The First Rule (Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Book 13)

I enjoy all the Robert Crais books but my stand-out favorites are the ones which feature Joe Pike. Elvis Cole is a great character but Pike has such a depth of character that his stories are hard for me to resist. I just can't help but wonder what is actually going on behind those dark glasses. This novel gives readers a closer, more personal insight into Pike.The story begins with a home invasion where three adults and two children are killed. It would have gone down as another in a horrible string of robberies and murders except this one had a special element, here the man murdered was one of Pike's guys - a member of his hand picked team - when he was a mercenary. The police are saying all the other incidents of this type were on people with known criminal leanings. Pike has to find out if Frank Meyer was dirty and prove it one way or another so he knows how to react to the death of his friend. Did Frank manage to fool Pike when they were working together?In order to solve this case Crais brings in Elvis Cole, Jon Stone, Pike and many of their contacts in the shadowy world folks like me hope to never see. I thought the plotting was absolutely spot on and the technology still held up well even though this was published in 2010 and we all know how quickly spy gadget development moves. The twist at the end was especially impressive.

If you're looking for an action packed book with interesting characters and a plot that keeps you guessing, look no further! What a wonderful, wild ride of a book. I've been a fan of the Joe Pike and Elvis Cole characters for a long time, but hadn't read one of Mr. Crais' books in a while. SO glad I read this book and highly recommend it. Although it deals with violence and bad people, the book also has plenty of heart and an ending that is both satisfying and ironic (no spoilers). I'm just sad I couldn't put it down, because I finished it too quickly!

Robert Crais is a fine writer. He created one of my all-time favorite fictional characters, Elvis Cole. I first “met“ Joe Pike as Elvis’ dark, dangerous side-kick. Clever, snarky Elvis is never at a loss for words, whipping up dinner or chasing a clue with Joe by his side. But somewhere along the way, Crais and his readers let Elvis take a minor role in several Pike-driven books. This is one of those. The writing is still excellent, the dialog and the characters speaking it believable. The action is hot and the ending satisfying. I can take nothing from any of that. But I admit I’m pouting because Elvis has been eclipsed. For me that’s a real downer. Nevertheless, I recommend this and all of Robert Crais’ books.

Crais has good stories, well thought out with plenty of twists and turns. His grammar is not good. It is very irritating mostly because he is comma happy. Doesnt he have an editor who can delete almost all of the improper irritating commas??? Think of the ink that would be saved without all those unnecessary commas. I read his boks with a pen to scratch them out. This book has a good story with a satisfying ending in spite of the commas.

I've only recently been introduced to the Cole/Pike series, and overall kudos to Robert Crais for his skill at mixing action, suspense, humor and even the occasional dollop of heartfelt sentiment in these books. However, this is the first I've read where Joe Pike is the central figure and, frankly? ...I much prefer Elvis (Cole) being center stage. Elvis is simply the more entertaining character, and for me the stories work better with the kind of Spenser/Hawk dynamic that has mysterious Joe Pike silently drifting in and out as Elvis's super-backup. More experienced Crais fans may disagree.

I've read most of this series and this one has been the best yet. Joe Like takes a front and center.food instead of the usual support for Elvis Cole. The story has a lot going on with the murder of an old friend of Joe Pike. Joe takes a personal task to find these killers and a tangled web is woven. The story is pretty easy to.follow and there's a lot of action and suspense. Without revealing too much I'll say that it's the best Joe Pike has ever looked.

Another great book about Joe Pike. You’d think that people would not be such huge fans of a book hero who is basically anti-social and doesn’t always play well with others, but there’s something about Pike that is lovable. Yes, I said lovable. For friends and those who he deems to be people that need help he is always there for them. In this book he is able to, once again, outsmart the bad guys. The good news is that the bad guys don’t all have to from the Middle East and south of the border. Now the author has got a whole slew of creepy thugs from Eastern Europe and the Balkans and, of course, Russia. And we can always depend on Joe Pike to teach them a lesson. Have read Joe Pike books before but somehow missed this one and was glad to get the chance to catch up. Enjoyed the book very much.

I LOVE JOE PIKE! If I were in trouble, I’d want him to have MY back. Love Elvis Cole stepping in to lend a hand. Crais is a keeper, and one of the very few authors I will reread. He’s created smart, funny wiseasses in all his books, yet will go dark and dangerous as needed. A joy to watch him progress as a writer through the years! Met him at a writer’s conference decades ago...super nice in person, too!

This gets five stars as it kept me engaged from the very beginning. I haven't read any others in the series, yet. I think this series will be my treat as I spend way too much on books already.Looking at the synopsis of some of the other books in the series, I'm sure they'll be as good as this one.A recommended read from a self confessed book junkie.

Today is a sad day. Five months ago I was introduced to the Cole/Pike series, and today, with the completion of The First Rule, I have finished the series.I can truly say that this is the finest,brilliantly written and exciting crime thriller series that I have ever read..and I include the wonderful Lee Child and Vince Flynn in that analysis.You just have to start with the first story...and you're hooked. They just get better and better, and the two books where Joe Pike is the 'lead' character are arguably the best of the lot.I've got John Grisham, James Patterson, Dennis Lehane and more lining up on my Kindle waiting to be read...all I've wanted to do when I've completed one Cole/Pike novel is download the next one. Yes, they are THAT addictive.So for those of you thinking of downloading this book and who haven't read the previous books in the series, I would say...DON'T! Instead, search The Monkeys Raincoat and get started on a series that will grip you like you wouldn't believe.I see there's another in the series due out this year. Just keep 'em coming Robert...this series can run for years. And when is someone going to take up the film rights and get these stories out in the cinema? Its got to happen surely.

Though this is in the 'Elvis Cole' series by Robert Crais, it's mainly about Joe Pike, and that's absolutely fine. When I started reading this series in the middle, and then went back to the first book (highly recommended) it makes Joe Pike more understandable. I absolutely love the whole series and thoroughly recommend it. The First Rule is a great book, but if this is your first of the series, do start at the beginning. It really is worth it. The books do stand alone, but to get the most out of them it's best to know the backgrounds of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Great books. Strong story lines, often dark but with a lot of humour too. I really like the characters - you get drawn into their lives. Passed this one on to my husband who loved it and will recommend the whole series to my son who lives in the USA when I visit soon.

The Cole/Pike series is becoming one of my favourite reads. The interaction between the characters and their background was a little slow to get going if you start with the Monkeys Raincoat but is really starting to blossom now. They can however be read on a stand alone basis. Great easy to read series excellent for holiday reading material.

On ordering this book it was at first declined as I had had a new credit card, same number but a new expiry date! At first I could not think where I was being declined, none of the suggestions mentioned new expiry date but I did then sort it out and re-ordered the book. Since then 3 have arrived, really annoying, so I will be returning 2 to get my money ak, what a faff!!! The book outsell is fine and arrived quickl as did the other 2!