It’s fire season, and the hills of Los Angeles are burning. When police and fire department personnel rush door to door in a frenzied evacuation effort, they discover the week-old corpse of an apparent suicide, in his lap a photo album of seven brutally murdered young women. And when the suicide victim is identified as a former suspect in one of the murders, the news turns Elvis Cole’s world upside down.
Three years earlier Lionel Byrd was brought to trial for the murder of a female prostitute named Yvonne Bennett. A taped confession coerced by the police inspired a prominent defense attorney to take Byrd’s case, and Elvis Cole was hired to investigate. It was Cole’s eleventh-hour discovery of an exculpatory videotape that allowed Lionel Byrd to walk free. But the discovery of the death album in Byrd’s lap now brands Elvis as an unwitting accomplice to murder. Captured in photographs that could only have been taken by the murderer, Yvonne Bennett was the fifth of the seven victims—two more young women were murdered after Lionel Byrd walked free. So Elvis can’t help but wonder—did he, Elvis Cole, cost two more young women their lives?
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike desperately fight to uncover the truth about Lionel Byrd and his nightmare album of death—a truth hidden by lies, politics, and corruption in a world where nothing is what it seems to be.
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"I just zipped throught the latest Elvis Cole mystery from Robert Crais who may be the best detective novel author around. Yes hes that good. This is another Elvis Cole novel. Cole is a private detective who in the past found evidence that exonerated Lionell Byrd from killing a prostitute named Yvonne Bennett. Now two years later, the police find evidence that links Lionell Byrd to Yvonne Bennett's murder as well as the murder of 6 other women. Cole investigates what appears to be a slam dunk case and with his friend Joe Pike, who supplies some muscle, tries to determine if his initial detective work 3 years before was correct and to locate the real murderer of the 7 women. A fast page turner in this genre."
— Jeffrey (5 out of 5 stars)
" love my man elvis "
— Annie, 2/16/2014" It was an easy read, but ended with way too many open ended questions and me scratching my head on how they actually ended the book without addressing some key areas. Not a favorite "
— Christine, 2/11/2014" A good read, and Crais brings Elvis Cole to life in this book. In the last couple of books Crais had written with Cole, Cole took a backseat to other characters. This was a good Elvis Cole novel. "
— Ben, 1/13/2014" A pretty good mystery filled with private eye heros and a good red herring subject. "
— Cheryl, 1/12/2014" Elvis and Joe are working this case: in the midst of California wildfires, a body is found in a house, with a binder of pictures of dying women in his lap and a hole in his head. Was it suicide? The dead man turns out to be a guy that Elvis had helped get off the hook for murder.....And what's with this secretive cop team, seemingly hiding and orchestrating the investigation? "
— T, 1/11/2014" Elvis Cole stories are pretty much always entertaining. "
— Sheryl, 1/10/2014" Elvis Cole is a great character, but this is not a great book. Elvis is asked to look into the suicide of an alleged serial killer, someone he cleared of a murder charge a few years earlier. There are some dirty cops thrown in for color, and a few other sinister turns, but this is not up to Crais' usual excellent plotting. I recommend this author but not this book. "
— Susan, 1/6/2014" This is the latest book by an author I like. The hero is a private detective in the LA area. I like the character and the plots. "
— Janet, 1/3/2014" Good book. There were some interesting twists and turns toward the end! "
— Joe, 12/14/2013" Lots of characters to keep up with but loved Elvis Cole as the main character. Twists and turns abound, I was completely wrong about who the killer was. Hollywood was definitely a setting that became another character. Will definitely read more in this series! "
— Sharon, 11/6/2013" A flister recently reminded me how much I liked this author's characters, so I picked one up. Glaring plothole in the first 45 pages that was instrumental in driving the book. I stuck with it for the characters but meh. "
— Mysteryfan, 10/15/2013" Quick read. Nothing special "
— Jill, 7/19/2013" Great book. Lots of gruesome bodies, mystery, and the great characters Cole and Pike. I m just getting started on these two, and I like that they are able to do what they need to do, not necessarily following the confines of the LA police dept. "
— Donna, 6/12/2013" love me some Elvis Cole!!! "
— Olivia, 6/10/2013" Another great book with Elvis Cole. Lots of twists and turns and even though I had suspected the correct 'bad' guy, I was still in suspense. "
— Kay, 4/16/2013" Crais is always good for a great read. I liked this book, but I would've liked it better if there were more personal danger for Elvis Cole. Plus, there can never be enough Joe Pike, and this book was a little Pike-light. Still, all in all a satisfying read with strong dialogue and a twisty plot. "
— Grey853, 10/23/2012" Another intriguing Elvis Cole PI novel. Elvis is back with a case from the past. A man he helped prove didn't murder someone, is now dead and believed to have murdered three more women. Unable to believe he made a mistake before, Elvis jumps into the case feet first. "
— Maggie, 10/20/2012" This one seemed like a toss off to me. Not bad just not exceptional. "
— Nick, 6/24/2012" good. not my favorite subject matter "
— Ruth, 4/15/2012" Elvis chases the darkness to make room for the light. "
— Hapzydeco, 1/9/2012" Dark and deep. Definitely a look at another world than I am used to. "
— Sandra, 9/10/2011" This one was pretty good...not the author's best or worst effort. "
— Kathleen, 5/9/2011" I would say typical humerous Elvis, but meaner than the earlier ones. "
— Jane, 4/20/2011" A good, quick read as usual. The quick mystery that kept me entertained throughout residency and fellowship training. "
— Rob, 4/2/2011" Knew that attorney was up to something! "
— April, 3/30/2011" I am an Elvis Cole fan, although I must admit I did not think that this book was as good as some of the earlier Crais's Elvis Cole story. I especially disliked the way he just kind of tacked on at the end the reason behind the title...that was kind of lame. "
— Lorraine, 2/20/2011" 3 plus due to exlicit descriptions of serial murder scenes as Elvis Cole investigates a hasty solution to a string of 7 murders and possible police corruption. The end was very abrupt. "
— Mary, 2/14/2011" This book was really, really well written. I was stuck to the edge of my seat (figuratively)with the story, it is a real good detective book. I am going to have to find more of either this series or this author. If you like detective thrillers, this book is for you. "
— Bubba61909, 1/15/2011" Not my favorite -- the bad guy is a blank as far as motive goes -- but still pretty good. "
— Kate, 1/6/2011" Fast-moving, L.A. detective novel, well written, dry humor, nice plot twists. "
— Tom, 12/22/2010" Another good Elvis Cole mystery. Even tho I had read this book previously and was going to stop reading it when I figured out who done it, I wound up reading it right to the finish. It was that good. Can't wait to start the next Robert Crais book I have. "
— Phillis, 12/19/2010" i thought i read this two years ago.<br/>i liked it, an Elvis Cole book.<br/>i know i read it, i guess i didn't do goodreads.<br/>. must read!!!! "
— Steve, 12/4/2010Robert Crais is an American author of numerous New York Times bestsellers, including Taken, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. He received the Ross Macdonald Literary Award in 2006, The Eye—Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010, and the Mystery Writers of America’s Grand Master Award in 2014. He has written for such acclaimed television shows as L.A. Law, Cagney and Lacey, Miami Vice, and Hill Street Blues. A film adaptation of his novel Hostage was released in 2005, starring Bruce Willis as ex-LAPD SWAT negotiator Jeff Talley.
James Daniels is a voice talent who has narrated more than forty audiobooks and won two AudioFile Earphones Awards for his readings.