The Big Empty

Death, danger, and suspense take center stage in the next private detective case of Elvis Cole in The Big Empty by Robert Crais. Traci Beller was thirteen when her father disappeared ten years ago in Rancha, a town two hours from Los Angeles, California. There was no sign of foul play and most believed Tommy Beller abandoned his family.

 But not his daughter Traci, who is now a popular social media influencer.

Elvis isn’t excited about taking on a ten-year-old missing persons case, but he agrees to go to Rancha to see if he can pick up any new threads for the investigation. When he learns that someone might have information not discovered ten years ago, he finds that a gang of criminals are following and threatening him. Not one to be cowed, he calls his friend and silent partner in the detective agency for help. Joe Pike is a no-nonsense ex-Marine who will always have Elvis’s back. As they follow Tommy’s trail, the danger and suspense escalate as do the bodies. Can Elvis and Joe solve the case before one or both of them become the next victim?

Elvis is intelligent and has amazing insight. He may come across as a little laid-back, but that is deceptive. His sense of humor adds another layer of depth to his character. Joe is enigmatic, dependable, and dangerous if you’re on the wrong side of the case. While most of the story is from Elvis’s point of view, readers also get some chapters from that of others, including an antagonist.

When it seems that the initial investigations by the police, as well as another private investigator, left no gaping holes, missed opportunities, or cut corners, Elvis doesn’t expect to find new information. However, the well-conceived plot has multiple layers that will keep readers guessing as they follow the investigation and new insights become known. The author does a great job building suspense

This twisty thriller is a full of gripping scenes embedded in a well-crafted and riveting plot that hooked me from the very beginning. One of the twists was exceptionally surprising. The book was a page-turner that kept me engaged throughout the storyline. The ending is satisfactory and doesn’t leave readers with a cliffhanger. Themes include, grief, loss, family, lies, secrets, post-traumatic stress disorder, murder, and much more.

Overall, this crime novel was suspenseful, tragic, and includes some intense scenes. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Those who enjoy crime thrillers and private investigator novels will likely enjoy this series. It has just the right amount of mystery, danger, and creative twists to make this book a winner.

PENGUIN GROUP Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Robert Crais provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for January 14, 2025.