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    The Wanted
    The Wanted
    The Wanted
    Audiobook7 hours

    The Wanted

    Written by Robert Crais

    Narrated by Luke Daniels

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

    Investigator Elvis Cole and his partner Joe Pike take on the deadliest case of their lives in the new masterpiece of suspense from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Robert Crais.

    It seemed like a simple case—before the bodies started piling up...

    When single-mother Devon Connor hires Elvis Cole, it’s because her troubled teenage son Tyson is flashing cash and she’s afraid he’s dealing drugs. But the truth is devastatingly different. With two others, he’s been responsible for a string of high-end burglaries, a crime spree that takes a deadly turn when one of them is murdered and Tyson and his girlfriend disappear.

    They stole the wrong thing from the wrong man, and, determined to get it back, he has hired two men who are smart and brutal and the best at what they do.

    To even the odds, Cole brings in his friend Joe Pike, but even the two of them together may be overmatched. The police don’t want them anywhere near the investigation, the teenagers refuse to be found, and the hired killers are leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. Pretty soon, they’ll find out everything they need to know to track the kids down—and then nothing that Elvis or Joe can do may make any difference. It might even get them killed.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateDec 26, 2017
    ISBN9781455853441
    The Wanted
    Author

    Robert Crais

    Robert Crais is the author of the bestselling Cole & Pike novels. A native of Louisiana, Crais moved to Hollywood in the late 70s where he began a successful career in television, writing scripts for such major series as Cagney & Lacey, Miami Vice and Hill Street Blues. In the mid 80s, Crais created a series of crime novels based around the characters Cole & Pike. In addition, Crais has also written several bestselling standalone thrillers. Robert Crais lives in LA with his wife and family.

