The Watchman by Robert Crais

Elvis Cole takes a back seat to Joe Pike in the newest Robert Crais novel. Larkin Connor Barkley, a Paris Hilton-like clone has a traffic accident. In attempting to help the victims she is embroiled in a life-and-death secret federal investigation. Enter Joe Pike. He is called upon by his old mentor Bed Flynn to protect Larkin who has become a target due to her witnessing the accident. Pike and Larkin are on the run, trying to keep her alive while Pike and Elvis try to figure the why's of the situation.

I love the Elvis Cole series. He has evolved as a character since the early books. Pike is more of an unknown quantity. We get to know him a bit better, but part of his lure is his mystique. Know too much and he becomes human. Compared to other Crais novels, this wasn't really one of my favorites. It's still a suspenseful read, but Pike isn't a character that really reaches out and grabs you. He's a distant character for a reason. Larkin was a bit of brat who had some decent moments. My favorite parts included Elvis. Crais is a good writer who knows how to keep readers interested even if working with less than compelling characters.

Related Tags: Robert Crais, The Watchman, crime fiction, review, Elvis Cole, Joe Pike, Crais