The First Rule: A Joe Pike Novel (audiobook) by Robert Crais

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A good, tight story

7 CDs
8 hours, 20 minutes
Read by Robert Crais, the author

I am a gigantic fan of Crais' Elvis Cole novels, a series that introduced Joe Pike to the world as Cole's enigmatic, tough and very quiet partner with a soft spot for mean old cats. But, I have been reluctant to get into the Joe Pike novels due to a fear that Joe's facade would be burst wide open and mysterious Joe Pike would be laid wide open and no longer be a mystery.

Not to worry. We learn more about Joe, but what makes Joe Pike tick is still a mystery. Plus, as a bonus we get a healthy serving of wise-cracking Elvis Cole throun in as a bonus to make the story even more fun.


Robert Crais

The First Rule's title comes from an Eastern European thieves code that demands that no gangster have a family so that their loyalties will never be divided (much like the story of Keyser Soze from the movie The Usual Suspects). A friend of Pike's from his days as a mercenary for hire is killed by professional home invaders. His entire family is murdered, including his chidlren and the nanny is left for dead with mutliple gun shot wounds. Pike is concerned because his friend had dropped out of that life completely and had become a legitimate businessman, a respected family man, and now the police suspect that he was using his old connections in a crooked gun deal gone bad and his reputation is being destroyed. Besides, no one messes with a friend of Joe Pike.

Crais does a solid job of narrating the book. The bonus of having the author read his own book is that you know the inflections and emphasis he intended.

Very enjoyable action thriller.

I rate this book 5 stars out of 5.

Reviewed on December 18, 2010.

This audiobook can be found on Amazon here: The First Rule (Elvis Cole/Joe Pike Series)

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