The First Rule

An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel, Book 13

By: Robert Crais

Narrated by: Robert Crais

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Joe Pike and his partner Elvis Cole must solve the murder of an old friend and his entire family in this gripping thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Robert Crais.

When Frank Meyer and his family are executed during a home invasion, the police begin investigating the secret life they're sure Meyer had. Joe Pike's on a hunt of his own: to clear his friend's name, and to punish the people who murdered him. What starts out as a simple trail gets twisted fast by old grudges, double crosses, blood vengeance, and a crime so terrible even Pike and his partner Elvis Cole have no way to measure it.

Investigate another case with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.

©2010 Robert Crais (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Joe Pike, My Man

Elvis and Pike are two of my favorite characters. Pike did the heavy lifting in this story. Standing up for his men and making sure they are taken care of despite the time they haven’t been in touch. Friends and confidants are called in to help. Very interesting and surprising to the end. I’m reading them all in order.

Great Character

it really opens Pike as a person and gives a litttle into his nature

Please, please, please

will someone tell authors not to narrate their own books? It just never works.

I get it that the author knows, in their mind, exactly how the characters sound, how the line should be delivered, etc. Unfortunately, it just doesn't come across when their read their own work. With Pike predominating in this one, his minimalistic way of speaking combined with Crais's monotonous delivery create an atmosphere so subdued it almost disappears. Crais reading a police report would have about the same level of interest and drama. Love this series, but not this book.

very enjoyable

Pike and Cole are as good as any duo in the genre. They are tough and ruthless when needed but very compassionate in regards to the innocent. Crais is an excellent author.

Huge Joe Pike Fan!

Any additional comments?

After a break it was a breath of fresh air to get back to Joe Pike and Elvis Cole. I have no problem with the series entries that focus on Pike. Yes, the wonderful wiseass humor of Cole is missing, but in a lot of ways I find Joe Pike the more compelling of the two and love that he's full of complexity and contradictions that you don't usually find an a nearly superhuman action hero. Crais does a surprisingly good job as reader. When I'm able to forget the reader and simply visualize the characters that's always a good sign, although it would have been a plus if he had mastered the incidental Eastern European accents - not really a deal-breaker though. All in all a really satisfying read that made want to go straight to the next in the series.

Great Audible experience

I found out that I am a fan of good detective stories, and this is by far the best detective story. I will be getting either the audio books or the digital books for the rest of this series, without a doubt.

A moody, shoot-em-up, action thriller featuring Joe Pike. Recommend Audible version.

I enjoyed Robert Crais’ narrating, because he has more of a Joe Pike vibe than several narrators voicing the books with Elvis Cole as lead. It’s nice to have Joe Pike taking the lead for a change, but I also liked Elvis Cole and Jon Stone as backups. That said, this storyline needed stone cold killer, Joe Pike, as lead because there are things Pike would easily do that Cole would have an angst-fest even considering.

I rate this 4.5 stars but I won’t up it to 5 stars, because this violence-heavy book needed more Elvis Cole or even Jon Stone to leaven the storyline.

Great story

Another Joe Pike story, so what's not to like. Crais' performance adds a bit of brokenness to Pike and Stone's usual alpha personalities, making their characters all the more interesting.

just good ol Pike

Lots of action, lots of mercenary stuff, if you like Pike and his mysterious ways, you will enjoy this one. Elvis and John Chen are also briefly featured for some mildly comic relief.

O * S

Non-stop, never a flat spot in the storyline. Good character development. Pike is the man. A good man.