The Big Empty

Robert Crais

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Simon & Schuster
01 January 2025

Fiction & Literature; Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945); Crime & Mystery; Thriller & suspense

Private investigator Elvis Cole and his enigmatic partner Joe Pike face a cryptic case and a terrifyingly unpredictable killer in this twisty, edge-of-your-seat thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Robert Crais.

Traci Beller was only thirteen when her father disappeared in the sleepy town of Rancha, not far from Los Angeles. The evidence says Tommy Beller abandoned his family, but Traci never believed it. Now a super-popular influencer with millions of followers, she finally has the money to hire a new detective to uncover the truth. And that detective is Elvis Cole.

Taking on a ten-years-cold missing person case is almost always a losing game, though Elvis quickly picks up a lead in Rancha when he learns that an ex-con named Sadie Givens and her daughter Anya might have a line on the missing man. But when he finds himself shadowed by a deadly gang of vicious criminals, the case flips on its head. Victims become predators, predators become prey, and when everyone is a victim, will it be possible to save them all?

Calling on the help of his ex-Marine friend, Joe Pike, Elvis follows Tommy Beller's trail into the twisted, nightmarish depths of a monstrous evil, even as what he finds tests his loyalty to his clients, and to himself. But the truth must come out, no matter the cost.

Elvis must face The Big Empty and see justice done.

PRAISE FOR ROBERT CRAIS:

‘The smoothest writing and best storytelling you'll ever read’ DAVID BALDACCI

‘A modern master of crime fiction’ GREGG HURWITZ

‘Robert Crais – and Joe Pike – will have you by the throat’ INDEPENDENT

'Just keeps getting better and better' EVENING STANDARD

‘Robert Crais is hands-down the World’s Greatest Crime Fiction Writer’ HUFFINGTON POST

‘Expertly delivers his customary modern-day riff on the 1940s hardboiled idiom’ GUARDIAN

‘Cleverly plotted, stylishly written’ WASHINGTON POST

‘One of the most reliable storytellers in modern crime fiction’ DAILY MAIL

By: Robert Crais
Imprint: Simon & Schuster
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Export/Airside
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm, Spine: 23mm
ISBN: 9781471195068
ISBN 10: 1471195066
Pages: 352
Publication Date: 01 January 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

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.

Reviews for The Big Empty

‘. . . makes your stomach rumble as well as your heart thump . . . Robert Crais has long since perfected the recipe for a super-satisfying thriller, and his 20th Cole and Pike novel has all these ingredients: great scene-setting, memorable characters and a puzzling mystery told with both humour and compassion. Bravo!’ The Times, Book of the Month ‘With an ever-accelerating trajectory leading to a blood-spattered climax, this 20th novel in the series is Crais in prime form.’ Financial Times ‘This is a slick, smart, old-style private eye tale by veteran thriller writer Crais, with a smart-mouthed hero, twisting plot and plenty of action. Superb stuff.’ The Sun, 4.5 stars ‘PI Elvis Cole and his ex-special forces partner Joe Pike are easily the best crime-solving duo since Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson . . . his [Crais] twisty, filmic plots puts him second only to Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series in modern LA thriller writing excellence.’ Daily Express, 10/10 ‘Crais has helped keep the classic tradition of the hardboiled Los Angeles private detective alive with this fine series, and his new novel may well be his finest yet.’ Daily Mail (from Associated Press) ‘The Big Empty is breathtakingly good; an emotional rollercoaster ride with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike as THE dynamic duo in crime fiction’ -- Anthony J. Tata ‘The Big Empty is a masterpiece. While many bestselling authors are content to fill in a template, Robert Crais delivers a fresh, original story with every new book, and THE BIG EMPTY is especially brilliant’ -- Rob Taub ‘The Big Empty is crazy good – a theme park ride about humanity, from Elvis Cole, from Joe Pike, and from three amazing women. I've never liked Elvis Cole more’ -- Mike Lupica ‘Robert Crais has crafted another masterpiece, delivering a gripping page-turner and a profound exploration of hidden evils; an edge-of-your-seat reading experience that will stay with you long after the final page’ -- Ryan Steck