Rating: 
Summary: EXPERT WIT AND TIGHT PLOT
Review: Oh, how I like reading Crais, man! Just when you think Cole is getting a run-of-the-mill kind of case - there you go, he gets into a real mess. TV star Jodi Taylor hires him to find out about her biological parents, since she' s "currently" an adopted daughter. So Cole goes on the trail of Jody's past to Louisiana and doesn't get to enjoy the good food there. Why? Because Jody's unforeseen secret is creating real bad vibes in the PI's investigation: as he works his way deeper into the beautiful actress's past, Cole soon discovers the real reason of his troubles. You can't miss this Crais novel: stay around and enjoy the narrative. It's the best you can possibly get, appealing, funny, truly humane.
Rating: 
Summary: Elvis On The Bayou
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Average--If you have nothing better to read...
Review: Robert Crais' tale of PI Elvis Cole has its highs and lows. For instance, some of the dialogue was funny and smart. But the storyline was boring and weak. There was rarely any action or suspense, nor was there any sex or violence. Robert Crais is an OK writer, but for a master, try Harold Robbins. If you're looking for a mystery writer, try anyone who can produce a decent story.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the Elvis Cole series & a good spot for newcomers
Review: Robert Crais's detective, Elvis Cole, is a wise-cracking P.I. working in Los Angeles whose office is adorned with Disney characters. In "Voodoo River," an actress hires Elvis to check into her background and, specifically, her adoption years ago. Elvis takes the case and goes to Louisiana on what should be a fairly easy case. Much to his surprise, though, he finds that another detective is already investigating and that people's lives are soon at stake.The plot of any Crais novel is almost unnecessary, though, since the writing is so good and so enjoyable. That's not to say that the plots are not well crafted and exciting; they are. Crais is a gifted writer, and his creation of Elvis Cole (along with the tight-lipped Joe Pike) is an engaging and thoroughly entertaining character. What sets "Voodoo River" apart from the previous series entries ("The Monkey's Raincoat," "Stalking the Angel," "Lullaby Town," and "Free Fall," in that order) is that Cole is both at his most personable and most vulnerable here, largely due to the introduction of Lucy, a Louisiana attorney in whom Elvis develops a romantic interest. As always, Joe Pike and Elvis's cat are along for the ride and add color, but this entry into the series thrives on how personal it gets. A great deal of the power of the book comes from the issue of adoption, one Crais has taken from his own life. The actress's motive for seeking information is not that she has an insatiable, talk-show desire to learn about her "real" family. Rather, she needs medical information. With so many adopted children, that's the way it is--they're happy with their adoptive families and consider them in every respect their "real" families. As with all the novels in the series, Crais gives great attention to the setting, portraying faithfully the flavor, look, and feel of the locale while never forgetting the action and suspense that have made him a best-selling and award-winning author. As in any series, there are good and bad places to begin. The Elvis Cole series does not depend to a great extent on sequence, and "Voodoo River" therefore is an ideal place to jump in.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the Elvis Cole series & a good spot for newcomers
Review: Robert Crais's detective, Elvis Cole, is a wise-cracking P.I. working in Los Angeles whose office is adorned with Disney characters. In "Voodoo River," an actress hires Elvis to check into her background and, specifically, her adoption years ago. Elvis takes the case and goes to Louisiana on what should be a fairly easy case. Much to his surprise, though, he finds that another detective is already investigating and that people's lives are soon at stake. The plot of any Crais novel is almost unnecessary, though, since the writing is so good and so enjoyable. That's not to say that the plots are not well crafted and exciting; they are. Crais is a gifted writer, and his creation of Elvis Cole (along with the tight-lipped Joe Pike) is an engaging and thoroughly entertaining character. What sets "Voodoo River" apart from the previous series entries ("The Monkey's Raincoat," "Stalking the Angel," "Lullaby Town," and "Free Fall," in that order) is that Cole is both at his most personable and most vulnerable here, largely due to the introduction of Lucy, a Louisiana attorney in whom Elvis develops a romantic interest. As always, Joe Pike and Elvis's cat are along for the ride and add color, but this entry into the series thrives on how personal it gets. A great deal of the power of the book comes from the issue of adoption, one Crais has taken from his own life. The actress's motive for seeking information is not that she has an insatiable, talk-show desire to learn about her "real" family. Rather, she needs medical information. With so many adopted children, that's the way it is--they're happy with their adoptive families and consider them in every respect their "real" families. As with all the novels in the series, Crais gives great attention to the setting, portraying faithfully the flavor, look, and feel of the locale while never forgetting the action and suspense that have made him a best-selling and award-winning author. As in any series, there are good and bad places to begin. The Elvis Cole series does not depend to a great extent on sequence, and "Voodoo River" therefore is an ideal place to jump in.
Rating:
Summary: Good except the last drop
Review: The writing is crisp, the characters are fun and the story carries well until the exciting conclusion, which steps out of character and reaches far in order to precipitate a predictable end for the bad guy.
Rating: 
Summary: not as good as some of his others
Review: This book was enjoyable, but wasn't as good as some of his other books. I recently read Demolition Angel by the same author, and thought it was better.
Rating:
Summary: A bit deeper than before...
Review: This is a good mystery. There are some solid surprises. The real joy comes from Elvis finally finding love. The story is solid and the characters reliably odd and/or scary. I've now read 5 Elvis Cole novels and I am dying to know his back story. I hope I learn it soon. On to the next!
Rating:
Summary: Good Ol' Thriller
Review: This is exactly the book you need when you are on vacation and want to get rid of your every day troubles. It has got fast action, romantic scenes, thrilling danger and a well knit plot. Who cares that the characters are a bit cartoon-like? Elvis is a bit too cool, the typical cliché of a private eye. The others are a bit too simple in their personal structures. But I guarantee, you read this book fast. It is the traditional thriller without pretence, but it is excellent entertainment. And - you want to read more Elvis Cole stories. It has been my first Elvis Cole novel, and now I am hungry for the rest.
Rating:
Summary: ELVIS KNOWN AS STUDLY??????????
Review: This is the fifth book for me in this series. I think I liked it least of all. I am so glad I did not read the Booklist Review before I bought the book or I would not have bought it. Why they had to give the main information I do not know. Elvis is in Cajun country, Crais is at home. But, I was not pleased with a lot of pages of talk, talk and more talk with Lucy. Elvis does his job, see review, but thought a lot of the book just drug. The ending was good but only lasted a few pages. Would also like a lot more of Pike. He is so good. Can do without Lucy in future books but I gather she is going to be in them. If you have not read a Crais book before do not start with this one. Any of the first four are better, I think.
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