This fictional detective was created by the renowned author Robert Crais. His mystery novels received many accolades and have been acknowledged by many readers as one of the best depictions of a morally conscious detective.
Unlike the anti-hero detectives of modern times, Elvis Cole represented the idealistic crime-solver of a by-gone era. Similar to the private investigators from the 1940s, Cole had a sarcastic tongue whose tough exterior hid a gentle heart. Other aspects that enhanced Cole's image as a valiant hero were his martial arts skills and his cooking prowess. Both features served to juxtapose his rough demeanor opposite the hidden soft side.
Cole might have been a sounding board for Crais' own thoughts and beliefs. Firstly, the fictional character was created at a critical time during the author's life when he was going through a lot of soul searching. Secondly, Cole's operating base is set in L.A. where heinous crimes were set against a glamorous backdrop. Such a contrast always brought out conflicting emotions within Cole and thereby helped the author explore various ethical queries.
Perhaps it was for this reason that Cole was given a partner who was quite different from him. Unlike Cole, his fellow partner in crime solving, Joe Pike, had no qualms about violence and was also less likely to ponder about the ethical ramifications of a certain course of action. In this way, Crais used Cole and Pike to represent the opposing points of view of a morally difficult issue.
