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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780743281645
ISBN number: 0743281640
Label: Simon & Schuster
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 288
Printing Date: July 01, 2008
Publishing house: Simon & Schuster
Sale Popularity Level: 2514
Studio: Simon & Schuster
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Elvis Cole is Back--In a Desperate Fight to Clear his Name...
It's fire season, and the hills of Los Angeles are burning. When police and fire department personnel rush door to door in a frenzied evacuation effort, they discover the week-old corpse of an apparent suicide. But the gunshot victim is less gruesome than what they find in his lap: a photo album of seven brutally murdered young women -- one per year, for seven years. And when the suicide victim is identified as a former suspect in one of the murders, the news turns Elvis Cole's world upside down.
Three years earlier Lionel Byrd was brought to trial for the murder of a female prostitute named Yvonne Bennett. A taped confession coerced by the police inspired a prominent defense attorney to take Byrd's case, and Elvis Cole was hired to investigate. It was Cole's eleventh-hour discovery of an exculpatory videotape that allowed Lionel Byrd to walk free. Elvis was hailed as a hero.
But the discovery of the death album in Byrd's lap now brands Elvis as an unwitting accomplice to murder. Captured in photographs that could only have been taken by the murderer, Yvonne Bennett was the fifth of the seven victims -- two more young women were murdered after Lionel Byrd walked free. So Elvis can't help but wonder -- did he, Elvis Cole, cost two more young women their lives?
Shut out of the investigation by a special LAPD task force determined to close the case, Elvis Cole and Joe Pike desperately fight to uncover the truth about Lionel Byrd and his nightmare album of death -- a truth hidden by lies, politics, and corruption in a world where nothing is what it seems to be.
Chasing Darkness is a blistering thriller from the bestselling author who sets the standard for intense, powerful crime writing.
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Rated by buyers 
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If Robert Crais is not THE best mystery fiction writer today, he certainly is among the top 10! This book focuses almost exclusively on his chief protagonist, PI Elvis Cole, but Crais has him carry the story quite well. There is a little bit of his sidekick, Joe Pike, but for the most part he stays pretty much in the background in this novel.
The story revolves around an apparent suicide discovered while police are evacuating an area in Southern California because of wild fires. The victim is a man Elvis once helped to exonerate in a string of murders involving a variety of young women. Now, because of evidence found on the dead man, it appears that Cole erred. Maybe the man was guilty after all. Elvis sets out to discover the truth, whatever it turns out to be.
If you've read any of Crais's thrillers before, then you'll find this book as exciting and well-written as his previous books. If you aren't familiar with Crais, this book will get you hooked on him and his books!
Michael Garee
Rated by buyers -
There are two ways of evaluating this book: 1) as a mystery; and, 2) as an Elvis Cole mystery.
As a mystery it is very good. An apparent suicide indicates that when Cole got a susptect off years ago, the suspect was actually a serial killer. Cole's effective work apparently allowed the Cole-cleared-suspect to commit two more murders. All, of course, is not as it seems, and Cole is forced to find the real killer to clear his name.
The plot is a good one. There are misdirections throughout and a good ending. Unlike many other books in the genre, some cops want to help Cole, others do not. Some cops like him, others do not; and, the ones that don't like him occasionally end up on his side and vice versa. As a straight mystery, the book is recommended.
Now, as an Elvis Coel mystery, it falls short. The early Cole was funny, if not hilarious, and had an edge. His sidekick, Pike, was a mono-syllabic mountain of intimidation. Although Cole has gotten over the Prozac phase of losing his lover, he has not regained the humour or the edge of the very first several books. Pike is in this one throughout, but he does not seem like Pike. He speaks in full sentences and never intimidates anyone. As a Cole novel, it leaves the old Cole fans with an empty feeling.
So, if you're looking for a good mystery; this is a good mystery. If you're looking for a good Elvis Cole mystery, reread some of the early ones.
Rated by buyers 
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Robert Crais needs a vacation. Or a book deal that requires him to put out fewer books over a period of time. He is one of the best of the trade. His hallmark is some tongue and cheek fun with terrific character development. Joe Pike and Elvis Cole, self proclaimed "World's Best Detective" have made for some fun and worthwhile reading. In Chasing Darkness, he falls back to plot, plot and then more plot. A lot of it preposterous. Mr. Crais, take a vacation. We will be buying your books when you come back. For Crais fans this book should be read, but don't expect what he has spoiled us with in the past. And, hopefully, in the future.
Rated by buyers -
Many authors are plugged into an editorial formula writing style. For Crais he usually pulls it off without problems. An interesting story line that is somewhat telegraphed along the way. His discussions with the "bad guy" were obvious and yet I still enjoyed the book.
Quick & enjoyable read - maybe subsequent time he will make the ending less predictable.
Rated by buyers -
This is easily Robert Crais best book to date.
Elvis and Pike are at their best throughout.
I found it near impossible to put down and now eagerly await Robert Crais subsequent book.
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