The Tattered Scroll News, Reviews, & Opinions on Fantasy and Espionage Books

This will be a quick review of The Sentry by Robert Crais. I believe this is the 3^rd book to feature Joe Pike as the main character, though Elvis Cole does make many appearances (Elvis Cole and Joe Pike appear together in earlier books going back to the late 1980s, with Elvis Cole being the lead in the first 11. I think). This is my first Robert Crais novel, but it definitely won’t be my last.

Plot overview:

Dru Rayne and her uncle fled to L.A. after Hurricane Katrina; but now, five years later, they face a different danger. When Joe Pike witnesses Dru's uncle beaten by a protection gang, he offers his help, but neither of them want it-and neither do the federal agents mysteriously watching them.

As the level of violence escalates, and Pike himself becomes a target, he and Elvis Cole learn that Dru and her uncle are not who they seem- and that everything he thought he knew about them has been a lie. A vengeful and murderous force from their past is now catching up to them . . . and only Pike and Cole stand in the way.  

I read this book 3 weeks ago, so I’ve forgotten most of what I had planned to say in this review. But I do know that I liked it. A lot. Mainly due to the 2 main characters (Pike and Cole). Pike used to be in the Delta Force, then a cop, then a mercenary..in that order. Makes him sound like a tough guy, right? He is, though he also has way more depth than that. To me (having read just this 1 book featuring him), he seems like a perfect mix of tough guy and good guy. Tough in the sense that he does what needs doing. Good in the sense that he hasn’t lost his emotional attachment to people (i.e. he doesn’t keep people at arms length in order to make his job easier, which is what you find with a lot of tough guy characters). Pike isn’t afraid to believe there is good in people, despite some of the actions they take (which is how I view the world myself). In other words, he is just the kinda guy I wish I could be. And as cliché as that sounds, I don’t find that in books very often. So I really, really got attached to Joe and the story, and watching how the events in the book affected him..but he didn’t let it change who he was. And despite being disappointed and taken advantage of, he still wanted to believe (being intentionally vague there), and finished the job he started. He is definitely one of the characters I have come across in quite awhile, and I’m looking forward to reading the earlier books. Elvis Cole was a likeable guy too, and one I want to spend more time with. Normally I would find myself thinking Cole was the perfect lead, but I can see why so many like Pike. It’s pretty rare that I run across a book with 2 such likeable (and relatable!) guys, especially in the crime/thriller genre. So while I didn’t focus on Cole as much while reading this story (I was too invested in Pike), I really want to read the books that feature Cole..to get to know him better.

So all of this and I haven’t talked about the story..and that is on purpose. The story was solid, entertaining, and well paced. It really brought parts of Los Angeles alive. But as you can guess, the real reason to read this book is to spend time with Pike and Cole. I dare you to read this one and NOT like these 2 guys. Definitely worth reading and highly recommended.

Book provided by: Me…I bought the ebook.