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Quick answer: If you like Elvis Cole, read Robert Crais's Joe Pike novels, then Robert B. Parker's Spenser, Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch and Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins. All write wisecracking private detectives and cops with a moral code and a sharp sense of Los Angeles or similar cities.
Elvis Cole is Robert Crais's Los Angeles private investigator, whose jokes and Hawaiian shirts hide a tough, honourable streak, and who is often partnered with the silent Joe Pike. Crais's books are quick, witty and emotional. The books below offer similar detectives, sharp dialogue and city settings.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Monkey's Raincoat | Robert Crais | Adult | the Elvis Cole start |
| The Godwulf Manuscript | Robert B. Parker | Adult | Spenser start |
| The Black Echo | Michael Connelly | Adult | modern procedural |
| Devil in a Blue Dress | Walter Mosley | Adult | Black Los Angeles noir |
| The Sins of the Fathers | Lawrence Block | Adult | gritty New York |
| The Chill | Ross Macdonald | Adult | family secrets |
| The Big Sleep | Raymond Chandler | Adult | the noir classic |
| A Is for Alibi | Sue Grafton | Adult | Kinsey Millhone |
| The Neon Rain | James Lee Burke | Adult | Louisiana detective |
| The Deep Blue Good-by | John D. MacDonald | Adult | Travis McGee |
| Killing Floor | Lee Child | Adult | action thriller |
| Deal Breaker | Harlan Coben | Adult | Myron Bolitar |
| Open Season | C. J. Box | Adult | Wyoming game warden |
| The Lincoln Lawyer | Michael Connelly | Adult | legal thriller |
| The Maltese Falcon | Dashiell Hammett | Adult | hard-boiled classic |
1. The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
Elvis takes a missing-person case that turns deadly. Fast and funny.
Best for: the Elvis Cole start.
2. The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker
Boston detective Spenser investigates a stolen manuscript and a murder. Witty and clean.
Best for: Spenser start.
3. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
Detective Harry Bosch investigates a body in a drain. A tight modern classic.
Best for: modern procedural.
4. Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
Easy Rawlins is hired to find a woman in 1948 Los Angeles. Sharp and rich.
Best for: Black Los Angeles noir.
5. The Sins of the Fathers by Lawrence Block
Matthew Scudder, an unlicensed private investigator, looks into a murder. Moody and literary.
Best for: gritty New York.
6. The Chill by Ross Macdonald
Lew Archer looks into a missing wife and a murder. Psychological and subtle.
Best for: family secrets.
7. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Marlowe is hired by a wealthy general to deal with a blackmailer. Stylish and cynical.
Best for: the noir classic.
8. A Is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
A California private eye takes on a case about a woman convicted of murder. Clear and wry.
Best for: Kinsey Millhone.
9. The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke
Dave Robicheaux investigates in New Orleans. Lyrical and violent.
Best for: Louisiana detective.
10. The Deep Blue Good-by by John D. MacDonald
A salvage consultant helps a woman recover her stolen inheritance. Classic and laid-back.
Best for: Travis McGee.
11. Killing Floor by Lee Child
Jack Reacher arrives in a Georgia town and is arrested for murder. Fast and tough.
Best for: action thriller.
12. Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben
A sports agent tracks a missing fiancee. Funny and twisty.
Best for: Myron Bolitar.
13. Open Season by C. J. Box
Joe Pickett finds a body in the woods. Atmospheric and humane.
Best for: Wyoming game warden.
14. The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Mickey Haller works out of his car. Sharp and fast.
Best for: legal thriller.
15. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Sam Spade pursues a priceless statue. The model for modern private eye fiction.
Best for: hard-boiled classic.
How to Choose
For more Crais start with The Monkey's Raincoat and continue in order. For funny private eyes pick Robert B. Parker or Harlan Coben. For cops and modern procedurals choose Connelly. For classic noir read Chandler, Hammett and Ross Macdonald. For atmospheric Southern crime try James Lee Burke. Crais's books are fast, so these picks suit readers who like momentum. Crais wrote for television before turning to novels, which helps explain his tight plotting and lively dialogue. Crais fans like quick, quotable dialogue, which is why Parker and Coben are the closest matches. If you want a classic LA feel, Chandler and Mosley are essential. If you want more recent crime, Connelly and Box offer long series that you can follow for years. Most are on audio, and many libraries stock the whole run. Crais's novels move quickly, so they suit readers who like short chapters and sharp dialogue.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Elvis Cole?
A Los Angeles private investigator created by Robert Crais.
Who is Joe Pike?
Elvis's quiet, tough partner, who has his own novels.
Where should I start?
With The Monkey's Raincoat.
Do I need to read in order?
It helps, but many books stand alone.
How many Elvis Cole novels are there?
More than a dozen. Check current listings.
Are they funny?
Yes, with sharp banter.
Are they violent?
They have action and some violence, but are not gratuitous.
What should I read next?
Try The Godwulf Manuscript or The Black Echo.
What is Elvis Cole's catchphrase or style?
He is known for wisecracks, a cheerful manner and a strong moral code.
Are there spin-offs?
Yes, Joe Pike has his own novels, and the two characters often team up.
Is Elvis Cole like Spenser?
Both are wisecracking private eyes, but Cole is set in Los Angeles and has a lighter, more emotional edge.