Racing the Light

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It's been three years since the previous Elvis Cole/Joe Pike novel from Robert Crais, but this one was well worth the wait.

Book-flap spoiler: Elvis's love, Lucy Chenier, is back, with her nearly-adult son Ben in tow. As near as I can recall, she hasn't been even mentioned in the series since 2005's The Forgotten Man. But it turns out that Elvis and Lucy have kept in touch all along. Their relationship is an important subplot here. (As often happens in long-running series, the timeline is muddled.)

But the main plot is the disappearance of podcaster Josh Schumacher; his mom shows up at Elvis's office with an envelope stuffed with cash and a couple of bodyguards. Josh's podcast deals with lurid government Area-51 coverups of extraterrestrial hijinks. But lately he's been seeing a beautiful porn star; she has artistic aspirations, and also a secret. And guess what? She's missing as well. And, as it turns out, a number of shady and violence-prone characters are looking for Josh too. There are political connections, and hints of massive corruption that can only be covered up by murder most foul.

It's a definite page-turner. (Or, on my new Kindle, a screen-poker.)


Last Modified 2024-01-16 4:46 AM EDT