Robert Crais

Robert Crais

Robert Crais was born on June 20th, 1953 and is currently 72 years old. Robert Crais was born in Independence, Louisiana, USA. Crais attended Louisiana State University where he studied Mechanical Engineering.

Robert Crais is the author of the Elvis Cole & Joe Pike series which currently consists of 20 novels. The Elvis Cole & Joe Pike series started in 1987 with the novel The Monkey's Raincoat. The most recently released novel in the Elvis Cole & Joe Pike series was The Big Empty which was released in 2025. There are no upcoming novels for the Elvis Cole & Joe Pike series.

Prior to being an author, Robert would write scrips for television shows. He wrote scripts for detective and police related shows, including the likes of Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, L.A. Law and Quincy. He also received an Emmy award nomination for his work.

The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association listed this Mystery Writer of America Grand Masters first novel, The Monkey's Raincoat, as one of the 100 Favourite Mysteries of the Century.

On his website, Robert notes that he initially planned for the first Elvis Cole novel to be a standalone, but realized he had created a very powerful character which he wanted to use to be able to comment on his life and times. The novel L.A. Requiem really changed the way Robert wrote, as that became a bestseller at various publications and changed the way he structured his novels.

While the novel Demolition Angel is a standalone, one of the characters from it Carol Starkey is prominently featured in the Elvis Cole books.

Robert Crais: Awards & Accolades

Robert Crais has won multiple awards including: The Santa Barbara Book Council Awards, Ross MacDonald Literary Award, in 2006, Shamus Award, Lifetime Achievement Award (The Eye), in 2010 and the Edgar Award, Grand Master, in 2014.

Many of Robert Crais's books have won awards, including:

• The Monkey's Raincoat won the Macavity Award, Best First Mystery, in 1988 as well as the Anthony Award - Best Paperback Original in 1988.
• Sunset Express won the Shamus Award, Best P.I. Novel, in 1997.
• L. A. Requiem won the Dilys Award, Best Mystery Novel, in 2000.
• The Watchman won the Barry Award, Best Thriller, in 2008 as well as the Gumshoe Award - Best Thriller Novel in 2008.
• Taken won the Shamus Award, Best P.I. Novel, in 2013.
• The Promise won the Maltese Falcon Society, Falcon Award, in 2018.
• Suspect won the Barry Award, Best Mystery/Crime Novel of the Decade, in 2020.

The following novels by Robert Crais were also nominated for these awards:

• The Monkey's Raincoat: Shamus Award, Best P.I. Paperback Original (1988). Edgar Award, Best Paperback Original (1988).
• In the Line of Duty: Shamus Award, Best P.I. Short Story (1989).
• The Man Who Knew Dick Bong: Shamus Award, Best P.I. Short Story (1989).
• Lullaby Town: Shamus Award, Best P.I. Novel (1993). Anthony Award, Best Mystery Novel (1993).
• Free Fall: Edgar Award, Best Mystery Novel (1994).
• Voodoo River: Dilys Award, Best Mystery Novel (1996).
• Indigo Slam: Shamus Award, Best P.I. Novel (1998).
• L. A. Requiem: Hammett Prize, Best Crime Novel (1999). Anthony Award, Best Mystery Novel (2000). Barry Award, Best Novel (2000). Shamus Award, Best P.I. Novel (2000). Macavity Award, Best Mystery Novel (2000). Edgar Award, Best Mystery Novel (2000).
• Demolition Angel: Edgar Award, Mary Higgins Clark Award (2000). Dilys Award, Best Mystery Novel (2001).
• Hostage: Crime Writer's Association Award, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award (2002).
• The Last Detective: Audie Award, Best Mystery (2004). Audie Award, Best Fiction (2004).
• The Forgotten Man: Shamus Award, Best P.I. Novel (2006).
• The Two Minute Rule: Audie Award, Best Fiction (2007). Audie Award, Literary Fiction and Classics (2007).
• The Watchman: International Thriller Writers Award, Best Novel (2008). Anthony Award, Best Mystery Novel (2008).
• Chasing Darkness: SCIBA Awards, Best Mystery Novel (2008).
• The First Rule: Shamus Award, Best P.I. Novel (2011).
• Taken: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2012). Lefty Award, The Watson Award (2013).
• Suspect: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2013). Audie Award, Best Thriller or Suspense (2014). Barry Award, Best Novel (2014). Anthony Award, Best Mystery Novel (2014).
• The Promise: Lefty Award, Best LCC Regional Mystery (2016). Shamus Award, Best P.I. Novel (2016).
• The Big Empty: Edgar Award, Best Mystery Novel (2026). International Thriller Writers Award, Best Series Novel (2026).

Robert Crais: Lists & Other Mentions

• Taken was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2012 and a Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2012.
• L. A. Requiem was a Telerama: The 100 Best Thrillers Selection in 2024.
• The Monkey's Raincoat was an NPR: Top 100 Killer Thrillers Selection in 2010.

Robert Crais: TV/Movies Based on Books

The standalone novel Hostage was adapted into a movie in 2005. The action thriller was adapted by Doug Richardson, and it starred Bruce Willis playing the hostage negotiator Jeff Talley.

Related Authors

Fans of Robert Crais also enjoy these authors:

1. Alex Kava, author of the Ryder Creed Series.
2. Andrew Gross, author of the Ty Hauck Series.
3. Robert Bryndza, author of the Detective Erika Foster Series.
4. Isabella Maldonado, author of the Nina Guerrera Series.
5. Richard Castle, author of the Nikki Heat Series.
6. Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch Series.
7. David Baldacci, author of the Amos Decker Series.
8. James Patterson, author of the Alex Cross Series.
9. John Sandford, author of the Prey/Lucas Davenport Series.
10. C.J. Box, author of the Joe Pickett Series.

Robert Crais: F.A.Q