Voodoo River (Elvis Cole Novels)

just finished this -- it was a page turner,couldn't put it down--I love Robert Crais and the Elvis Cole character is my favorite P.I.--this book and other's by Mr. Crais are great read's for people who enjoy mysteries (female or male) I also enjoy Johnathan Kellerman,John Sandford,John Grisham and many more to list HAPPY READING TO ALL WHO PURCHASE THIS SERIES

Robert Crais' Elvis Cole is everything you want in a private eye. He wisecracks, he wears his heart on his sleeve, and he can set-em-up and knock-em-down. Plus, there's always Joe Pike for when things get really nasty. Voodoo River is a sensational book, and Crais has never been better.

Robert Crais grew up in Louisiana and for the fifth installment of the series he sends Elvis Cole down to the Bayou State. Jodi Taylor is a popular actress who was given up for adoption at birth in the state of Louisiana. She hires Elvis to search out her biological parents for medical reasons. She has also retained the rights of a Louisiana lawyer who specializes in situations like hers. Elvis heads down to Baton Rouge to meet the lawyer and search for the parents. When Elvis walks into Lucy Chenier's office, he is immediately head over heels in love. The chapters where this initial meeting takes place and a dinner between the two are classics. The story takes us through the small town south and we met less than honorable police chiefs, parish officials, double dealers and a killer snapper turtle. Elvis eventual does find Jodi's biological parents and that turns out to be a major surprise. All throughout the story, the relationship between Elvis and Lucy begins to take shape and grow. This is the first time that a real love interest for Elvis is introduced and it gives the character another dimension. After the Monkey's Raincoat, the three subsequent books were entertaining but were threatening to get predictable. With Voodoo River, Mr. Crais ups the ante and comes back strong. Just as he did with his adopted home of Los Angeles, Mr. Crais takes us through the nooks and crannies of his birthplace. This is an immensely enjoyable read and is right up there with the Monkey's Raincoat.

Too bad the Booklist review gave everything away! There should be a law against the tell-everything review, whether book or film. Part of the enjoyment in reading Robert Crais's mysteries is how he builds his story. It's called suspense. Since the plot has been served up, the only other things to discuss are setting and characterization. As always, the characters are unique and colorful (and the bad guys couldn't be worse villains!) -- and Voodoo River stars an ancient and deadly snapping turtle who figures importantly in the climax (but I won't tell you any more!) This is the installment in which Elvis Cole mets the woman who may become the love of his life, Lucy Chenier. A fast-paced and exciting read.

I was hooked from the minute I started reading.I didnt realise the book was several years old but its timeless in its compelling storyline. It mixes hollywood with the fascinating world of bayous and Louisiana culture. A search for a woman's past leads the detective into all sorts of trouble.Absolutely one of the best mysteries I read in a long time.Im a norterner who loves the south and this book is very southern fried. Realistic in its ambience. I simply loved it!!!

I freely confess that I judged this book, initially at least, by its cover. If it hadn't had such a snappy title I might never have picked it up. But Voodoo River caught my eye and once I opened it up, I was hooked. After all, how can you not love a detective named Elvis? I picked up this book shortly after reading one of Robert B. Parker's recent disappointing Spenser offerings, and Voodoo River made me understand exactly why Parker had been disappointing me. Voodoo River is the first book I've read in years with dialogue as snappy as Parker's early Spenser books had. It's the first mystery book I've read in ages that made me laugh out loud at some of the conversations. But Voodoo River had something else - a plot that kept me reading till the last page. I realized as I finished this book that not many recent mysteries have caught me the way Voodoo River did. Not many writers give me characters I care about anymore. Voodoo River added Robert Crais to my list of mystery writers to watch. I can't wait for the next Elvis Cole novel. And this time, I won't care what the title is. I'll pick it up in a heartbeat. PS. I used to think you couldn't have anyone better than Hawk watching your back. That was before I met Joe Pike. Sorry, Hawk.