The Big Empty

Reviews / Votes

'I finish every novel 100% satisfied and eager for the next instalment. That's exactly what happened when I finished The Big Empty. Robert Crais has mastered the fine art of storytelling' James Patterson

'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

'Breathtakingly good; an emotional rollercoaster ride with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike as THE dynamic duo in crime fiction' Anthony J. Tata

'A masterpiece ... Robert Crais delivers a fresh, original story with every new book, and The Big Empty is especially brilliant' Rob Taub

'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 '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

'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

'Plenty of twists and turns in this beautifully paced story, peppered with fascinating characters. It's witty and hugely satisfying. In every sense, the full package' Crime Time FM

'The action culminates in a tense and thrilling finale, with a surprisingly moving aftermath' Wall Street Journal

'The compelling tale is enriched by its true heart and humor. Cole has often been compared to Robert B. Parker's character Spenser, who was also known to grapple with the moral ambiguities of his work' Booklist (starred review)

'This twisty thriller is a full of gripping scenes embedded in a well-crafted and riveting plot that hooked me from the very beginning ... It has just the right amount of mystery, danger, and creative twists to make this book a winner' Mystery & Suspense Magazine

'The Big Empty may be Crais's most powerful novel. A potent and surprising thriller' Kirkus (starred review)

'[U]nexpected twists and a high-voltage finale save the day. This will leave series fans eager for more' Publishers Weekly