The Watchman

An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel, Book 11

By: Robert Crais

Narrated by: James Daniels

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

At last, the enigmatic partner of Elvis Cole (The Two Minute Rule) takes center stage in this pulse-racing thriller. When Joe Pike is charged with safeguarding a wealthy heiress, he discovers protecting the sole witness to a crime is nothing compared to protecting an LA party girl from her own self-destruction...

Larkin Conner Barkley lives like the City of Angels is hers for the taking. Young and staggeringly rich, she speeds through the city during its loneliest hours, blowing through red after red in her Aston Martin as if running for her life. Then suddenly she sees another car’s metal-on-metal explosion of a terrible accident and, dazed, finds herself the single witness in a secret federal investigation.

For maybe the first time in her life, Larkin wants to do the right thing. But in doing so she becomes the target for a relentless team of killers. And when the US Marshals and the finest security money can buy can’t protect her, Larkin’s wealthy family turns to the one man money can't buy - Joe Pike.

Pike lives a world away from the palaces of Beverly Hills. He’s an ex-cop, ex-Marine, ex-mercenary who owes a bad man a favor, and that favor is to keep the uncontrollable Larkin alive.

Pike commits to protecting the girl, but it becomes clear someone in their circle is selling them out. Taking matters into his own hands, Joe drops off the gird with Larkin and follows his own survival rules: strike fast, hit hard, hunt down the hunters. With the help of private investigator Elvis Cole, Pike uncovers a web of lies and betrayals, and the stunning revelation that even the cops are not who they seem. As the body count rises, Pike’s biggest threat might come from the girl herself, a lost soul in the City of Angels, determined to destroy herself unless Joe Pike can teach her the value of life...and love.

Investigate another case with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.

©2007 Robert Crais (P)2007 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"Elvis Cole's mostly silent partner, Joe Pike, now has a book of his own. His character, manner, and ethic resemble that of Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry), and thanks to James Daniels, so does his voice."--AudioFile

"Joe Pike, the intriguing, enigmatic partner of L.A. PI Elvis Cole, takes center stage in this intense thriller....The breathless pace and rich styling are sure to appeal to readers of hard-boiled fiction."--Publishers Weekly

Pike and Elvis are back in this fast paced thriller. I couldn't put it down!

So Exciting

The best yet. Could not wait for next chance to listen. Narration perfect. Believable and sympathetic.

Tough guy who likes to read

There are not enough warrior poets like Joe Pike and Elvis Cole. I am really enjoying the series.

Listen To It Four Times

Daniels brings Joe Pike to life. I close my eyes turn off my night light and I’m riding with Joe and the other characters. He brings all of them to life. GREAT FU_ _ ING STORY!!!
iZ

"The girl's" relationship with Joe Pike.

I love Joe Pike and Elvis Cole novels and have read all books in the series up to this point. I wish Crais would have developed " the girl"'s (as Joe refers to her, almost never using her name, which to me doesn't speak of much warmth towards her from Pike, through no fault of his own, owing to his upbringing) personality more and had more intense conversations together. That he would fall in love with her is not believable to me. and whatever happened to his old partner, Was's, wife? I'd love to see him end up with someone good. Being a loner and almost a mute doesn't bode well for him, though, in the long lasting type of relationship. Maybe there's someone out there just perfect for him and vice versa, good luck, Joe. We love you, anyways!

Great story and series

Love the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series. I look forward to next books. Just keep same authors makes it better

Excellent crime fiction thriller w Joe Pike in the lead, Elvis Cole plays backup

I enjoyed listening to James Daniels’ skilled voice-acting, especially Joe Pike’s gravelly gruff voice. I liked Elvis Cole’s secondary role in this book, because his wisecracking is tolerable in smaller snatches of conversation. And he gets to banter w their rich, wild-thang “client,” Larkin Conner Barkley—who is saddled w an eye-roll-inducing name. The complex storyline and subplots are superb, with several fine twists, but the pace falters a bit when author Crais works on fleshing out Pike by sorta giving him a heart.

4.5 stars, upped to 5 stars. I’ll be listening to the Audible version again.

A whole new side of Pike!

an absolute must read if you are a fan of Elvis and Joe, but as other reviewers have mentioned it unveils a whole different side of Pike and I think it adds immensely to the relationship between him and the characters he encounters.

Absolute pleasure to read.

A complete focus on Joe Pike with a detailed fleshing of his back story. It's difficult to keep a multiple novel storyline fresh and compelling but Robert Crais does it masterfully.

Good!

This book was my first Robert Crais story.
I picked up the Audible version and couldn't be happier.
Very good narration !