Robert Crais

Robert Crais is an American novelist, renowned for his detective fiction and thriller novels. He was born in Louisiana on June 20, 1953, and was raised in a blue-collar family of police officers and oil refinery workers. Crais was significantly influenced by notable authors such as Raymond Chandler, Robert B. Parker, Ernest Hemingway, Dashiell Hammett, and John Steinbeck. His professional journey began in writing scripts for television series, including Miami Vice and L.A. Law, before finding his niche in crime fiction.

Crais is best known for his Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series, which has earned him a loyal readership. The series was inspired by a significant event in his life: the death of his father in 1985. This loss prompted Crais to create Elvis Cole, using elements from his own life as the foundation for the story. The first novel in the series, "The Monkey's Raincoat," was published in 1987 and was an instant success, earning Crais the Anthony and Macavity Awards. It also received a nomination for the Edgar Award and was later selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.

Crais's writing style combines classic first-person narrative with flashbacks, multiple storylines, and points of view, which he introduced in his novels following "L.A. Requiem." This approach resulted in larger and deeper themes, with Publishers Weekly praising "L.A. Requiem" as a mystery novel with a solid literary base. In addition to the Elvis Cole series, Crais has written several standalone thrillers, including "Demolition Angel," "Hostage," and "The Two Minute Rule." His novels have been adapted for the screen, with "Hostage" starring Bruce Willis as ex-LAPD SWAT negotiator Jeff Talley. Crais currently resides in LA with his wife and family.