Sunset Express

There’s not much I can say about this.

You're either a fan of Elvis Cole or you're not.

If you are, then you know you're getting the usual Elvis Cole story - There's Cole. There's Pike. There's a case. Nothing is as it seems but the boys will shoot their way to the truth.

Sunset Express isn't the weakest entry in the lengthy series but it wasn't a case/story so strong/interesting/unique/character developing that I'd read it again.

If you're a fan you'll read it no matter what, just like I did.

If you're not a fan of Elvis Cole, know that the series is the quintessential PI tale. If you look up a list of PI clichés, Cole will tick EVERY box (I’ve done it...) but Crais does it so unapologetically, giving you a straight up shot gumshoe that you'll love knocking it back every time.

If this is your first encounter with Cole, don't start here (Book #6). Don't even start at Book #1 (Monkey's Raincoat). Jump right ahead to Book #11 (The Watchman). That is where I started by accident and it had the benefit of being far in enough to be really well developed (both character and story) so I knew it was worth sticking through some of the weaker earlier entries when I went back to the beginning.

If you've hit a few Cole novels but aren't hooked yet, I'd also recommend jumping forward to #11 or so.