Book Review: The Forgotten Man

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Forgotten Man     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Robert Crais
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Elvis Cole # 10
Doubleday, Mar 2005, $24.95, 342 pp.

At four in the morning, LAPD Detective Kelly Diaz calls private eye Elvis Cole to inform him that a shooting victim just before dying mentioned him as his son. Elvis is shocked as he never knew the identity of his father though he spent much of his life seeking his paternal shadow.

Overwhelmed emotionally, Elvis turns to his partner Joe Pike for advice and help especially since the corpse means nothing to him. They fail to learn much more from the police beyond the deceased registered as Herbert Faustina at the Home Away Suites. Could Herbert, if that was the man’s actual name, really be Elvis’ father? Detective Carol Starkey, who obsessively desires Elvis in what seems like unrequited love keeps doing little favors to help the sleuth learn more. Hindering Elvis is Frederick Conrad who has covered up a deadly secret for years; believing Elvis killed his fellow conspirator his boss, he plans to murder the sleuth.

The latest Elvis Cole thriller is very personal as he struggles to determine whether a dying man’s last words are true only to find himself with Joe watching his back caught up in a dangerous cat and mouse game in which he is the rodent. The dark story line is driven by Elvis who seems human as he switches back and forth between belief and doubt over the veracity of the death alley statement, but also uses people like he does with besotted DEMOLITION ANGEL Carol. Robert Crais provides an outstanding investigative tale that brings home many of the hero’s insecurities.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner