Elvis Cole is a fictional American detective from several novels written by Robert Crais. On numerous occasions, the author's portrayal of Cole has been likened to previous efforts by legends of the genre, namely Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald.
Cole is a private investigator who is depicted as a rough-and-tough man whose assertive demeanor is well-balanced by his quick wit and kind heart. Adept at cooking, yoga and martial arts, it is no wonder that Cole comes across as the James Bond of the detective genre.
Cole is a loner who lives in Laurel Canyon in the hills above Hollywood. The choice of location (L.A.) is also important in revealing more about the famous P.I. Often, the tragic crimes committed within the city cause Cole to express his own beliefs. To this end, Cole comes across as a just and righteous man, striving to stick to the straight and narrow. On the other hand, Cole's partner, Joe Pike, is a sharp contrast to the P.I.'s eloquence and wit. Best described as the strong and silent type, Pike is also less likely to mull over the unethical use of violence.
Some of the most popular Elvis Cole novels include The Monkey's Raincoat (1987), Free Fall(1993), Voodoo River (1995), and L.A. Requiem (1999).
However, the detective has had his share of real-life controversy. In 2003, author Crais filed suit against Activision. He claimed that the main character from their then-to-be released game, True Crime: Streets of L.A., was a copy of Elvis Cole. However, after frequent communications between the publisher and Crais, Crais dropped the lawsuit when he was convinced that there had been no copyright infringement.