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    Reviews for The Wanted

    4.5/5

    326 ratings19 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I loved it, good plot and excellent performance, enjoy it
    • 4/5
      The ending was abrupt and left me wondering about a final resolution.
    • 5/5
      Engaging story - Like a visit with old friends.
    • 5/5
      Vintage Robert Crais.
    • 4/5
      I used to travel for business a lot and these were the types of books I would read. They don’t require a lot of thought and they are enjoyable albeit highly predictable. I have never read any books by this author until now but this book was enjoyable and a quick easy read.
      Although this book is relatively new- I think number 17 in the series, as the reader I didn’t feel like I needed to have been following the series to know who the characters were.
    • 4/5
      Quirky duo of villainsReview of the 2018 Putnam paperback editionYou don't really expect much in the way of surprises in the Elvis Cole series at this point. Elvis is his standard wise-cracking self, his cat is still ornery, his partner Joe Pike is still laconic, the clients are flawed but may achieve redemption through the services of Elvis & Joe etc. But it is like returning to the comfortable acquaintance of an old friend that you haven't seen in a year.What stood out for me here was the odd pair of hit-men villains. They are psychopaths of course, but there is whole world of unstated back story that you can fill in for them based on the occasional rare sentimental or merciful feelings that are expressed. You don't expect that in what are usually cardboard cut-out roles.
    • 4/5
      This is another enjoyable offering in the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series. It captured my attention right from the beginning and maintained it through to the end. The multi-dimensional portrayal of the two killers hired to retrieve a stolen laptop was exceptionally well-done. They came off the page as real people. I wondered what life experiences led Stemms to become a killer for hire rather than a musician.Despite my positive reaction, “The Wanted” was disappointing in some ways. The plot revolves around the efforts of two hired killers, Stemms and Harvey, who are trying to retrieve a stolen laptop. The thieves are rank amateurs, a young man and a high school boy and girl, who have conducted a string of 18 burglaries in an elite area of town. They roam around during the evening looking for a house with no one home and an unlocked door or open window. The house from which they steal the laptop is owned by a multi-millionaire businessman who owns an internationally respected security company. Ask yourself, how plausible is it that the house of a security expert would be so vulnerable that these kids could just walk in and help themselves cash, jewelry, and electronic equipment. I know this is fiction, but rank absurdity bothers me.The plot of “The Wanted” also suffers from Crais’ predictability. It is completely obvious to anyone who has read the earlier novels in this series that Amber, the female thief, will escape from the protection Cole has provided and place herself in grave danger, necessitating a heroic rescue by Cole. It is also close to certain—bet on it— that either Cole, Pike, or both will sustain a gunshot wound, broken bones, or other serious injury during the climactic confrontation. Finally, I was disappointed that Joe Pike is relegated to a cameo in “The Wanted.” The most satisfying books in this series provide him with a more substantial role.The thoughtful attention given to Stemms and Harvey was exceptional, but “The Wanted” failed to achieve its potential because of the above-mentioned shortcomings. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and eagerly await the next entry in this series.
    • 5/5
      It has been almost two years since I read the last book in this series but meeting Elvis Cole and Joe Pike again was like being reunited with a couple of old friends. I have always like this series even though he last couple of books seemed to be repeats of the same theme. This one has broken that mold and we are right back in those long ago early days with the "World's Greatest Detective", as Elvis's business cards read. The story runs smoothly with our hero, Elvis at the center. The only negative thing I could really find with the book was that Elvis's sense of humor doesn't come across as well as in previous books, plus I would like to have seen more of Joe Pike. Overall... it's a very good read.
    • 3/5
      I usually like his books and it was interesting. However, did not find the characters as interesting
    • 5/5
      THE WANTED by Robert Crais continues the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series with another great "who done it" set in contemporary L.A.. Elvis is challenged by a family with a wayward teen with too much money and too many expensive "toys".The problems go far beyond the actual source of these things .. robbing homes in very affluent areas of L.A. .. bring hired killers and other unexpected forces place Cole and Pike in dire trouble.If you have followed Crais' stories , I recommend THE WANTED as a worthy continuation of the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novels.
    • 5/5
      A single mother Hires Elvis Cole when she finds a Rolex her son had hidden. The boy and two friends also stole lap tops, one of which the owner will kill to recover. Things get dicey and Cole enlists the help of Joe Pike. This is a first rate, page turning thriller.
    • 5/5
      Robert Crais, when he's 'on', is one of my favorite writers in this genre. In 'The Wanted', all his trademarks are present: solid writing, great dialogue, characters you care about, enough humor to keep things realistic, and fine plotting. The Wanted follows a not unfamiliar story line. A burglary gang steals something from the wrong guy, and said wrong guy sends some scary people to get it back. The twist in this case is that the 'gang', such as it is, is comprised of 3 relative youngsters who are basically doing the crimes for kicks. They have no idea they've ripped something of great personal value to a powerful individual, nor are they aware they're being hunted by some real professionals. The do know the cops are trying to solve the crimes, since they've burgled 18 rich LA-types who get a lot of police attention, but the money and toys are too good to give up. However, the youngest in the gang, who lives with his oblivious mother, draws her interest when she discovers lots of money and expensive items hidden in his room and the kid disappears. Elvis Cole, PI, is called in to investigate, makes progress, and soon finds himself bumping into the LA cops researching the 18 burglaries. In the meantime, the pros charged with locating the single really important item are seemingly ahead of all the investigators. It becomes a race to find the young burglar before he ends up in a hole in the LA hills. Cole and his trusty 'sidekick', the lethal Joe Pike, have their work cut out for them. One of the many things I love about Crais' novels is that they draw you in quickly and his writing style keeps propelling you forward. Before you know it, it's winding down and you're left with hoping there's another one on the way soon. The Wanted is definitely one of those: a good mystery with great characters and action.
