Lullaby Town

An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel, Book 3

By: Robert Crais

Narrated by: Mel Foster

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

"Quick, cutting wit...a keen ear."--The New York Times Book Review

Hollywood’s newest wunderkind is Peter Alan Nelsen, the brilliant, erratic director known as the King of Adventure.

His films make billions, but his manners make enemies. What the boy king wants, he gets, and what Nelsen wants is for Elvis to comb the country for the wife and infant child the film-school flunkout dumped en route to becoming the third-biggest filmmaker in America. It’s the kind of case Cole can handle in his sleep - until it turns out to be a nightmare. For when Cole finds Nelsen’s ex-wife in a small Connecticut town, she’s nothing like he expects. She has some unwanted - and very nasty - mob connections, which means Elvis could be opening an East Coast branch of his P.I. office...at the bottom of the Hudson River.

"Elvis [Cole] is the greatest...[ he is] perhaps the best detective to come along since Travis McGee."--San Diego Tribune

"[Crais is] far better at the private-eye-novel racket than most writers."--Newsweek

©2008 Robert Crais (P)2008 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"This story is pure pleasure from the very first page."--Kirkus Reviews

Pike in New York? Ferget about it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes and have. It's Pike and Cole enough said.

What other book might you compare Lullaby Town to and why?

Voo Doo River, child seeks parent instead of parent seeking child.

What does Mel Foster bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Drama Humor Suspense, he makes my mouth twitch.

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

Yes and almost did, while driving from Virginia to Florida

Any additional comments?

Does RC have a Pinocchio clock in his office?

Loved this book!

Where does Lullaby Town rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I really loved this book, and loved the narrator. First rate.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Lullaby Town?

I just liked the attitudes of the two main characters, Elvis & Cole. The narration made their attitudes all the better, and used inflections and nuances that I wouldn't have seen if I was just reading the book. The story line was good!

What does Mel Foster bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Again, the narration made their attitudes all the better, and used inflections and nuances that I wouldn't have seen if I was just reading the book.

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

Everybody lies.

Any additional comments?

I had never heard of this author before. I am on the second book, and even though it is narrated by a different person (whose voice sounds too young, compared to Mel's voice) - I still like the inflections, etc., that he gives the characters. His accents are good also.

More Joe Pike.....

What made the experience of listening to Lullaby Town the most enjoyable?

While I love Elvis Cole, Joe Pike enthralls me! Joe played a role in this story but in my opinion not a big enough one. The story was a little hard to believe but I'll suspend belief for Elvis and Joe any day. Sympathetic idiot rich man wants to find his long neglected son and ex wife who have moved on and made a nice quiet life for themselves if you don't count the ties to organized crime. TheN Crais sends in the clowns in the guise of a bunch of stereotypical mob jerks and the plot thickens.I won't spoil the story with details, it's always amusing to get Elvis and Joe in a fight because of course they are invincible! don't expect reality, expect fun

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not exactly on the edge of my seat, but amused and entertained throughout!

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

did not find the delivery as good as some I've heard, it was adequate, that's all.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no tears were shed in the 'reading' of this book, but I laughed quietly through a great deal of it. I love Elvis Cole and Robert Crais so I knew what I was getting and I was not disappointed.

Any additional comments?

MORE JOE PIKE!

Self Centered Redemption

I have purchased this re listen originally from cassette. Mel does Elvis ok but misses the Pike nuance and you must listen at 1.2 speed to match the story Master Crais intended. I am re listening to this wonderful series in order as l didn’t before. I started with all of the James Danials reads first and fell in love with Pike.
This Mafia story is good but any Russian or Mafia thuggish story never really appeals to me. Maybe the “Just take it attitude “ gets to me. So between an ok reader and subject matter the $10.49 spend was fine.
Were my comments of help?

I didn't like narraters voice

Robert Crais is an amazing writer I love his books. The only thing I had a problem with is the narrators voice. I was too used to Elvis sounding youthful and sarcastic in the first 2 books. This narrator sounded like he didn't understand the sarcasm as he read it, so he didn't say it as you would in everyday life. I now know there are multiple narrators to choose from my fault kinda rushed into this new website with out reading everything. Thank you

A real improvement over first two in series

I would give this book a solid 3.5 stars, and it is a significant upgrade on the first two books in the Elvis Cole series. Although the book started slow, it quickly picked up when Cole traveled to the East Coast. While this book retained some of the detective noir style, there was much less silly wisecracks, and much more of a good, defined plot, great action, and compelling characters. The book is about Cole tracking down an ex-wife, who he then learns is mixed up with the mafia, and he works with Joe Pike to spring her free. It is a clever story with great action and twists of fortune. I hope that Lullaby Town is a sign that this series has turned the corner into being closer to Jack Reacher/Baldacci/Nathan McBride.

Good story, but other problems

This is a pretty good story as most Robert Crais novels are, but the narration really spoils the fun. Mel Foster's reading is corny and misses the mark on the tone and the characters.

Elvis Cole PI to the stars

A fun read, but was expecting a battle between the wiseguy Rick and Pike - never happened 😤

Elvis and Pike do it again.

I loved this book. It has elors of action and people getting their just rewards. Very reminiscent of Spencer and Hawk. Sometimes
a little over the top but very entertaining.

A great Elvis and Joe Pike read

If you could sum up Lullaby Town in three words, what would they be?

Mob to Hollywood

What other book might you compare Lullaby Town to and why?

David Baldacci or Connelly series are a lot like this series with a good mystery and likable characters

Which character – as performed by Mel Foster – was your favorite?

I like Elvis, his internal dialog/thoughts are pretty funny

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

At times I wanted to strangle Peter Alan Nelson for being so annoying

Any additional comments?

Great read in the Elvis/Joe series