The First Rule (Joe Pike Series #2)

Crais does it again

Once again Robert Crais brings Joe Pike to the forefront with "The First Rule". If you have ever read any of the Elvis Cole books, you have only gotten a glimpse of Pike. Crais has expanded what we know of him with "The Watchman" and even more now with "The First Rule". If you hurt someone that Pike cares about, you better make your last wishes known. One of the great things about Crais' characters is that they are not perfect but they do strive to be better.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Joe Pike "Rules"

It is a good day when either a new Jack Reacher novel (by Lee Child} or, in this case, a new novel by Robert Crais hits the bookstores (brick or online). THE FIRST RULE by Robert Crais (2010) features Joe Pike (thus a Joe Pike novel) [again] and Crais delivers the goods with Pike taking on the super bad guys with his kick-ass approach and sphinx-like demeanor. Of course, Pike has friends on standby with Elvis Cole (greatest detective in the world) to go on the "hunt" to take on the evil of ex-Soviet Union criminal gangs operating in a world of guns, drugs, slavery, and triple-crosses of deceit. When the sit-to-fan ratio is high, you need Joe Pike on your side - and better yet, you will want this book at your side, if you seek the best of crime thrillers.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Very Good but frequently annoying

Joe Pike is a wonderful character; tough, gritty, and yet, likeable. This book does not disappoint in terms of either suspense or action.

Two things, however, do disappoint. The plot involves organized crime involving Serbian nationals, and the chapters are filled with frequent and annoying references concerning characters speaking "Serbian." The problem is, there is no language known as "serbian." The language of Serbia is "Serbo-Croatian, sometimes referred to as Serbo-Croat." That is the language spoken in most of the former Yugoslavia.

The second disappointment concerns constant references to BMW motorcars as "Beemers." Wrong. The BMW motorcar is a "Bimmer." It is BMW motorcycles that are referred to as "Beamers."

Little things, perhaps, but details do matter.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

super investigative thriller

In Westwood, California, garment importer from Asia and Africa Frank Meyer lives the good American life as he reinvented himself eleven years ago once he met his beloved Cindy. Four men invade their home killing Frank, Cindy and their sons; the nanny survived but is in a coma. LAPD finds tattoos on Frank's arms that police detective Deets has seen before on private investigator Joe Pike.

The cops assume Frank was dirty due to six previous invasions of homes belonging to criminals. Joe knows better even if he had not seen the man in a decade ever since Frank walked when his mercenary contract expired; he knows because Frank loved Cindy and would never go dirty because of her. Deciding he owes it to Frank to clear his name and to bring down his assassins, Joe and his partner Elvis Cole investigate starting with the nanny who they learn has ties to an Eastern Europe organized mob.

As the cops warn him to stay out of it, Frank and Joe, not trusting the law to look beyond their nose, investigate by digging deep into the activities of local gangsters. They begin to understand a different ethics than their own as The First Rule of the mob is the only way to leave is in a coffin. Fans will fully appreciate the latest Pike inquiry (see The Watchman) that has the mob, the gangs, and the cops in a rare unity (using differing means) to persuade Frank and Joe to back off.

Harriet Klausner

1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

must read

Joe Pike is great reading.Highly recommend.

Action packed Joe Pike story

More Joe Pike action in a fast paced book.

Many typographical, spelling and format errors spoil the read!

Joe Pike "Soft"

The story line took Joe Pike the mercenary doing his normal follow the rules or you will be hurt. This story also includes a softer side of Joe. I liked the story and enoyed the plot. Onto series #3

Good read

My first book on this author and I enjoyed very much. ZWorth the time.

Fast+paced%21

Interesting+characters+that+have+you+turning+the+pages+to+see+what+will+happen+next.++Great+beach+read.

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Another grea book in the Joe Pike series.

Funny, dramtic, and of course action packed. This book is just another great addition to the amazing Joe Pike series. Time to start number 3!!

Just Too Implausible

Crais has problems with making his protagonist Joe Pike into an infallible, unkillable God figure. The Elvis Cole books feature Pike as a shadowy, enigmatic sidekick. When he carries the ball, plausibility goes out the window. LA Requiem, Crais' best novel, put a human face on Pike, but he has moved away from that here. Unlike his heroes Chandler and Macdonald, Crais has never crossed the line from thriller writer to major novelist. I can only give this book 2 1/2 stars.

Excellent! you will love it.

If you enjoy a mystery/thriller genre, then this book will delight you.  There have been parallels to the Joe Pike character (Reacher, for one) that I find interesting but Joe is definitely unique.  Also the Cole/Pike team compares favorably with Harland Coban's Bolitar/Lockwood, a personal favorite. Robert Crais has quickly become a favorite author and I would recommend all of his books.

Enjoyed

The book was an overall good read. Some of the sexual content was so unbelievable it could have been omitted and the book would have improved. It was an original idea, and i enjoyed the plot and ending.

Nice Pike

good change of pace from Elvis Cole point of view - more insight into Pike Character.

The First Rule

In THE FIRST RULE, Frank Meyer and his family are murdered in cold blood. He was a long time friend of Joe Pike and Pike takes it personally. Pike takes on the Russian Mob to find out why they were killed and who did it so he can have some payback. Robert Crais has created a novel that is fast paced, action-packed and leaves nothing to chance.

A reader of many genres

The First Rule is first class, fast paced entertainment. Crais' prose is tightly crafted, no extraneouse words and no loose ends at the end of the novel. It's all tied together in a plausible plot with false trails and red herrings. The opening scene is so brutal as is the almost end, yet the book ends on a very hopeful note. Pike and his crew are deft, very capable professional contrators but not thugs. It's easy to root for them. The villains are bad but not one dimensional evil. This novel is entrtaining, a quick two day read.

another good read by Robert Crais

I was happy to stumble upon this author's books. They are a little off beat and very well written. I especially enjoy Joe Pike. He's an odd sort of character- mysterious and appealing. The first book that centers around Pike is 'The Watchman' and was an excellent read as well.
This book sort of revolves around a old friend of Pike's who was murdered. In Pike's search to get to the bottom of the murder, he's also hoping to clear his friend's name. His friend got married and was living a (supposedly) clean life with a wife and children. Of course, nothing that Pike does is easy.

The First Rule

Highly recommended. Good action and good story. Forget Elvis Cole. I mean Elvis is a good hero, but I rather read about Joe Pike.

Robert Crais's Joe Pike is the bomb!

Can't beat the combination of Joe Pike and Elvis Cole. Crais' last series featuring primarily Joe Pike is wonderful!