About Me

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Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
I am a lawyer in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada who enjoys reading, especially mysteries. Since 2000 I have been writing personal book reviews. This blog includes my reviews, information on and interviews with authors and descriptions of mystery bookstores I have visited. I strive to review all Saskatchewan mysteries. Other Canadian mysteries are listed under the Rest of Canada. As a lawyer I am always interested in legal mysteries. I have a separate page for legal mysteries. Occasionally my reviews of legal mysteries comment on the legal reality of the mystery. You can follow the progression of my favourite authors with up to 15 reviews. Each year I select my favourites in "Bill's Best of ----". As well as current reviews I am posting reviews from 2000 to 2011. Below my most recent couple of posts are the posts of Saskatchewan mysteries I have reviewed alphabetically by author. If you only want a sentence or two description of the book and my recommendation when deciding whether to read the book look at the bold portion of the review. If you would like to email me the link to my email is on the profile page.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais

Occasionally I like to post a review I wrote before starting to blog. This post has a review from 2008 when I read Chasing Darkness. I have not read any books by Robert Crais for some time. I had found more recent books heavy in bodies and light in humour. Re-reading my review of Chasing Darkness reminded me that, almost a decade ago, the humour quotient was diminished. Still the review reminded that I liked the Elvis Cole series. Maybe it is time to go back to reading Crais.
****
28. – 438.) Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais – Elvis Cole is stunned when the LAPD alleges a murder suspect, Lionel Byrd, that he cleared 3 years before was actually a serial killer whose victims also include the murder for which he was cleared. Elvis, the World’s Greatest Detective, cannot believe that his work set free a killer. With the confidence/arrogance of those who cannot admit mistake Elvis and Joe Pike set out to find the real serial killer. Their investigation is stalled by a task force scooping up the evidence and cutting out the local police. Elvis calls on Carol Starkey to find a way to the evidence hidden away. At the same time he is dealing with his guilt and the anger of families who believe he set free a killer. As the case unravels it appears the killer may be a prominent politician. It is one of the rare mysteries where I sensed the killer well before the identity was revealed. Elvis is excellent at pursuing the threads leading to a solution. I did miss some of the personal life of Elvis being a part of the story. I miss the humour of the earliest in the series. Elvis has become too serious. I was impressed that the “bad guys” cannot be identified by physical flaws. Hardcover or paperback.

2 comments:

  1. I like the wit in the early Cole/Pike novels, too, Bill. I think it adds to the story, and certainly to Cole's character. And you know, I haven't read this series just lately, myself. Perhaps I should get back to it...

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    Replies
    1. Margot: Thanks for the comment. We can each do posts on a return to Crais.

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