Helpful Score: 8
Crais is a master writer; this book showcases his great skills in a little different arena that we are accustomed to. While I really enjoyed this book, I still like his Elvis Cole series a little better.
In this book, we ride along with a man who is being released from ten years in prison--he's a convicted bank robber. He is determined to go straight, but that's not easy for an ex-con who has never obeyed the law in his life. I am somewhat uncomfortable in the skin of such a person; I like to identify with the good guys! Nevertheless, our man is a good man in his way, and after some initial discomfort (which pops up at odd times during the story as he exhibits some new scofflaw behavior) I felt all right being his alter ego.
His problem comes up immediately--the night before he is released from prison, his son--a cop, of all things--is murdered with a group of three other police officers. You can imagine the emotional charge that has.
The story moves on as he hooks up with the now former FBI agent who busted him to try to find out what happened to and with his son. There are many twists and turns, lots of excitement and hair-raising events along with the necessary quiet, tedious investigative work that finally brings out the truth, which is probably not what you expected. Well, not quite what you expected, anyway.
As much as I love the Elvis Cole stories, I'm glad Crais took time out to write this one. It has some of the good characteristics of a best-seller formula thriller, but avoids a lot of the earmarks of such books that annoy me. This is honest story telling, not twists and thrills just for the sake of fooling you because that's what people want in best-sellers.
Get the book. It's a good one.
In this book, we ride along with a man who is being released from ten years in prison--he's a convicted bank robber. He is determined to go straight, but that's not easy for an ex-con who has never obeyed the law in his life. I am somewhat uncomfortable in the skin of such a person; I like to identify with the good guys! Nevertheless, our man is a good man in his way, and after some initial discomfort (which pops up at odd times during the story as he exhibits some new scofflaw behavior) I felt all right being his alter ego.
His problem comes up immediately--the night before he is released from prison, his son--a cop, of all things--is murdered with a group of three other police officers. You can imagine the emotional charge that has.
The story moves on as he hooks up with the now former FBI agent who busted him to try to find out what happened to and with his son. There are many twists and turns, lots of excitement and hair-raising events along with the necessary quiet, tedious investigative work that finally brings out the truth, which is probably not what you expected. Well, not quite what you expected, anyway.
As much as I love the Elvis Cole stories, I'm glad Crais took time out to write this one. It has some of the good characteristics of a best-seller formula thriller, but avoids a lot of the earmarks of such books that annoy me. This is honest story telling, not twists and thrills just for the sake of fooling you because that's what people want in best-sellers.
Get the book. It's a good one.
Helpful Score: 5
Being a big fan of Robert Crais and his Elvis Cole series, I wasn't sure if I would like this "stand alone" novel but I was pleasantly surprised. "Two Minute Rule" is well worth the read and has likable characters with a strong, keep you guessing "who done what to whom" mystery where the bad guys turn good, the good guys may or may not be bad and the City of Angels stands witness to it all. Check it out.
Helpful Score: 4
Intense and very suspenseful. Extra good read.
Helpful Score: 4
One of Crais's stand alone books!! Very Good!!!
WOW what a book. The best I have read in awhile. Recommend it to anyone. Holds your attention I could not put it down.
