The First Rule [Paperback]

Joe Pike and his partner Elvis Cole must solve the murder of an old friend and his entire family in this gripping thriller from #1New York Timesbestselling author Robert Crais.

When Frank Meyer and his family are executed during a home invasion, the police begin investigating the secret life they're sure Meyer had. Joe Pike's on a hunt of his own: to clear his friend's name, and to punish the people who murdered him. What starts out as a simple trail gets twisted fast by old grudges, double crosses, blood vengeance, and a crime so terrible even Pike and his partner Elvis Cole have no way to measure it.“Is it possible for a crime novel to be both ultra-violent and elegant? If so, then The First Ruleis a prime example. The mayhem is graphic and unflinching, but the prose and story line are as sleek and efficient as a beautifully crafted piece of machinery.”—The Seattle Times

“[The First Rule] will satisfy longtime fans and make new ones...well-written action sequences and snappy dialogue.”—Los Angeles Times

“Crais follows a straightforward, no-nonsense tradition that marks him as a direct descendant of Raymond Chandler.”—Pittsburg Tribune-Review

“A devastatingly effective thriller.”—The Providence Journal

“Adrenaline-fueled...Pike emerges as an enigmatically appealing hero, whose lethal skills never overshadow his unflappable sense of morality.”—Publishers Weekly

“Crais plants each twist carefully and detonates it expertly...Righteous vengeance, a reckless pace, astratospheric body count, and just enough surprises to keep you turning the pages.”—Kirkus Reviews Robert Crais is the #1New York Timesbestselling author of more than twenty novels, many of them featuring private investigator Elvis Cole and his laconic ex-cop partnl„