The Monkey's Raincoat

The Monkey's Raincoat introduces Elvis Cole, a Los Angeles private investigator and former Army Ranger who takes on cases with his enigmatic partner Joe Pike. When Ellen Lang's husband and son disappear, Cole accepts what appears to be a straightforward missing persons case. The investigation pulls Cole into the dark corners of Los Angeles, from Hollywood's entertainment industry to its criminal underworld. His search reveals layers of deception while his client, Ellen Lang, must confront harsh realities about her missing family. This 1987 novel launched Robert Crais's acclaimed Elvis Cole series and won both the Anthony and Macavity Awards for best first novel. The story's title references a haiku by Matsuo Bashō, setting a tone that contrasts Cole's witty persona with the gravity of his work. The book explores themes of transformation and self-discovery, as both investigator and client navigate a complex moral landscape where truth and justice don't always align with the law.

Readers found Elvis Cole's wise-cracking personality and banter entertaining, with many highlighting the humor and fast pace. The relationship between Cole and Pike resonated with fans, who noted their contrasting personalities created compelling dynamics. Likes: - Sharp dialogue and comic timing - LA setting details and atmosphere - Clear, straightforward writing style - Strong character development - Quick-moving plot Dislikes: - Some felt the jokes and one-liners were overdone - Several readers called the plot predictable - A few found Cole's personality grating - Multiple mentions of dated 1980s references Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (33,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (1,900+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) "A refreshing PI who doesn't take himself too seriously" - common sentiment across reviews "The wisecracks sometimes get in the way of the story" - noted by multiple Goodreads reviewers "Great chemistry between Cole and Pike" - repeated theme in positive reviews

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🔍 The novel won the prestigious Anthony Award and the Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1988. 🎬 Author Robert Crais began his career writing scripts for major TV shows like "Hill Street Blues," "Cagney & Lacey," and "Miami Vice" before turning to novels. 🗺️ The Los Angeles setting in the book is so meticulously detailed because Crais personally drove every street and location mentioned in the story to ensure accuracy. 📚 The book's unique title comes from a haiku by 17th-century Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō about a monkey seeking shelter from the rain. 🦸‍♂️ The character of Joe Pike was originally meant to be a minor supporting character, but readers responded so strongly to him that he became a series co-protagonist and later got his own spin-off novels.