L.A. private eye Elvis Cole is hired by popular television star Jodie Taylor to delve into her past and identify the biological parents who gave her up for adoption thirty-six years before. Cole's assignment is to find out their biological history and report back.
It seems all too clear cut. But when he gets to Louisiana and begins his search, he finds out there's something much darker going on. Other people are also looking for Taylor's parents; and some are ending up dead.
And when Cole realizes that his employer knew more than she was telling, Voodoo River becomes a twisting tale of identity, secrets, and murder.
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"I enjoyed it. I'd have liked more of Pike because I particularly like him but this was another well written mystery from the talented Mr. Crais. I've read his books out of sequence which is a pity but at least I know how Elvis met Lucy now. Great snappy dialogue and asides that made me laugh."
— Barbara (4 out of 5 stars)
" Another fun read. Crais does a great job of weaving together a few themes to make an overall engaging story. And, as usual, my favorite parts of the book are when Joe Pike shows up! "
— Scott, 2/16/2014" Book five in the Elvis Cole series by Robert Crais - 3.5 Stars. Elvis is hired to go to Louisiana to find the birth parents of a TV actress. Along the way to solving that mystery, Elvis uncovers a blackmail plot, trafficking in illegal aliens, a couple murders, and a 40 year old interracial romance. Overall the book is good, and the last half is worthy of four stars, but the first 100 pages or so is a bit slow and reduces the overall rating of the book. "
— Bruce, 2/16/2014" Updated Chandler: first person tale from a lone - well, almost lone in this case - wise-cracking gumshoe who sets out to help one damsel in distress and meets another intelligent enough to be worth falling for. Elvis' style relies on smart asides, not all of which are cynical. The initial problem was easy to solve with the help of some breaking and entering, and the one which arises from it is also sorted part way through, so there are effectively three issues for the price of one here which explains why I spent a lot of the book wondering how the story was going to stretch to fill all the pages which remained. It did so enjoyably enough for me to stay awake far too long reading it, but not quite enough to feel it was worth the suffering I endured the following day. "
— Catherine, 2/14/2014" Do you enjoy a sense of humor when you read? Do you like a book that makes you laugh out loud as you are reading? One that you have a hard time putting down? I find that I enjoy all of Robert Crais' books for this very reason. "
— Marla, 2/13/2014" I liked this....good story...interesting characters! "
— Shelli, 1/31/2014" Los Angeles based private investigator Elvis Cole is hired by a famous television actress to find the true story of why she was given up for adoption thirty-six years before. Traveling to Louisiana, Cole finds things are a lot more complicated than he imagined and must unravel a murderous blackmailing and human trafficking ring. This was the weakest of the Elvis Cole novels I have read so far, Cole meets a love interest and chunks of the book are spent with him swooning which detracts from the story at hand. The narrative seemed scattered, with plot threads dropped and then shifted before of the book comes to a rather predictable conclusion as Cole and his partner Joe Pike save the day in a hail of gunfire. "
— Tim, 1/26/2014" Excellent and fun read "
— Steven, 1/25/2014" The introduction of Lucy Chenier. I like the woman and the play between her and Elvis. I wonder how Crais envisioned her. Was she modeled after someone he knew in real life? It would be interesting to know the story, if there is one, behind Lucy Chenier. Great story, as usual. "
— Robert, 1/23/2014" The introduction of Lucy Chenier is a very welcome addition. "
— Mark, 1/17/2014" Fun read! One of the older exploits of "the world's greatest detective. "
— Wilma, 1/13/2014" What I learned...I love his writing style "
— Monte, 1/11/2014" Another winner from Robert Crais. Unusual story, starts slow, but buildds up fast. This is the book where Elvis meets Lucy which carries through the next one or two books. "
— Rhod, 1/1/2014" Just love Elvis Cole and Joe Pike "
— Henry, 12/22/2013" They're starting to all seem very similar, but I do enjoy them... "
