Racing the Light

The disappearance of podcaster Josh Schumacher drives MWA Grandmaster Crais’s entertaining 19th novel featuring L.A. PI Elvis Cole and his ex-Marine sidekick, Joe Pike (after 2019’s A Dangerous Man). Josh’s mother, Adele, hires Elvis to find Josh and bring him home. Elvis soon discovers that Josh’s latest story, which involves an adult film star and secrets tying city politicians to a corrupt pay-for-play scheme, has mobilized a vortex of competing interests, including a vicious business cartel, Chinese operatives, and the mysterious Adele’s own personal protection team. Once Elvis tracks down Josh, he’s frustrated by the podcaster’s refusal to let the story go, and matters quickly degenerate into murder and mayhem. As usual, Pike’s involvement is minimal and timely, and the novel further advances the on-again, off-again relationship between Elvis and love interest Lucy Chenier, with several effective scenes between Elvis and Lucy’s son, Ben. While the influence of Michael Connelly is apparent and the pace is somewhat uneven, Crais maintains a humorous tone throughout. This long-running series shows no signs of losing steam. Agent: Aaron Priest, Aaron M. Priest Literary. (Nov.)