Taken

By: Robert Crais

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

Crais has never written a book with the power and intensity of Taken.

When Nita Morales hires Elvis Cole to find her missing adult daughter, she isn’t afraid, even though she’s gotten a phone call asking for ransom. She knows it’s a fake, that her daughter is off with the guy Nita will call only "that boy", and that they need money: "Even smart girls do stupid things when they think a boy loves them."

But she is wrong. The girl and her boyfriend have been taken by bajadores - bandits who prey on other bandits, border professionals who prey not only on innocent victims, but on one another. They steal drugs, guns, and people - buying and selling victims like commodities, and killing the ones they can’t get a price for.

Cole and Pike find the spot where the couple were taken. There are tire tracks, bullet casings, and bloodstains. They know things look as bad as possible.

But they are wrong, too. It is about to get much worse. Going undercover to find the couple and buy them back, Cole himself is taken, and disappears. Now it is up to Joe Pike to retrace Cole’s steps, burning through the hard and murderous world of human traffickers to find his friend. But he may already be too late.

Thrilling, emotional, passionate, with some of the best characters and well-crafted writing in all of crime fiction, Taken is further proof that "Crais just keeps getting better." (Publishers Weekly).

Investigate another case with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.

©2012 Robert Crais (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

One of the best

Can't miss with Joe and Elvis, good narrator but you'd think an author would pick one reader and stick with them. One of the best of the series.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Another Enjoyable Cole and Pike novel

I have been reading the Cole/Pike series for years and greatly enjoy it. This one was right up there with the others. I found it interesting how it was told in a timeline of before and after Cole was taken by the "bad guys". Cole is a lot of fun, love his irreverant sense of humor. Pike is an interesting character who I would love to see more about.

The story was interesting and kept my attention while listening. You know that ultimately Pike will rescue Cole but you don't know what will happen to the characters who were taken.

It also makes you think about the struggles faced by people who try to come to the US illegally.

Good enjoyable story.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Better Example

It may be that the narrator plays a larger part than usual in the rating of this book/series. Nevertheless, this is one of the better examples of Crais's talent and this series.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

One of the best Elvis Cole/Joe Pike Novels

I have read or listened to all of the Cole/Pike books by Robert Crais and am a big fan. Taken was one of his best. Human trafficking is one of the most despicable offenses that man commits against his fellow man and Crais exposes it in all its ugliness. But with Cole's quirky personality, the book is not so dark as to be depressing. Like all of Crais' books, they keep moving, never becoming bogged down in sub-plots or details that take away from a book. Luke Daniels' narration was excellent,

I recommend this listen and recommend all books by Robert Crais.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Interesting

Luke Daniels did a good job narrating this story. Crais not only told an interesting story but address an important issue for the country and a big problem for CA, AZ, NM & Tx. Covering such a violent topic the usual humor of Cole was toned down. Every one should read this book and think about how to solve this societal problem.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Loved it!

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

not one sitting but maybe 2

Any additional comments?

I'm sorry that I have caught up with the entire series and will have to wait awhile for the next book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Couldn't stop listening to Joe Pike and Elvis Cole

Wow, what a great novel. The twists and turns keep you guessing. One of the best written by Robert Crais.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Wow!!! Great Thriller and Great Resolution!

I've always liked Robert Crais and he did a great job with TAKEN. Every mother's worst nightmare is to have her child taken . . . whether the child is grown or not . . . all the twists and turns in tracking down the kidnappers and retrieving the college student who was taken will keep you alert and listening . . .

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Another winning novel by Robert Crais

Would you consider the audio edition of Taken to be better than the print version?

I've listened to the audio version of all of Robert Crais's books. I like the narrators and think they add to the enjoyment. I prefer these particular books in audio.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Elvis is my favorite character. I like his personality and compassion. He's smart, funny and just a nice guy.

Have you listened to any of Luke Daniels???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to him narrate The Sentry and several others. This one wasn't my favorite but I did enjoy it.

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

I definitely tried to do this all in one sitting. I get caught up in the story and don't want to stop until I'm done.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy listening to audio books and prefer listening to reading for certain authors. That usually is due to the great narrators chosen to perform them. I think the right narrator will either make or break whether I listen or read a book. I've started listening to a series and switched to reading when the narrator changes and doesn't have the same

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Taken was great

Would you listen to Taken again? Why?

No, it's pretty much a one shot book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well Elvis he's my favorite in all of them.

Which character ??? as performed by Luke Daniels ??? was your favorite?

No

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

Not really some parts can drag, but over all it's a great story.

Any additional comments?

Another great installment in the series, not the best one but still very well done.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful