• Free Fall

  • An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel, Book 4
  • By: Robert Crais
  • Narrated by: Mel Foster
  • Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,093 ratings)

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Free Fall  By  cover art

Free Fall

By: Robert Crais
Narrated by: Mel Foster
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Publisher's summary

"A thoughtful and powerful page turner."--People

Elvis Cole is just a detective who can't say no, especially to a girl in a terrible fix. And Jennifer Sheridan qualifies: Her fiancé, Mark Thurman, is a decorated LA cop with an elite plainclothes unit, but Jennifer's sure he's in trouble - the kind of serious trouble that only Elvis Cole can help him out of.

Five minutes after his new client leaves his office, Elvis and his partner, the enigmatic Joe Pike, are hip-deep in a deadly situation as they plummet into a world of South Central gangs, corrupt cops, and conspiracies of silence. And before the case is through, every copy in the LAPD will be gunning for a pair of escaped armed-and-dangerous killers - Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.

"Elvis Cole provides more fun for the reader than any L.A. private eye to come along in years."--Joseph Wambaugh

"Elvis lives, and he's on his way to being crowned the king of detectives."--Booklist

Investigate another case with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.
©2008 Robert Crais (P)2008 Brilliance Audio

What listeners say about Free Fall

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    634
  • 4 Stars
    348
  • 3 Stars
    87
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    9
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    551
  • 4 Stars
    234
  • 3 Stars
    76
  • 2 Stars
    21
  • 1 Stars
    9
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    548
  • 4 Stars
    258
  • 3 Stars
    69
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    6

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Ugh! The Narrator!

I have listened to all of R.C. books with various narrators and loved them all (included the newest one, The First Rule). I gave lesser stars for this work because the narrator was so awful that I abandoned the audio version for the print version.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

story better than reader

Crais is always a good, reliable listen. This reader almost ruins it, but not quite. I dislike buying abridged books, but in this case I wish I'd bought the abridged version with a better reader.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

If not for ... it would be good

This was my first Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel and it will probably be my last. Here is this ultra competent guy, Joe Pike that towards the end of the story apparently messes up so badly several people get killed. I say apparently because there is no explanation as to how it happened. It's as if the author wrote the ending first, couldn't figure out how to have Joe Pike screw up so badly, so he just left that part out.

If, unlike me, you can overlook this one major flaw the book is worth the credit and well paced with good character development.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

As usual a great "read"

If you could sum up Free Fall in three words, what would they be?

Noir Elvis Style

What did you like best about this story?

The wise-cracking P.I. Elvis Cole and his deadly side kick Joe Pike

Have you listened to any of Mel Foster’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first listen to Mel - He pegged Elvis Cole and the tone of the book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

You could break this one up or listen all the way through and come away satisfied.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Agree with other reviewers: This one you can skip.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Different narrator. Mel Foster would be good for other books, but reduces Joe Pike from everybody's personal hero to just some sidekick with a few guns. And a better-suited narrator would have helped overcome the frustrations brought on by the lead female character.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Rewrite the female lead character to be way less annoying. Being somewhat annoying is part of her charm; her draw. I get that. But when you wish you could reach through the speakers and strangle this lead character that Elvis Cole somehow has any patience for, the whole listening experience is way too frustrating. This aspect made it difficult to develop any connection with some very important characters.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Mel Foster?

Luke Daniels or Robert Crais. Both do Pike as he was meant to be heard.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Free Fall?

None. I don't think there are scenes that detract from the story or slow the pace too much. Along these lines, I never choose an abridged version over an unabridged. I might feel differently about cutting scenes in terms of a 'reading' experience, but not for a 'listening' experience.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

CPC all you'll ever need (Crais, Pike, Cole)

Would you listen to Free Fall again? Why?

Yes, there is always a detail missed that you find later.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Poitros and Grimes, they never allow their personal feelings towards Pike to keep them from helping to see justice is done.

What about Mel Foster’s performance did you like?

Voice and inflection gives realism to varied characters of gender and ethnicity.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Elvis Cole, reserve chute for those of poor judgement.

Any additional comments?

As much as I would like to see any of the Pike and Cole series go to film, I feel the style, story, and characters would not be done justice much like the works of Stephen King.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Elvis Cole -- great again

I just love Elvis Cole and Joe Pike,
this is just another great story -- Police trouble and gangs

good stuff!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Are You There Elvis?

It was difficult to hear Elvis and Joe underneath the narrator’s characterization of them. This was not a good match up. I hope he doesn’t perform book five😬.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Too dated - cannot recommend

Not one of the better Elvis Coke novels. But it’s the “n” words, the “mad men” sexism that puts it into the “don’t bother” category.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another awesome Elvis Cole novel!

Well folks, the 5 star rating should say it all:) I enjoyed the book very much. It had a great story and I loved the "unknown" character that was "Mark Thurman". lol Didn't have to look that name up!

Anyway, it was fast paced & very entertaining! Worth the read! I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

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1 person found this helpful