I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A series as long going as this will have its bumps and hiccups with that being said it wasn't really anything too bad it was just the kids that irked me, Tyson was especially irritating.
But for regular fans both Cole and Pike were on top form and that end scene with Cole teaching Ben martial arts was a perfect end for me.
I always liked Cole, Lucy and Ben as a family.
Make it happen Robert!!
I also respect an author who'll have macho guys like these hug and tell each other how they feel or to say I love you as close male friends actually will.

Roll on the next chapter to the madness of Cole and Pike!

Robert Crais, The Wanted, Simon and Schuster
Elvis Cole is contacted by a single mother worried about her son, in whose bedroom she has found cash and jewelry provenance is not clear. She finds too many expensive clothes. Her teenage son and his girlfriend seem suddenly to have found Ali Baba’s cave, but the son isn’t telling her anything. Nor is he going to school. She doesn’t have the money Cole would charge for surveillance. The words ‘pro bono’ are not spoken, but Cole, in his generous way, makes time for her and her boy, Tyson, who will have to surrender himself to the DA before he can be arrested and charged with eighteen counts of burglary. Evidently, this is a story in which redemption plays a role, for Cole, for Tyson, for the two criminals posing at detectives, but also for Cole’s Lucy and Ben, who went back to Baton Rouge after discovering just how risky Cole’s life can be. Pike plays his usual role, as does the beer-drinking cat.
Cole is not the only one pining after a particular woman. Tyson’s girlfriend is one of the house-breakers in the story, which, as it develops, eventually prompts Tyson to realise that she may not be the sanest person he’s ever dealt with. No redemption, then, for Amber’s mother (terminal narcissist), or very much for Amber herself (there’s a twist).
Crais knows how to pace a story, and this one moves back and forth from his first-person perspective to a third-person narrator who fills us in about the bad guys, one of whom, it emerges, is a fine violinist. Their development is—once you get past what they do for a living—is touching. The bad guys, who are experts at finding people and things, spend a lot of time bickering in serial stolen cars, but also killing people, so the threat they pose is considerable. The agent of redemption turns out to be Tyson’s mother, who is a voice of sanity and a woman who knows how to get on with things, up to and including saving the children.

Robert Crais rarely disappoints his many fans, and this book is true to his well-established personal style. The writing is well-crafted, using established characters to good effect whilst introducing new players carefully and sympathetically. If you’re not familiar with Crais, think Harlan Coben in terms of the subtle use of humour and strong male characters (but - please note - no unhelpful excessively chauvinistic characters intrude in the lead character’s team) mixed with a touch of Michael Connelly for plot structure and development. The pace of the evolving story is good and maintains interest - although you may have to accept a few late night sessions as you are likely to think ‘one more chapter before I put the book down’ several times over. You are unlikely to file this book in the ‘outstanding literary merit’ category - but you are likely to score it highly in terms of engagement, interest and enjoyment. The plot is unexceptional, although it approaches the threat facing a teenage gang responsible for a mini-crimewave who steal the wrong guy’s possessions from a slightly different perspective. If you’re looking for an entertaining but not excessively demanding modern crime novel, with a hint of humour, this book should definitely feature on your wish list.

Great storyline. Engaging from the start. Fast paced action

Elvis Cole, world's greatest detective, is hired by a worried mother to find out what her son (Tyson) is up to. The boy is part of a gang who have been committing high-end burglaries. He is in more trouble than he knows and Elvis needs to find him, quick. Joe Pike, as always, provides back-up support and the pair face a race against time as they try and find Tyson before the bad guys do. Because these bad guys are good, very good, at what they do. Have Elvis and Joe met their match?
I love these books. Elvis is my very favourite fictional character, closely followed by Pike. I so wish they were real and that I could meet them. You would know you were safe with them on your side (swoon!). I heartily recommend this book, and all the others which feature these characters.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Simon & Schuster UK Fiction for a review copy of The Wanted, the sixth novel to feature LA based PI Elvis Cole and his partner, Joe Pike.

Devon Connor finds a Rolex in her teenage son's bedroom and hires Elvis to find out what Tyson's been up to. Nothing good is the answer.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Wanted. It has been a while since I spent time with Elvis and Joe and I had forgotten what a fun time it is. The novel opens with two men, Harvey and Stemms, looking for information and unafraid to use violence to obtain it. It isn't clear what they want or who they are but as Elvis gets into the investigation it slowly becomes clear. It had me hooked from start to finish as I quickly turned the pages to see what was coming next. The narrative alternates between them and Elvis so the reader sees both sides of events. I'm not always a big fan of this approach but it works well here as I was always wondering how the characters would react and where Mr Crais was taking it. I was impressed by the simple, realistic reason for it all.

The Wanted is a professional piece of writing with a bit of everything. Elvis's investigation is logical and realistic, making it easy to follow. The pacing is great with the mystery being revealed slowly as the novel progresses. The bad guys are suitably bad and Elvis suitably smart. There is violence but it's leavened with humour. A complete package in other words.

It is Elvis's personality, however, that makes the novel. He's a wisecracking, smart man with a good heart but he's not afraid to mix it up if he has to. Joe Pike is as enigmatic as ever - he says little but, as an ex army ranger, he has lethal skills and is unafraid to use them. Elvis's views on his personality always make me laugh. The other characters are also well drawn, particularly Tyson's friend Amber who comes across as a real teenage brat.

The Wanted is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

It has been a while since I had read an Elvis Cole novel - What a great return .

A socially awkward , video game obsessed teenager has suddenly blossomed - his mother is pleased but becomes suspicious when she finds a $40,000 Rolex watch under his bed .
She contacts Private Detective Elvis Cole and asks him to find out what is going on .......... no matter the consequences to her son .
Elvis discovers that along with 2 other teenagers , Tyson is responsible for up to 18 burglaries .....he resolves to get Tyson to hand himself in before he is identified and arrested by the Police BUT Tyson panics and goes on the run .
Bodies start to appear - the first being one of Tyson's friends and accomplices - anyone linked to the teenagers are ending up dead before Elvis can interview them ............ it appears that a laptop taken from one of the houses burgled holds a secret , a secret that must be kept at all costs .
Who is the laptop owner ?
What is the secret ?
Who is killing to recover the laptop ?
Who is after Tyson ?
Elvis with the help of Joe Pike must find Tyson and his friend ........keep them alive , recover the laptop and discover the secrets it holds ...........before the assassins or the police find them first .

This is a very enjoyable , fast paced crime thriller , with many twists and turns set in the world of Private Detective Elvis Cole and his friend Joe Pike .................

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