The Big Empty by Robert Crais

The Big Empty by Robert Crais

SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA IAN FLEMING STEEL DAGGER 2026 

HE DISAPPEARED. SHE NEVER STOPPED LOOKING. Private investigator Elvis Cole and his enigmatic partner Joe Pike face a cryptic case and a terrifyingly unpredictable killer in this twisty, edge-of-your-seat thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Robert Crais.
 
‘Robert Crais has mastered the fine art of storytelling’ James Patterson
‘Hands down the best book I’ve read this year. Simply incredible’ M. W. Craven

When influencer Traci Beller hires PI Elvis Cole to find her father, who has been missing for ten years and presumed to have walked out on his family, the case seems like it will stay cold.

But in Rancha, nothing stays buried forever.

What starts as a search for answers twists into a deadly race against time, as victims become predators, and predators become prey.

With ex-Marine Joe Pike by his side, Elvis follows Tommy’s trail into a darkness that will challenge his loyalty to his clients—and to himself.

The truth is waiting in The Big Empty. But can Elvis survive what he finds?

Readers love The Big Empty . . . (5 star reviews*****)
'The Big Empty is one of my top favorite 2025 mystery novels!'
'Once I started reading this, I couldn't put it down'
'This book has everything you love about Elvis Cole and Joe Pike'
'Five stars all the way. Highly recommended'
'My one word review for this one would be "wow!"'

‘. . makes your stomach rumble as well as your heart thump . . . Robert Crais has long since perfected the recipe for a super-satisfying thriller, and his 20th Cole and Pike novel has all these ingredients: great scene-setting, memorable characters and a puzzling mystery told with both humour and compassion. Bravo!’ The Times, Book of the Month

‘With an ever-accelerating trajectory leading to a blood-spattered climax, this 20th novel in the series is Crais in prime form.’ Financial Times

‘This is a slick, smart, old-style private eye tale by veteran thriller writer Crais, with a smart-mouthed hero, twisting plot and plenty of action. Superb stuff.’ The Sun, 4.5 stars

‘PI Elvis Cole and his ex-special forces partner Joe Pike are easily the best crime-solving duo since Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson . . . his [Crais] twisty, filmic plots puts him second only to Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series in modern LA thriller writing excellence.’ Daily Express, 10/10

‘Crais has helped keep the classic tradition of the hardboiled Los Angeles private detective alive with this fine series, and his new novel may well be his finest yet.’ Daily Mail (from Associated Press)
‘The Big Empty is breathtakingly good; an emotional rollercoaster ride with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike as THE dynamic duo in crime fiction’  -- Anthony J. Tata
‘The Big Empty is a masterpiece.  While many bestselling authors are content to fill in a template, Robert Crais delivers a fresh, original story with every new book, and THE BIG EMPTY is especially brilliant’ 

 

  -- Rob Taub
‘The Big Empty is crazy good – a theme park ride about humanity, from Elvis Cole, from Joe Pike, and from three amazing women.  I've never liked Elvis Cole more’ 

  -- Mike Lupica
‘Robert Crais has crafted another masterpiece, delivering a gripping page-turner and a profound exploration of hidden evils; an edge-of-your-seat reading experience that will stay with you long after the final page’ 

  -- Ryan Steck
‘The Big Empty is breathtakingly good; an emotional rollercoaster ride with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike as THE dynamic duo in crime fiction’  -- Anthony J. Tata
‘The Big Empty is a masterpiece.  While many bestselling authors are content to fill in a template, Robert Crais delivers a fresh, original story with every new book, and THE BIG EMPTY is especially brilliant’ 

 

  -- Rob Taub
‘The Big Empty is crazy good – a theme park ride about humanity, from Elvis Cole, from Joe Pike, and from three amazing women.  I've never liked Elvis Cole more’ 

  -- Mike Lupica
‘Robert Crais has crafted another masterpiece, delivering a gripping page-turner and a profound exploration of hidden evils; an edge-of-your-seat reading experience that will stay with you long after the final page’ 

  -- Ryan Steck

Robert Crais is the author of the bestselling Cole & Pike novels. A native of Louisiana, Crais moved to Hollywood in the late 70s where he began a successful career in television, writing scripts for major series such as Cagney & Lacey, Miami Vice and Hill Street Blues. In the mid 80s, Crais created a series of crime novels based around the characters Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. In addition, he has also written several bestselling standalone thrillers. Robert Crais lives in LA with his wife and family.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781471195082
ISBN 10	1471195082
Title	The Big Empty
Author	Robert Crais
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Simon & Schuster Ltd
Year published	2025-07-03
Number of pages	352
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.