EVERYTHING GREAT CRIME FICTION IS SUPPOSED TO BE!

Robert Crais may not raise the stakes quite as high as Rollins, but The Wanted still packs just as much of a punch—literally, given that this outstanding crime-thriller features the sensational duo of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. This time out, Elvis and Joe find themselves sorting through the morass involving teenager Tyson Connor.  A sharp uptick in the boy’s lifestyle from flashing Rolex watches to frequenting posh Hollywood clubs leads his mother to seek out help in determining the source of teenage Tyson’s newfound disposal income.  As always in this stellar series, the road twists in unexpected ways, leading Elvis and Joe to a pair of especially despicable villains who seem to have learned their manners from No Country for Old Men’s Anton Chigurh. In the past, Crais has often wielded a lighter touch with this seminal series.  Not so here, as the tone is clearly dark, bordering on noir with spectacular results.  The Wanted is a relentless and riveting read that is everything great crime fiction is supposed to be.

~ Jon Land (TopShelf Reviews)