivers Elvis Cole's most dangerous case yet.

• ISBN10: 0525535721
• ISBN13: 9780525535720
• Publish Date: 1 November 2022
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: G P Putnam's Sons
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 368
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780525535720

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Racing the Light is the 19th Elvis Cole & Joe Pike PI mystery by Robert Crais. Released 1st Nov 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Putnam imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format scheduled for release in 2nd quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a solidly entertaining and very well established series. At this point, the primary returning characters are so well fleshed out that they live and breathe. The plot is packed with story threads: a kidnapping, the world of podcasts, conspiracy theories, corrupt politics, dodgy ruthless business cartels, the adult film industry, and the seedier elements of Los Angeles. There is rough (R-rated) language, and some graphic violence, typical for the genre.

As always, it's well written and fast paced. The author definitely knows the technical aspects of his job very well. Although it's the 19th (!!) book in the series it works well enough as a standalone. Due to the excellent overall quality and length of the series, they're all highly recommended. It would make an excellent choice for a long binge/buddy read, as well as public library acquisition.

Fans of Michael Connolly, John Sandford, and Lee Child will likely already have this series/author on their radar, but if not, there's a lot to like here. 

Four and a half stars. Excellent read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.