— Eric, 10/18/2013" Another great story about Elvis and Joe detecting. "
— Connie, 8/19/2013" Another good novel in the Cole series. I had a few minor grumbles about the plot but overall it was worth the read. If Crais ever gets tired of the detective novels I think he has a career in culinary fiction. Any time he writes about food I'm instantly hungry. I think that's a compliment... "
— Chris, 3/18/2013" The best Cole I've read. Warm and considered observations set within a crime odyssey.The counterpoint between LA and the bayou is marvelously done. "
— Dave, 11/10/2012" Crais never disappoints. He is one my favorite American mystery writers. While Los Angeles is usually featured as a character in his stories, in Voodoo River he goes to Louisiana to help an adopted woman find her natural parents. "
— Nora, 5/6/2012" Very entertaining. The setting was Baton Rouge, Louisiana, my dad lived there when he was younger, so i have an interest in Baton Rouge. It was educating in some ways. "
— Rosey, 4/6/2012" I have read more current books by this author so now I am trying to go back and read some of his earlier "Elvis Cole" books. I loved this book and enjoyed the descriptions of south Lousiana towns "
— Marcia, 2/10/2012" fun read: wise-cracking p.i. Elvis Cole and silent/mysterious partner Joe Pike solve crimes & kick *** The series is entertaining but on the violent side. "
— Laura, 7/27/2011" This author is excellent . . . I can't put the book down!! "
— Juanita, 7/15/2011" I liked this Crais the best out of all of them I've read so far. Most of the previous I read have started out slow. This one did not. It moved from the very beginning. I'm enjoying reading about Elvis and Joe. "
— Karen, 6/1/2011" Listening to the audio. Am enjoying the Elvis Cole mysteries while exercising. "
— Margaret, 2/28/2011" <br/><br/>Just love Elvis Cole and Joe Pike "
— Henry, 11/25/2010" If you haven't given Crais a try, you are missing some great characters. "
— Burt, 11/21/2010" This is the book that introduced Lucy as Elvis's love interest. I have to say that I did not find Lucy a compelling or likable character or a suitable companion for Elvis. There were some interesting Joe Pike moments in this book. "
— Diane, 10/28/2010" Good,fast read, "Louisiana crime novel." Kind of a blend of James Lee Burke and Carl Hiaasen (that's a real compliment), strong plot, colorful characters, good humor. "
— Jim, 8/2/2010" In this book we learn more about Elvis Cole's morals than his detective skills and we like what we see. "
— Steve, 7/29/2010" Enjoyable 5th Elvis Cole novel, this time set in Louisiana, interesting plot and some funny moments, series is developing nicely. "
— Joe, 7/6/2010" The best Cole I've read. Warm and considered observations set within a crime odyssey.The counterpoint between LA and the bayou is marvelously done. "
— Dave, 6/28/2010" Another winner from Robert Crais. Unusual story, starts slow, but buildds up fast. This is the book where Elvis meets Lucy which carries through the next one or two books. "
— Rhod, 6/4/2010" good. I like Elvis Cole.He's sweet and here is where he meets Lucy and her son David. I have read these books out of order and its ok, they stand on their own but it is probably better to read in order if you can get them that way - I take them when i can get them from the library. "
— Ruth, 2/14/2010" When I find an author I really enjoy, I read every one of his/her books I can get my hands on. Robert Crais one of those authors for me. "
— MaryLou, 2/10/2010" I liked this....good story...interesting characters! "
— Shelli, 2/9/2010" Crais's mysteries are always fast paced with a sense of humor thrown in. "
— Susan, 12/31/2009Robert 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.
Tanya Eby is a novelist and an audiobook narrator who has earned several AudioFile Earphones Awards and been nominated for the Audie Award. She has a BA degree in English language and literature and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine.
Patrick Lawlor, an award-winning narrator, is also an accomplished stage actor, director, and combat choreographer. He has worked extensively off Broadway and has been an actor and stuntman in both film and television. He has been an Audie Award finalist multiple times and has garnered several AudioFile Earphones Awards, a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award, and many starred audio reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.