Since I did a science fiction book earlier this week, I wanted to give you a crime novel recommendation as well. One of the most entertaining books I've read recently is Chasing Darkness. I've been a fan of the Elvis Cole series from the beginning and Crais' latest reminds readers of why his books are so popular. Chasing Darkness is old-school Crais. It doesn't have the emotional gravitas of the last few books in the series -- but it also doesn't have the smirkiness that sometimes undermined the first few books. It's just a very solid, well-crafted and suspenseful detective story, with a great lead (Elvis Cole), fine supporting cast and several very juicy, but well-earned, twists. Chasing Darkness is the product of a fine writer using his tools to produce a detective novel that any crime reader will enjoy.
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July 17, 2008
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David J. Montgomery is a writer and critic specializing in books and publishing. He is an emeritus columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and The Daily Beast, and has also written for USA Today, the Washington Post, and other fine publications. A former professor of History, he lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and two daughters.
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Got this one on my TBR stack. Can't wait to get to it. I love Crais.
Posted by: Rob | July 17, 2008 at 11:35 AM
My problem is Robert Crais is like Lays Potato Chips. You can't have just one! I've read one after another and I'm (sadly) caught up. I don't know what I'll do without my Elvis Cole and Joe Pike fix!
Posted by: ArkansasCyndi | July 17, 2008 at 03:09 PM
I loved LA REQUIEM, but thought LAST DETECTIVE and FORGOTTEN MAN were just okay. Haven't read WATCHMAN or this one yet, but I hear they're better.
Crais is such a good writer, but hasn't written a MYSTIC RIVER type novel that I think he's capable of doing.
Posted by: Roddy Reta | July 21, 2008 at 06:33 PM
I, too, thought LAST DETECTIVE and FORGOTTEN MAN were just okay. But THE WATCHMAN is excellent and CHASING DARKNESS is quite good as well. Both are well worth reading.
Posted by: David J. Montgomery | July 21, 2008 at 06:41 PM