    • 4/5
      I've been a fan of the Elvis Cole series for years. The interplay between Elvis and Pike has been a joy to experience. This book finishes somewhere towards the bottom of the series for me. It was a quick read - almost too quick and many of the characters, i.e., Harvey, Stemms, Tyson, Amber were too superficial to the point of almost comical at times. I enjoyed the book for what it was but am hoping things slow down a bit with more complex character development as we follow Cole and Pike through their next adventure.
    • 4/5
      If you internet search Robert Crais it is interesting to note that he was greatly influenced by the works of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. It you add this piece of information to the fact that he was a writer for some early 80's made for TV series (Hill Street blues, Cagney and Lacy) then you will have an understanding of the writing style of this author. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Wanted". Elvis Cole is helping out an old friend Devon, it would appear that her son has been involved in a series of robberies and things become very series when Devon discovers a very rare and valuable Rolex watch in her son's bedroom. He calls in his associate and partner Joe Pike (tattoos and the permanent wearing of shades!) and together both must act quickly to safeguard Tyson and his comrade in arms a young immature girl called Amber. Elvis Cole is not your ordinary detective, rather than drink (which seems to be the flaw of most cops) he likes to cook.."I turned up a package of frozen peas, two stalks of asparagus, and a lemon. Inspired. I filled a pot with water threw in some salt, and kicked op the heat. ".... Two assassins have been hired to find a stolen laptop presumably removed by the thieves Tyson and Amber, containing information that might incriminate their client, The race is on for Elvis Cole aided by his ever present sidekick Joe Pike to find the two remaining teenage burglars and try to explain to them the error of their ways, This is a fast stripped down detective story and in some ways feels a bit like a scrip made for TV, nevertheless very enjoyable. Sometimes all you want when reading a book is an easy to follow storyline and neat very readable prose which is certainly in abundance here..."schooling like orchestral sharks at a blood-drunk feast."....."men with dusty boots and women with rough hands."...."as out of place on the lovely street as a fly in a glass of juice."...As always Robert Crais delivers in his own recognizable style making for a very enjoyable and fast read. Many thanks to the food people of netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written
    • 4/5
      Devon Connor asks Elvis to find out how her son came to have a $20,000 wrist watch in his dresser. Soon Elvis learns that his client's son is part of a teenage gang that burgles high end houses stealing cash, lap tops and jewelry. He also soon learns that someone wants one of those lap tops back and doesn't seem to care how many innocent people are killed in the search.First he must find the the son, Tyson, and then the lap top while trying to keep everyone safe from the two killers who are part of a group looking of the computer. Joe Pike is also present lending his usual skills to the solution of the case.Another page turner I had to read in one day.
    • 5/5
      When single mom Devon Connor contacts Elvis Cole, she’s worried about her teen-aged son, Tyson. After finding money and valuables in his room, she believes he’s into selling drugs. What Elvis discovers is something far different . . . and far deadlier.Tyson, and his friends Alec and Amber, have been burglarizing high-end properties and selling portions of their haul at the local flea market. However, in one of the houses, they took the wrong thing from the wrong person, and the effort to retrieve it has left a trail of bodies, a trail that keeps growing and may claim both Elvis and Joe Pike before they can get the kids to safety.Readers are in for an unputdownable adventure as suspense ramps up the tension from the first page and a frenetic cat-and-mouse game keeps them on the edge of their seats. Along with all the wit, action, and plot twisting readers have come to expect from an Elvis Cole / Joe Pike adventure, there’s plenty of emotional teen angst. For fans of Elvis and Joe, this is a masterfully-told tale; for readers who’ve never encountered Elvis and Joe [is that possible?] this is a masterfully-told tale that’s likely to send them in search of the first sixteen stories. It’s a can’t-put-it-down tale that promises to leave the reader anxious for the next book in the series.Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      Been a long time since I finished a book in two days, but lord I love some Elvis Cole. This time out Crais has Cole bringing his unique skill set to the aid of a mother who's son has been led astray by the wrong crowd. It's all typical Cole action assisted as always by his trusty accomplise Pike. As an added bonus, this one has a little bit of better crafted mystery to frame the story. Do yourself favor, pick up and read Robert Crais's The Wanted. You won't be sorry.
    • 3/5
      I am a huge fan of Elvis Cole, but The Wanted fell flat for me. I generally love reading about both Elvis and Joe Pike, but I could barely stomach reading about the two ridiculous bad guys – they were way too over the top for me. I also didn’t feel that Tyson Connor was very believable which made the mystery not very believable as well. I realize that mystery series with numerous books such as this one are bound to have an installment or two that are not my favorite so I am hoping the next one will get back on track. Joe Pike is fabulous, and he kept the book from being a 2-star read for me. I received this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are back in THE WANTED, another excellent story in this iconic series. This time Cole is hired by single-mother Devon Conner to uncover how her son Tyson came into so much money not to mention a priceless watch. Was he dealing drugs? Or maybe involved in the series of B&E robberies that have plagued high-dollar residents in Los Angeles. As Cole peels back the layers of the mystery, he butts heads with the LAPD, who don’t appreciate him digging around in their cases, and a pair of hired killers, who are protecting something, or someone. Who’s behind the robberies, and the killings? Nothing is ever as it seems in La-La-Land. Great characters, clever plotting, and well-written. This series just keeps getting better.DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly, Samantha Cody, and Dub Walker thriller series