I've been a fan of Robert Crais' Elvis Cole novels for decades, although it's been a while since I read one, but I was expecting to enjoy RACING THE LIGHT. Sadly, I didn't. I couldn't even finish it.

Oh, it was workmanlike in its construction and the prose was solid and professional, but somehow the whole book seemed terribly slight, even a touch puerile. The narrative felt more like a parody of the books I used to enjoy rather than a new version of one.

Maybe it's just me. Maybe I've changed since I started reading Elvis Cole novels years ago, or maybe the world has changed, but RACING THE LIGHT was more like an artifact from a lost age than a contemporary PI novel. I wish I could have loved it. I just didn't. I fear the kind of novel Crais is writing is hopelessly out of style. I'm not sure if that's his loss, or ours.

Elvis is back! Well, Elvis Cole that is — sorry — couldn’t help myself! Cole and his quiet (but definitely-the-guy-you-want-to-have-your-back) partner, Joe Pike, help an old woman find her missing adult son, Josh. But it’s not just any old woman and not just any missing son. Adele Schumacher pays in cash, doesn’t trust phones, and talks about conspiracies and aliens as obvious facts. She has a couple of very buff “helpers” who follow her everywhere. And Josh is the controversial podcaster of In Your Face with Josh Shoe (with a listenership of approximately 20 people).

Laugh out loud funny, with plenty of action (the good kind where a lot happens and it happens quickly but we don’t have to suffer through long car chases or drawn out battles — ugh) and plenty of colorful characters. A fast and thoroughly enjoyable read. This is book 19 but you can really start anywhere — a few references to previous cases but nothing problematic.

In Racing the Light, Robert Crais' nineteenth Elvis Cole and Joe Pike book (GP Putnam's Sons 2022), Elvis is hired by a distraught mother to find her missing son, Josh Shoe, a podcaster and self-proclaimed investigative journalist. The police won't take her seriously because he's an adult and there's no evidence of foul play. But the mother convinces Elvis that something happened that shouldn't have (the thick envelope of money she offered might have been somewhat persuasive). Elvis as usual pulls a thread and then follows it, to Josh's house, to his friends, to a porn-star-turned-artist that leads to a Chinese conglomerate and foreign spies with high tech equipment that exceeds even DARPA's capabilities (maybe--that's top secret so we don't really know). As any aficionado of this series knows, once Elvis is hooked on a case, he doesn't let go, and to solve this one takes many of his myriad contacts as well as clever intellect.  Mixed in with his sleuthing is his long-distance former girlfriend who has decided to come for a visit and a chat.

As usual, Elvis is witty and quick. Pike is powerful and focused. I have loved every one of the books in this series, including this one. I can't wait for the next.

One point that bugs me but didn’t detract from the rating: What's with the covers? They seem... quirky? At best, or weird. But it doesn't matter. I'll keep reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC.
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are back! So are Lucy and Ben, which I was so glad about.
Elvis is hired by a worried mother to find her son, who is a podcaster. He hasn't answered his phone, hasn't met his mom for their usual lunch; she's getting desperate and hands Elvis a bunch of hundred dollar bills.
Elvis gets help from Pike, of course, and they dive into a world of dirty real estate dealers, government officials and escort services. They deal with them all in their usual expert and fun manner. Really enjoyed the read!

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

It's good to have Elvis Cole and Joe Pike back with us, and even better to have Lucy (and Ben) back in the picture again. The main story is probably similar to others you've read before, but the author still manages to make it enjoyable: young man disappears while attempting to put together an article to expose corruption amongst politicians and land developers, and Elivis must find him and save the day. Which, of course, he does quite handily.

Podcaster Josh Schumacher (host of IN YOUR FACE WITH JOSH SHOE) has disappeared and his mother hires Elvis Cole to find him. Cole thinks will be a case that is easily solved; after young men in their 20s drop of the grid for a few days on the regular. But the more Cole digs, the more he realizes that Josh's mom has good reason to be worried. but has Josh disappeared because of something he did or something she did? Crais gives another fast-paced thriller with his trademark humor and excellent plotting. Joe Pike helps out and there is a surprise appearance by Lucy and her son Ben!

Oh Elvis, how I've missed you! When Elvis is hired by an eccentric woman to find her son, the hunt turns out to be something more than he expected. All of our favorites are here- Joe Pike and Jon Stone are there to assist, and Lucy and Ben make an appearance. Highly recommend for fans of the series and for those who have missed Elvis and Joe.

Welcome back Elvis, you have been missed. Elvis and Pike search for a missing podcaster. LA city council members are up to their ears in shady antics, payoffs, bribes, threats, escorts. Murder and mayhem ensue. A fast paced riveting tale with our favorite characters and some new ones. Enjoy, I did!
Thank you edelweiss and NetGalley for the advance copies it is appreciated.

Couldn't put it down. Fast read. Love Elvis and Joe. They always figure things out even though some good people die